Triunfante  (contributed)

MONTGOMERY – It has been 517 years since Columbus discovered America. It has been a little over a week since Alaine Triunfante became an American.

Triunfante has been in the United States for 14 years, having moved to the Hudson Valley from his native Philippines.

The licensed physical therapist applied for United States citizenship last July and with the aid of Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s Office, he was naturalized last week.

Words cannot express the joy Triunfante feels at becoming an American.

“It’s great and it’s awesome to be an American citizen and it’s got a lot of perks and privileges and I feel proud to be considered as one of the Americans,” he said.

Among those perks Triunfante speaks of, he can’t wait to vote and serve on a jury.