Dream of citizenship comes true for Oklahoma family
Celebrating freedom on July Fourth

SUSAN SIMPSON Comments 5
Published: July 4, 2009

As in some previous years, the Stanfa family plans to watch Independence Day fireworks from the top of a tall parking garage.

But this time, they’ll take special pride in celebrating the American holiday because three generations are now U.S. citizens.

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New citizen issues challenge

More than 100 people from 40 countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens last week during a ceremony in Oklahoma City. Bart Vleugel, a Belgian native, spoke to the group about becoming an American after living here 16 years. Here are excerpts from his speech:

• "America believes that all men and women are created equal with rights, rights so sacred that they cannot be given away or sold at any price. Each of us has the same single vote that the president of the United States does on Election Day. You are now the equal to every other citizen in this country.

• "Take pride in your personal accomplishments, take pride in the United States of America, and think about what you can do to shape the future of your country.

• "This flag is now your flag. Serve it. Protect it. Respect it. And most importantly, be proud of it.”

Becoming a citizen

Naturalization ceremonies generally are held on the last Friday of every month in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City. Requirements to seek U.S. citizenship:

• At least five years residence and physical presence in the United States

• Ability to read, write and speak English

• Knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government

• Demonstrate good moral character

• Attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution

• Favorable disposition toward the United States

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services www.uscis.gov

Born in the Philippines, Faye Stanfa moved to the United States in 1982 and became a U.S. citizen in 1997 — the same year her parents immigrated here.

Now her mother, Felicisima Carbungco, is an American citizen, granted naturalization in a ceremony last week that was the culmination of a 50-year dream.

As a teenager living near an American air base in the Philippines, Carbungco wanted to marry a U.S. serviceman but was dissuaded by her parents.

She later married a Filipino man and had six children but continued to hope that her family would someday find a better life in America.

"Somehow it was destined for us to come over,” said Stanfa, whose first marriage was to an American pen-pal.

She met her second husband, Matthew Stanfa, in Oklahoma, and they have a 4-year-old daughter, Constance.

Responsibilities seen as privileges

Carbungco says she looks forward to voting for the first time and to being recognized as an American citizen even when she goes through airport security to travel overseas.

She said her grandchildren are blessed to receive an education here because she only attended school in the Philippines until the third grade.

Carbungco is taking English classes and works as an aide at an Edmond nursing home.

"My mother dreamed at an early age she wanted to come here,” Stanfa said. "Her dream came true, the same as mine.”

The July Fourth fireworks will be a celebration of those dreams and those of the country’s founding leaders.

"It means for me, I’m sharing (this day) with all the American people, and I’m really glad to be an American citizen,” Carbungco said.