... is the best witness i ever had the pleasure of presenting in court.
it happened this morning.
i am handling an adoption case. the clients, a retired judge and his spouse, wanted to formalize the adoption of their 35-year old daughter, herself already a lawyer. it should have been done more than three decades ago, but that is another story.
the retired judge and his wife have reared and cared for their daughter since she was five months old.
the sixth child in a brood of seven, the adopted daughter lived a life that her siblings could only dream about. her biological parents were very poor that they happily gave their daughter away for adoption 35 years ago.
after three and a half decades of not seeing each other, the biological father, now 84 years old, finally saw his beautiful daughter. he was teary-eyed as he hugged her. ruefully, the biological mother died in an accident nine years ago and was not around to behold the momentous event.
a petition for adoption, to be approved by the court, requires the consent of the biological parents, among others. hence, the presence of my witness.
as an 84-year old former laborer, with no formal education, and who lived his whole life in poverty, i must say i was impressed by his demeanor, candor, and sincerity when he took the witness stand. even the presiding judge, who is generally rough in his treatment to witnesses (and lawyers) appearing in his sala, was impressed with the charm of the witness.
the entire courtroom was captured by his testimony. he narrated how he and his wife painstakingly, yet happily, reached the decision to give away their sixth child for adoption. he expressed how thankful he was to the adopting parents for caring for his lovely daughter all these years. he also intimated his wish that, henceforth, he could establish a somewhat closer relationship with his daughter.
they were a picture of one big happy family. the biological father, the adopting parents, and the 35 year old daughter, herself already married.
my witness is a good and sincere person. his positve characteristics as a person unmistakably exuded during the entire length of his testimony.
i admired his simplicity.
ps - i was so happy with how the proceedings turned out. after the hearing, i fetched my wife, invited her for lunch, and ordered our favorite soup for starters.
quidnunc posted on Nov 08, 2006
| views: 225
Comments
-
FaithfulDisciple said on Nov 08, 2006....
I wish this inspiring story of court adoption proceedings would demonstrate the same personal reasons why celebrities adopt foreign based children. To give a life of better opportunities to an otherwise deprived but gifted adopted child is an act of love worthy of emulation and would put to shame those unworthy parents who physically abuse their own biological children.
-
silverwhisper said on Nov 08, 2006....
quid, that's truly beautiful. :>
ed
-
secretlife said on Nov 08, 2006....
quid: what a great story....with a happy ending, which i am always a sucker for! -
quidnunc said on Nov 08, 2006....
yes, FD. the adopted daughter was indeed raised very well. she is humble, god-fearing, and intelligent. the adopting parents did a good job in taking care of her. on the other hand, when i interfaced with the biological father, i came to realize that the daughter's good characteristics came from him, too.
it is tragic when parents abuse their own children. this adopted child is twice lucky as she both had great adopting and biological parents.
-
quidnunc said on Nov 08, 2006....
ed and SL, i am glad you liked this story. i wasted no time narrating this to my wife over lunch right after the proceedings. it is inspiring.
-
Ormocanon said on Nov 08, 2006....
quidnunc, if ever you meet that 84 year old former laborer again, please shake his hand for me. Same goes with the judge and his wife. :) Your post left me with a lump in the throat.
-
quidnunc said on Nov 08, 2006....
i will, ormocanon. i was myself touched by the scene yesterday. i take my hats off to this 84-year old father. what is most admirable is that, unlike most adoption stories that we have heard, this guy and his deceased wife never asked for or received any money in exchange for their giving away their daughter.
by the way, are you from ormoc city, my friend?
-
missb said on Nov 08, 2006....
[missb's misty]That's such a lovely post, Quid. I can just imagine it in my head so vividly. Btw, i've always had a thing for lawyers :)I used to think that i'd make a good one too :)Cheers! -
dazed_and_confused said on Nov 08, 2006....
It is really an inspiring story quid! The biological parents just wanted the best for their daughter just like any other parents should. They are truly noble! Most of the people I hear from news extort money from children they gave away when the child grows up and becomes famous or is already rich. They truly have golden hearts, both the biologoical and the adoptive parents.
-
quidnunc said on Nov 08, 2006....
hi missb, why don't you take up a career in law? i'm sure you're going to enjoy it, too.
-
sam_ting_wong said on Nov 08, 2006....
I admire the old man. Even though he is poor and not educated, is has integrity and honesty.
-
Alyss said on Nov 09, 2006....
A heart warming story. I am glad your client was able to be reunited with her birth father and he was able to express his reasons for placing her for adoption all those years ago.
-
quidnunc said on Nov 09, 2006....
yes, sam, the old guy oozes with charm and integrity.
alyss, you could see it all in the eyes of the principal characters of this drama, as well as in the eyes of those who were present in court. it was truly a heart wrenching scene...
-
Ormocanon said on Nov 09, 2006....
quidnunc, yes I'm from ormoc city.
-
quidnunc said on Nov 09, 2006....
that's good to hear. bisaya gihapon hi quid.
-
mr_right14 said on Nov 11, 2006....
Oh my, how touching!I admire this biological father.I'm raising my hands to him.Salute!!!Though he wasn't able to rear the child by his own and took the responsibility, but he had chosen a way where someone would take these and rear it as their own.That's painful to the father, a father who wanted to take the responsibilities but he knew he's not capable of it.If I were that child, my biological father is the best dad ever! -
quidnunc said on Nov 11, 2006....
that's true, mr. right.
tears were rolling down the cheeks of the 35-year old daughter while her natural father was testifying...
Comment on "a poor 84-year old former laborer..."
Related Posts:
babygiftsonlin
posted 6 days ago
| views: 16
|
Diarrhea is defined as the increase in the frequency of bowel movements or decrease in the stool's consistency.... read entire post
newbabygiftsil
posted 4 days ago
| views: 14
|
Watching an adorable 1 year-old baby is quiet amusing. She is trying to figure out where to place a lovely playhouse of her doll. One-year-olds are just starting their forays into friendships.... read entire post
newbabygiftsil
posted 4 days ago
| views: 11
|
Watching an adorable 1 year-old baby is quiet amusing. She is trying to figure out where to place a lovely playhouse of her doll. One-year-olds are just starting their forays into friendships.... read entire post
CayenneMan
posted 2 days ago
| views: 99
|
The enchantment before a beautiful day... read entire post
Hegemone
posted 5 days ago
| views: 65
|
I demand to know how it got here so fast, lol.... read entire post