I am the third of four children born to Sesinando (from Burgos, Pangasinan, Philippines) and Lourdes (from Aparri, Cagayan, Philippines) of Renton, Washington and St. Anthony Parish. I attended preschool in Quezon City.  We then immigrated to the U.S. in 1974 and lived in the Rainier Valley in Seattle for several years before moving permanently to Renton.  My father worked during the day as an accountant, while my mother worked at night as an registered nurse, while the four kids tried to stay away from trouble at school. Eventually, all the children finished school with accounting degrees, but the third one couldn't cut it as an accountant.  One day, I learned that my father was a corporate lawyer in the Philippines, and that my mother was able to obtain a work visa as a nurse to come to the United States.  She filled out the work visa application on her own. So it was my destiny to become an immigration lawyer, to help others, and I love what I do.