One Filipino father’s desperate prayer

No need to worry about that misguided anti-gay comment either getting in the way or stalling Manny Pacquiao’s all-out preparation for the next defense of his world welterweight boxing crown.

Pacquiao has parried the distraction with commendable maturity, begging forgiveness for a scathing comment he did not make.

Last heard of, Pacquiao, 33, was busy priming up in California for his confrontation against unbeaten Timothy Bradley, 28, who has vowed to give the world boxing icon a terrible time come June 9 in Las Vegas.

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But, come to think it, did the unfounded gay-world accusation instead goad Pacquiao to work twice as hard?

It’s hard to tell, but latest info from the Wild Card Gym in California said Pacquiao should be in a much better form than when he was left to agonize by Juan Manuel Marquez last November.

“This afternoon, he pressed hard three sparmates in a brisk ten-round session,” reported the GMA News man  from the training site yesterday.

The GMA reporter said he also smelled the distinct possibility of a knockout ending.

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Anyway, knowing that Pacquiao never hesitates to give assistance whenever needed, we take the liberty of printing here a humble appeal to the Arizona hearing judge, Hon. Sylvia R. Arellano.

You bet Pacquiao would himself be eternally grateful if help is extended to this aggrieved Filipino couple in Newark, California.

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Here’s that prayer:

We are writing to appeal for help concerning our son’s plight.

Gerardo (Andy) Rivera was one of the 3,168 illegal aliens and immigrants arrested in a nationwide sweep by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers.

Andy is a doting father to his children, a loving husband, and a productive member of his community. He is a dependable and hardworking employee who works full-time to support his family (Stacie, wife, a 14 year-old son, Nicolus, and his 5 year-old daughter, Leila.)

Andy participates actively in the care-giving of his two children, also in his son’s scholastics (straight A’s), sports (football and baseball), and other aspects of parenting.

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As a young adult, Andy experienced difficulties, a story of a young and impressionable immigrant aching so  much to fit in his new environment.

Andy came to the US as an eight-year-old. In his desire to be accepted in his adopted country, he fell victim to peer pressure  and succumbed to willful influence of his flawed friends.

Andy is not violent. Neither is he mean-hearted. In fact, he struggled  to break away from his crowd after serving time for non-violent crime (drug use).

He successfully turned around his life and is now a respectable member of his community.

He went back to school, finished a course, is gainfully employed, got married and never looked back to a once sordid past.

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We hope you will consider the circumstances surrounding Andy’s challenges that led him to exercise bad judgment.

Andy is a good person—a loving and caring son. He made a mistake but paid for it dearly and he deserves a second chance, one he truly needs since he has no family, no ties left, no home and no job in a country he left decades ago.

Here he has his children, parents, siblings, and friends who are all praying for his freedom, not to mention a job that is left open for him by his considerate bosses.

My wife and I are elderly and currently not in the best of health. And, we still have not recovered from the sudden demise of our daughter, Christine, who died last year at a young age of 38. But this letter of appeal is not at all about us. Andy’s two  children, who need his love and support, is the compelling reason for our request.

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Right now, Niko and Leila, who both adore their father, are experiencing the darkest hours of their lives. Losing a nurturing father will devastate them, a tragedy that is detrimental in their growing years. Fact is, Leila is so depressed, constantly crying and asking for her father.

Kindly bestow kindness on our granchildren who’ve done nothing to deserve losing a loved one. Andy has since led a productive life  and is looking forward to implementing his great plans for the future of his family.

He is one caring soul who has erred in the past, paid for his mistakes and has since learned from it to lead a responsible life since his full rehabilitation.

Ever grateful,

Hermie  and Cristina Rivera

Parents of Gerardo P. Rivera

36752 Burdick Street

Newark Ca. 94560