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Bush will consider Filipino Veterans' Request for PensionsAging, Shrinking Filipino Vets Group Still Denied Disability Benefits Available to Other Vets
WASHINGTON, DC - 10/21/04 - A White House official yesterday assured leaders of Filipino American WWII veterans that the Bush Administration is considering their request for disability pensions. "The Administration will still consider your request for pensions," said Eddy Badrina, the Filipino American executive director of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, to two-dozen leaders of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV). The Washington-based advocacy organization held their action conference in a downtown Washington hotel to mark the 60th anniversary of the October 20, 1944 Leyte Landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the start of the Philippine liberation campaign. Patrick Ganio, 83, a decorated WWII defender in the battles in Bataan and Corregidor and the president of ACFV, introduced Badrina, 28, as "our grandson" to the veterans during their 45-minute conference. Ganio said, "I know how close you are to the Bush family, if you could convey our message to George W. Bush that. we have high hopes. Let us close this issue what his dad began in 1990 with the naturalization law. This will be historic. The Democrats cannot say anything more." In 1990, President George H. Bush Sr. invited Ganio to be the sole Filipino veteran to witness the naturalization bill signing ceremony. Franco Arcebal, 81, the ACFV vice-president for membership from Los Angeles, pleaded with Badrina to convince the president to issue within two weeks a statement supporting legislation providing $800 monthly VA Department pensions for poor Filipino veterans in U.S. and $100 for those in the Philippines. About 8,000 Filipino veterans live in the US and 20,000 in the Philippines. "With the little voice we can muster, we want our voice to reach the president... Is $100 per month too big for those who risked their lives for America and never received benefits for the past sixty years," Arcebal asked. He suggested Bush introduce an Administration bill in the "lame duck" session of congress that begins on November 16. Badrina confirmed that White House had began discussions on their request on September 20 with Loida Nicolas-Lewis, chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Association who met with Alan Gilbert, the president's special assistant for domestic policy. Susan Bonzon Ralston, the Filipina American executive assistant to Bush senior advisor, Karl Rove, arranged the meeting. Badrina said, "I will pass along your message to them (Gilbert and Ralston) and to appropriate members of the White House to ensure they do get the message. I'm not promising anything in terms of what will come out of that." "I do know the President cares deeply about all veterans including Filipino American veterans here in the States and back in the Philippines. I'm sure you are aware he passed Public Law 108-183 fixing a number of issues.that was no small gesture of support for you. It was substantial. We will continue to look for ways to better improve your quality of life," added Badrina who grew up in Texas. He also read aloud the October 19, 2004 message from President Bush commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Leyte landing. Badrina said his "lolo" grandfather fought in the US Army Forces in Far East in WWII and later sacrificed his life defending his country at hands of communists in Santa Barbara, Iloilo shortly after the war. The Japanese killed his two aunts. "My family is filled by history that you lived. This touches me personally. I will continue to relay your message to the President and his staff." Earlier on May 27, 2004, Democratic presidential candidate Senator John F. Kerry issued a Memorial Day statement urging the restoration of U.S. veteran benefits to Filipino veterans. Kerry is also cosponsor of Filipino veterans senate bill S.68. The House of Representatives bill H.R. 677 has 206 cosponsors - 12 short of majority. After the meeting with Badrina, the two-dozen veterans from various cities wearing their caps and medals marched several blocks to the White House South Lawn fence. As they sang "Old Soldiers Never Die," they displayed their "chains of the 1946 Rescission Act" to appeal for presidential action during their brief afternoon rally that attracted the attention of tourists. The coalition with 4,000 individual members is campaigning for full recognition of their US military service and their eligibility to VA benefits that was withdrawn by the "1946 Rescission Act" passed by Congress. Over the recent years Filipino American veterans have won VA burial and medical care benefits. However, they are denied disability pensions that available to 250,000 of their American counterparts. The coalition sponsored the rally with their affiliates: Philippine-American. Veterans Organization NJ, American Legion Posts from the Philippines, Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles Filipino Am. Veterans Forum, San Diego, Sacramento, US Filipino WWII Veterans Delano, VFW Douglas MacArthur-Vicent Lim MD Post, and other community organizations.
Other Readings of Interest
Contacts: Eric Lachica, executive director, 1-202-246-1998 |
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