Pinoy WWII vets in LA to get recognition, benefits

It may be a bit late, but Filipino World War II veterans — at least those in Los Angeles, California — may soon be one step closer to a much-awaited recognition and benefits for their contributions in the war. Through the sponsorship of Council member Richard Alarcon, the LA City Council passed resolutions supporting Assembly Bill 199 (Filipinos in World War II Social Studies Curriculum Act) and Assembly Resolution 6 (Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011). "The resolutions aim to recognize the role of Filipinos during World War II in history text books in the United States and the reinstatement of benefits for Filipino Veterans of WWII," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a news release. AB199 is the first step towards ensuring that social science instruction in Grades 7 to 12 includes the significant role of Filipinos in World War II, the DFA said. Last August, the US Senate passed AB199, according to a report on the Asian Journal. It would be a long-awaited recognition for some 15,000 Filipino World War II veterans still living today, the Asian Journal said. The Asian Journal said this was the second time the bill passed the Assembly and Senate in California. But then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declined to sign the bill, saying Filipinos' contribution in World War II in textbooks should be taken up by the state’s education board and not made into law. Meanwhile, AJR6 is a support resolution that encourages Congress and the President of the United States to enact House Resolution 210 or the "Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011," authored by Congresswoman Jackie Speier. — RSJ, GMA News