Introduction

What was the political atmosphere in Washington DC in 1965?
Lyndon Johnson was president, Vietnam was escalating, Democratic party ruled Congress, Elvis still king but losing his throne, my great grand Uncle Nash on Papa's side was a security guard at Smithsonian, Paul Vl was pope, almost 180 million Americans populate the United States of America of which 0.5% were Asian and Medicare added to Social Security safety net.
By third preference I came legally four years after Hart-Celler Act of 1965. Reducing the 20,000 quota that year for an eastern hemisphere country as a 'member of professions, ...' a generous act of congress to all the inhabitants of the Eastern and Western Hemisphere.
Hart was a senator from Michigan and Celler was a congressman from NY.
I was a registered member of the nursing profession in 1967 after graduating in a government subsidized school of nursing in Tagbilaran, Bohol same year. My friend, Che talked me into applying with her for third preference instead of exchange student visa. She said, 'our pay will be more than exchange student stipend and comparable to US graduate nurses'. Most of our Tagalog co-nurses, graduates from UP, Santo Tomas, UE applied for immigrant visa. Most pioneering graduates (first three year alumni) from Bohol Provincial Hospital School of Nursing went as exchange students. They left for America a month after application for exchange student visa. Most worked in small hospitals, provincial hospitals or clinic with meager pay in the Philippines before they left. Most are in a hurry for better pay to subsidize the next in line sibling in school, pay back parents expenses for nursing school or just be abroad. There was societal expectation after nursing graduation to go abroad. 'Lilia left for Chicago, Willie to Charlottesville, Remy to Minnesota, Adie to Newark, Gloria to Cherryhill,' were weekly update of our small, twenty one member class '67.
When Che & I got our third preference biodata in January '69, all but two of our classmates left for different cities in United States. Nisa married her high school boyfriend and has no desire to go abroad. Naty's successful entrepreneur parents did not let her to leave the physical security of their home. Anyone over 30 something thinks going abroad are just for nurses and doctors who can't find a job in the Philippines.
Married nursing faculty and staff of the hospital went as immigrants.
Che and I were second year graduates of BPHSN. We were classmates in first and second year at Bohol High School. We both were not part of the popular girl group who live in spacious homes in Tagbilaran. We were boarders from distant town of Sierra Bullones and Calape but we were good looking and good academically. Both our fathers went to Bohol High School and became teachers in our respective towns. Her father still taught, mine quit and became fisherman/farmer by the time we were in high school.
Junior year, Tiya Francing (previously Papa Mayolo's estranged sister)and Tiyo Loloy were hired as teachers at a Carmelite run high school that year. I finished high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Loon, an adjoining town of my hometown of Calape.
Che has her economic reasons, affairs of the heart ruled mine.

Immigration, my story

Immigration history in United States of America at this site.

Hart-Celler Act of 1965:
Abolished the national origins quota. Allocated 170,000 visas to Eastern Hemisphere countries and 120,000 Western Hemisphere. Each Eastern-Hemisphere country allotted 20,000 visas, Western Hemisphere no per-country limit. Non-quota immigrants and immediate relatives (i.e., spouses, minor children, and parents of U.S. citizens over age 21) not counted as part of either hemispheric or country ceiling. Higher preference to relatives of American citizens and permanent resident aliens than applicants with special job skills. Preference system for visa admissions (modified in 1990): 1.Unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. 2.Spouses and children and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens. 3.Members of the professions and scientists and artists of exceptional ability. 4.Married children of U.S. citizens. 5.Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens over age 21. 6.Skilled and unskilled workers in occupations for which there is insufficient labor supply. 7.Refugees given conditional entry or adjustment — chiefly people from Communist countries and the Middle East.

Philippine educated Filipino professionals stampede to USA after Hart-Celler Act of 1965. Most use third preference. At the beginning of each year since, 20,000 quota are filled and more. Nurses, doctors, accountants, engineers, chemists of unknown 'exceptional ability'. Many Filipino nurses were or have been to America as student exchange visitor as far back as I can remember. Word of mouth about American life, culture and opportunities was not enough to cause a stampede but capitalism did. Filipino entrepreneurs and capitalist at heart work the grapevine at excess professional graduates. Every year, new professionals were not absorb by an economy run by FDR inspired socialism, social security et all. The imaginative, adventurous, risk takers and the needy patiently wait in line at US embassy gate, an unusual sight in chaotic waiting line of any Filipino establishment, government or private.
United States of America's freedom to pursue economic opportunities by yourself with dynamic rules and regulations, lure many to jump ship, overstay tourist and student visa.