Envoy cites US Congress, others for passage of Filvets bill

CHICAGO – Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willie C. Gaa thanked “friends and supporters in the US Congress who have successfully fought to retain the provision granting recognition and lump sum benefits to Filipino World War II veterans in the Economic Stimulus Package that they passed this evening." Consul Gines D. Gallaga, Embassy’s press attaché and information officer, said Gaa also thanked the “Filipino American community and takes pride in this moment" and expresses his “gratitude for your wholehearted support and cooperation in this struggle. Your advocacy and activism on this issue through the decades have been instrumental in this achievement." Mr. Gaa also “expresses appreciation to the leadership of the Philippine Government, particularly to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo, for providing the Embassy with all the support it needed in this struggle and for making the Filipino veterans issue an administration priority." He said, “The President herself has personally lobbied key leaders of the US Congress on numerous occasions on this issue. Her commendable efforts and example have immensely contributed to the passage of legislation that finally addresses the injustice committed on our brave veterans with the passage of the 1946 Rescission Act." Gaa said, “It has been a long and difficult struggle through the decades, but the effort was well worth it. Our brave and selfless veterans have served as a glowing inspiration for all of us and their faith and trust in our efforts have provided all of us a strong motivation to help secure justice for their cause. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve on their behalf and to help them reclaim their honor and their dignity. “ The US Congress on Friday (Saturday in the Philippines) passed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that authorized the release of $198-M to make a one-time lump sum pay of $15,000 to each of the Filipino World War II veterans who are United States citizens and $9,000 to each of the veterans, who are not US citizens and are mostly living in the Philippines. The law also protects eligibility for benefits currently received by veterans. If the claimant dies after filing the claim, the claimant’s spouse will be entitled to the benefits. ’Half loaf is better than none’ A son of a Filipino veteran, who has been seeking the benefits through the courts, said that the benefits granted by the US Congress apply to the saying that a “half loaf is better than none." Still, Father Prisco E. Entines, who based in Los Angeles, California, said the grant of lump sum benefits to the Filipino veterans “does not stop" his “crusade." The benefits, Father Entines said, is “another proof of the brazen inequality and aggravated racial degradation of our War-Hero-Veterans, who, were and are Instant, Native-born Americans. “In much, much more degree than the 116.000 Aliens, who were mere volunteers (not Conscripted under the death penalty of Articles of War #58) in the US Armed Forces during the war but were paid equally and granted their Full and Equal VA benefits monthly. Anywhere they may be. US Citizen or Not. Actual Resident in US or Not." Meanwhile, Ben de Guzman, spokesperson of the National Alliances for Filipino Veterans Equity, said, "The inclusion of the authorizing language in effect allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to disburse funds that have been appropriated for this purpose through the Filipino WWII Veterans Compensation Fund." He cited Sen. Daniel Inouye, as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, for including the Filipino WWII Veterans legislation in the stimulus package. Last year, a Filipino veterans’ legislation pushed by the administration of then President George W. Bush failed to gain enough support in Congress. NAFVE members and Filipino American community leaders from around the country weighed in on Friday’s historic vote: "Since NAFVE's inception as a coalition of the major groups working on this issue, we've always been fighting for full equity as a matter of honor and principle, but this legislation is an important victory and helps correct the grievous mistake committed by the Congress," said De Guzman, who is also NAFVE national coordinator. "This historic bill will be signed by the President two days after the 63rd anniversary of the 1946 Rescission Acts that originally deprived our veterans their rightful benefits and stripped them of their status as US veterans," added Lillian Galedo, NAFVE co-chair and executive director of Filipinos for affirmative action. Lou Tancinco, NAFVE Steering Committee member and chair of the San Francisco Veterans Equity Center said, "We remain committed to supporting our Filipino veterans' struggle for justice and full equity, and will work to make sure that these veterans will be able to get the much needed support in their twilight years." "We are heartened that this measure will provide these veterans with the recognition of their military service by the US government," added Rozita Lee, NAFVE Steering Committee member and Vice Chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations. - GMANews.TV