By Kimberley Ma
Daily Bruin Contributor
Starting Thursday, students will highlight the plight of World
War II Pilipino veterans who have been denied full service
benefits.
The event titled “Conquering Injustice: Pilipino World War
II Veterans,” is a project students organized for the Asian
American Studies 197J class after Professor Glenn Omatsu introduced
the subject to students.
“We’re trying to build awareness and support for the
Pilipino veterans through the exhibit,” said David Kwak, a
fifth-year sociology student who said that students decided to
organize the event after visiting Pilipino Town and talking to
veterans.
“The veterans are really old and the only reason they
continue to fight is because we’re supporting them. Without
us, they wouldn’t really have a voice,” he said.
The event starts with a festival Thursday where veterans will
speak about their struggles with the United States government.
Activities will continue Friday and Saturday with an exhibit in
Covel Commons.
The Asian American Studies Center, Samahang Pilipino, and the
Concerned Asian Pacific Islander Students for Action are sponsoring
the event.
In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive
order to enlist 118,000 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines into the U.S. army under the
command of General Douglas MacArthur. In addition to the troops,
another 200,000 Pilipino guerrilla soldiers fought in the war.
Both Roosevelt and MacArthur promised full benefits for their
services, but more than half a century later, they still have not
seen this promise fulfilled.
“A lot of veterans died in hopes of receiving full
benefits,” said Manuel Mavunga, a prisoner of WWII and the
current president of the Filipino American Veterans of Southern
California.
“We are all old now and in our 60s, 70s, and 80s, and we
are still hoping the promise will be fulfilled,” he
continued.
Under the Rescission Act of 1946, Pilipino and American-Pilipino
veterans are denied rights given to other foreign WWII veterans.
The act states that except for those veterans who died, who were
maimed or who discontinued service due to physical disabilities
shall be denied full service benefits.
“We’ve been fighting for full benefits ever since
1946,” said Mang Peping Baclig, president of the Filipino
American Service Group, Inc. “But our pleas have been falling
on deaf ears.”
The veterans are campaigning for benefits such as old age
unemployment insurance, burial benefits and Veterans Affairs
hospital and medical coverage.
“The veterans have received some partial benefits and
increased health benefits,” Omatsu said. “The next step
is full benefits.”
A major victory for the veterans’ campaign came with
President Bill Clinton’s signing of the Pilipino Veterans SSI
Extension Act on Dec. 14, 1999. The bill allows Pilipino American
Veterans to take 75 percent of their Supplemental Security Income,
a monthly maximum of $379, and return to the Philippines.
Currently, only veterans who have been disabled during service,
were prisoners of war or killed in action are given 50 percent of a
regular American veteran’s benefits. Other veterans receive
only welfare benefits.
“We only get half of the benefits of an American veteran,
but we fought under the same U.S. flag,” Mavunga said.
“It’s a small amount and it shows that the
discrimination is still there.”
Baclig said it is important for students to support the
veterans’ campaign for full recognition of services.
“My motto is you are only as old as what you think,”
he said. “Our minds are young, but our bodies are weak,
that’s when we need the help of youths. They have stronger
stamina and a louder voice.”
EVENT CALENDAR Students in the Asian American
Studies 197J class have organized an event about Pilipino World War
II veterans who have been fighting for full service benefits.
Thursday 11/30/00 6-9 p.m. Kinsey Hall
247 Testimonies from Pilipino veterans, documentary
presentation, art exhibit, cultural and musical performances and
free food. Friday 12/01/00 12-7 p.m. Third
Floor, Covel Commons: Open Art Exhibit Works of artists
and their expressions of the veterans’ struggles. SOURCE: U.S.
Census Bureau Original graphic by MAGGIE WOO/Daily Bruin Web
adaptation by VICKI FENG