Filipino Veterans Celebrate

By Jennie L. Ilustre

RP thanks US solons; marks end of 1946 Rescission Act

WASHINGTON – Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy C. Gaa led a victory and “thank you” celebration at the embassy here on Feb. 18 when Filipino World War II veterans in the US and the Philippines regained recognition for their service to the United States, and a one-time, lump sum payment.
“President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 a day before the 62nd anniversary of the unfortunate enactment of the U.S. Rescission Act on February 18, 1946,” Amb. Gaa told community leaders, veterans and their supporters, including retired Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba.
He added: “In 1946, February 18 was a day of defeat. Today is a day of victory.” (See related stories and photos inside this issue).Among others, Gaa thanked President Barack Obama for signing the economic stimulus bill into law, which included the veterans’ provision introduced by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D, HI), one of the Filipino veterans’ champions since the 1990s.
After lobbying for justice here since the 1990s, veterans and their supporters won on Feb. 13, when the 111th US Congress passed the economic stimulus bill. Section 1002, Title X of the bill provides for a $15,000 payment for some 3,000 veterans living in the US. About 12,000 Philippine counterparts will receive $9,000 each.
Gaa also thanked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying, “Since Day One of her term, President Arroyo made it clear that the recognition and compensation of Filipino World War II Veterans are important priorities.”
“In her visits to the United States and in her meetings with key American leaders, the Filipino veterans have always been in the President’s agenda,” he added. In his message in the embassy newsletter, Gaa said he was preparing for a meeting between President Gloria Arroyo and President Obama.
But a day after the program, an embassy move to include veterans and community advocacy organizations in the US in a resolution to thank President Arroyo for her efforts drew criticism from some members of the community.
At the embassy event, community leaders and other guests joined in honoring area veterans Celestino Almeda, Amadeo Urbano and Rudy Panaglima. Angelesio Tugado, an aide to Gen. Douglas McArthur, “was running a fever,” said daughter Angelyn Marzan. She came with her husband Rico and their daughter Angelica to represent him.
Remarked Gaa: “The Filipino veterans belong to a great generation. And it is our honor to have them with us today, as we express the profound gratitude of two nations and two peoples.”
Congressman Bob Filner (D, CA), chairman of the House committee on veterans affairs, led a big celebration for veterans and their supporters on Feb. 25. Ambassador Gaa scheduled a bigger celebration on Feb. 27, thanking the community and other veterans’ supporters.
Gen. Delfin N. Lorenzana, head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the embassy, read the statement of President Gloria Arroyo, thanking all Filipino WWII veterans “for your love of country, for defending our nation, for your sacrifice and for inspiring all of us to carry on the fight for justice.
She also thanked “the leadership of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye for making this moment possible. His crucial role will always be honored and remembered.”
Minister for Legislative Affairs Ariel Penaranda also read a statement from Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert G. Romulo, thanking the veterans supporters in the US Congress. Aside from Inouye, these are Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D, HI), chairman of the Senate committee of veterans’ affairs, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, Nev), Congressman Filner, Congressman Mike Honda (D, CA), Filipino American Congressman Bobby Cortez Scott (D, VA), among others.
“After 63 years, recognition, restoring our dignity and honor as veterans,” said veteran Urbano of Arlington, Virginia. He also welcomed the financial benefit, “because we’re not rich, and this will help me and my wife Nora in our golden years.”
At the embassy program, Almeda thanked government officials, community organizations and the media, mentioning President Gloria Arroyo, Ambassador Gaa, Deputy Chief of Mission Carlos Sorreta, General Lorenzana and Service Officer Percival Abu, who was the night’s emcee.
But noting, “You cannot see light without the darkness,” Almeda also thanked the opposing lawmakers in Congress. “Their objections highlighted the practical and moral of the issue.”
Those present viewed photographer and film producer Paul Tanedo’s eight-minute documentary, “Singled Out,” by turns cheering and silent at seeing departed veterans onscreen.
The program, which ended with a buffet, began with the wreath-laying ceremony to honor the fallen veterans. The ceremony had been originally scheduled at the National Mall’s World War II Memorial, but moved indoors due to inclement weather.
The National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE), led by campaign director Ben de Guzman, presented the veterans with a gift of blankets and other items “of utilitarian value.”
NAFVE is composed of several organizations, led by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, which lobbied for veterans’ benefits legislation. NaFFAA put veterans equity on top of its community empowerment agenda at the 1997 founding conference here.
“We join the American people in hailing the recent of the U.S. Congress to restore the status of our Filipino World War II heroes as U.S. veterans,” NaFFAA National Chair Greg Macabenta said.
Another advocacy group is the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV), founded in December 1995 here, and composed of veterans nationwide. “I have mixed emotions,” volunteer adviser and former Executive Director Eric Lachica said, noting the veterans who died before their vindication.
He said, “We hope to work for the widows to get something,” he said in an earlier interview. Epi Tejada, the widow of Jack Tejada, was at embassy celebration. Jack, who died in December, was Lachica’s frequent companion in lobbying Congress.
Lachica also said his group would revive the family reunification bill. The bill aims to reunite veterans with their adult (over-21) children and minor grandchildren.
Franco Arcebal, ACFV vice president based in L.A., California, said in a phone interview the $15,000 lump sum would come in handy, to show he has financial capacity to support his children in the US.
Others present at the embassy celebration who gave behind-the-scene support for the veterans were Charmaine Manansala, expected to be appointed the deputy assistant secretary of the US Department of Labor, Carmela Clendenning, former top aide of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Irene Bueno, former presidential assistant for domestic policy during President Bill Clinton’s time.

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