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35-645 PDF 2007

S. HRG. 110–70

HEARING ON THE FILIPINO VETERANS

EQUITY ACT OF 2007

HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS 

UNITED STATES SENATE

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

APRIL 11, 2007

Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate 

(II)

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS 

DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii, Chairman 

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia 

PATTY MURRAY, Washington 

BARACK OBAMA, Illinois 

BERNARD SANDERS, (I) Vermont 

SHERROD BROWN, Ohio 

JIM WEBB, Virginia 

JON TESTER, Montana 

LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho, Ranking Member 

ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania 

RICHARD M. BURR, North Carolina 

JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia 

LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina 

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas 

JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada 

WILLIAM E. BREW, Staff Director 

LUPE WISSEL, Republican Staff Director 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

APRIL 11, 2007

SENATORS 

Page 

Akaka, Hon. Daniel K., Chairman, U.S. Senator from Hawaii ........................... 1

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 5

Inouye, Hon. Daniel K., U.S. Senator from Hawaii .............................................. 1

Craig, Hon. Larry E., Ranking Member, U.S. Senator from Idaho ..................... 5

Murray, Hon. Patty, U.S. Senator from Washington ........................................... 18

WITNESSES 

Gaa, Hon. H.E. Willy C., Philippine Ambassador to the United States ............. 7

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 8

Legal, Moral and Historical Basis for Filipino Veterans Full Equity, 

attachment ..................................................................................................... 9

Aument, Ronald R., Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, Department of 

Veterans Affairs ................................................................................................... 12

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 14

Panangala, Sidath Viranga, Analyst, Social Legislation, Congressional

Research Service .................................................................................................. 20

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 22

CRS Report for Congress—Overview of Filipino Veterans’ Benefits,

attachment ..................................................................................................... 25

Antonio, Luisa, Executive Director, San Francisco Veterans Equity Center ..... 39

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 40

Yangwas, Jenah Mari Paloy, SAVE Member, and Granddaughter of a Filipino 

WWII Veteran ...................................................................................................... 41

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 42

Manuel B. Braga, Commander, Filipino World War II Veterans Federation, 

San Diego County ................................................................................................ 46

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 48

Caleda, Art A., President of WWII Fil-AM Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary 

Hawaii Chapter .................................................................................................... 49

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 50

Ganio, Patrick G., Sr., National President, American Coalition for Filipino 

Veterans, Inc. ....................................................................................................... 52

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 54

Valdez, Benito, Filipino World War II Veteran ..................................................... 55

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 56

Ramsey, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Price (Ret.), World War II Veteran ............ 57

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 58

APPENDIX 

Reid, Hon. Harry, U.S. Senator from Nevada, prepared statement .................... 65

Brown, Hon. Sherrod, U.S. Senator from Ohio, prepared statement .................. 65

Filner, Hon. Bob, U.S. Representative from California, prepared statement ..... 66

Magaoay, Hon. Michael, Y., State Representative from Hawaii, prepared 

statement .............................................................................................................. 67

Agbayani, Amy, Ph.D., Vice Chair, National Federation of Filipino American 

Associations Region 12 (Hawaii, Guam, and Commonwealth of Northern 

Marianas Islands), prepared statement ............................................................. 67

Andaya, Bryan, Esq., United Filipino Community Council (UFCH), prepared 

statement .............................................................................................................. 68

Page

IV

Batongmalaque, Jenny L., M.D., Executive Director, Filipino Veterans,

prepared statement .............................................................................................. 68

Cabot, Cynthia C., Board Member, Guam Liaison, National Federation of 

Filipino American Associations Region 12, prepared statement ...................... 69

Calabas, Arcadio, President, Illinois Veterans Equity Center and the American Legion Filipino American Post 509, prepared statement ......................... 70

Cuaresma, Charlene, President, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, prepared 

statement .............................................................................................................. 71

Dilkes, Susan Espiritu, Member, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans

Equity and the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, prepared

statement .............................................................................................................. 71

Florentino, Max C., President, Filipino WWII Pensioners Association, Inc., 

and Defender of WWII Filipino Veterans, prepared statement ....................... 72

Gutierrez, Lynne, President, Oahu Filipino Community Council, prepared 

statement .............................................................................................................. 74

de Guzman, Ben, National Campaign Coordinator, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE), prepared statement ....................................... 74

Letter in support of the Filipino Veterans Equity bill, attachment ............. 75

List of events commemorating April 9 as Day of Valor, attachment ........... 79

Hopkins, Margarita, President, and Colmenares, Serafin, Jr., Vice President, 

Congress of Visayan Organizations, prepared statement ................................. 81

Musico, Nic G., Adviser, WWII Fil-Am Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary Hawaii 

Chapter, prepared statement .............................................................................. 82

de Ocampo, Emmanuel V., President, Veterans Federation of the Philippines, 

prepared statement .............................................................................................. 83

Oculto, Tessie, President, Philippine Nurses Association-Hawaii, prepared 

statement .............................................................................................................. 83

Ramos-Razon, Beatrice, President, Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc.,

prepared statement .............................................................................................. 83

Letters in support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007: 

Lingle, Hon. Linda, Governor from Hawaii ....................................................... 84

Garcetti, Hon. Eric, Councilman, Thirteenth Council District, City of Los 

Angeles .................................................................................................................. 84

Wilfredo, Lieutenant Colonel Tungkol (Ret.), U.S. Army ................................. 85

Stewart, Kwoh, President and Executive Director, and Huang, Daniel, Policy Advocate, Immigration and Citizenship Project, Asian Pacific American 

Legal Center of Southern California, Los Angeles, California ......................... 85

(1)

HEARING ON THE FILIPINO VETERANS 

EQUITY ACT OF 2007

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2007

U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:01 a.m., in room 

418, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K. Akaka, Chairman of the Committee, presiding. 

Present: Senators Akaka, Murray, and Craig. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. AKAKA, CHAIRMAN,

U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII 

Chairman AKAKA. The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

U.S. Senate will come to order. 

This hearing will be on the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007. 

Aloha. I am very pleased to welcome all of the witnesses to this 

long-awaited hearing on the veterans’ status of Filipinos who 

fought along the United States military during World War II. I 

thank especially those of you who have traveled so far, over long 

distances, to be with us today. 

I would like to begin by calling my close friend, my colleague 

from Hawaii, United States Senator Dan Inouye, who is the sponsor of S. 57. Senator Inouye? 

STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE,

U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII 

Senator INOUYE. Thank you very much for your invitation to 

come before your Committee to speak in strong support of the 

measure before us. I wish to commend you and the Members for 

holding this hearing on the Filipino Veterans Equity bill. I think 

the title should be Filipino Veterans Justice bill. It is to do justice. 

It is my sincere hope that we will be successful in the passage of 

this bill during this Congress. 

Many of you know of my continued advocacy on the importance 

of addressing the plight of the Filipino World War II veterans, all 

of whom are in their twilight years. As an American, I believe the 

treatment of Filipino World War II veterans is bleak and shameful. 

It is time that we as a Nation recognize our longstanding history 

and friendship with the Filipinos. 

Of the 120,000 that served in the Commonwealth Army during 

World War II, there are approximately 60,000 Filipino veterans recently residing in the United States and the Philippines. According 

to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Filipino veteran popuVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
2

lation is expected to decrease to approximately 20,000, or roughly 

one-third of the current population, by 2010. 

Historically, the Philippines became a United States possession 

in 1898 when it was ceded by Spain following the Spanish-American War. In 1934, the Congress enacted the Philippines Independence Act, which provided a 10-year time frame for the independence of the Philippines. Between 1934 and the final independence 

in 1946, the United States retained certain powers over the Philippines, including the right to call military forces organized by the 

newly formed Commonwealth Government into the service of the 

United States Armed Forces. 

The Commonwealth Army of the Philippines was called to serve 

with the United States Armed Forces in the Far East during World 

War II under President Roosevelt’s July 26, 1941 military order, 

which was the law of the land. The Filipinos who served were entitled to full veterans’ benefits by reason of their active service in our 

armed forces. Hundreds were wounded in battle and many more 

hundreds died in battle. 

Shortly after Japan’s surrender, the Congress enacted the Armed 

Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 for the purpose of sending Filipino troops to occupy enemy lands and to oversee military 

installations at various overseas bastions. These troops were authorized to receive pay and allowances for services performed 

throughout the Western Pacific. Although hostilities had ceased, 

wartime service of these troops continued as a matter of law until 

the end of 1946. 

Despite all of their sacrifices, on February 18, 1946, a dark day, 

the Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946, now codified as 

Section 107 of Title 38 of the United States Code. The 1946 Act 

deemed that the service performed by these Filipino veterans 

would not be recognized as active service for the purpose of any 

U.S. law conferring rights, privileges, or benefits. Accordingly, Section 107 denied Filipino veterans access to health care, particularly 

for their armed service-connected disabilities, and pension benefits. 

Section 107 also limited service-connected disability and death 

compensation for Filipino veterans to 50 percent of what their 

American counterparts received. 

On May 27, 1946, the Congress enacted the Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act, which duplicated the 

language that eliminated Filipino veterans’ benefits under the First 

Rescission Act. Thus, Filipino veterans who fought in the service 

of the United States during World War II have been precluded 

from receiving most of the veterans’ benefits that had been available to them before 1946 and that are available to all other veterans of our armed forces, regardless of race, national origin, or 

citizenship

status. 

Throughout the years, I have sponsored several measures to rectify the lack of appreciation America has shown to these gallant 

men and women who stood in harm’s way with our American soldiers and fought the common enemy during World War II. These 

benefits include veterans’ health care, service-connected disability 

compensation, non-service-connected disability compensation, deVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
3

pendent indemnity compensation, death pension, and full burial 

benefits. 

As a result of a citizenship statute enacted by the Congress in 

1990, some Filipino veterans who were able to travel came to the 

United States to become U.S. citizens. At the same time, many 

other Filipino World War II veterans were unable to travel to the 

U.S. and take advantage of the naturalization benefit because of 

their advanced age. 

The law was subsequently amended under the Fiscal Year 1993 

Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, and the Judiciary Appropriations Act to allow the naturalization process for these veterans 

to occur in the Philippines. Since then, a distinction has been made 

to provide benefits to only those Filipino veterans residing in the 

United States. 

I believe it is unfair to make a distinction between those residing 

in the U.S. versus those residing in the Philippines. Under President Roosevelt’s July 26, 1941 military order, the Commonwealth 

Army of the Philippines served with the United States Armed 

Forces in the Far East. 

Together, these gallant men and women stood in harm’s way 

with our American soldiers to fight our common enemies in World 

War II. I strongly urge the Committee not to make a distinction 

between the Filipino veterans in the U.S. and the Filipino veterans 

residing in the Philippines. After all, an injury is just as painful 

in the Philippines as it is in the United States. 

Because all Filipino veterans stood in equal jeopardy during 

World War II, I do not believe we should have a distinction drawn 

based on the current residency in the U.S. or in the Philippines. 

All of them were at equal risk and so all should receive equal benefits. 

Heroes should never be forgotten or ignored. Let us not turn our 

backs on those who sacrificed so much. Let us instead work to 

repay all of those brave men for their sacrifices by providing them 

the veterans’ benefits they deserve. 

Thank you very much for your consideration on this matter, and 

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I stand ready to 

work with you toward the passage of this much-deserved and 

much-needed legislation for the Filipino veterans of World War II. 

I thank you very much, sir. 

[Applause.] 

Chairman AKAKA. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, recipient of the 

Medal of Honor of the United States, one who is ranked number 

three in the U.S. Senate, one who has introduced the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 that would constitute the granting of veterans’ benefits and status to the Filipino veterans who served 

under U.S. command during the Second World War. 

Senator Inouye, thank you very much for your testimony and 

your bill that we will be talking about today. Thank you very 

much, and with much Aloha. 

Senator INOUYE. Sir, I thank you very much, and Senator Craig, 

I thank you, sir. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you. I know you are busy and we will 

go on with the hearing now, but again——

4

Senator INOUYE. Chairman, if you will excuse me, we have an 

Armed Services Committee meeting. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator 

INOUYE. [Applause.] 

Chairman AKAKA. I want you to know that we have many who 

are attending this hearing today and we have an overflow room—

that is Room 432 on this floor—that has room for you in case you 

want to sit down. There is a screen there so that you can watch 

what is happening in this room. It is Room 432. 

In the 62 years since the end of the Second World War, Filipino 

veterans have worked tirelessly to secure the veterans’ status they 

were promised when they agreed to fight under U.S. command in 

defense of their homeland and to protect U.S. interests in the region. Today, I am happy to say many Filipino veterans enjoy eligibility for benefits and health care services as U.S. veterans. 

However, as our distinguished witnesses here today will remind 

us, there is still work to be done in order to extend these eligibilities to all of those who served alongside the United States military during World War II. There remains a distinction in law between those Filipino veterans who served in the old Philippine 

Scouts and those who served in the Filipino Commonwealth Army, 

the recognized guerilla forces or the New Philippine Scouts. 

Unlike those who served as old Philippine Scouts, those in the 

other three groups are not eligible for all VA benefits under the 

same criteria that applies to veterans of U.S. military service, and 

perhaps more importantly, this means they are not officially acknowledged by the U.S. Government as true veterans. 

My colleague and good friend from Hawaii, Senator Daniel 

Inouye, has introduced legislation which will end this distinction 

and, at long last, recognize these honorable and brave men as U.S. 

veterans of World War II. Senator Inouye’s bill, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, would constitute the final gesture in 

granting full veteran status to the brave Filipinos who served 

under U.S. command during the Second World War. 

There is a long and amiable history between the United States 

and the Filipinos dating back to 1898, when the Philippine Islands 

were ceded from Spain following the Spanish-American War. When 

called upon by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to fight under U.S. 

command against the Japanese invasion, the organized Armed 

Forces of the Philippines fought bravely and honorably. They 

fought for the cause of freedom, their own independence, and out 

of loyalty to the United States. 

In the decades since the end of World War II and the establishment of the Independent Republic of the Philippines, the tradition 

of goodwill between the people of the United States and the Philippines has continued. In my home State of Hawaii, I have seen 

firsthand the invaluable contributions that Filipino Americans 

have made to the rich cultural texture of this country. 

The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 would honor the service 

of all Filipino veterans of World War II by formally recognizing the 

contribution of our Filipino veteran brethren from, ‘‘the greatest 

generation.’’ This hearing is an important first step toward that 

recognition. 

5

I again thank our witnesses for joining us and look forward to 

today’s hearing. I want to thank you, all of those of you here of 

Philippine ancestry. Mabuhay. 

[Applause.] 

[The prepared statement of Chairman Akaka follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. AKAKA, CHAIRMAN, U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII

Aloha. In the sixty-two years since the end of the Second World War, Filipino veterans have worked tirelessly to secure the veterans status they were promised when 

they agreed to fight under U.S. command in defense of their homeland and to protect U.S. interests in the region. Today, I am happy to say, many Filipino veterans 

enjoy eligibility to benefits and health care services as U.S. veterans. However, as 

our distinguished witnesses here today will remind us, there is still work to be done 

in order to extend these eligibilities to all of those who served alongside the United 

States military during the World War II. 

There remains a distinction in law between those Filipino veterans who served 

in the Old Philippine Scouts and those who served in the Filipino Commonwealth 

Army, the Recognized Guerilla forces, or the New Philippine Scouts. Unlike those 

who served as Old Philippine Scouts, those in the other three groups are not eligible 

for all VA benefits under the same criteria that applies to veterans of U.S. military 

service. And, perhaps more importantly, this means they are not officially acknowledged by the United States government as true veterans. 

My colleague and good friend from Hawaii, Senator Daniel Inouye, has introduced 

legislation which will end this distinction and, at long last, recognize and honor 

these brave men as U.S. veterans of World War II. Senator Inouye’s bill, the ‘‘Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007’’ would constitute the final gesture in granting full 

veteran status to the brave Filipinos who served under U.S. command during the 

Second World War. 

There is a long and amiable history between the United States and the Philippines dating back to 1898, when the Philippine Islands were ceded from Spain following the Spanish American War. When called upon by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to fight under U.S. command against the Japanese occupation, the organized 

armed forces of the Philippines fought bravely and honorably. They fought for the 

cause of freedom, their own independence, and out of loyalty to the United States. 

In the decades since the end of World War II and the establishment of the independent Republic of the Philippines, the tradition of goodwill between the people of 

the United States and the Philippines has continued. In my home state of Hawaii, 

I have seen first hand the invaluable contributions that Filipino Americans have 

made to the rich cultural texture of this country. 

The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 would honor the service of all Filipino 

veterans of World War II by formally recognizing the contributions of our Filipino 

brethren from the ‘‘Greatest Generation.’’ This hearing is an important first step in 

that recognition coming to fruition.

Chairman AKAKA. Senator Craig? 

STATEMENT OF HON. LARRY E. CRAIG, RANKING MEMBER,

U.S. SENATOR FROM IDAHO 

Senator CRAIG. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to all of our witnesses this morning and all who are in attendance, both here and, I understand, as Danny has just expressed, remotely. 

Mr. Chairman, you have already described the great services rendered by our friends from the Philippine Islands during World War 

II. That service is undeniable, and the legal record and the obligations from that record are also undeniable. That service is a fact. 

It is a historic fact that victory in the Pacific would not have been 

assured without the help of our Filipino friends and our FilipinoAmerican citizens. 

I will not attempt to expand on what you have already said and 

what we will later hear from our guests this morning. The ultimate 

6

question we must grapple with in this Committee is 62 years after 

World War II, has the U.S. Government met its obligation to Filipino veterans who fought under U.S. command during that war? 

When distinguished veterans of this Senate and of that war, Senator Inouye and Senator Akaka, put their name on legislation 

which suggests we have not met that obligation, that is an alert 

to all of us here that something is amiss. That, in fact, we should 

strive to do better for our Filipino veterans. That is, I believe, a responsibility and an obligation, and that is my position, Mr. Chairman. We should strive to do better for the Filipino veterans and 

I will work with you to that end. 

Let me turn, then, to the issue of whether S. 57 represents the 

best way to accomplish our collective goal. As you know, S. 57 

would grant full VA benefits to Filipino veterans. There are several 

issues that prevent me from endorsing the legislation at this time. 

First, while Filipino veterans were certainly U.S. nationals at the 

time of the war, a fact which heightens our obligation to them, they 

were also on a path to full independence as members of a sovereign 

nation. Yes, they fought for the U.S. interest against a common 

enemy, but they also fought for their own homeland. As such, I believe the governments of the Philippines and the United States collectively share responsibility for the care of these veterans. As I understand it, the Filipino Government pays $100 a month 

to Filipino veterans. I have also learned that should V.A. benefits 

be expanded on their behalf, that the Filipino Government would 

offset their $100 monthly payment. Mr. Chairman, I find that unacceptable. I am interested in improving benefits to Filipino veterans, not in merely shifting funding obligations from one nation’s 

taxpayers to another. 

Second, it is a fact that the standard of living of our two countries is vastly different. VA pension benefits paid to veterans residing in the United States barely gets household income above the 

poverty level. The same benefit paid to veterans residing in the 

Philippines would provide income that is almost four times the average household income of that country. I am very concerned about 

creating a situation where the relative value of the same benefits 

is so vastly different. 

Third, the price tag of S. 57 is large, almost $1 billion over 10 

years by some estimates. The Congress’s budget rules require us to 

find offsets for that new spending. During a time of war and fiscal 

restraint, how will the costs of S. 57 be met? 

And finally, we have several bills pending before this Committee 

that seek to expand benefits to veterans of the War on Terror. Our 

country has no higher priority than to assure that those returning 

from war with traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, and amputations have the best benefits and care available. These bills also 

have tremendous costs. I want to make sure that in our goal to expand benefits for Filipino veterans within our existing resources, 

we also give appropriate priority to others in need. 

So, Mr. Chairman, I see that as our collective challenge in meeting an obligation and a responsibility that is represented in S. 57 

and I will work with you to resolve this issue. Thank you very 

much. 

[Applause.] 

7

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Senator Craig. I want 

you to know that Senator Craig and I have worked well together 

on this Committee and we will continue to do our best. We look forward to continuing this friendship and the kind of work that we 

do. 

We are fortunate to have with us today the Ambassador from the 

Philippines, Ambassador Gaa. He is accompanied by retired Major 

General Delfin N. Lorenzana, head of the Office of Veterans’ Affairs for the Philippine Embassy. We are pleased that you can join 

us today to share your perspective, Ambassador Gaa, on the role 

of the Filipino military personnel during World War II. 

Ambassador Gaa, your complete statement will appear in the 

Committee’s hearing record. Ambassador Gaa? 

STATEMENT OF HON. H.E. WILLY C. GAA, PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES; ACCOMPANIED BY MAJOR 

GENERAL DELFIN N. LORENZANA (RET.), HEAD, OFFICE OF 

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, PHILIPPINE EMBASSY 

Ambassador GAA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the 

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Thank you for your kind invitation for us to appear before the Committee. We deeply appreciate 

the opportunity to share with you the views of the Philippine Government on an issue of great importance to my country and to the 

Filipino people. 

Victory for allied forces marked the end of the war in the Pacific. 

At war’s end, though battered by years of fighting and with the 

memories of their fallen comrades etched in their hearts, our veterans rejoiced and savored the sweet taste of victory. Little did 

they know that while the carnage and destruction of war had 

ended, they would be facing a new battle, one where victory would 

be far more elusive. 

It would be a battle where time, not bullets, would ravage their 

ranks. It would be a fight where the pain of inequity, not the bayonet charges of the enemy, would force them to once again witness 

their comrades fall one by one. This would be a quest for victory 

that would once more demand that they give the full measure of 

courage and sacrifice they had unselfishly shown in the trenches of 

Bataan and Corregidor, in the jungles and mountains throughout 

the archipelago, and on the crimson roads of the Death March. 

Today, few of these living symbols of the very freedoms and liberties that we now enjoy remain. By the end of this month, many 

more would have fallen. But they have not been alone in this quest 

for a final victory. 

Many in the U.S. Congress have stood boldly by our brave soldiers. Their profound sense of history and commitment to the common values that both our countries share and have fought for have 

given all of us renewed hope for justice, fairness, and equity. 

In this quest, Filipino American groups, U.S. veterans’ organizations like the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 

Vietnam Veterans of America, and as well as individuals have also 

marched unflinchingly side-by-side with our veterans. Many of 

these groups and individuals are with us today and we thank them 

for their invaluable and tireless work and for their commitment 

and dedication. 

8

Mr. Chairman, the Philippine Government and the Filipino people continue to maintain that the Filipino soldiers who fought and 

served under the U.S. Army during World War II, specifically during the period between July 1941 to October 1945, are U.S. veterans under then-existing U.S. laws and are entitled to all benefits 

due a U.S. veteran. 

We therefore welcome the filing and urge the passage of S. 57 

and its companion bill in the House, H.R. 716, into law, to amend 

Section 107 of Title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service 

in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been 

active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered 

by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. We make this call based on 

assertions that are supported by clear facts and historical records. 

I have attached to this statement a reiteration of our arguments 

and I respectfully request that this be made part of the record. 

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, Filipino World 

War II veterans were treated unfairly by the 79th Congress and 

the U.S. Government in 1946 by the enactment of P.L. 79–301, otherwise known as the Rescission Act of 1946. 

At a critical juncture in both our countries’ history, Filipino veterans had willingly responded to the urgent call and order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They readily left their families 

and homes for an uncertain fate. They fought valiantly, bravely, 

and with uncommon courage. They went into combat against great 

odds and often lacking the support that they had been promised. 

Out of the 470,000 reported by the VA in 1946, less than 20,000 

remain by 2010, as mentioned by Senator Inouye earlier, 13,000 in 

the Philippines and 7,000 in the United States. Those who remain 

have very little time left. Many are sick and infirm. 

Two days ago, we marked the 65th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan with even more vacant spaces among the ranks of the veterans. We commemorate that fateful date not in the spirit of defeat 

but as a symbol of immense courage in the face of great odds and 

as a day that held for us the promise of a victory. 

Mr. Chairman, I ask on behalf of a nation that has stood by 

yours in the name of freedom, liberty, and democracy in World War 

II, in the decades of uncertainty after, and in facing today’s new 

and great challenges, to let these old soldiers have their final victory. We ask that they be allowed to end this last chapter of a war 

they had fought so hard to win with their dignity intact and with 

the honor that they so truly deserve. Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Ambassador Gaa follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. H.E. WILLY C. GAA,

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. 

Thank you for your kind invitation for us to appear before the Committee. 

We deeply appreciate the opportunity to share with you the views of the Philippine Government on an issue of great importance to my country and to the Filipino people. 

Victory for allied forces marked the end of the war in the Pacific. 

At war’s end, though battered by years of fighting and with the memories of their 

fallen comrades etched in their hearts, our veterans rejoiced and savored the sweet 

taste of victory. 

9

Little did they know that while the carnage and destruction of war had ended, 

they would be facing a new battle—one where victory would be far more elusive. 

It would be battle where time, not bullets would ravage their ranks. 

It would be a fight where the pain of inequity, not the bayonet charges of the 

enemy, would force them to once again witness their comrades fall, one by one. 

This would be a quest for victory that would once more demand that they give 

the full measure of courage and sacrifice they had unselfishly shown in the trenches 

of Bataan and Corregidor, in the jungles and mountains throughout the archipelago 

and on the crimson roads of the Death March. 

Today, few of these living symbols of the very freedoms and liberties that we now 

enjoy, remain. By the end of this month, many more would have fallen. 

But they have not been alone in this quest for a final victory. 

Many in the U.S. Congress have stood boldly by our brave soldiers. Their profound sense of history and commitment to the common values that both our countries share and have fought for, have given all of us renewed hope for justice, fairness and equity. 

In this quest, Filipino American groups, U.S. veterans organizations like the 

American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans of America, 

as well as individuals have also marched unflinchingly, side-by-side with our

veterans. 

Many of these groups and individuals are with us today, and we thank them for 

their invaluable and tireless work and for their commitment and dedication. 

Mr. Chairman, the Philippine Government and the Filipino people continue to 

maintain that the Filipino soldiers who fought and served under the U.S. Army during WWII, specifically during the period between July 1941 to October 1945, are 

U.S. veterans under then existing U.S. laws and are entitled to all benefits due a 

U.S. veteran. 

We therefore welcome the filing and urge the passage of S. 57 and its companion 

bill in the House, H.R. 760 into law, ‘‘to amend Section 107 of title 38, United States 

Code to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of 

the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active 

service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs.’’

We make this call based on assertions that are supported by clear facts and historical records. 

I have attached to this statement a reiteration of our arguments and respectfully 

request that these be made part of the record. 

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, Filipino WWII veterans were 

treated unfairly by the 79th Congress and the U.S. Government in 1946 by the enactment of P.L. 79–301, otherwise known as the Rescission Act of 1946. 

At a critical juncture in both our countries’ history, Filipino veterans had willingly 

responded to the urgent call of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

They readily left their families and homes for an uncertain fate. 

They fought valiantly, bravely and with uncommon courage. They went into combat against great odds and often lacking the support that they had been promised. 

Out of the 470,000 reported by the VA in 1946 less than 20,000 remain—13,000 

in the Philippines and 7,000 in the United States. 

Those who remain have very little time left. Many are sick and infirm. 

I ask, on behalf of a nation that has stood by yours in the name of freedom, liberty and democracy in World War II, in the decades of uncertainty after, and in facing today’s new and grave challenges, to let these old soldiers have their final

victory. 

We ask that they be allowed to end this last chapter of a war they had fought 

so hard to win—with their dignity intact and with the honor that they so truly

deserve. 

Thank you. 

LEGAL, MORAL AND HISTORICAL BASIS FOR

FILIPINO VETERANS FULL EQUITY

We have based our arguments on the following facts verifiable from U.S. Congress 

archives: 

1. The Philippines was then a Colony of the U.S.—The Philippines was then a colony of the U.S. and the U.S. President, under the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934 

(also known as the Philippine Independence Act of 1934) was vested with the authority to call the Philippine Commonwealth Army and other forces so organized to 

10

serve under the U.S. Army. This power was exercised by President Franklin Roosevelt on July 26, 1941. 

2. The U.S. Assumed Command of All Forces—Shortly thereafter, General MacArthur having been designated the Commander of the newly organized United 

States Army Forces in the Far East, with Headquarters in Manila, issued an order 

assuming command of all U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines including the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines. 

3. Public Law 79–301 was Grossly Unfair—On February 18, 1946, barely 5 

months before the scheduled independence of the Philippines, Public Law 79–301, 

now famously known as the Rescission Act of 1946, was enacted into law. Included 

in this rider was the appropriation of $200M to the Philippine Army with the proviso that ‘‘service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while such forces were in the service of the armed 

forces of the United States pursuant to the military order of the President of the 

United States dated July 26, 1941, shall not be deemed to be or to have been service 

in the military or naval forces of the U.S. or any component thereof for any law of 

the U.S. conferring rights, privileges or benefits upon any such person by reason of 

service of such person or any other person in the military or naval forces of the U.S. 

or any component thereof.’’

4. Key U.S. Officials Admitted Eligibility for Equity—During the hearing for Public Law 79–301 the head of the U.S. Veterans’ Administration was called to testify. 

His testimony included the following: there were 472,000 Filipino WWII veterans in 

1946, they were eligible to VA benefits (THE SERVICE OF THE FILIPINO COMMONWEALTH ARMY INTO THE U.S. ARMED SERVICES DURING WWII HAVE 

MET THE STATUTORY DEFINITION OF A U.S. VETERAN), and it would cost the 

U.S. $3.2B to cover Filipino WWII Veterans on equal basis with their American 

counterparts. 

5. Statement of President Harry S. Truman Clearly Recognized that Filipino Veterans Deserved Equity—Before signing P.L. 79–301 into law, President Harry S. 

Truman stated: 

a. The effect of this rider is to bar Philippine Army veterans from all benefits 

under the GI Bill of Rights with the exception of disability and death benefits. 

b. The passage and approval of this legislation does not release the U.S. from its 

moral obligation to provide for the heroic Philippine veterans who sacrificed so 

much for the common cause during the war. 

c. Philippine Army veterans are nationals of the U.S. and will continue in that 

status until July 4, 1946. They fought as American nationals, under the American 

flag, and under the direction of our military leaders. 

d. He considers it a moral obligation of the United States to look after the welfare 

of the Philippine Army veterans.

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Ambassador Gaa, for 

your testimony. 

I have some questions for you, Ambassador. My first question is, 

what benefits does your government currently provide to World 

War II Filipino veterans? 

Ambassador GAA. As mentioned by Senator Craig, the Philippine 

Government is extending old-age pension in the amount of approximately $100. They have also access to the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines. 

Chairman AKAKA. Ambassador Gaa, if the United States were to 

pay non-service-connected pension to all eligible Filipino veterans 

who served with the U.S. forces during World War II, would your 

government offset this benefit against any benefits that are already 

paid to these veterans? 

Ambassador GAA. Mr. Chairman, I have to be frank with you. We 

have legislation which states that a veteran who is at least 65 

years old shall be paid an old-age pension of 500 pesos monthly, 

or it is now 5,000 pesos, unless he is actually receiving a similar 

pension for the same consideration from other government funds or 

from the U.S. Government. Now, unless this is repealed, then there 

will be an offset. But let me assure you, Mr. Chairman, that my 

predecessor as well as myself have written our government that 

11

this grant be continued even after this government has extended 

benefits to these veterans. 

Chairman AKAKA. I thank you very much for your responses. 

Senator Craig? 

Senator CRAIG. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 

Mr. Ambassador, welcome before the Committee and thank you 

for your testimony. You have already responded to one of my questions that I broached in my opening comments that I think would 

be a concern, because I view the responsibility here as somewhat 

equal amongst nations, because while, as I said in my opening 

statement, yes, you fought as U.S. troops, I think there was a joint 

obligation and understanding and sense that you were also fighting 

to free a homeland. As a result of that, of course, you became independent. That was well underway at the time, from the 1930s on. 

So I am pleased with your response and I would hope that that is 

something that we could see moving in the form of legislation in 

the Philippines. 

One other question. I also commented on the difference in the 

cost of living in both the Philippines and the United States, and 

while I understand obligation no matter where the person resides, 

because we are talking about individuals who have been lifelong 

residents within the Philippines themselves, if the Committee were 

to extend benefits for the Filipino veteran residing in the Philippines, would you support our taking into account at least the differences in the cost of living of the two countries involved? 

Ambassador GAA. Well, Mr. Chairman, Senator Craig, that is 

something I would have to consult with the veterans. But personally, I would support legislation that would recognize the different 

economic conditions but also the legislation that would recognize 

the long historical friendship between the Philippines and the 

United States as well as the sacrifices of our Filipino veterans. 

That has to be taken comprehensively, Mr. Chairman. 

Senator CRAIG. And last, Mr. Chairman, Ambassador, you said that the veteran currently in the Philippines receives $100 a month 

and access to health care or a health care system? 

Ambassador GAA. It is access to the Veterans Memorial Medical 

Center, Mr. Chairman, Senator Craig, but that is only access. 

Senator CRAIG. Access——

Ambassador GAA. They have to pay their own medicines and all 

that. 

Senator CRAIG. So it is not full benefits——

Ambassador GAA. That is not full benefits——

Senator CRAIG [continuing].—delivered from that system? 

Ambassador GAA. Yes. 

Senator CRAIG. Thank you. That helps me. 

Ambassador GAA. Thank you. 

Senator CRAIG. Thank you both very much. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you, Senator Craig. 

I want to thank you, Ambassador, for your presence here. We 

really appreciate your statement and want to wish you well. Also, 

I want to mention that on April 9, the Philippines had a national 

holiday where they commemorated Corregidor and Bataan and also 

the Death March during World War II. You had a celebration there 

in the Philippines and I wanted to note that at this time. 

12

Again, Mr. Ambassador, thank you so much. I want to wish you 

and your country well in the 21st century. We look forward to considering Senator Inouye’s bill. Again, thank you very much. 

Ambassador GAA. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for your 

kind remarks. 

Chairman AKAKA. Aloha. 

Ambassador GAA. Aloha. 

[Applause.] 

Chairman AKAKA. On behalf of the Committee, I welcome our 

witnesses from the VA to the second panel: Mr. Ronald Aument, 

Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits; Mr. Jack Thompson, Deputy 

General Counsel; and Dr. Robert Wiebe, the Director of VA’s 

Health Care Network that includes Hawaii. 

Good to see you again. 

I want to thank each of you for being here today. I also want to 

place in the record that Senator Reid has cosponsored S. 57 and 

has submitted a statement for the record. 

Chairman AKAKA. Again, it is good to have you here and I want 

you to know that your full statement will appear in the record of 

the hearing. 

Mr. Aument? 

STATEMENT OF RONALD R. AUMENT, DEPUTY UNDER

SECRETARY FOR BENEFITS, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS; ACCOMPANIED BY ROBERT WIEBE, DIRECTOR, 

VETERANS INTEGRATED SERVICE NETWORK 21, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND JOHN H. THOMPSON, 

DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL, DEPARTMENT VETERANS

AFFAIRS 

Mr. AUMENT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Senator Craig, and 

thank you for the opportunity to testify today on S. 57, a bill that 

would deem certain service in the organized military forces of the 

Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for the purpose of benefits 

under programs administered by VA. 

I am accompanied today by Dr. Robert Wiebe and Mr. Jack 

Thompson. 

The VA has great respect for the bravery and service of Philippine soldiers and for their partnership with the U.S. military in 

defending freedom. I am personally privileged to have met some of 

the Filipino veterans present here today for this hearing, Mr. 

Chairman, and I thank them for their service. 

We are pleased that our office in Manila works tirelessly to provide benefits to those eligible, with the result that an average of 

$12.5 million is paid each month to veterans resident in the Philippines. These funds not only benefit the veterans themselves, but 

also contribute to the economic growth of the Philippines. 

For purposes of VA benefits and services, members of the Philippine Armed Forces can be categorized into four separate groups: 

Regular Philippine Scouts, Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, recognized guerilla units, and New Philippine Scouts. Veterans who served in the regular Philippine Scouts have always 

qualified for the full range of VA benefits and services as veterans 

of the United States Armed Forces and they are not affected by 

13

this bill. For the other categories of Filipino veterans, S. 57 would 

extend full eligibility for VA benefits. 

Congress limited the rates of disability and death compensation 

to the equivalent of 50 cents on the U.S. dollar and did not authorize eligibility for VA needs-based pension, health care, or readjustment of benefits for veterans of the Commonwealth Army, recognized guerilla units, and the New Philippine Scouts. Legislative 

history indicates that benefits were limited to 50 cents on the dollar in recognition of the different standards of living in the United 

States and the Philippines, and Congress also anticipated that the 

newly independent Republic of the Philippines would rightly assume additional responsibilities for its veterans. 

We are very pleased that Congress has in recent years improved 

the benefits for those facing living expenses comparable to United 

States veterans. We believe these improvements were extremely 

important, as they allowed the VA to maintain parity in the provision of veterans’ benefits among similarly situated Filipino beneficiaries. 

Filipino veterans who lawfully reside in the United States and 

are United States citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residency in the United States now qualify for disability compensation at the full U.S. dollar rate. They also have eligibility for 

VA health care and burial benefits similar to other veterans of the 

U.S. Armed Forces. 

Service-connected World War II Filipino veterans residing in the 

United States can obtain hospital and outpatient medical services 

for any condition on the same basis as veterans of the U.S. forces. 

The United States has also provided assistance to the Philippines 

in a number of different ways to facilitate the provision of medical 

care to World War II Filipino veterans. 

While we are grateful for the military service and the sacrifices 

these Filipino veterans made during World War II, VA does not 

support enactment of this bill because it would disproportionately 

favor Filipino veterans over U.S. veterans. 

In 2003, the average annual family income in the Philippines in 

U.S. dollars was approximately $2,864. In contrast, the maximum 

annual pension rate in 2006 for a veteran with no dependents was 

$10,928 per year. The annual rate for a veteran with one dependent was $14,313, and the annual rate for a surviving spouse with 

no dependents was $7,329. 

Thus, Filipino veterans and their survivors receiving full-rate VA 

pensions while living in the Philippines would enjoy a much higher 

standard of living relative to the general population in the Philippines. At the same time, VA benefits paid to beneficiaries living 

in the United States, such as U.S. veterans, do not enable those 

beneficiaries to enjoy a standard of living higher than the general 

U.S. population. 

Assuming that the amendments that S. 57 would make would become effective on January 1, 2007, we estimate additional benefits 

cost, including medical benefits and memorial benefits, of approximately $510 million in the first year and more than $4 billion over 

10 years. Administrative costs are estimated at around $8.8 million 

in the first year and $27 million over 10 years. These estimates of 

administrative costs do not include the capital security cost sharing 

14

cost or administrative costs related to the provision of health care. 

Both the benefit and administrative costs include costs related to 

the three most financially significant benefits that would be afforded by this bill, which are disability compensation, pension, and 

DIC benefits. At this time, we do not have estimates that include 

costs related to any other benefits. 

This concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman, and I would be 

happy to entertain any questions from you or other Members of the 

Committee. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Aument follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF RONALD R. AUMENT, DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY

FOR BENEFITS, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to 

testify today on S. 57, a bill that would deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs 

administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA does not support enactment of the bill. 

Regular, or ‘‘Old,’’ Philippine Scouts are currently eligible for VA benefits in the 

same manner as veterans of the U.S. Army. Therefore, the bill would not affect this 

group. However, S. 57 would extend full eligibility for VA benefits to veterans of the 

Philippine Commonwealth Army, including those with recognized guerrilla service, 

and to veterans of the New Philippine Scouts. In my testimony today, I refer only 

to the groups affected by the proposed bill as ‘‘Filipino veterans’’ and do not refer 

to Regular Philippine Scouts. 

Section 107 of title 38, United States Code, generally limits the VA benefits to 

which Filipino veterans and their survivors are eligible to certain contracts of National Service Life Insurance, disability compensation, dependency and indemnity 

compensation (DIC), and monetary burial benefits. Furthermore, unless those veterans or survivors live in the United States and are U.S. citizens or are lawfully 

admitted for permanent residence in the United States, those veterans or survivors 

receive their disability compensation or DIC at the rate of fifty cents per U.S. dollar, 

which is commonly referred to as payment at a ‘‘half-dollar rate.’’ Payment of monetary burial benefits at more than the half-dollar rate requires, in addition to the 

legal residency requirement, that the veteran at the time of death be receiving disability compensation or be entitled to receive a disability pension but for the activeservice requirement. Eligibility for burial in a national cemetery and for hospital 

and nursing home care and medical services is limited to Filipino veterans living 

here in the United States who are either U.S. citizens or lawful residents. Filipino 

veterans and their survivors are not eligible for any other VA benefit with the exception of education benefits available under chapter 35 of title 38 to certain children of these veterans. 

We do not support the bill because it would disproportionately favor Filipino veterans over U.S. veterans. Mr. Chairman, in 2003 the average annual family income 

in the Philippines in U.S. dollars was approximately $2,864. In contrast, in 2006 

the maximum annual pension rate for a veteran with no dependent was $10,929 

U.S. dollars per year; the annual rate for a veteran with one dependent was 

$14,313; and the annual rate for a surviving spouse with no dependent was $7,329. 

Thus, Filipino veterans and their survivors receiving full-rate VA pensions while living in the Philippines would enjoy a much higher standard of living relative to the 

general population in the Philippines. At the same time, VA benefits paid to beneficiaries living in the United States, such as U.S. veterans, do not enable those 

beneficiaries to enjoy a standard of living higher than the general U.S. population. 

In fact, even when paid at the half-dollar rate, Filipino veterans and their survivors 

are receiving relatively higher rates of disability compensation, DIC, and burial benefits compared to beneficiaries receiving the full-dollar rate in the United States. 

As a direct result of S. 57, VA would have to double the monthly payments currently provided to the more than 7,000 Filipino veterans and their survivors who 

now receive disability compensation or DIC at the half-dollar rate. In addition, we 

expect newly eligible veterans or their survivors to apply for pension benefits. Although precise numbers are not available, we have based our cost estimates on an 

estimate that more than 20,000 Filipino veterans reside outside the United States. 

We derived this figure by applying mortality rates for World War II veterans to an 

estimate of the Filipino veteran population that was calculated in 2000. The resultVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
15

ing 20,000 figure is in line with an estimate used by the Congressional Research 

Service in 2006. Since it is very difficult to develop a firm estimate for the size of 

this population, we believe that 20,000 figure is as reliable as we can establish at 

this date. Based on this figure, we estimate compensation, pension, and DIC costs 

in the first year will exceed $491 million. Enactment of S. 57 may also likely require 

VA to provide to Filipino veterans memorial benefits such as interment, perpetual 

care of gravesites, government-furnished headstones or markers, and Presidential 

Memorial Certificates. 

S. 57 also would significantly affect VA’s health care system. Currently, the VA 

Outpatient Clinic in Manila, Philippines, provides a wide range of ambulatory care 

services for U.S. veterans living in the Philippines as well as Compensation-andPension examinations for both U.S. and Filipino veterans. The Clinic has an annual 

operating budget of approximately $6.3 million and, in Fiscal Year 2006, served 

3,799 U.S. veterans. Under S. 57, all Filipino veterans in the Philippines with VAadjudicated service-connected disabilities would become eligible for VA health care 

in the Philippines. As of February 2007, the VA Manila Regional Office provided 

compensation for service-connected disabilities to 3,441 Philippine Service veterans, 

of which 2,726 resided in the Philippines. Based on the expected increase in the 

number of veterans eligible for care and an increase in the number of Compensation-and-Pension examination requests, we estimate an almost 100 percent increase 

in overall operating costs in the Philippines if the bill is enacted. We estimate a 

total additional expense of over $5 million in the first year. Moreover, this cost estimate does not fully account for the expected impact of S. 57. It is expected that the 

newly eligible Filipino veterans also would require a significant increase in the costs 

at the Manila Clinic for pharmacy, beneficiary travel, specialty exams, and fee

basis costs. 

The bill would also impact VA’s construction costs in the Philippines. Public Law 

106–113 requires the Department of State (State) to locate diplomatic and other 

U.S. Government offices to secure embassy grounds when it builds a new or replaces 

an existing embassy. State is replacing its embassy in Manila. In December 2006, 

Secretary Nicholson approved a recommendation to relocate the Manila VA Outpatient Clinic from its current leased site to U.S. Embassy property. State is planning to co-locate the Manila regional office and the Outpatient Clinic on embassy 

property at its Seafront compound. The facilities will be built and funded through 

a State major construction appropriation, and the new VA facilities are planned to 

be completed in 2010. VA will reimburse State for this project through Capital Security Cost-Sharing (CSCS) charges over a period of several years. VA’s costs under 

that program are based on staffing levels. Any additional space and staffing required for this project due to the enactment of S. 57 will significantly increase

VA’s costs. 

Additional health-care costs would have to be paid with existing health-care 

funds. Filipino veterans now residing outside the United States would be eligible for 

and could obtain health care in the United States by traveling to the United States 

to receive it. They would not, as now, have to reside in the United States and become U.S. citizens or permanent residents. We estimate that, if 10 percent of these 

newly eligible veterans (i.e., approximately 2,000 of the estimated 20,000 population 

of veterans) obtain health care in the United States, it will cost over $13 million 

in the first year. 

We estimate additional benefit costs (including medical benefits and memorial 

benefits) of approximately $510 million in the first year and more than $4 billion 

over 10 years. Our cost estimate includes only expenses related to the three most 

significant monetary benefits, which are disability compensation, pension, and DIC, 

in our total estimate of benefit costs. 

Administrative costs are estimated at $8.8 million in the first year and $27 million over 10 years. These estimates of administrative costs do not include the CSCS 

costs or administrative costs related to the provision of health care, and, as with 

the benefit costs, include administrative costs related to disability compensation, 

pension, and DIC, and not costs related to the administration of other monetary 

benefits. 

This concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman. I would be happy to entertain any 

questions you or the other Members of the Committee may have.

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Aument. 

I want you to know that we are glad to have also accompanying 

you Dr. Wiebe and Mr. Thompson. 

16

Mr. Aument, for U.S. veterans residing in other countries, is 

there an adjustment made to reflect the average income in the 

country where the veteran is living? 

Mr. AUMENT. No, there is not, Mr. Chairman. I believe today we 

have around 46,000 veterans who reside abroa. Many reside in 

countries where the cost of living is less than the United States, 

and many reside in countries where the cost of living is greater 

than the United States. We have considered this in the past and 

did not really consider that to be analogous to the situation that 

we have with Filipino veterans because the Congress has recognized a specific distinction with respect to the Philippine veterans 

as it is embodied in law today. We had certainly taken that into 

account, but did not consider it to be an analogous situation. 

Chairman AKAKA. Mr. Aument, would VA support establishing 

veterans’ status for Filipino veterans in each group if there were 

provisions for an adjusted level of pension that takes into account 

where the veterans live? 

Mr. AUMENT. Mr. Chairman, today we were asked to appear before you to testify on S. 57 and we really have no other alternative 

legislative proposals to offer. Certainly, that would address one of 

the most significant hurdles and barriers to this bill but, at this 

point, I am not prepared to state what the Administration could 

support. 

Chairman AKAKA. Mr. Aument, will you please explain the process that VA uses to evaluate claims for compensation made by Filipino veterans living in the Philippines? 

Mr. AUMENT. Certainly, Mr. Chairman. It does not look that different than the process involved in evaluating any veteran’s claim 

for disability compensation today. One difference, though, is that, 

for new claimants, those claiming disability compensation for the 

first time, we have to establish that the veteran filing the application was not a collaborator with the Japanese occupying forces at 

that time. There is a list called the Collaborators’ List that is maintained by the Yokohama Bank in Japan that we must initially inquire against to confirm that the applicant was not a collaborator 

during World War II. 

After that, the process follows the pathway that any disability 

compensation claim would follow, requiring proof of honorable service and that the medical conditions indeed are present that the veteran is claiming as disabilities. 

Chairman AKAKA. There is concern about the possible impact on 

workload at the Manila Regional Office should Congress extend full 

veterans’ benefits to all eligible Filipino veterans of World War II. 

What would be the impact on the workload at the Manila Regional 

Office? 

Mr. AUMENT. It would certainly be impacted. There would be a 

rather dramatic increase in claims filed. We could as much as double the workload there. On the one hand, though, the disability 

pension claims for these veterans would likely not be that difficult 

to process inasmuch as these veterans are already over age 65, so 

that would be a threshold that would be relatively easy to manage. 

But certainly there would be impact and we would have to be prepared to adjust staffing accordingly or assist them in some other 

fashion. 

17

Chairman AKAKA. Mr. Aument, please describe the process for 

medical examinations in connection with claims for compensation 

in the Philippines. Have any problems arisen using local doctors for 

these examinations? 

Mr. AUMENT. First of all, most of the disability compensation and 

pension exams conducted today are conducted by the clinic in Manila that is under Dr. Wiebe’s jurisdiction. What we do have occasional problems with, and quite frankly, it is not that rampant, are 

what they call claims fixers, would be individuals who have helped 

the veterans on occasion obtain falsified, fraudulent medical evidence. That is not a rampant problem, though, and I think in some 

cases it is overstated. 

Chairman AKAKA. Senator Craig? 

Senator CRAIG. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 

Ron, let me kind of take off from where the Chairman has gone 

with a couple of questions. If the Committee were to structure a 

pension benefit for veterans residing in the Philippines that had 

the same purchasing power that a pension recipient in the United 

States had, what would be the equivalent maximum monthly benefit? Have you done any calculations based on S. 57? 

Mr. AUMENT. Yes, we have, Senator Craig. It has not been a simple calculation because some of the economic statistics that we 

would be turning to are not as readily available to us. Having said 

that, if we take a look at what today’s pension rate for an American veteran is with one dependent, we mentioned it was around 

$14,000 annually, and contrast that to the average household income for the most recent census statistics we had of around 

$46,000 annually, it is around 30 percent of the average household 

income. If we were to compare that to the average household income in the Philippines of around $2,800, you are speaking around 

$820 annually. 

Senator CRAIG. OK. An $820 annualized pension, then? 

Mr. AUMENT. That is correct. 

Senator CRAIG. I see. 

Mr. AUMENT. That is strictly doing the math on that, Senator 

Craig. 

Senator CRAIG. Yes. How would the VA verify income in the Philippines if the Committee created a new means-tested benefit? 

Mr. AUMENT. We would employ at least some of the same procedures that we do today for veterans in the United States. We would 

require them annually to submit what we call the EVRs, the Eligibility Verification Review information, where they would be reporting any income that they had received during the preceding oneyear period. I would presume that we would probably also take into 

account unusual medical expenses that they may incur. 

We would have to explore whether there were comparable opportunities with the Philippine Government to use some of the other 

mechanisms that we have available. For example, we do annual 

matching against Social Security and IRS information to help 

verify pension recipients’ income in the United States. I don’t know 

what would be available, if anything, for similar support purposes 

in the Philippines. 

We would have to look into that. 

18

Senator CRAIG. But these are calculations that you currently 

make given the circumstance of the eligible veteran anywhere, is 

that correct? 

Mr. AUMENT. That is correct, sir. 

Senator CRAIG. How would S. 57 affect eligibility for access to 

VA’s Manila Outpatient Clinic? Would timely medical care for U.S. 

veterans at the outpatient clinic be affected if all 13,000 Filipino 

veterans in the Philippines were given access to that care? 

Mr. AUMENT. I would have to defer to my colleague, Dr. Wiebe. 

Senator CRAIG. Dr. Wiebe? 

Dr. Wiebe. Thank you, Senator Craig. If I could just pause for 

a moment and express my profound respect for the bravery and 

service of the Philippine soldiers and for their partnership with the 

U.S. military in the defense of freedom. I had the pleasure of traveling to the Philippines last month to conduct a site visit of our VA 

clinic in Manila and it reinforced and increased my admiration for 

the Philippines and its people. 

We estimate that if this legislation were to be enacted, approximately 2,700 Filipino veterans would now have access to the VA 

clinic in Manila, and that is based on the number of those that are 

currently service-connected and receiving VA support. Currently, 

the clinic sees approximately 3,700 patients a year. The clinic is 

relatively small. It is about 20,000 square feet and has a limited 

number of examination rooms. With the current workload, the VA 

clinic staff estimate they are at approximately 70 to 80 percent of 

capacity based on the size of the building. 

So if there were a relatively quick infusion of another 2,700 patients to the clinic, we would have a difficult time absorbing that 

workload immediately and maintaining both the current access and 

current quality of care. We could look at options of increasing staff, 

extending hours into the evening, or going to weekends, but that 

would pose some other additional logistical and operational issues, 

including security. 

In a few years, as you may know, the VA is planning to replace 

its clinic and move to a much larger structure. At that time, some 

of the physical capacity constraints would be eliminated and then 

there would be some resource implications, and I could discuss 

those if you would like. 

Senator CRAIG. Thank you very much, Doctor, Ron. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. 

Chairman AKAKA. I want to welcome Senator Murray to the 

Committee this morning and I want to call on her for any statement and questions she may have. 

STATEMENT OF HON. PATTY MURRAY,

U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON 

Senator MURRAY. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I wanted 

to come by today and especially thank you for holding this really 

important hearing on Filipino veterans. It has been just too long 

that America has not shown its full appreciation for these really 

honorable men and women who stood in harm’s way with our 

American soldiers and fought our common enemy during a war 

many, many decades ago. As you so well have put it, they have 

been denied full benefits and care that American counterparts reVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6601 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
19

ceive and I really hope that today’s hearing will mark a turning 

point in our Nation’s treatment of these heroes. 

I want to thank all of the Filipino veterans who are here testifying today. You are speaking out for so many people who can’t be 

here and we truly appreciate it. 

Mr. Chairman, I especially want to thank a constituent of mine 

who is here, Benito Valdez. If you could just stand, Benito. He is 

here with his daughter. You will hear his testimony in just a few 

minutes. He has an amazing, compelling story and has been forgotten by America for too long. I hope that, we, in this Committee, can 

right that wrong and move forward this year to make sure that Mr. 

Valdez, as well as many other aging soldiers, get the benefits they 

deserve before it is too late. 

I am a cosponsor of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act and the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act. I believe that those bills 

will help reverse the inequity that we have seen for too long. 

Mr. Chairman, I have a defense appropriations hearing at the 

same time as we are having this, but I wanted to come by today 

to let you know that I want to work with you, Mr. Chairman, and 

whoever else to make sure that we right this wrong that for too 

long has been forgotten and ignored in this country, and I want to 

thank all of the Filipino veterans who were there by our side more 

than 50 years ago and who deserve now for us finally to be at your 

side. 

Thank you very much. 

[Applause.] 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much. Senator Murray, from 

the State of Washington, has been a stalwart Member of this Committee and has taken leadership here and also in appropriations for 

veterans. She is very important to us. 

Again, I want to thank you, Mr. Aument, for your testimony. As 

I said before, your full statement will be placed in the record. We 

look forward to continuing to work with you, and again, thank you 

for being here. I personally want to say aloha to Dr. Wiebe because 

we work together. We had a series of hearings in Hawaii that he 

attended and we really appreciated that, Dr. Wiebe. Thank you 

very much. 

Mr. AUMENT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman AKAKA. Now I would like to call on panel three. I want 

to welcome our third panel of witnesses. 

Mr. Sidath Panangala, representing the Congressional Research 

Service, is accompanied by Ms. Christine Scott, also of CRS. They 

have been asked to present a historical perspective on benefits for 

Filipino veterans. Also on the third panel are Ms. Maria Luisa Antonio, Executive Director of the Veterans Equity Center, and Ms. 

Jenah Yangwas from Student Action for Veterans Equity, the 

granddaughter of a Filipino World War II veteran. 

I want to thank all of you for being here today. Your full statement will be in the record and appear there in the record of this 

hearing. Thank you very much. You may begin. 

20

STATEMENT OF SIDATH VIRANGA PANANGALA, ANALYST IN 

SOCIAL LEGISLATION, CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH

SERVICE; ACCOMPANIED BY CHRISTINE SCOTT, SPECIALIST 

IN TAX ECONOMICS, CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE 

Mr. PANANGALA. Thank you, Chairman Akaka. Before I 

begin, I want to introduce Christine Scott, who is here with me 

today. She and I both work together on veterans’ benefits issues 

and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have at the 

end of this hearing. Having said that, let me begin my statement. 

Chairman Akaka and Members of the Committee, my name is 

Sidath Panangala. I am from the Congressional Research Service 

and am accompanied by Christine Scott, also from CRS. We are 

honored to appear before the Committee today. 

As requested by the Committee, my testimony will first provide 

a brief overview of the two Rescission Acts of 1946, followed by information from the record that sheds light on the intent of Congress in passing these Acts, and finally, other relevant information 

from that period to help place this legislation—the passage of this 

1946 legislation—in context. In addition to my oral testimony, I 

would like to include the ‘‘Overview of Filipino Veterans’ Benefits,’’ 

this report, for the record, as well. 

Just to make it clear, CRS takes no position on the Rescission 

Acts or on the current legislative proposals to eliminate the distinction between various categories of World War II Philippine veterans. 

It appears that the 79th Congress, in passing the Rescission 

Acts, sought to strike a balance by providing certain benefits to veterans of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, recognized 

guerilla forces which later became a recognized part of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, and the New Philippine 

Scouts, but not the full benefits available to veterans of the U.S. 

Armed Forces. Those full benefits included education, unemployment compensation, medical care, domiciliary care, and other benefits provided by the laws administered by the then Veterans’ Administration. 

Until the passage of these special provisions in the First Rescission Act, VA officials believed that these Filipino veterans met the 

definition of active service in the U.S. Armed Forces and were, 

therefore, eligible for full VA benefits. For example, on May 5, 

1942, VA Director Frank T. Hines approved an opinion of the Solicitor of the VA holding that members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army were in active service of the land or naval forces of 

the United States within the meaning of the National Service Life 

Insurance Act of 1940. 

As the Committee is aware, the United States has had a long relationship with the Philippine Islands since they were acquired by 

the United States in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American 

War. Filipinos have served in and with the U.S. Armed Forces during a number of conflicts, including World War II. 

In 1946, Congress passed the First Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act and the Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act, which became collectively and commonly known as the Rescission Acts of 1946. 

21

The First Supplemental Act, enacted on February 18, 1946, au- thorized a $200 million appropriation to the Commonwealth Army 

of the Philippines with a provision limiting benefits for these veterans to, one, the compensation for service-connected disability or 

death, and the National Service Life Insurance contracts already in 

force at the time. Furthermore, the Act included a provision currently codified at Title 38 of the United States Code that limited 

service in the organized forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines that were not deemed to be active service 

in the military or naval or air service. 

This Act further provided that any benefit paid to the Commonwealth Army veterans would be paid at the rate of one Philippine 

peso to each dollar for a veteran who was a member of the U.S. 

Armed Forces. This was based on the assumption that one peso 

would obtain for Philippine veterans in the Philippine economy the 

equivalent of one dollar of goods and services for U.S. veterans in 

the American economy. Because of the differences between economic conditions and living standards in the United States and the 

Philippines, benefits were later limited to 50 cents on the dollar. 

The Second Rescission Act, enacted on May 27, 1946, provided 

that service in the Philippine Scouts, under Section 14 of the 

Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945, often referred to 

as the New Philippine Scouts, shall not have been deemed active 

service for the laws administered by the VA. 

CRS has examined the Congressional Record and certain hearing 

records from this period. There is little background information on 

the intent of Congress in passing the First Rescission Act, as it affects veterans of the Commonwealth Army. However, statements 

made by Senator Carl Hayden during the hearings on the Second 

Rescission Act, which affected the New Philippine Scouts, provide 

some indication on the legislative intent in passing both these Acts, 

and furthermore, the events at the time may be of interest to the 

Committee in understanding the context in which these laws were 

passed. 

Examining the hearing record leading up to the passage of the 

Rescission Act, it seems clear from Senator Hayden’s statement 

that the passage of the first Rescission Act was meant to balance 

the competing financial interests by providing some benefits, such 

as pensions for service-connected disability or death, while at the 

same time limiting it to members of the Commonwealth Army that 

was not considered part of the active service. 

The Second Rescission Act clearly states that wartime benefits do 

not apply to the New Philippine Scouts, and to quote from these 

hearings, ‘‘Because hostilities have actually ceased, the amendment 

makes it perfectly clear that these wartime benefits do not apply 

and the 50,000 men now authorized to be enlisted in the New Philippine Scouts will be only entitled to pensions resulting from 

service- connected disability or death.’’

In addition, the passage of the Rescission Acts may have been influenced by other bills under consideration of Congress at the time. 

In 1946, Congress passed the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and the 

Philippine Trade Act. The terms of the Rehabilitation Act required 

the United States to pay claims for rehabilitation of the Philippines 

and war damage claims up to $620 million. The Philippine Trade 

22

Act provided for free trade between the United States and the Philippines until July 1954. These bills under consideration at that 

time would have provided economic stability to the newly emerging 

nation. 

According to Senator Hayden from the hearing record, I would 

like to quote. ‘‘As I see it, the best thing the American Government 

can do is to help the Filipino people help themselves. Where there 

was a choice between expenditures for the rehabilitation of the 

economy of the Philippine Islands and payments in cash to Filipino 

veterans, I am sure it is better to spend an equal amount of money, 

for example, on improving the roads and port facilities. What the 

Filipino veteran needs is steady employment rather than to depend 

for his living upon a monthly payment sent from the United 

States.’’

Therefore, it seems clear that Congress considered the Rescission 

Acts in the context of providing for the comprehensive economic development of the soon-to-be-sovereign Republic of the Philippines. 

In closing, the Rescission Acts of 1946 limited veterans’ benefits 

to certain Filipino veterans while providing some benefits, such as 

pensions for service-connected disability or death. At the same 

time, Congress passed other legislation to provide for the economic 

well-being of the newly emerging nation. 

This concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman. We will be happy 

to take any questions you may have. Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Panangala follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SIDATH VIRANGA PANANGALA, ANALYST, SOCIAL LEGISLATION, CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

INTRODUCTION

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Senator Craig, and Members of the Committee, my name is Sidath Panangala from the Congressional Research Service 

(CRS). I am accompanied by Christine Scott, also from CRS. We are honored to appear before the Committee today. As requested by the Committee, my testimony will 

first provide a brief overview of the two Rescission Acts of 1946, followed by information from the record that sheds light on the intent of Congress in passing these 

Acts, and, finally, other relevant information from that period, to help place the passage of this 1946 legislation in context. In addition to my oral testimony, I have included the CRS Report RL33876, Overview of Filipino Veterans’ Benefits, for the 

record. CRS takes no position on the Rescission Acts or on current legislative proposals to eliminate the distinction between various categories of World War II Filipino veterans. 

It appears that the 79th Congress, in passing the Rescission Acts, sought to strike 

a balance, by providing certain benefits to veterans of the Commonwealth Army of 

the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces (that later became a recognized part 

of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines), and the New Philippine Scouts, but 

not the full benefits available to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Those full benefits included education, unemployment compensation, medical care, domiciliary care, 

and other benefits provided by the laws administered by the then Veterans’ Administration (VA). Until the passage of these special provisions in the first and second 

Rescission Acts, VA officials believed that these Filipino veterans met the definition 

of active service in the U.S. Armed Forces and were therefore eligible for full VA 

benefits. For example, on May 5, 1942, the VA Director Frank T. Hines, approved 

an opinion of the Solicitor of the VA holding that members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army were in ‘‘active service’’ of the land or naval forces of the United 

States within the meaning of the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940

(P.L. 76–801). 

RESCISSION ACTS OF 1946

As the Committee is aware, the United States has had a long relationship with 

the Philippines Islands since they were acquired by the United States in 1898 as 

23

a result of the Spanish-American War. Filipinos have served in, and with, the U.S. 

Armed Forces during a number of conflicts, including World War II. In 1946, Congress passed the first Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act

(P.L 79–301) and the second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act 

(P.L. 79–391), which came to be collectively and commonly known as the ‘‘Rescission 

Acts of 1946.’’

The first Supplemental Rescission Act, enacted on February 18, 1946, authorized 

a $200 million appropriation to the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines with 

a provision limiting benefits for these veterans to (1) compensation for service-connected disabilities or death, and (2) National Service Life Insurance contracts already in force. Furthermore, the Act included a provision currently codified at 38 

U.S.C. §107(a) stating that (and I quote):

Service before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while such forces were in 

the service of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the military order of the President, dated July 26, 1941... shall not be deemed 

to have been active military, naval, or air service for the purposes of any 

law of the United States conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon any 

person by reason of the service of such person or the service of any other 

person in the Armed Forces...

This Act further provided that any benefits paid to Commonwealth Army veterans 

would be paid at the rate of 1 Philippine peso to each dollar for a veteran who was 

a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. This was based on the assumption that one 

peso would obtain for Philippine veterans in the Philippine economy the equivalent 

of $1 of goods and services for U.S. veterans in the American economy. Because of 

differences between economic conditions and living standards in the United States 

and the Philippines, benefits were later limited to 50 cents on the dollar. 

The second Rescission Act, enacted on May 27, 1946, provided that service in the 

Philippine Scouts under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act 

of 1945 (P.L. 79–190) (often referred to as New Philippine Scouts) shall not be 

deemed to have been active military or air service for the purpose of any laws administered by the VA. 

LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND CONTEXT

CRS has examined the Congressional Record and certain hearing records from 

this period (1946). There is little background information on the intent of Congress 

in passing the first Rescission Act, as it affects veterans of the Commonwealth 

Army. However, statements made by Senator Carl Hayden during hearings on the 

second Rescission Act, which affected New Philippine Scouts, provides some indication of the legislative intent in passing both Rescission Acts. Furthermore, other 

events at the time may be of interest to the Committee, in understanding the context in which the Rescission Acts were considered. 

Examining the hearing record leading up to the passage of the second Rescission 

Act, it seems clear from Senator Hayden’s statements that the passage of the first 

Rescission Act was meant to balance competing financial interests by providing 

some benefits, such as pensions for service-connected disability or death, and also 

an appropriation of $200 million for the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines. 

However, to reduce the U.S. liability for future benefits, language was included stating that service by members of the Commonwealth Army was not considered active 

military, naval or air service in the U.S. Armed Forces. 

The hearings (on the second Rescission Act) also clearly indicate that most wartime benefits do not apply to New Philippine Scouts. To quote from these hearings:

. . . Because hostilities have actually ceased, the amendment makes it 

perfectly clear that these wartime benefits do not apply and the 50,000 men 

now authorized to be enlisted in the [New] Philippine Scouts will be entitled only to pensions resulting from service-connected disability or serviceconnected death.

In addition, the passage of the Rescission Acts may have been influenced by other 

bills under consideration by Congress at that time. In 1946, Congress passed the 

Philippine Rehabilitation Act (P.L. 79–370) and the Philippine Trade Act (P.L. 79–

371). The terms of the Rehabilitation Act required the United States to pay claims 

for rehabilitation of the Philippines and war damage claims up to $620 million. Of 

this sum, $220 million was allocated for repair of public property. The remaining 

$400 million was allocated for war damage claims of individuals and associations. 

The Philippine Trade Act provided for free trade between the United States and the 

Philippines until July 3, 1954. These bills under consideration at the time would 

24

have provided economic stability to the newly emerging nation. According to Senator 

Hayden in the hearing record, (and I quote):

As I see it, the best thing the American government can do is to help the 

Filipino people to help themselves. Where there was a choice between expenditures for the rehabilitation of the economy of the Philippine Islands 

and payments in cash to Filipino veterans, I am sure it is better to spend 

any equal sum of money, for example, on improving the roads and port facilities. What the Filipino veteran needs is steady employment rather than 

to depend for his living upon a monthly payment sent from the United 

States.

Therefore, it seems clear that Congress considered the Rescission Acts in the context of providing for the comprehensive economic development of the soon to be sovereign Republic of the Philippines. 

In closing, the Rescission Acts of 1946 limited veterans’ benefits to certain Filipino 

veterans, while providing some benefits such as pensions for a service-connected disability or death to veterans of the Commonwealth Army and New Philippine Scouts. 

At the same time Congress passed other legislation to provide for the economic well 

being of the newly emerging nation. 

This concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman. We would be happy to answer any 

questions you may have. 

[The CRS Report for Congress on the Overview of Filipino Veterans’ Benefits follows:]

25


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26


35645.002
27


35645.003
28


35645.004
29


35645.005
30


35645.006
31


35645.007
32


35645.008
33


35645.009
34


35645.010
35


35645.011
36


35645.012
37


35645.013
38


35645.014
39

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much. 

And now, Ms. Maria Luisa Antonio, Executive Director of the 

Veterans Equity Center. 

STATEMENT OF MARIA LUISA ANTONIO,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VETERANS EQUITY CENTER 

Ms. ANTONIO. Chairman Akaka and distinguished Members of 

the Committee, good morning. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak before you on the Filipino veterans issue. My name 

is Luisa Antonio. I am the Executive Director of the San Francisco 

Veterans Equity Center, a 7-year-old agency in San Francisco providing direct services to Filipino World War II veterans and their 

families. 

I am also speaking on behalf of the National Network for Veterans Equity, a coalition of different organizations advocating justice and equity for Filipino veterans. For the last 7 years, both 

NNVE and VEC have been advocating for the passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. 

Mr. Chairman, I have both the honor and the pleasure of serving 

the Filipino World War II veterans in my capacity as the staff of 

the Filipino Veterans Equity Center. These war heroes’ stories 

have contributed to my knowledge beyond history books and documentaries. I am grateful to those who can bear to remember the 

bitter and painful memories of the tragedies of war and the sacrifices made under the United States flag to preserve freedom and 

democracy. Indeed, their stories have driven me to commit myself 

to serve our war heroes, the Filipino World War II veterans. 

But I am also saddened by the fact that these heroes in their advanced age are forced to fight for the right to be recognized for the 

services they have rendered to this country. The face of struggle to 

pass the equity bill is in each and every veteran we serve at the 

Center. Every time a veteran receives a denial for his claim with 

the Department of Veterans Affairs, every time a staff hands a loaf 

of bread to a hungry veteran, and every time I console a widow 

who does not have enough money to bury her husband, I tend to 

wonder how the United States can forget the sacrifices made for 

this country and how this country can turn her back on its legal 

and moral obligation to those who made these sacrifices. I also ask 

myself how the Filipino veterans remain loyal to this country after 

all these years of injustice. 

Yes, Mr. Chairman, these veterans remain loyal to the United 

States. Their belief in the democratic process speaks of their commitment to fight and gives them hope that the same process can 

grant them the justice they deserve, the recognition for their

services. 

A number of legislations have been passed since 1999 giving certain Filipino veterans certain benefits, such as the special veterans 

benefits also known as the SSI extension law, access to the VA 

Health Care System, and burial in national cemeteries. However, 

Filipino veterans are still not classified as U.S. veterans, making 

them ineligible to receive pension from the Department of Veterans 

Affairs. Consequently, these veterans are dependent on Supplemental Security Income, soup kitchens, and service agencies such 

as the Veterans Equity Center for support services. 

40

Based on a Department of Veterans Affairs study in January 

2001, the estimated total number of Filipino World War II veterans 

in the United States is 13,849, of which 50 percent live in California. Today, the estimated number of Filipino veterans drastically dropped to about 7,000 in the United States and 13,000 in 

the Philippines. That is the projected number of veterans in 2010, 

and we are in 2007. 

With very few Filipino veterans remaining, our community 

stands at the shoulders of our heroes and renewed our commitment 

to fight with them. We, the younger generation, have become soldiers with a mission and we will not stop until full equity is 

achieved. 

Honorable Members of the Committee, this is your only opportunity to impact the lives of the remaining veterans. 

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to put an end to this 

injustice. And now is the time to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity 

Act. Thank you. 

[Applause.] 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Antonio follows:]

STATEMENT OF LUISA ANTONIO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

SAN FRANCISCO VETERANS EQUITY CENTER

Chairman Akaka, and distinguished Members of the Committee, good morning. 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak before you on the Filipino World 

War II Veterans issue. My name is Luisa Antonio. I am the Executive Director of 

the San Francisco Veterans Equity Center—a 7-year-old agency in San Francisco 

providing direct services to Filipino World War II veterans and their families. I am 

also speaking on behalf of the National Network for Veterans Equity—a coalition 

of different organizations advocating justice and equity for the Filipino Veterans. 

For the last 7 years NNVE has been advocating for the passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. 

Ladies and gentlemen of the Committee, I have both the honor and the pleasure 

of serving the Filipino World War II Veterans in my capacity as a staff of the San 

Francisco Veterans Equity Center. These war heroes’ stories contributed to my 

knowledge beyond what history books and documentaries have offered. And I am 

grateful to those who can bear to remember the bitter and painful memories of the 

atrocities of war and the sacrifices made under the United States Flag to preserve 

freedom and democracy. Indeed their stories have driven me to commit myself to 

serve our war heroes—the Filipino World War II veterans. But I am also saddened 

by the fact that these heroes, in their advanced age, are still forced to fight for their 

right to be recognized for the services they have rendered to this country. 

The face of the struggle to pass the equity bill is in each and every veteran we 

serve at the Center. Every single time a veteran receives a denial for his claim with 

the Department of Veterans Affairs, every single time a staff has to hand a loaf of 

bread to a hungry veteran, every time I hold a hand of a widow who does not have 

enough money to bury her husband, I tend to wonder how the United States can 

forget the sacrifices made for this country and how this country can turn her back 

on its legal and moral obligation to those who made those sacrifices. I also ask myself how the Filipino veterans remain loyal to this country after all these years of 

injustice. Yes, ladies and gentlemen of the Committee, these veterans remain loyal 

to the United States. Their belief in the democratic process speaks of their commitment to fight and gives them hope that the same process can grant them the justice 

they deserve—the recognition for their services. 

A number of legislations have been passed since 1999 giving Filipino Veterans 

certain benefits such as Special Veterans Benefits (a.k.a. SSI Extension law), access 

to the VA healthcare system, and burial in national cemeteries. However, Filipino 

Veterans are still not classified as U.S. Veterans making them ineligible to receive 

pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Consequently, these veterans are 

dependent on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), soup kitchens and service agencies such as the Veterans Equity Center for support services. 

Based on the Department of Veterans Affairs Study in January 2001, the estimated total number of Filipino World War II Veterans in the United States is 

41

13,849 of which 50 percent live in California. Today the estimated number of Filipino Veterans drastically dropped to about 7,000 in the United States and about 

13,000 in the Philippines—the projected number of veterans in 2010. With very few 

Filipino Veterans remaining, our community stand on the shoulders of our heroes 

and we have made a renewed commitment to fight with them. We, the younger generation, have become soldiers with a mission. And we will not stop until full equity 

is achieved. Honorable Committee Members, now is your only opportunity to impact 

the lives of the remaining veterans. Now is the time to act, now is the time to put 

an end to this injustice, now is the time to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Ms. Maria Luisa Antonio. 

Now we will hear from Ms. Jenah Yangwas, who is the granddaughter of a World War II veteran, representing Student Action 

for Veterans Equity. Jenah? 

STATEMENT OF JENAH MARI PALOY YANGWAS, STUDENT 

ACTION FOR VETERANS EQUITY 

Ms. YANGWAS. Thank you. Good morning, Chairman Akaka and 

distinguished Members of the Committee. My name is Jenah Marie 

Paloy Yangwas and I am here on behalf of S.A.V.E., Student Action 

for Veterans Equity, which has worked tirelessly on the Full Equity campaign. I am truly honored to be here today as I represent 

the youth and my generation’s voice on this issue. 

The Brown Ribbon Campaign was started by SAVE in 2001 by 

a nationwide student-led and organized coalition made of students 

and youth advocates to signify the importance of equity for the heroes that have fought for us. 

My family’s roots and loyalty to the American flag is undeniable. 

My father, still living, served under the U.S. Navy for 20 years. I 

am a granddaughter and niece of Filipino World War II veterans. 

My paternal grandfather, Santiago Yangwas, served as a captain 

for the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East. My uncle, Benjamin 

Carrido, served as a guerilla. And my maternal grandfather, 

Dionisio Paloy, was a Bataan Death March survivor. Although all 

of them are now passed, I recognize the incredible strength of our 

heroes. Our fight here today was their fight yesterday. 

Before war had started in the Pacific, my grandfather Dionisio 

Paloy was employed as a mechanic in Baguio City. Shortly thereafter, he was called to duty and became a driver at the local American military base, Camp John Hay. His job was to transport ammunition from Baguio to Bataan. 

During the Fall of Bataan, he was caught and he became a prisoner of war. He was placed in a concentration camp, where he was 

enslaved, forced to work in the fields to care for carabao with little 

or no food. He and nine of his comrades were able to escape. It took 

them months to get back home to Baguio City, as the terrain was 

mountainous and steep. Only four of the ten men reached Baguio. 

They were all mere skeletons and bones. My grandfather was the 

only man to survive the escape, as the others perished from hunger 

and thirst shortly thereafter. 

We each hold a story, a story of struggle, a story of our soldiers 

witnessing the brutalities of war. Many of us come from points in 

history where our elders tell us about the great sacrifices and undoubted courage they have made in order for us all to be here 

42

today. We are here to attest to the heroic strength and sacrifices 

our soldiers have made. 

My grandfather’s story is not isolated. He, like many others, had 

witnessed his countrymen fight bravely alongside American soldiers. He witnessed countless others die brutally in war. He joined 

forces with the United States to defend the homeland he loved. The 

sacrifices that our heroes have made are undeniable. As a community worker in San Francisco, I have been there to witness my heroes die at an alarmingly fast rate. I have been there to coordinate 

memorial services, to comfort the wives with their loss. We cannot 

wait any longer. 

I am so proud to see my generation believe in this fight. Equity 

is so very important. Passage of the 1946 Rescission Act stripped 

away full veterans’ benefits for Filipinos who were entitled. This 

stripped away the dignity of all the men and women that have 

fought under U.S. command. We are here to say that our soldiers 

will never be alone in this battle. 

Passage of S. 57, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, is important to us all and it has been long overdue. Sixty-one years is 

61 years too late. Our heroes deserve full equity now. The courage, 

perseverance, and sacrifices made by these brave men and women 

who took it upon themselves to defend the islands against violent 

occupation are truly remarkable. 

Lastly, we are here to stand up for them for what is right and 

for what is just. We are here to demand justice and full equity. We 

are proud of our soldiers, our history, our fight. Our heroes will 

truly never be forgotten. Thank you. 

[Applause.] 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Yangwas follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF JENAH MARI PALOY YANGWAS, SAVE MEMBER,

AND GRANDDAUGHTER OF A FILIPINO WWII VETERAN

I am here on behalf of S.A.V.E., Student Action for Veterans Equity, which has 

worked tirelessly on the Full Equity campaign. 

Today marks the 65th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. During this time, the 

Philippine Islands was also U.S. soil. Tens of thousands of American and Filipino 

soldiers were captured by Japanese forces and were forced to endure the Bataan 

Death March. Those captured were confined in concentration camps and pressed 

into forced labor. Thousands died along the way, while some were killed brutally. 

For months prior, these soldier who saw no difference if they were Filipino soldiers, 

American soldiers were heroically able to hold off the Imperial forces but on April 

9, 1942, they were all forced to surrender. 

My family’s roots and loyalty to the American flag is undeniable. My father, still 

living, served under the U.S. Navy for twenty years. I am a granddaughter and 

niece of Filipino WWII Veterans. My paternal grandfather, Santiago Yangwas 

served as a Captain for the U.S. Army, my uncle Benjamin Carrido served as a guerilla, and my maternal grandfather, Dionisio Paloy was a Bataan Death March survivor. Although all of them are now passed, I recognize the incredible strength of 

our heroes. Our fight here today was their fight yesterday! 

Before war had started in the Pacific, my grandfather, Dionisio Paloy, was employed as a mechanic in Baguio City. Shortly thereafter, he was called to duty and 

became a driver at the local American military base, Camp John Hay. His job was 

to transport ammunition from Baguio to Bataan. 

During the Fall of Bataan, he was caught and he became a prisoner of war 

(POW). He was placed in a concentration camp where he was enslaved, forced to 

work in the fields to care for the carabao (water buffalo) with little or no food. He 

and nine of his comrades were able to escape. It took them months to get back home 

to Baguio City, as the terrain was mountainous and steep. Only four of the ten men 

reached Baguio. They were all mere skeletons and bones. 

43

My grandfather was the only man to survive the escape as the others perished 

from hunger and thirst shortly thereafter. 

We each hold a story, a story of struggle, a story of our soldiers witnessing the 

brutalities of war. Many of us come from points in history where our elders tell us 

of the great sacrifices and undoubted courage they have made in order for us all 

to be here today. We are here to ‘‘Remember Bataan,’’ to attest to the heroic 

strength and sacrifices our soldiers have made. 

My grandfather’s story is not isolated. He, like many others, had witnessed his 

countrymen fight bravely alongside American soldiers. He witnessed countless others die brutally in war. He joined forces with the U.S. to defend the homeland he 

loved. 

On this day, we are here to remember the sacrifices that OUR heroes have made! 

As a community worker in San Francisco, I have been there to witness my heroes 

die at an alarmingly fast rate. I have been there to coordinate memorial services 

and to comfort their wives with their loss. We cannot wait any longer! 

I am so proud to see my generation believe in this fight. EQUITY is so very important. Passage of the 1946 Rescission Act stripped away ‘‘full veteran’s benefits’’ 

for Filipinos who were entitled. This stripped away the dignity of all the men and 

women that fought under U.S. command. We are here to say that our soldiers will 

never be alone in this battle. Passage of H.R. 760 and S. 57 is important to us all 

and it’s been long overdue. Sixty-one years is 61 years too late! Our heroes deserve 

FULL EQUITY now! 

The courage, perseverance and sacrifice made by these brave men and women 

who took it upon themselves to defend the islands against violent occupation are 

truly remarkable. We are here to standup for them, for what is right and just. We 

are here to demand justice and full equity! We are proud of them—our history, our 

fight, our heroes will TRULY never be forgotten!

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Ms. Yangwas. 

I want to thank all of you for your historical perspective on benefits of Filipino veterans, and now I have some questions for you. 

Mr. Panangala, from your review of the relevant history, is it 

your understanding that the Filipinos who fought alongside the 

United States military in the Philippines were under the authority 

of the Government of the United States? 

Mr. PANANGALA. The Presidential directive that was issued by 

President Roosevelt at that time was to give General Douglas MacArthur, who was the commanding general, authority over the 

forces in the Pacific. As part of that executive order, the Filipino 

nationals, as well, were incorporated into fighting alongside the 

U.S. forces. 

Now, there is a distinction between the different groups that we 

need to understand here. The old Philippine Scouts were there before the United States had started the process of getting them 

independence. Then by the time they were in the Second World 

War, we were also in the process of giving them independence because the Philippine Independence Act had passed. So at that time, 

we got caught in the middle where we had to—where everyone 

came to fight alongside the U.S. under General Douglas MacArthur, so therefore, there was authority. He went by the President 

to bring the forces together. 

But then eventually when we had to decide upon how would we 

draw the line between the benefits, then we distinguished between 

the Old Scouts, the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, who 

were generally recruited at the time of the process of independence, 

and the New Philippine Scouts, who knew exactly when they were 

coming on board that they would be eventually returning back into 

the Sovereign Republic of the Philippines. 

Chairman AKAKA. It seems that there was a time when Filipinos 

felt that they were being regarded as U.S. veterans. Based on your 

44

review, Mr. Panangala, of the history relating to those Filipinos 

who served with the U.S. forces during World War II, do you believe that these individuals were given an indication that they 

would be regarded as veterans of the U.S. military upon the completion of their service? 

Mr. PANANGALA. There was—in the record, there was a study 

done by the Judge Advocate General in 1973 that had looked at the 

history of this. In some instances, there were messages transmitted 

by General Douglas MacArthur saying that there were certain benefits that they would be regarded as veterans of the U.S. Armed 

Forces. 

But at the same time, there was confusion, I think, when the 

Committee discussed this legislation in 1946. They wanted to find 

out what was the current legal status of these veterans and that 

is when the VA, when Senator Hayden turned to the VA and asked 

the question and the VA’s understanding was that these veterans 

would be considered U.S. veterans. But the Senate wanted to make 

it absolutely clear because of the confusion prevailing at that time 

that we would start somewhere and clear the slate, and I think 

that was one of the indications, at least from looking at the record, 

that legislative intent was to start somewhere, and that somewhere 

was to include and say, OK, we will give you these benefits but 

then we are going to deem you not active service because we would 

be making the commitment to long-term obligations of the U.S. 

Government on behalf of the Philippine veterans, especially for 

those new veterans who would be recruited at that time. 

Chairman AKAKA. In 1946, there was the Rescission Act that was 

passed by Congress that changed the status of Filipino World War 

II veterans. Again, based on your understanding of what happened 

in 1946, is it accurate to say that the Rescission Acts of 1946 

changed the existing relationship between some Filipino veterans 

and the U.S. Government so as to remove their status as U.S. veterans? 

Mr. PANANGALA. From the Congressional Record, or from the 

Congressional hearings at that time, there doesn’t seem to be any 

indication of that. That would be something that we would have to 

defer to the DOD or the VA to make that distinction, if that was 

the case. 

Chairman AKAKA. Ms. Antonio, how would the lives of the Filipino veterans you work with be affected by receiving a VA nonservice-connected pension and other VA benefits? 

Ms. ANTONIO. Well, two things, Mr. Chairman. One, it would restore their pride. They are very patriotic. They are very proud of 

fighting under the United States flag. So that will restore that. 

The second one is more on getting them, if they were declassified 

as veterans, they will be declassified as welfare recipients, because 

right now, the United States is not providing anything because 

they are heroes. They are providing some kind of welfare because 

they are over 65, they are U.S. citizens, and they are indigents. So 

they will be removed from that classification. 

And third, the pension. It will give them an option, because right 

now because of the restrictive rules of SSI, they can only live here 

in the United States and a lot of them are separated from their 

45

families, making it very difficult for them, not having support

services. 

So those are the three things that come to mind when it comes 

to the impact of having non-service-connected disability pension. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you. 

Ms. Yangwas, as a community worker who serves the Filipino 

community and as the relative of one of the veterans who fought 

for the cause of freedom in World War II, please describe your understanding of the impact of the Rescission Acts on the Filipino 

community. 

Ms. YANGWAS. Visibly, how can you fully address the impact of 

61 years of lost time? Time has made veterans socially dependent 

on social services, for instance, the soup kitchens for nutritional 

meals, difficulties accessing housing, where many I have worked 

with lived in the most roughest neighborhoods in San Francisco. 

The Rescission Act granted no access to veterans’ housing benefits. 

When veterans became sick, they were turned away from the VA. 

If the Rescission Act was never passed, veterans granted equity 

over 60 years ago, I would see my heroes not dependent on SSI to 

survive. Veterans would have been an active member of the working force. 

Lastly, how can I really capture the impact of being a non-recognized veteran? For so many, the hardest part for us all is seeing 

so many veterans pass away, including my own family members, 

without equity. As each veteran passes, dignity can never be restored. We need to pass full equity now for all those who have 

fought for this country. 

Chairman AKAKA. Well, I thank you very much and I want to 

thank this panel for your historical perspective of the Filipino veterans. Thank you so much for coming before this Committee with 

your testimony. Thank you. 

[Applause.] 

Chairman AKAKA. Now, I would like to call on panel four. 

These panelists are all World War II veterans. Welcome to this 

Committee. 

[Applause.] 

Chairman AKAKA. Mr. Manuel Braga, Commander, Filipino 

World War II Veterans Federation of San Diego County. Also, Mr. 

Artemio Caleda, President, World War II Filipino-American Veterans and Auxiliary of Hawaii. Welcome and aloha to you, Mr. 

Caleda. Mr. Avelino Asuncion, who is presenting testimony on behalf of Mr. Patrick Ganio, who is President of the American Coalition for Filipino veterans, and Benito Valdez, from the Filipino 

Community of Seattle. In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin 

Ramsey, U.S. Army, Retired, will be testifying by video. 

I want to welcome all of you veterans to this hearing. I want to 

thank all of you for being here today. I want you to know that your 

full statement will appear in the record of the hearing and I would 

like to ask you to give your testimony in the order that I called you 

to the table. The first one will be Mr. Manuel Braga.

46

STATEMENT OF MANUEL B. BRAGA, COMMANDER, FILIPINO 

WORLD WAR II VETERANS FEDERATION, SAN DIEGO COUNTY 

Mr. BRAGA. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members of the 

Committee. My name is Manuel B. Braga, former Staff Sergeant, 

Philippine Scouts, Army of the United States. I am currently the 

Commander of the Filipino World War II Veterans, Federation of 

San Diego County. 

In 1942, during the defense of the Philippines against the Japanese in the Battles of Bataan and Corregidor, President Franklin 

D. Roosevelt promised the Filipinos who were inducted into the 

United States Armed Forces in the Far East, or USAFFE, on July 

26, 1941, that their loyalty to the United States shall be amply rewarded. 

We fought side-by-side with the American brothers-in-arms and 

remained loyal to America even after the defense of the islands was 

abandoned by the Joint Chiefs in favor of primarily defeating the 

Axis powers in Europe. Left to withstand the relentless and brutal 

onslaught of a far superior enemy, both in numbers and war materiel, Bataan finally surrendered, followed shortly by Corregidor. 

The sick and starved Filipino and American soldiers, not being 

made of impervious steel, reluctantly laid down their arms and 

sadly went into captivity. 

But even after going through the humiliation of defeat and surviving the hell that was the Death March and countless atrocities 

in Japanese concentration camps, we continued to resist the 

enemy. As guerrillas, some led by U.S. officers who refused to surrender, we relentlessly harassed the Japanese Imperial Army unmindful of the indescribable hardship of trying to survive in the 

jungles and mountains with not only the Japanese as enemies, but 

natural dangers, diseases, and starvation, as well. We fought on 

until General Douglas MacArthur made good on his promise to return in 1945. 

While in the thick of the fight against the forces of Japan, buying 

precious time for the U.S. to strike a counterblow, a very appreciative Congress enacted in 1944 what is now known as the GI Bill 

of Rights, thus paving the way for Roosevelt to fulfill his promise 

to us Filipinos of a just reward for our sacrifices. The Filipino soldiers, like all non-Americans who were serving in the U.S. Armed 

Forces, were entitled under the GI Bill to full veterans’ benefits 

and include naturalization as U.S. citizens. 

Victory finally came in September 1945. The guns fell silent. It 

was time to go home. We who survived shed our uniforms and 

turned in our arms and most of us went back to civilian life. But 

before the official end of that great conflict, some 50,000 Filipinos 

were recruited by the U.S. Army and were inducted into the Philippine Scouts. The Old Scouts organized in 1901, who made a name 

for themselves in Bataan, were integrated into the regular U.S. 

Army, and the New Scouts were used as occupation troops in 

Japan, its territories, and possessions which came under U.S. control. 

But suddenly, an ungrateful U.S. Congress introduced a rider to 

the GI Bill of Rights, the now infamous Rescission Act of 1946, 

unceremoniously taking away from the Filipino veterans and members of the New Philippine Scouts all benefits, rights, and priviVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6601 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
47

leges granted under the GI Bill and declaring the wartime of these 

veterans as not active service in the U.S. military. The Rescission 

Act of 1946 targeted only the Filipinos because other aliens, Europeans and Asians in World War II, were not affected. Thus began 

in 1946 the 61-year uphill struggle of the Filipino World War II 

veterans for recognition of their wartime services in the U.S. Army. 

In 1946, there were about 250,000 Filipino World War II veterans. There are no more than 20,000 of us at this time. About 

7,000 who opted to become U.S. citizens are residents of the U.S. 

trying hard to survive on their meager Supplemental Security Income, while there remain in the Philippines about 13,000 survivors 

receiving no benefits of any kind from the U.S. Government. 

Today, we Filipino World War II veterans after six long decades 

see the light at the end of the tunnel. That light used to be always 

an oncoming train. H.R. 760, the Filipino Veterans Equity bill, ha 

passed through a Committee in the House and on this very day 

this Committee is conducting this historic hearing on S. 57, the 

Senate version of H.R. 760. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of this Committee, for 

inviting me here today. I plead with you, on behalf of all my fellow 

Filipino World War II, veterans to enact this bill into law and restore all the benefits previously granted to us under the GI Bill of 

Rights but taken away by the Rescission Act of 1946, along with 

our dignity and honor. Please do not make a distinction between 

Filipino World War II veterans who opted for U.S. citizenship and 

are residing in America from those who remain Filipino citizens 

and stayed behind in the Philippines. All of us fought for America 

against a common enemy and all of us should be entitled to the 

same benefits irrespective of our citizenship and/or place of

residence. 

Most of us are now advanced in age, sick and frail, living in abject poverty, but we share one thing in common. 

We all willingly laid our lives on the line of this country in World 

War II. Thank you for your effort to correct this historic wrong 

committed against us. Thank you for not waiting until all of us Filipino World War II veterans are gone before taking action on our 

pleas. There are only a few of us left and we are dying every day. 

Soon, there will be no more. 

Helping us now would not really entail a big expense for Uncle 

Sam because our number has been severely depleted. Any appropriation you may now approve to assist us in our twilight years 

would diminish on a year-to-year basis as our number continues to 

dissipate. Please do not think about this in terms of money. Think 

about restoring our dignity, honor, and self-respect. 

As I conclude my testimony today, I thank you once again, Senator Akaka and all the Members of the Senate Veterans Affairs 

Committee for giving us the opportunity to be heard. Good bless 

you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you. 

[Applause.] 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Braga follows:]

48

PREPARED STATEMENT OF MANUEL B. BRAGA, COMMANDER, FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS FEDERATION, SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members of this Committee. 

My name is Manuel B. Braga, former SSgt Philippines Scouts, Army of the United 

States. I am currently the Commander of the Filipino WWII Veterans Federation 

of San Diego County. 

In 1942, during the defense of the Philippines against the Japanese, in the Battles 

of Bataan and Corregidor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised the Filipinos 

who were inducted into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East or 

USAFFE, on July 26, 1941, that their loyalty to the United States shall be amply 

rewarded. 

We fought side by side with our American brothers-in-arms and remained loyal 

to America even after the defense of the Islands was abandoned by the Joint Chiefs 

in favor of primarily defeating the Axis Powers in Europe. 

Left to withstand the relentless and brutal onslaught of a far superior enemy, 

both in numbers and war materiel, Bataan finally surrendered, followed shortly by 

Corregidor. The sick and starved Filipino and American soldiers, not being made of 

impervious steel, reluctantly laid down their arms, and sadly went into captivity. 

But even after going through the humiliation of defeat, and surviving the hell 

that was the Death March and countless atrocities in Japanese concentration 

camps, we continued to resist the enemy. As guerrillas, some led by U.S. officers 

who refused to surrender, we relentlessly harassed the Japanese Imperial Army unmindful of the indescribable hardships of trying to survive in the jungles and mountains, with not only the Japanese as enemies but natural dangers, diseases and 

starvation as well. We fought on until General Douglas MacArthur made good on 

his promise to return in 1945. 

While in the thick of the fight against the forces of Japan, buying precious time 

for the U.S. to strike a counterblow, a very appreciative Congress enacted in 1944, 

what is now known as the GI Bill of Rights thus paving the way for Roosevelt to 

fulfill his promise to us Filipinos of a just reward for our sacrifices. The Filipino 

soldiers, like all non-Americans who were serving in the U.S. Armed Forces were 

entitled, under the GI Bill, to full veterans’ benefits to include naturalization as 

U.S. citizens. 

Victory finally came in September 1945. The guns fell silent. It was time to go 

home. We who survived shed our uniforms and turned in our arms and most of us 

went back to civilian life. But before the official end of that great conflict, some 

50,000 Filipinos were recruited by the U.S. Army and were inducted into the New 

Philippine Scouts. The Old Scouts organized in 1901, who made a name for themselves in Bataan, were integrated into the regular U.S. Army, and the New Scouts 

were used as occupation troops in Japan, its territories and possessions which came 

under U.S. control. 

But a suddenly ungrateful U.S. Congress, introduced a rider to the GI Bill of 

Rights, the now infamous Rescission Act of 1946, unceremoniously taking away from 

the Filipino veterans and members of the New Philippines Scouts, all benefits, 

rights, and privileges granted under the GI Bill, and declaring the wartime service 

of these veterans as ‘‘not active service in the U.S. military.’’

The Rescission Act of 1946 specifically targeted only the Filipinos because all 

other aliens (Europeans and Asians from 66 nations) who served in the U.S. Armed 

Forces in World War II were not affected. Thus began, in 1946, the 61-year uphill 

struggle of the Filipino WWII veterans for recognition of their wartime services in 

the U.S. Army. 

In 1946, there were about 250,000 Filipino WWII veterans. There are no more 

than 20,000 of us at this time. About 7,000, who opted to become U.S. citizens are 

residents of the U.S. trying hard to survive on their meager Supplemental Security 

Income, while there remain in the Philippines about 13,000 survivors receiving no 

benefits of any kind from the United States Government. 

Today, we, Filipino WWII veterans, after six long decades, see the light at the end 

of the tunnel. That light used to be, always, an oncoming train. H.R. 760 or the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill has passed through Committee in the House, and on this 

very day this Committee is conducting this historic hearing on S. 57, the Senate 

version of H.R. 760. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of this Committee, for inviting me here 

today. I plead with you on behalf of all my fellow Filipino WWII veterans to enact 

this bill into law and restore all the benefits, previously granted to us under the 

GI Bill of Rights, but taken away by the Rescission Act of 1946, along with our dignity and honor. Please do not make a distinction between Filipino WWII veterans 

who opted for U.S. citizenship and are residing in America, from those who reVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
49

mained Filipino citizens and stayed behind in the Philippines. All of us fought for 

America against a common enemy, and of all us should be entitled to the same benefits irrespective of our citizenship and/or place of residence. 

Most of us are now advanced in age, sick and frail and living in abject poverty, 

but we share one thing in common: We all willingly laid our lives on the line for 

this country in WWII. Thank you for your effort to correct the historic wrong committed against us. Thank you for not waiting until all of us Filipino WWII veterans 

are gone before taking action on our pleas. There are only a few of us left and we 

are dying everyday. Soon there will be no more. Helping us now would not really 

entail a big expense for Uncle Sam because our number has been severely depleted. 

Any appropriations you may now approve to assist us in our twilight years would 

diminish on a year-to-year basis as our number continues to dissipate. 

Please do not think about this in terms of money. Think about restoring our dignity, honor and sell-respect! 

As I conclude my testimony today, I thank you once again, Senator Akaka and 

all of the Members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, for giving us the opportunity to be heard. God bless you and God bless the United States of America!

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Commander Braga 

from San Diego County. 

Now I would like to call on Artemio Caleda, President of the 

World War II Filipino-American Veterans and Auxiliary from Hawaii. Mr. Caleda? 

STATEMENT OF ARTEMIO A. CALEDA, PRESIDENT, WORLD 

WAR II FILIPINO-AMERICAN VETERANS AND LADIES

AUXILIARY OF HAWAII 

Mr. CALEDA. Aloha. 

Chairman AKAKA. Aloha. 

Mr. CALEDA. Good morning. 

Chairman AKAKA. Good morning. 

Mr. CALEDA. This is the voice of the more than 2,000 Filipino 

veterans residing in the State of Hawaii. Honorable Chairman and 

distinguished Members of the Committee, my name is Art Caleda. 

I am 83 years old. I was a guerilla during the war. I am a naturalized American citizen and I am the President of the World War II 

Filipino-American Veterans in Hawaii. I am greatly honored to be 

here and I thank you for giving this opportunity, and with my special thanks to my very own Senator from Hawaii, Senator Daniel 

Akaka, for inviting me to appear and testify before this Committee. 

I register my endorsement of the passage of S. 57 and I would 

like to also convey my thanks to our very own Senator Inouye for 

introducing the original bill, S. 68, and I thank him for his efforts 

for introducing today S. 57 mandating the U.S. Government to confer full recognition and benefits to the Filipino veterans. 

Today, we are already 65 years of sacrificing the injustice that 

has been treated to the Filipino veterans and it has been introduced for how many years. The bill was denied for reason that it 

has been closed by the U.S. Congress. Unfortunately, the Rescission Act, which was the main issue on S. 57 for amendment, the 

U.S. Government continued to deny, to delay the full recognition 

and benefits of the Filipino veterans. 

For 65 years that we have been waiting for the recognition, the 

veterans have been treated unjustly and they are fading away very 

fast. Many veterans have died and have taken ill. Records of the 

Department of Veterans Service in Hawaii reveal that between 15 

and 20 veterans die every year. In December 2006 and January 

50

2007, for 2 months, eight veterans died in a short period. At 

present, we have now many veterans in the hospital, bedridden. 

What I want to emphasize here is that veterans are getting older 

and older and they are sacrificing and awaiting the equity bill. So 

the injustice has gone so far that a lot of veterans are fading away. 

I would like to cite the infamous Fall of Bataan, when 75,000 soldiers of the USAFFE, the guerrillas, and the Philippine Scouts 

were lined marching over 100 kilometers along the Bataan Death 

March, and close to 10,000 veterans have sacrificed during that infamous Fall of Bataan. These events will remain in the pages of 

the American history symbolizing the sacrifice of the veterans that 

were serving the United States. 

Under the American standard, the veterans are living below the 

poverty level. As a matter of fact, veterans in Hawaii regularly go 

to food banks and they pick up some free food and free clothing. 

The veteran that is living alone in his room and he dies, he could 

only be noticed 2 or 3 days after when there is a bad odor going 

around. The worst thing to happen is that when a veteran dies, he 

remains in the morgue for two or 3 months because the family cannot retrieve him because of no money. The veterans, therefore, are 

living below standard. They cannot afford it. We resort to voluntary 

contributions to help the veterans for services. 

What I am driving here is that we are suffering too much because of the injustice of the Rescission Act when it cannot be 

amended. Therefore, it becomes a scapegoat of the U.S. Government not to give us the full recognition of our benefits. Therefore, 

I think time is of the essence. We are running out of time. The old 

veterans will fade away. 

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would like to invoke for humanitarian reasons as equally relevant with our legal rights and provided by the U.S. Constitution, therefore, on behalf of the veterans, 

I would like to confide to you our unconditional trust and confidence for your leadership and your advocacy to help pass legislation of S. 57. 

I would like to offer three concerns for consideration. First, to 

honor the full recognition of the services of Filipino veterans. Second, to extend the full equity benefits that the veterans rightfully 

deserve. And, of course, the third is for Uncle Sam, I refer to His 

Excellency President George Bush to come to the succor of the 

dying veterans and to uplift their living standard. 

I think that is all, in a nutshell, for my testimony today, Mr. 

Chairman. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Caleda follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF ART A. CALEDA, PRESIDENT OF WWII FIL-AM VETERANS

AND LADIES AUXILIARY HAWAII CHAPTER

The Honorable Chairman, Distinguished Committee Members Aloha!

Good Morning. 

This is the voice of my Comrades, of the more than 2,000 Filipino veterans of 

World War II and Ladies Auxiliary residing in the State of Hawaii. 

My name is Art Caleda. I am 83 years old, a naturalized American citizen residing in Honolulu, Hawaii. Currently, I am the President of the WWII Fil-Am Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary Hawaii Chapter. I am a retired Regional Director of Forestry in the Philippines and a retired Sales Associate in Hawaii. 

I’m honored to be here. I thank you all for this great opportunity with my special 

thanks to our very own Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman, Senator 

51

Daniel Akaka, for inviting me to appear and testify before this Committee hearing. 

I register my FULL support to pass legislation of the Senate bill S. 57, the Filipino 

Veterans Equity Act of 2007. 

My thanks also to our very own Senator Daniel Inouye for introducing in 1992 

the original bill S. 68 with identical title and the same language adopted in the current Senate Bill S. 57 mandating the U.S. Government to confer full recognition and 

full benefits to World War II Filipino American veterans. 

However, the bill until today, failed to pass legislation and died a natural death 

at the closing of the U.S. Congress session every year. 

BACKGROUND

I was a Guerilla Intelligence Officer with the 11th Infantry Regiment, of the 

United States Armed Forces in the Philippines (USAFIP) Philippine Army assigned 

in the Northern Luzon. I took my oath of allegiance under the American flag in response to the call by the military order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

I survived the war through blood and sacrificed with a shrapnel wound I suffered 

in my lower left chin during a mission to rescue a U.S. pilot officer, Lt. Paul Foster, 

of the 39th Brigade when we were exposed in the battlefront in the middle of heavy 

staffing and bombing by the Japanese troops. Many were wounded and some died 

during the rescue operation. 

After the Philippines was granted absolute independence on July 4, 1945, the Rescission Act of 1946 created a new battle for injustice against the Filipino veterans 

of World War II when the U.S. Government unceremoniously stripped our wellearned honor and highly deserved benefits. 

LEGAL BATTLE

In 1992, fifteen years ago today, our very own U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (DHawaii) introduced the original Senate bill S. 68 with identical title and the same 

language adopted in the current S. 57 as the Filipino Veterans Equity Act 2007 

mandating the U.S. Government to confer full recognition of the military service and 

benefits of Filipino veterans who served with the Armed Forces of the United 

States. However, the bill died a natural death at the closing of the U.S. Congress 

session every year until to-date. 

The inability of the ‘‘power-that-be’’ to pass legislation of the bill apparently attributed to the failure to amend the Rescission Act of 1946 as a scapegoat of the 

U.S. Government to continue denying the Filipino veterans privilege and rights for 

benefits. Our long battle for justice with the U.S. Government had been unpopularly 

delayed and to think about it, justice delayed is justice denied, prejudicial to the 

welfare of the Filipino veterans. 

Consequently, records from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Veterans Services, Hawaii, revealed that between 15 and 20 veterans died every year. 

In December 2006 and January 2007, eight veterans died in Honolulu, Hawaii, apparently attributed to a prolonged frustrations suffered by the veterans who are fast 

aging at their 80’s of age and over, most of them are sickly, bedridden and poor, 

solely dependent on their SSI and Food Stamps provided by the U.S. Government. 

To supplement their SSI income they collect empty cans and bottles and sell to 

the recycle redemption center. They frequent food banks for free food and second 

hand clothing. Some do backyard gardening to raise vegetables. They save money 

for their families in the Philippines. Most of the veterans just confine themselves 

within the four walls of their one bedroom. The scenario when a veteran dies alone, 

he/she is noticed because of the stinky smell after three or more days. The veterans 

really live a very miserable life waiting and hoping against hope for their equity 

benefits to alleviate their living from poverty. 

FACTS

‘‘On April 9, 1942—United States surrenders the Philippines leaving 75,000 

USAFFE and regular soldiers to the Bataan Death March where close to 10,000 die 

along the trudge to POW camps. However, even after the American surrender, Philippine resistance to Japanese occupation continues.’’ (Source: www.fullequity.com.) 

The infamous Fall of Bataan that marked the treacherous Bataan Death March, 

the surrender of Corrigidor including other military installations and the Prisoners 

of War (POW) concentration camps located all over the country will remain historical events to remember symbolizing the sacrifices, courage, and loyalty of Filipino 

veterans in defense of freedom and democracy. 

The organized guerilla resistance units in coordination with the reinforcement liberation forces exemplified their bravery and valor throughout the intensive mopping 

operations against the enemy and excelled over heavy battle until the surrender and 

52

capture of Gen. Yamashita ‘‘The Tiger of Malaya’’ in the Central Cordillera mountain ranges of the Mountain provinces and Baguio City. 

The war was the bloodiest battle we ever experienced considering the heavy toll 

of casualties. It is part of American history about the World War II in the Philippines when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the military order calling and 

ordering all organized military forces of the Philippine Commonwealth government 

to join the Armed Forces of the United States. Cognizant to the military order, we 

are entitled to full recognition and benefits provided by the U.S. Constitution. 

However, the U.S. Government persistently continues to ignore our military service since 1946 until to date and avoid to grant our benefits rightfully due to us. 

While soldiers from 61 other nations who fought under the American flag received 

their highly deserved benefits. We, the Filipino veterans were singled out for exclusion. 

It is unconceivable that Filipino veterans must be ‘‘killed, disabled, wounded, paralyzed, deaf, half-blind, and POW to be honored and eligible to benefits, yet they 

were all confined in the hospitals and military camps, while Filipino veterans with 

limbs intact and normal who carried and sustained the battle and survived the 

‘‘Holocaust’’ of war were ignored of their military service and denied of benefits 

available by the U.S. Constitution. Both must be granted equal opportunity. 

Mr. Chairman and Members of this August Body, on behalf of my Comrades, I 

confide to you all our unconditional trust and confidence to your leadership and advocacy to support passage for legislation the much awaited Senate bill, S. 57, the 

Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007. 

To capsulize my testimony, I profess for consideration, the following: 

1. The HUMANITARIAN aspect as equally, if not more relevant to the legal 

rights of the World War II Filipino American veterans benefits provided by the U.S. 

Constitution and promised by Uncle Sam. 

2. The U.S. Government to rectify the injustice committed since the Rescission Act 

of 1946 against the Filipino American veterans who served in the Armed Forces of 

the United States. 

3. To mandate the U.S. Government to confer FULL recognition of military service of Filipino veterans of World War II who served in the Armed Forces of the 

United States, under military order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

4. The U.S. Government to grant FULL benefits to Filipino veterans of World War 

II for reason of their military service in the Armed Forces of the United States with 

equal benefits by the Americans available by law of the U.S. Congress. 

5. The U.S. Government to save the lives of the remaining living Filipino veterans 

who are fast aging at their 80’s of age and over and most of the veterans are sickly 

and poor dependent solely on SSI and Food Stamps provided by the U.S. Government. 

6. To reward the Filipino veterans, much less not to be forgotten as heroes of freedom and democracy who bravely sacrificed through blood and life in defense of the 

people and nation. 

7. The U.S. Government to improve the quality of life of the Filipino veterans as 

naturalized American citizens to live decently from poverty.

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much. 

[Applause.] 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Art Caleda from Hawaii. 

I now would like to call on Mr. Avelino Asuncion for your testimony. 

STATEMENT OF PATRICK G. GANIO, SR., PRESIDENT, AMERICAN COALITION FOR FILIPINO VETERANS, INC.,

PRESENTED BY AVELINO ASUNCION, CHAIRMAN, SAN

DIEGO CHAPTER, AMERICAN COALITION FOR FILIPINO

VETERANS, INC. 

Mr. ASUNCION. Honorable Chairman Akaka and Members of the 

hearing Committee, my name is Avelino Asuncion, a Filipino World 

War II veteran, a prisoner of war, and retired school superintendent living now in San Diego, California. I am now 87 years 

old. Allow me, therefore, to read the testimony of Patrick G. Ganio, 

Sr., a Filipino American defender in the epic Battles of Bataan and 

53

Corregidor. He is the President of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, whose membership I think is about 4,000. He is unable to be here today because of his wife’s present illness. 

Mr. Chairman, first, I would like to introduce our lively Filipino 

World War II veterans here today. Will you please all stand, veterans? 

[Applause.] 

Mr. ASUNCION. Thank you. All of these veterans, Mr. Chairman, 

came from very far places to be here to attend this hearing. I, for 

myself, Mr. Chairman, came from San Diego, traveling for 9 hours 

through the plane. 

We are greatly honored. I am glad to testify on behalf of my fellow war veterans and 4,000 members to remedy a historical injustice of the 1946 Rescission Act. We Filipino veterans deserve full 

benefits under the equity bill, S. 57 of Senator Inouye. We deeply 

thank you, Senator and the Chairman, for cosponsoring the equity 

bill. 

Over the past two decades, we lobbied for the full range of benefits under the GI Bill of Rights for all of us who served in the defense of America. We Filipino veterans see the unjust and unfairness of the 1946 Rescission Act that the U.S. Congress passed. This 

law excluded most Filipino World War II veterans from receiving 

full recognition of their U.S. military services and benefits. 

We do not need to rehash this complex and emotional issue. Simply put, our service in the U.S. Armed Forces cannot be considered 

as not active under the law. We Filipino veterans deserve to be 

treated as American veterans. The old reply of budget constraints 

to our request for equity is not acceptable to us. 

[Applause.] 

Mr. ASUNCION. Mr. Chairman, for the few of us remaining survivors, we hope and believe you won’t forsake us. We are Filipinos 

by birth, Americans by choice. We served loyally as U.S. soldiers. 

What is the difference that prevents us from getting benefits that 

our American comrades receive? Is it discrimination, as President 

Truman has said? 

Mr. Chairman, after a decade of our demonstration and lobbying 

on Capitol Hill and the arrests at the White House to call attention 

on our cause, we are at the last stage of our campaign for equity. 

We want equitable VA benefits for our poor and elderly veterans. 

The major difference between what a low-income American veteran receives in VA non-service disability pension and a U.S.-based 

Filipino veteran is about $400 per month. Our veterans survive on 

Supplemental Security Income of about $600 to $700 per month. 

An additional $200 monthly benefit would bring our veterans to 

above the poverty level and to live in dignity and honor as a citizen 

of the United States. This $200 monthly income for the Philippinebased Filipino World War II veteran would bring him above abject 

poverty there and pay for the much-needed food, shelter, and medicine. We conservatively estimate it would cost about $22 million 

yearly. 

President Truman said on February 20, 1946, when he objected 

to the Rescission Act, ‘‘We have a moral obligation to care for the 

Filipino Army veterans.’’ Today, Mr. Chairman and the honorable 

Members of this Committee, we ask for what is due us. Please give 

54

us the touch of your compassion and the kindness of your act of 

simple justice. 

Please pass our equity bill. Thank you. 

[Applause.] 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Ganio follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF PATRICK G. GANIO SR., NATIONAL PRESIDENT,

AMERICAN COALITION FOR FILIPINO VETERANS, INC. 

Chairman Akaka, the Honorable Sen. Daniel Inouye, and Committee Members: 

I am Patrick G. Ganio Sr., a Filipino American defender in the epic Battles of Bataan and Corregidor in the United States territory of the Philippines during World 

War II. 

As the national president of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, I am 

greatly honored by your invitation. I am glad to testify on behalf of my fellow war 

veterans and 4,000 members to remedy a historical injustice of the 1946 Rescission 

Act. We, Filipino veterans, deserve full benefits under the Equity bill S. 57 of Senator Inouye. We deeply thank the Chairman for cosponsoring the Equity bill. 

Mr. Chairman, first, I would like to introduce our feisty Filipino American WWII 

veterans behind me today by having them stand up. They came very far to be here. 

Over the past two decades, we lobbied for the full range of benefits under the GI 

Bill of Rights for all of us who served and bore the battle in defense of America. 

We, Filipino veterans, see the unjust and unfairness of the 1946 Rescission Act that 

the U.S. Congress passed. This law excluded most Filipino WWII veterans from receiving full recognition of their U.S. military service and VA benefits. 

We do not need to rehash this complex and emotional issue. Simply put, our service in U.S. Army Forces CANNOT be considered as ‘‘NOT ACTIVE’’ under current 

law. We Filipino veterans deserve to be treated as American veterans. The old reply 

of ‘‘budget constraints’’ to our request for Equity is not acceptable to us. 

Let me recall some relevant facts:

(1) The service we Filipino soldiers rendered in defense of the Philippines, then 

a U.S. territory, broke the Japanese 50–day timetable in 1942. We stood our ground 

in Bataan and Corregidor for a period of FIVE months and won America’s admiration. General MacArthur noted the United States saved $15 billion dollars and thousands of American lives. During 3 years of Filipino resistance to Japanese occupation demonstrated our loyalty to our commander in chief, President Franklin D. 

Roosevelt and prevented enemy forces from reaching the United States mainland. 

(2) After the war, the Senate Appropriations Committee deliberated on the rehabilitation of the Philippines. General Bradley, the Veterans Administrator, stated 

compensation benefit to Filipino veterans would amount to $3.2 BILLION. But the 

committee only approved $200 million. Hence the savings of $3 BILLION. Over the 

past sixty years, additional savings were made due to increasing deaths of my comrades who never tasted the health and pension benefits that they should have received. Sadly, many have died without the simple fairness of getting a pension while 

they lived in poverty. The reason: budget constraints. SORRY NO MONEY. 

(3) During this current battle against global terrorism, the natural calamities 

around the world, billions and billions of dollars are foreign aid flowed. But none 

for poor and disabled Filipino veterans who loyally served America.

Mr. Chairman, for the few of us remaining survivors, we hope and believe you 

won’t forsake us. We are Filipinos by birth, Americans by choice. We served loyally 

as U.S. soldiers. What is the difference that prevents us from getting benefits that 

our American comrades receive? Is it discrimination as President Truman has said? 

We appreciate that U.S. Congress has restored U.S. citizenship rights, VA burial 

benefits, war related injury compensation, and much needed VA health care. Our 

Filipino veterans in the United States now have their VA identification cards. However, they are missing the last benefit. 

Mr. Chairman, after a decade of our demonstrations and lobbying on Capitol Hill 

and arrests at the White House to call attention on our cause, we are at the last 

stage of our campaign for Equity. We want equitable VA pensions for our poor and 

elderly veterans. 

The major difference between what a low-income disabled American veteran receives in VA NON-service disability pension and a U.S. based Filipino veteran is 

about $200 per MONTH. 

Our Filipino veteran subsists on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) of $600 and 

Food Stamps. An additional $200 monthly would bring our veteran to above the poverty level and live in dignity in the U.S. 

55

This $200 dollars monthly income for the Philippine-based Filipino WWII veteran 

would bring him above abject poverty there and pay for much needed food, shelter 

and medicines. The Philippine Government has shared in their responsibility for 

providing an ‘‘old age pension’’ of less than $100 per month. We estimate it would 

cost about $22 MILLION yearly to provide this last benefit to less than 10,000 Filipino veterans in the U.S. and in the Philippines. 

President Truman said on February 20, 1946, when he objected to the Rescission 

Act, ‘‘ We have a morale obligation to care for the Philippine Army veterans.’’

Today, Mr. Chairman and Honorable Members of this Committee, we ask for 

what is due us. Please give us a touch of your compassion and kindness: your act 

of simple justice. Pass our Equity bill. 

Thank you. 

We will be glad to answer your questions.

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Avelino Asuncion. 

As I understand it, you are representing Mr. Patrick Ganio, who 

is the President of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, 

and I thank you very much for your testimony. 

At this time, I would like to call on Benito Valdez from Seattle. 

STATEMENT OF BENITO VALDEZ,

FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERAN 

Mr. VALDEZ. Honorable legislators, my name is Benito Valdez. I 

am 83 years old and I am a World War II veteran. 

In my unit from the Philippines, I am one of the only three surviving members. Two of us live in Washington State. 

I come before you today to seek help and understanding. Let me 

begin by thanking you for allowing me this rare opportunity to be 

part of the voice of the more than 200,000 forgotten Filipino warriors of freedom. 

I am an old soldier who fought the World War II that was not 

ours, a war that devastated my homeland and killed countless 

young men and women of my generation. That war left a deep and 

bitter wound that up to this day has not been healed. If I express 

frustration as I testify before you, it merely echoes the betrayal of 

a soldier who has served well, but has suffered more than 60 years. 

When my unit of 100 Filipino soldiers and guerrillas helped 

American commandos to free 600 American and Canadian prisoners of war in the Philippines in Cabanatuan, in that daring raid 

in the garrison of Cabanatuan, Philippines, we served with honor 

and loyalty. Today, 63 years later, that loyalty and sense of duty 

has not faded away. Many of us aging Filipino war veterans believe 

that it is our American allies who have instead forgotten us. 

There are less than 100 of us living in Washington State. With 

an estimated 5,000 Filipino World War II veterans living in America and the 14,000 still in the Philippines, we are a fast-fading, 

marginalized population. Our cry for justice has gotten this far and 

we thank many advocates and supporters who continue to stand 

with us. 

A widower, I live alone in a small place near a chapel. My daughter, a doctor who cannot practice in America, is here on a temporary visa as a church worker and to take care of me. I have petitioned for my children and have been waiting for 14 years. Meanwhile, a heart bypass has prolonged my life. I live on Social Security Income and pray that my life is extended some more. Each 

year, I am feeling weaker. 

56

Please, honorable legislators of the United States of America, 

pause a minute and think how difficult it has been for us forgotten 

soldiers and our families. Many of the original 200,000 conscripted 

comrades of mine have passed away, angry, disappointed, defeated. 

I am one of the last 20,000 still around to carry on the final battle. 

Yes, we are angry, but we are too weak now to argue or raise our 

voice. 

Our one final appeal we make in our twilight years is to give us 

what we have rightfully earned. We are not begging. We need your 

help and understanding so that you will now pass laws that will 

give us full veterans’ benefits. That means you would allow us to 

regain our dignity and to live a few remaining years in our lives 

in the company of our sons and daughters in this benevolent land 

of America. 

I salute you all and thank you on behalf of my fellow veterans. 

God bless us all. 

[Applause.] 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Valdez follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF BENITO VALDEZ, FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERAN

Honorable Legislators, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak before 

you today. 

My name is Benito Valdez. I am 83 years old and I am a World War II veteran. 

In my unit from the Philippines, I am one of only three surviving members. Two 

of us live in Washington State. 

I come before you today to seek help and understanding. Let me begin by thanking you for allowing me this rare opportunity to be part of the voice for more 

200,000 forgotten Filipino warriors of freedom. 

I am an old soldier who fought a war that was not ours, a war that devastated 

my homeland, and killed countless young men and women of my generation. That 

war left a deep and bitter wound that up to this day has not healed. If I express 

frustration as I testify before you, it merely echoes the betrayal of a soldier who has 

served well but has suffered for more than sixty years. 

When my unit of 100 Filipino soldiers and guerillas helped American commandos 

to free 600 American and Canadian prisoners of war in that daring raid of the garrison in Cabanatuan, we served with honor and loyalty. Today—63 years later—that 

loyalty and sense of duty has not faded away. Many of us aging Filipino war veterans believe that it is our American allies who have instead forgotten us. 

There are less than 100 of us living in Washington State. With the estimated 

7,000 Filipino World War II veterans living in America and the 13,000 still in the 

Philippines, we are a fast-fading, marginalized population. Our cry for justice has 

gotten this far and we thank many advocates and supporters who continue to stand 

with us. A widower, I live alone in a small place near a chapel. My daughter, a doctor who cannot practice in America, is here on a temporary visa as a church worker 

and to take care of me. I have petitioned for my children and I have been waiting 

for 14 years. Meanwhile, a heart by-pass has prolonged my life. I live on social security income and pray that my life is extended some more. Each year I feel weaker. 

Please, honorable legislators of the United States of America—pause for a minute 

and think how dificult it has been for us old forgotten soldiers and our families. 

Many of the original 200,000 conscripted comrades of mine have passed away angry, 

disappointed, defeated. I am one of the last 20,000 still around to carry on the final 

battle. Yes, we are angry but we are too weak now to argue or raise our voice. 

One final appeal we make in our twilight years is to give us what we have rightfully earned. We are not begging. We need your help and understanding so that you 

will now pass laws that will give us full veterans benefits. That means that you will 

allow us to regain our dignity and to live the few remaining years of our lives in 

the company of our sons and daughters in this benevolent land of America. 

I salute all of you and thank you on behalf of all my fellow veterans. God

bless us all.

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Valdez from

Seattle. 

57

And now, our final testimony will be from Lieutenant Colonel 

Edwin Ramsey, U.S. Army, Retired, and he will be testifying via 

video. 

STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDWIN PRICE 

RAMSEY (RET.), WORLD WAR II VETERAN 

Colonel RAMSEY [via videoconference]. Thank you, Chairman 

Akaka and honorable Members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs. My 

name is Edwin Ramsey. I appeared before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on the same subject on November 5, 1993, on July 

7 in 1998, and again on February 15 of this year, where copies of 

my testimony appear in more detail in the Congressional records 

of those hearings. 

On May the 9th of this year, I turn 90, and I will never have 

another chance to contribute in some small way to correcting a 

longstanding gross injustice to the Filipino veterans of World War 

II. To do so, it is important that you be aware of why I was in a 

unique position during that time period. 

In 1941, I was a lieutenant in the 26th Cavalry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, a regular unit of the United States Army with whom 

I fought for the Japanese landing in Lingayen Gulf through the 

Battle of Bataan. After Bataan surrendered on April 9, 1942, my 

troop commander, Captain Joseph R. Barker II, and I escaped and 

made our way to Pampanga Province in Central Luzon, where we 

met Colonel Claude Thorp, whom General MacArthur had sent out 

of Bataan in January to establish resistance forces behind enemy 

lines. We joined Colonel Thorp and began the guerrilla forces in 

Central Luzon, designated the East Central Luzon Guerilla Area, 

or ECLGA, under the Luzon Guerilla Army Forces of Colonel 

Thorp. After the capture of both Thorp and Barker and their later 

execution, in early January 1943, I became the commander of the 

ECLGA. By the time General MacArthur returned to Luzon, it had 

grown to approximately 45,000 guerilla troops. 

With that background, I would like to address the question of the 

status of Filipino veterans and their treatment, especially in respect to the Rescission Acts of 1946. 

In July 1941, President Roosevelt authorized through the War 

Department the formation of the United States Army Forces in the 

Far East, or USAFFE, under the command of General MacArthur 

and ordered the induction of the military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines into and as part of the USAFFE. It is impossible to see how these Filipino troops could be Federalized into 

the USAFFE and not be part of the United States Army. Further, 

when we inducted the Filipinos into the guerilla forces, we required 

that they all swear an oath of allegiance to the United States of 

America and the Commonwealth of the Philippines. 

Therefore, all those guerrillas that were recognized after the liberation would have to have the same status. In that connection, I 

question why there was a difference in the treatment accorded to 

the 65,000 or so Commonwealth of Puerto Rico troops and those 

from Hawaii and elsewhere who served in the United States Army 

and were later treated the same as American veterans. 

The USAFFE forces fought courageously, delaying the Japanese 

time table for several months instead of the 6 weeks General 

58

Homma had been given by the Japanese High Command to conquer the Philippines. This probably saved Australia from the Japanese. Also, remember that only the Filipinos remained loyal to 

their former colonial masters, while the Indo-Chinese turned on the 

French, the Indonesians on the Dutch, and Malaya and Burma on 

the British. It was this unbelievable loyalty that provided the environment necessary to build the massive guerilla forces that made 

it impossible for the Japanese to defend in a serious way against 

the liberating Allied forces and ultimately saved thousands of 

American and Allied lives. 

General MacArthur confirmed this to me personally in a meeting 

I had with him in Tokyo in March 1947. At that time, he gave me 

an autographed photograph dedicated, ‘‘To Ramsey with the admiration and affection of his old comrade-in-arms, Douglas MacArthur,’’ my most prized possession. 

For the sake of brevity today, please see my testimony appearing 

in the Congressional records of the hearings of 1993 and 1998 cited 

above. I would especially call your attention to President Roosevelt’s request to Congress in a letter of October 6, 1943, wherein 

he said, ‘‘to make provision for the physical and economic rehabilitation of the Philippines made necessary by the ravages of war 

which the invaders have inflicted upon them. All this is due the 

Filipino people in recognition of their heroic role in this war and 

the political ties which have bound us together in the past.’’ It 

should be remembered by us all today that this plea was made in 

1943, at a time when morale was very low worldwide, and particularly in Asia, and there was a great deal of uncertainty in our fortunes of war at the time. 

It is my belief that had President Roosevelt lived, he never would 

have sanctioned an agreement so demeaning to the Filipinos as has 

resulted in the Rescission Act of 1946. 

Thank you for your attention. 

[Applause.] 

[The prepared statement of Colonel Ramsey follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDWIN PRICE RAMSEY (RET.), 

WORLD WAR II VETERAN

Chairman Akaka and Honorable Members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ 

Affairs: 

My name is Edwin Ramsey and I thank you for the opportunity to be heard by 

you today. I have appeared before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on this 

same subject on November 5, 1993, on July 2, 1998, and again on February 15th 

of this year, wherein copies of my testimonies appear in more detail in the Congressional Records of those hearings. 

On May 9th of this year, I will turn 90 and I will never have another chance to 

contribute, in some small way, to correcting a longstanding gross injustice to the 

Filipino veterans of World War II. To do so, it is important that you be aware of 

why I was in a unique position during that time period. 

In 1941, I was a lieutenant in the 26th Cavalry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, a 

regular unit of the U.S. Army with whom I fought from the Japanese Landing in 

Lingayen Gulf through the Battle of Bataan. After Bataan surrendered on April 9, 

1942, my troop commander, Capt. Joseph R. Barker II and I escaped and made our 

way to Pampanga Province in Central Luzon, where we met Col. Claude Thorp 

whom General MacArthur had sent out of Bataan in January to establish resistance 

behind the enemy lines. 

We joined Col. Thorp and began the Guerrilla forces in Central Luzon designated 

by Col. Thorp to be the ‘‘East Central Luzon Guerrilla Area’’ or ECLGA, under the 

‘‘Luzon Guerrilla Army Forces’’ of Col. Thorp. After the capture of both Thorp and 

Barker, and later their execution, in early January 1943, I became the commander 

59

of the ECLGA. By the time Gen. MacArthur returned to Luzon, it had grown to approximately 45,000 guerrilla troops. 

With that background, I would like to address the question of the status of Filipino veterans and their treatment, especially with respect to the Rescission Act of 

1946. In July 1941, President Roosevelt authorized, through the War Department, 

the formation of the ‘‘United States Army Forces in the Far East’’ or USAFFE, 

under the command of General Douglas MacArthur and ordered the induction of the 

military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines into and as part of the 

USAFFE. It is impossible to see how these Philippine troops could be Federalized 

into the USAFFE and not be part of the United States Army. 

Further, when we inducted the Filipinos into the guerrilla forces, we required that 

they all swear an oath of allegiance to the United States of America and the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Therefore, all those guerrillas that were recognized

after the liberation would have the same status. In that connection, I question why 

there was a difference in the treatment accorded to the 65,000 or so Commonwealth 

of Puerto Rico troops and those from Hawaii and elsewhere, who served in the U.S. 

Army and were later treated the same as American veterans. 

The USAFFE forces fought courageously, delaying the Japanese timetable for several months, instead of the 6 weeks General Homma had been given by the Japanese High Command to conquer the Philippines. This probably saved Australia from 

the Japanese. Also, remember that only the Filipinos remained loyal to their former 

colonial masters while the Indo-Chinese turned on the French, the Indonesians on 

the Dutch, and Malaya and Burma on the British. 

It was this unbelievable loyalty that provided the environment necessary to build 

the massive guerrilla forces that made it impossible for the Japanese to defend, in 

any serious way, against the liberating Allied Forces and ultimately saved thousands of American and Allied lives. General MacArthur confirmed this to me in a 

meeting I had with him at his headquarters in Tokyo in March 1947. At that time, 

he gave me an autographed photo signed, ‘‘To Ramsey with the admiration and affection of his old comrade in arms, Douglas MacArthur.’’ My most prized memento. 

For the sake of brevity here today, please see my testimony appearing in the Congressional Records of the hearings of 1993 and 1998 cited above. I would especially 

call your attention to President Roosevelt’s request to Congress in his letter of October 6, 1943, wherein he said, inter alia, ‘‘to make provisions for the physical and 

economic rehabilitation of the Philippines made necessary by the ravages of war 

which the invaders have inflicted upon them. All this is due the Filipino people in 

recognition of their heroic role in this war and the political ties which have bound 

us together in the past.’’

It should be remembered by us all today, that this plea was made in 1943, when 

morale was very low worldwide and particularly in Asia, and there was a great deal 

of uncertainty in our fortunes of war at the time. It is my belief that had President 

Roosevelt lived, he never would have sanctioned an agreement so demeaning to the 

Filipinos as resulted by the Rescission Act of 1946. 

Thank you for your kind attention.

Chairman AKAKA. I want to thank Colonel Ramsey very much for 

his testimony. We will include his written testimony in the record 

of this hearing. 

Again, I want to thank this panel for your testimony and I have 

one question that I would like to ask each one of you and that is 

about the question of obligation. While you served with U.S. Forces 

during World War II, what was your understanding of the obligation of the United States to you after your service? I will ask you 

in the order in which you spoke. Mr. Braga? 

Mr. BRAGA. During the guerilla, 1942, I was only almost 16 and 

I was discharged from the guerilla in May 1945, and I didn’t receive anything. I was not recognized because when I was called to 

be processed, I was already in Okinawa as a Philippine Scout. So 

I was not processed. I was recruited by the U.S. Army to be a Philippine Scout, and after training in Okinawa, I was in Okinawa for 

2 years, and after 2 years, it was December 1948. I was transferred 

to Fort William McKinley in Manila. I was attached to the 63rd 

Military Police. We turned over the camp, it was Nichols Air Base 

60

and Fort William McKinley, to the Philippine Government. And 

after that, we were discharged. 

And it was—I have a long story. We were discharged in McKinley. That was May 4, 1949. After a month, I started looking for a 

job. Nobody hired me because I got TB. We don’t have any physical 

examination when we were discharged and I got that TB until 

1993. That was healed in Honolulu. It is hard to explain, and I 

don’t know why the U.S. Government did these things to us. 

When we were recruited by the U.S. Army, we were promised the 

same salary as the U.S. Army, but when we were already in the 

service, they only gave us $25 a month. When we got our discharge, we were demoted one rank down. I don’t know why. 

Now, about this pension in the Philippines, we call it old-age 

pension, there were portions that were not given us, because according to them, those who were enlisted after July 4, 1946, they 

are not qualified, because according to them, they did not help the 

Philippine Government. Actually, the truth is, we, Philippine 

Scouts, we did not serve the Philippine Government. We served the 

U.S. Government. Our work in Okinawa, reconstruction, and then 

working with this big construction company in California, constructing the roads there. I forgot the name of the construction 

company. We were working together in Okinawa for two years constructing bridges, roads, barracks, and everything and this is what 

happened to us. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Braga, on your understanding of the obligation of the United States to you after the 

service. 

Let me call on Art Caleda. 

Mr. CALEDA. Mr. Chairman, it is clearly provided in the Military 

Order of my Commander in Chief, then President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when we were ordered to join the Armed Forces of the 

United States. I took my oath of allegiance under the American 

flag when I joined the military of the U.S. Armed Forces, and 

fought side-by-side with the American troops. My understanding 

with that military order, it was a promise by no less than the 

President of the United States that the services of Filipino soldiers 

and now Filipino veterans are entitled for benefits and pension. 

That is my understanding of the obligation of the United States, 

of the U.S. Government. It was my sworn duty to serve during the 

war the Government of the United States. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you. Thank you very much, Art Caleda. 

And now, Mr. Asuncion. 

Mr. ASUNCION. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, for one, I was recruited by virtue of the provision of the National Defense Act of the 

Philippines wherein it required that all college students attending 

regular classes in the universities and schools of the Philippines 

had to take the ROTC, this Reserve Officer Training Corps. Before 

we graduated, Mr. Chairman, from the ROTC—I was enrolled in 

one of the colleges in the Philippines—we were called to have what 

we called the summer cadre training. We understood, Mr. Chairman, that our being called to come to training during the month 

of April 1939, there seems to be a war coming. We don’t know who 

will declare the war. So we got the training for two months. 

61

Before we graduated from the training, Mr. Chairman, we were 

already assigned our mobilization centers before we went home 

from the training course. So, Mr. Chairman, because I graduated 

second chair in the college, I started teaching in the Philippines as 

an elementary school teacher. I want to inform you, Mr. Chairman, 

that I was still 22 when I received my transportation order for war 

duty. To my delight, Mr. Chairman, I represented the spirit of 

young Filipinos, eager ever to hold a gun to fight in any battle. So, 

Mr. Chairman, when we were called to active duty, we never read 

or had known that the United States Army through the President 

would conscript us, but we were willing as young soldiers to fight. 

So whether they promised us payment or not, we understood that 

the U.S. Army will have to pay us because we have been conscripted under the United States Army. And so, Mr. Chairman, for 

that matter, I do not know of any time when I got any promise of 

the President of the United States to be paid or not, but just the 

same, the spirit of the Filipino young soldier to fight was the idea 

behind driving me to the army. I was still single when I was recruited in the army. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Avelino Asuncion. 

And now, Mr. Benito Valdez, your understanding of the obligation of the United States——

Mr. VALDEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The question is very 

good. What was your understanding of the obligation of the United 

States to you? That is what we are here for now, Mr. Chairman. 

I want to fully answer a few words, because I showed my love to 

the United States by rendering services in the armed forces. What 

I expect now is I also want the return of the love of the United 

States to me, to us, by giving us the full veterans’ benefit. Thank 

you, sir. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you. Let me ask you a final question. 

To each of you, please describe and talk about your interaction 

with American troops and commanders during the war. Mr. Braga? 

Mr. BRAGA. In Okinawa, ever since we were recruited, our officers are all Americans. There are only a few Filipino officers. All 

of them are Americans. When I was into the cadre school, there are 

about one-half Americans. 

We were about 120 and about one-half are Americans. After 

graduation from the cadre school, all those Americans are our commanders and we Filipinos are non-commissioned officers on active 

appointment. But it did not take long, especially when the trainees 

graduated. We got promoted actually. So when they sent me to 

Okinawa, I was—but from company commander, platoon leader, 

battalion commander, regimental commander, all Americans. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Braga. 

Art Caleda? 

Mr. CALEDA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. After I took my oath of 

allegiance under the American flag, the order was so clear that I 

had to join the Armed Forces of the United States and fought sideby-side with the American troops. In one dangerous operation during the war, I remember on March 4, 1945, we had a very risky 

mission to rescue one U.S. Air Force pilot officer by the name of 

Lieutenant Paul Foster of the 39th Brigade. In that rescue operation, we were subjected to heavy bombing by the Japanese troops 

62

where I suffered a shrapnel wound on my left chin and I saved the 

life of my comrade American officer. 

And my relationship to our American troops, I was under the 

command of Colonel Russell Volckman, U.S. Army, and my area 

commander was U.S. Army Colonel Donald Blackburn. We were 

under the command of the American troops. We were so loyal with 

our comrades-in-arms. We fought during the war. We survived the 

‘‘holocaust’’ of the war in battle side-by-side with the American 

troops. And with the combined forces of the guerillas, I was a guerilla then, and the reinforcement liberation forces of General Douglas MacArthur at the time when we were conducting continuous 

mopping operation, led to the surrender and capture of General 

Yamashita and the liberation of Northern Luzon. 

And so it cannot be denied of our close camaradeie—it can be 

said that we have exemplified a very close relationship with the 

American troops with a unified sacrifice, courage and loyalty in defense of freedom and democracy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Caleda. 

Mr. Avelino Asuncion? 

Mr. ASUNCION. My chance to interrelate with Americans for 

years during my life in the Army was during the time I was a prisoner of war. I remember that from the Baguio regions to Manila, 

prisoners of war were brought to Manila by Japanese boats. And 

in the Japanese vessel, they had to serve us food, and it happened, 

my dear Chairman, that we were a little bit treated better than the 

Americans by the Japanese. I was commissioned to distribute food 

to the prisoners of war, including the Americans who were with us 

in the boat, and naturally, I know that the Americans were my 

brothers-in-arms and so I had to give them more food. They were 

very thankful, and when we reached Manila, Mr. Chairman, we 

were imprisoned in the ‘‘Bilibid Prison’’ in Manila. I saw most 

American prisoners were there, they came from Corregidor. Just 

the same, I treated the Americans—because they were my brothers-in-arms—I used to give them more food than what I had given 

to others. So I was very thankful. In the concentration camp, in 

Camp O’Donnell, Mr. Chairman, we used to get food from the headquarters, and the same, I treated our American brothers better 

than what I treated others. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Asuncion. 

Mr. Valdez? 

Mr. VALDEZ. Thank you, sir. During my enlistment, we served 

during the liberation. We have rendered services in the right flank 

of General Dalton Pass, the road going to the Northern Luzon. 

That is, sir, where our unit was assigned during the retreat of the 

Japanese. That was the time when we were at the right flank of 

General Dalton Pass, assigned in a Spanish trail in Carranglan, 

Nueva Ecija. That is during the liberation. And the greatest mission we have participated in is in the rescue of the 600 American 

and Canadian prisoners in Cabanatuan, Philippines. We were 

awarded the Bronze Star Medal in that retreat. That is the most 

important reaction I have performed, rendered, to the American 

forces. 

Chairman AKAKA. Thank you very much, Mr. Valdez. 

63

This has been a great hearing. In closing, I again thank all of 

the witnesses for appearing today. I know that some of you have 

traveled a great distance to be here to testify and to witness this 

hearing. I want you to know that we truly appreciate you taking 

the time to give us all a better understanding of the issues surrounding the service of the Filipino World War II veterans, and you 

have done that. It is now in the record and we will proceed from 

here on S. 57 and look forward to working hard on that. 

So again, thank you very much. 

[Applause.] 

[Whereupon, at 12:08 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 

(65)

A P P E N D I X 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. HARRY REID, U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA

Mr. Chairman, I speak today in support of Senate Bill 57, the Filipino Veterans 

Equity Act of 2007. This important legislation would provide full restoration of veterans’ benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to surviving World War 

II veterans of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, the Philippine Scouts, 

and those individuals from the Philippines who served in the United States Armed 

Forces organized resistance units. 

During the Second World War, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive 

order to draft Filipino troops into the United States Army. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941, it was the Filipinos who made up the majority of 

the troops there. Many of these men fought alongside American servicemembers, 

while others battled with organized resistance units until the liberation of these islands in 1944. Commander Francisco Cedula, who currently resides in Las Vegas, 

Nevada, was one of those individuals who fought in the southern front of Luzon. 

He led resistance fighters in cooperation with the United States Army in the liberation of a concentration camp in Manila on February 3, 1945. 

When the war ended, these heroic Filipino fighters, including Commander Cedula, 

were stripped of their eligibility for full veterans’ benefits and have only received 

minimal compensation for service-related disabilities. In the years since, our Filipino veterans have been fighting another battle—a battle with the courts and Congress—to receive the full benefits they deserve and were promised by the United 

States Government. Current law denies many of them full VA benefits, including 

pensions for low-income veterans over 65 and survivors’ death pension. Other denied 

benefits include veterans’ health care, home loans, education assistance, job training, and handicap adjustments for a house or car. 

Last week, Commander Cedula presented me with his book entitled ‘‘The Endangered Species—Filipino WWII Veterans.’’ This is the second book in which he has 

chronicled the bravery of World War II Filipino veterans and the subsequent struggles they faced after serving. After speaking to Commander Cedula and listening 

to his personal story, I believe that the title of his book makes a great deal of sense. 

These heroic men are an endangered species. The government must fulfill its obligations to all of our Nation’s veterans and military retirees. For me, this is a matter 

of basic fairness and that is why I am a cosponsor of this legislation. 

The Filipino Veterans Equity Act would allow the 50 servicemembers in the State 

of Nevada and approximately 7,000 Filipino veterans nationwide to be eligible for 

all veterans’ benefits programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Of the 250,000 Filipino veterans who fought alongside the American forces, approximately 20,000 remain. We must fully restore the rights, privileges, and benefits 

guaranteed while many of these heroes are enjoying their twilight years. 

I would like to commend my dear friend and colleague, Senator Inouye, for more 

than 16 years of service to end this unfair policy. I would also like to thank Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and other Members of the Senate Veterans’ 

Affairs Committee. I look forward to working with you all on this

important legislation. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. SHERROD BROWN, U.S. SENATOR FROM OHIO

Thank you Mr. Chairman. 

I am glad we are holding this hearing. In my home state of Ohio, there are approximately 13,000 Filipino Americans. 

That is a small portion of the approximately 2 million Filipino Americans nationwide. The percentage of Ohio Filipino veterans from World War II is even less. This 

small number doesn’t mean Ohio is not indebted to their service. 

66

Whether it is the Veterans Memorial on Susanna Way in New Richmond or the 

Veterans Bridge spanning the Muskingum River in Zanesville, Ohio is home to numerous monuments celebrating the heroism of our Nation’s veterans. 

The Filipino veterans served our Nation with distinction. Like other veterans, 

these veterans deserve our respect, our gratitude, and our commitment to provide 

the compensation they have earned with their service. 

The Filipino veterans were drafted into service by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and they answered the call of duty. They helped defeat tyranny at a time 

when America needed their help the most. 

After the war, many of these soldiers were denied veterans status and deprived 

of the same benefits their American counterparts received. They proudly and bravely served this Nation in war; it is our obligation to serve them in peace time. 

We have been negligent and are terribly late in providing for these veterans who 

fought for the Untied States. Today, we can make things right. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. BOB FILNER,

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig and Committee Members, I thank you 

for holding this hearing on the ‘‘Filipino Veterans Equity Act’’ (S. 57), introduced 

by Senator Inouye. 

The story of the Filipino World War II Veterans is well-known in Congress: how, 

as residents of a territory of the United States, they were drafted into armed service 

under the command of the United States Army by President Franklin D. Roosevelt; 

how they fought bravely, side-by-side with American soldiers, most notably during 

the epic battles of Bataan and Corregidor; how they suffered and died during the 

Bataan Death March and in prisoner-of-war camps; and how they successfully held 

off the enemy, allowing the United States precious time needed to disrupt the enemy’s plan for conquest of the Pacific. 

Hundreds of Congressmembers and Senators have cosponsored legislation over 

the years to restore the benefits and the honor that were stripped from many of 

these brave and loyal men by the Rescission Acts passed by the 1946 Congress. 

Many were appalled by this act of Congress, viewing it as unjust at best but in 

truth, completely immoral. President Harry S. Truman stated on February 20, 1946, 

when the Rescission Acts were passed, ‘‘Philippine Army veterans... fought, as 

American nationals, under the American flag and under the direction of our military 

leaders . . . I consider it a moral obligation of the United States to look after the 

welfare of the Philippine Army veterans.’’

President William J. Clinton said, on October 17, 1996 as he signed a Presidential 

Proclamation on the anniversary of the 1944 return of the United States forces to 

liberate the Philippines, ‘‘I urge all Americans to recall the courage, sacrifice, and 

loyalty of Filipino Veterans of World War II and honor them for their contributions 

to our freedom.’’

On July 26, 2001 in his greeting to the Filipino Veterans, President George W. 

Bush said, ‘‘Filipinos fought with unwavering loyalty... under the command of 

General Douglas McArthur... and thousands gave their lives in the battles of 

Bataan and Corregidor... During the three long years following these battles, 

the Filipino people valiantly resisted a brutal Japanese occupation with an indomitable spirit and steadfast loyalty to America.’’

The issue of equity for Filipino World War II Veterans has always been a bipartisan battle. Over the years, I have been proud to join with Congressman Benjamin 

Gilman and Congressman Darrell Issa in the introduction of the ‘‘Filipino Veterans 

Equity Act’’ in the House of Representatives. Senator Inouye has carried the bill in 

the Senate for many years. 

We have made some progress by passing access to VA health care and improvements in benefits for many Veterans who live in the United States. Now, it is time 

for us to resolve, in bipartisan unity, to complete the job and, once and for all, pass 

the ‘‘Filipino Veterans Equity Act.’’

This must be the year to pass the Equity Bill. Once there were at least 200,000 

Filipino World War II Veterans. Now the estimate is that there are 20,000. 

We must, as a moral Nation, face this issue directly and pass legislation to restore 

the benefits that were promised and earned but then taken away. We must, as a 

moral Nation, face this issue directly and pass legislation to restore the status of 

veteran to these honorable men, a designation they so richly deserve. 

If not now, when? 

67

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. MICHAEL Y. MAGAOAY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM HAWAII

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and Members of the Committee, I am 

unable to be with you today, due to the critical time of the State Legislative process 

and so I offer my written testimony. I appreciate you holding this hearing concerning this very significant issue. The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 represents the solution to a problem that has gone unresolved since 1946. As a proud 

Filipino American, and as Chair of the Hawaii State Filipino Caucus I can assure 

you that the Filipino community is monitoring the progress of this measure, and are 

determined as ever to finally gain equity for these veterans. 

In 1941, on the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt 120,000 soldiers were 

drafted from the Philippine Commonwealth Army to fight alongside the U.S. Armed 

Forces in World War II. These soldiers served bravely with the promise of the same 

benefits as any other member of the U.S. Armed Forces. President Truman saw it 

as a ‘‘moral obligation’’ to take care of these Filipino Veterans. Unfortunately in 

1946, the U.S. Congress didn’t feel the same way, as they rescinded President Truman’s promise to the Filipino veterans by stripping them of their U.S. veteran status. 

The Filipino veterans of World War II are simply asking for what they are due. 

What they seek is recognition of the sacrifices they have made for this country. As 

I write this testimony we arrive at the 65th anniversary of The Bataan Death 

March, a famous example of the sacrifice made by the Filipino veterans on behalf 

of this country. While I realize that the benefits are the issue at hand here, what 

I believe to be the principal importance, is that our Nation recognizes and honors 

the sacrifice and service of these Filipino Veterans. This is a country that is built 

on honor and service, and so it is unacceptable for the brave military service of 

these men to go unrecognized for over 60 years. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Government of the Philippines 

estimate that this year there will be less than 20,000 Filipino Veterans living within 

the United States and in the Philippines. Most of them are well into their 80’s and 

90’s and their numbers are dwindling. Many veterans have passed on with the 

memory of a promise unfulfilled. Let us take this opportunity to recognize and honor 

those who remain, and grant them what they were promised all those years ago. 

As part of the Filipino package, I have introduced House and concurrent resolutions in support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007. We at the Filipino Caucus are urging our fellow Hawaii State Legislators to lend their support, so that Hawaii’s voice is firmly behind the Filipino Veterans. 

Again, I would like to thank this Committee for holding this hearing. The work 

you are doing is invaluable in bringing awareness to this long standing injustice. 

It is my hope that this 110th Congress will see the passage of this measure so that 

the Filipino Veterans can receive what they are due: equal benefits and more importantly recognition and honor for serving this great country. 

Aloha Ke Akua. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF AMY AGBAYANI, PH.D., VICE CHAIR, NATIONAL

FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS REGION 12 (HAWAII, GUAM, AND

COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS) 

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, as Vice Chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations 

(NaFFAA) Region 12, I thank you for the opportunity to present this written testimony in unified support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. 

NaFFAA Region 12 represents the interests of Filipinos in Hawaii, Guam, and the 

Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands. NaFFAA Region 12 is an affiliate of 

the National NaFFAA, which is recognized by Washington policymakers, private industry and national advocacy groups as the Voice of Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. We are a non-partisan, non-profit national affiliation of more than five hundred Filipino American institutions and umbrella organizations that span twelve regions throughout the continental United States and U.S. 

Pacific territories. 

NaFFAA strongly supports S. 57 and H.R. 760 that would recognize the contributions of Filipino WWII veterans to the U.S. Armed Forces, and reinstate to them 

veterans’ benefits that were dropped as a result of the 1946 Rescission Act. Your 

leadership is needed to bring social justice to our aging Filipino veterans. We are 

proud that Mr. Art Caleda, NaFFAA Region 12 leader, who is among the dwindling 

numbers of surviving Filipino veterans, is presenting testimony today. Please enact 

S. 57 and H.R. 760. 

68

PREPARED STATEMENT OF BRYAN ANDAYA, ESQ.,

UNITED FILIPINO COMMUNITY COUNCIL (UFCH) 

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, as President of the United Filipino Community Council (UFCH), I thank you 

for the opportunity to present this written testimony in emphatic support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. 

Founded in 1959 to help Filipinos play a larger role in the State of Hawaii, the 

mission of the Council is to promote a sense of unity, friendship, camaraderie and 

mutual assistance among Filipinos in Hawaii while promoting and perpetuating the 

Filipino heritage and culture. Today, the Council consists of six Island Councils with 

jurisdiction over 100+ Filipino organizations and a combined membership of about 

10,000 from every major island in the State. 

The Council had passed a resolution at our statewide annual convention in July 

2006 to support local and national initiatives to restore parity and equity for Filipino WWII veterans’ benefits that were rescinded by the U.S. Government in 1946. 

The yearlong Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission events in 2006 have 

raised community awareness, support and outrage at the humiliating plight of our 

Filipino veterans. The surviving Filipino veterans deserve their due social justice 

and no less for their loyalty and service to the U.S. Armed Forces, in order to protect America’s diverse people and U.S. Territories. Your help to enact S. 57 and H.R. 

769 is critical not only to the veterans’ human dignity, but also to the international 

image of America’s promise to allied troops yesterday, as well as today. Thank you 

for the opportunity to voice the views of our Filipino community in Hawaii. The 

Council thanks you for your public service to uphold social justice for all,

not just a few. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF JENNY L. BATONGMALAQUE, M.D.,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FILIPINO VETERANS FOUNDATION

Mr. Chairman, Senator Akaka, and Members of the Committee, I am Jenny 

Batongmalaque, a geriatrician, friend and advocate of Filipino WWII Veterans and 

all Veterans and most importantly an enlightened daughter of a Bataan Defender. 

Before I validate my recommendations for policy in looking after the survivors and 

the ever-increasing number of widows, I am compelled to tell my story. I discovered 

a pocket diary of my father’s war memoirs and his autobiography, a month after 

he died in 1995 at the age of 89. He had kept it so well during his lifetime, that 

when I discovered it, it struck me as a lightning bolt that changed the course of 

my life and kept my profession as a physician focused on the care of the elderly. 

When I immigrated to the United States in a tumultuous year in America, in 

1966, I was given the opportunity to pursue my highest attainment that is to practice medicine in the United States. I was the recipient of my father’s educational 

benefits on account of his being a USAFFE Veteran. These benefits came from the 

Philippine Veterans Administration and that is how I completed my Medical degree. 

When my father joined us in America, in 1975, he was jolted to find out that his 

services were not recognized by the USVA because of an existing law, unbeknownst 

to him and his comrades-in-arms. It is a law that still exists, the Rescission Act of 

1946, which has denied them recognition of their services and therefore, their GI 

Bill of Rights. As a matter of fact he was not qualified to receive health services 

in the VA, because the attending clerk never heard of the USAFFE, the United 

States Army Forces in the Far East. My father never spoke of being a Veteran nor 

pursued any benefits in the twenty years he resided in America, since that initial 

rejection in 1975. 

Hence, the impact of my total ignorance of his plight as a Veteran drove me to 

conduct a 10-year longitudinal study on 300 of his cohorts in the Los Angeles County. That was in 1996. Last year, I had published the results of that study which 

had been submitted to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing last

February 15. 

Seeing the rapid disappearance of the WWII Veterans, with only 10 percent left 

in the cohort study group and that goes extraponentially to the population group 

in question in the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, I am urgently asking Congress to consider giving them the recognition they rightfully deserve, for the few remaining years left, for they have lived long enough, suffered long enough and deprived long enough as they approach their end of life. 

We have noted the significant rise in numbers of widows. These are the octogenarian women who live alone and are victims of the poverty of neglect and want 

even while tending to their frail beloved Veteran. 

69

If we go back in time to see how the wounded WWII GI soldiers were attended 

to when they returned home, since they found their mothers and sisters and wives 

not at home but working as Rosie the Riveters and some other employment to make 

a living, the wounded Veterans were provided a daily schedule rehabilitated in some 

Quonset hut at the base during the day, to return home at night in the safe and 

stable embrace of their families. 

Similarly, or along simplistic lines, the plan of the Filipino Veterans Foundation, 

of which I serve as its Executive Director is to gather those in need of attention 

and place them in some Quonset hut or equivalent thereof, during the day for an 

adult day health care program, and at night return them safely to a stable environment wherever they choose to live. 

We want to show our returning young, 19-year-old Veterans from the Iraqi war 

and all other wars that they are not to be abandoned as they return home and advance in years to face the challenges confronting their health, as all of them are 

victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, being exposed in harms way. Mr. Chairman, our Veterans ask for so little, in return for the sacrifice they had given so that 

we may all live in our own pursuits of happiness, giving us a chance to live in peace 

and democracy instead of war and terrorism. 

The sons and daughters of these Veterans are ready, willing and able to return 

the favor by taking care of the frail elderly in America, which will soon be a fifth 

of the total population in America, projected to be much sooner than in the middle 

of this Century. These sons and daughters are filled with love and gratitude of their 

beloved Veterans’ contribution to our democracy, and that tribute includes all Veterans of all wars, not just Filipino WWII Veterans who are few and far between 

and soon will be extinct. 

So, find an empty lot for us, Mr. Chairman, whether in Central Los Angeles, East 

L.A., West L.A., South Bay or the Valleys and place one or two Quonset huts for 

us to demonstrate our program which will add quality to the lives of our Veterans 

and you will find that when you involve the family it will come out less expensive 

to our government because that tender love in the equation is priceless, which 

brings us closer to justice. And this is why I chose to be an American citizen, where 

impossible dreams can come true especially when the heart is in the right place, 

and in God we trust. 

God Bless America! 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me to express my views. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF CYNTHIA C. CABOT, BOARD MEMBER, GUAM LIAISON, 

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS REGION 12

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, as Board member and Guam Liaison to the National Federation of Filipino 

American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 12, I thank you for the opportunity to 

present this written testimony in full support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. 

NaFFAA Region 12 represents the interests of Filipinos in Hawaii, Guam, and the 

Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands. NaFFAA Region 12 is an affiliate of 

the National NaFFAA, which is recognized by Washington policymakers, private industry and national advocacy groups as the Voice of Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. We are a non-partisan, non-profit national affiliation of more than five hundred Filipino American institutions and umbrella organizations that span twelve regions throughout the continental United States and U.S. 

Pacific territories. 

Social justice is long overdue for Filipino World War II veterans in Guam. As 

young men, they loyally responded to America’s call to serve in the U.S. Armed 

Forces. Their bravery in guerilla warfare played a vital role in bringing World War 

II to an earlier end, avoiding further bloodshed and suffering. As they age, the impact of rescinded veterans’ benefits is taking a toll on their quality of life, yet their 

patriotism to the United States is unwavering. Thus, your support of the Filipino 

Veterans Equity Act is also about retaining human dignity. We look to your leadership to do the right thing. Please enact S. 57 and H.R. 760. Your important work 

on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee is greatly appreciated.

70

PREPARED STATEMENT OF ARCADIO CALABAS, PRESIDENT, ILLINOIS VETERANS EQUITY

CENTER AND THE AMERICAN LEGION FILIPINO AMERICAN POST 509

Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: 

My name is Arcadio V. Calabas. I speak on behalf of the Illinois Veterans Equity 

Center and the American Legion Filipino American Post 509. The Illinois Veterans 

Equity Center is part of the newly formed National Alliance for Filipino Veterans 

Equity. 

I served as 3rd Lt. Field Artillery, 301st FA Regiment with ASN 021326 of the 

Philippine Commonwealth under the command of the United States Armed Forces 

in the Far East from December 12, 1941 to June 21, 1946. My service was pursuant 

to the Executive Order of the U.S. President Roosevelt dated July 26, 1941. 

INTRODUCTION

The world will long remember the epic struggle put up by the 75,000 Filipino and 

12,000 American soldiers in the blood-stained jungles and along the rugged coasts 

of Bataan for more than three (3) months in 1942. They fought shoulder-to-shoulder 

against the superior force of the Japanese Imperial army in defense of freedom and 

democracy. 

TESTED COMRADESHIP

Our comradeship with the American soldiers was tested in many ways. During 

the last month’s battle, as we fought side-by-side in the battlefields of Bataan on 

empty stomachs—many ridden with malaria and weakened by malaria—we still 

maintained our high morale. After the surrender of Bataan, we marched together 

during the Death March and we suffered together in the concentration camp in high 

spirits even in the most adverse condition of starvation and widespread disease. 

Despite the harrowing condition brought by the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, 

the Filipino soldiers and the brave guerilla fighters under the command of U.S. officers had given the same undying loyalty to the American flag as the American soldiers did throughout World War II. 

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE DEFENDERS OF BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR

With your indulgence, please allow me to state what could be considered the most 

important accomplishment of the defenders of Bataan and Corregidor—they disrupted the timetable of the Japanese forces in conquering the Philippines. This disruption prevented the Japanese forces from advancing to Australia where they could 

have built a strong military base and make use of the oil resources thereat. The 

war in the Far East could have been longer with tremendous loss of lives on the 

part of the U.S. Allied Forces. 

For this accomplishment, the whole world will long remember the gallantry of the 

Filipino and American troops who fought and stood together in the face of overwhelming odds in Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. 

SCARS OF THE WAR

It is indeed very hurting and disappointing that in 1946, U.S. Congress passed 

the Rescission Act that cutoff the promised benefits to the Filipino WWII veterans. 

However, President Harry Truman admitted and said then, ‘‘It is the moral obligation of the U.S. to look after the welfare of all Filipino WWII veterans.’’

For the past 61 years we had been suffering from injustice, unfair treatment and 

inequality because the U.S. Congress has failed to give us back the benefits that 

rightfully belongs to us. The gallant deeds of the Filipino WWII veterans have surely faded away in the minds of America’s policymakers. 

CONCLUSION

U.S. has spent vast amounts of money for Germany, France, Russia and Iraq in 

building democracy throughout the world but failed to reward those who fought and 

risked their lives 65 years ago to ensure the freedom and democracy we are all enjoying. 

For the moment, we still have faith in America’s goodness. With your enlightened 

consideration of holding a public hearing and taking on the issue plus the persistence of the Filipino American advocates, the last battle for FULL EQUITY may still 

be won—something all freedom loving Americans would like to see happen before 

the aging Filipino WWII veterans will all be gone. 

71

I would like to end my testimony by sharing to you what Her Excellency Kristie 

A. Kenney, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines told me when I met her at the 

Shrine of Valor in Bataan last year, she said, ‘‘ Mr. Calabas, thank you for your 

sacrifices, our world is more peaceful and prosperous.’’

Thank you and may God bless us all! 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF CHARLENE CUARESMA, PRESIDENT, FILIPINO COALITION FOR SOLIDARITY

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, As President of the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, I thank you for the opportunity to present this written testimony in urgent support of the Filipino Veterans 

Equity Act. 

Since its inception in 1990, the Coalition has represented more than 50 Filipino 

community leaders whose aim is to advocate for social justice issues, and to empower Filipinos to make socially responsible contributions to Hawaii and our global 

neighbors through community service, education, advocacy, and social action. 

Filipino WWII Veterans equity has been among the top social justice issues for 

Coalition advocates. Reinstatement of veterans’ benefits is also a matter of human 

dignity. In Hawaii, for example, the issue of family reunification is paramount for 

our elderly Filipino veterans. In November 2006, a Filipino veteran died in destitute 

with no next of kin. Immigration and financial barriers prohibited his family from 

coming to Hawaii to transport his remains back to the Philippines for burial. Our 

Filipino veterans have earned this entitlement by their commitment to the U.S. 

Armed Services. Filipino veterans bravely put themselves in harm’s way to protect 

the interests of the United States and its citizens. 

Your help to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act would go a long way to bring 

judicial closure and dignity to our Filipino WWII veterans. Please support the enactment of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SUSAN ESPIRITU DILKES, MEMBER, NATIONAL ALLIANCE

FOR FILIPINO VETERANS EQUITY AND THE AMERICAN COALITION FOR FILIPINO

VETERANS

This week, I personally attended the funerals of two Filipino American Veterans 

of World War II. Both died without receiving any of the benefits they were promised 

when they joined the American Armed Forces in 1941. 

My name is Susan Espiritu Dilkes. I am the daughter of a Filipino World War 

II veteran, member of the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity and the 

American Coalition for Filipino Veterans. I am also the Executive Director of Filipino American Service Group Inc. (FASGI), a nonprofit community-based, social 

service agency in Los Angeles County, which was started in October 1981, when a 

homeless Filipino World War II veteran was found sleeping in the garage at the 

home of Mrs. Remedios Geaga, one of the founding members of our agency. Since 

then, FASGI has assisted thousands of Filipino American World War II veterans 

with temporary shelter, health and mental health issues, and food distribution. 

FASGI operates a transitional housing shelter for independent living for more than 

four hundred (400) World War II veterans. 

In 1996, with the help of the Filipino American WWII veteran’s volunteers, 

FASGI launched FILVOTE, the Filipino American Voters Mobilization, and has registered more than 13,000 Filipino American voters in Los Angeles County. 

The first thing that I want to impress on you is the fact that most of the Filipino 

American World War II Veterans are in their 80’s. Many are in poor health, and 

the time for helping any of them is rapidly slipping away. 

An example of the urgency of this matter arose from our own work program, during the last year. 

In early 2006, FASGI obtained a grant from the State of California to do outreach 

to Filipino American World War II Veterans who are still alive and living in Los 

Angeles. The goal of the outreach is to reduce the risks of poor health resulting from 

inadequate housing, and to refer homeless WWII Veterans to our shelter, and to enroll them in our Healthy Active Lifestyle Program (HALP). For the past twelve 

months, FASGI has worked at this outreach program, but has referred only six 

WWII veterans to our transitional housing shelter. 

The reason for our lack of success is that there are so few of the veterans left. 

If Congress does not act soon, there will be no one left upon whom to confer the 

benefits these men were promised over 60 years ago. This is your last chance to correct a wrong, which is now more than half a century old. I believe, you are men 

72

and women, of good intention, and now, it is time for those intentions to be converted into law. 

The second point worth noting is that there are benefits, beyond those that are 

visible on the face of this legislation. First, the passing of S. 57, granting full equity 

benefits for the Filipino American WWII veterans, provides the United States with 

an opportunity to rescue its reputation as a fair, honest and reputable country that 

honors its commitment by helping the remaining 7,000 Filipino American World 

War II veterans who are living in the United States. Our country can take a long 

step toward rescuing its own honor. 

Third, passing S. 57, improves the foreign relations between the Philippines and 

the United States. It reduces the political irritation of an unfulfilled commitment 

to the 13,000 Filipino American World War II veterans who are living in the Philippines, and to the extent payments are made, it will improve the flow of cash to 

the Philippines, a poor country in dire need of foreign support and liquidity. 

This is the last chance any of us will have to RESCUE, both the Filipino American World War II Veterans and the United States from a broken promise. 

Finally, I would like to thank the Veteran’s Affairs Committee Chairman, Senator 

Akaka, Members of the Committee, and your staff for allowing me to submit this 

testimony today. 

Thank you, and please enact and promptly implement S. 57. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF MAX C. FLORENTINO, PRESIDENT, FILIPINO WWII 

PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: 

I am a Filipino American World War II veteran resident of the United States, because of my 100 percent service-connected disability condition and 86 years old with 

severe pain all over my body, I can’t travel from Los Angeles, California to Washington, DC, but as a duty to our country, on behalf of my fellow Filipino WWII veterans I do hereby respectfully submitted my reports on our relentless campaign in 

support of the U.S. Congress approval of H.R. 760, and S. 57, the Filipino Veterans 

Equity Act of 2007. 

Since early 2004, when I attended the Filipino World War II veterans summit 

presided over by Congressman Bob Filner in San Diego, California in which the 

attendees were required to obtain 60 cosponsors of the H.R. 677, and while Congressman Filner pledge ‘‘to obtain 120 more than the current 41 sponsors.’’

I tried hard to find ways as to how successful we shall be able to get support for 

Congress approval of the Equity Act. At this critical juncture, I sent a letter for help 

to President George W. Bush in whom the executive power resides and I depend 

so much upon President Bush’s premise and promise, of which it seems I can see 

all around me the President will not fail us Filipino World War II veterans. 

I just followed President Bush’s appealed for ‘‘patience in this hard tasks of securing America, which you have granted in good measure. Our Country has accepted 

obligations that are difficult to fulfill and would be dishonorable to abandon.’’ We 

should not, then, rest our faith and optimism as we continue with our letters to the 

President, finally on the first week of January 2007, it has a very wonderful result. 

The President kept his promise and listened to us. 

I received a letter from the White House which said: ‘‘We have sent your message 

to the appropriate Federal agency that can best address your concerns. After reviewing your correspondence the agency will respond directly to you as promptly as possible.’’ The following week I received a letter from the VA which said: ‘‘The Filipino 

Veterans Equity Act, if enacted, would amend title 38, United States Code, to deem 

certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for 

purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA). Accordingly, qualifying Filipino veterans would become eligible for all 

veterans’ benefits in the same manner and at the same rates as United States 

veterans... President Bush and the VA have made the interests of Filipino veterans a priority. We are working hard to ensure they receive the benefits they deserve.’’ This VA letter is a sure Republican support to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees for the priority approval of Filipino Veterans Equity Act 

in the 110th Congress. 

On behalf of my fellow veterans residents of the United States who are actually 

receiving disability compensation, I respectfully request you to include in the 

amendment of H.R. 760, our benefits. Here is the policy of the VA: While residing 

in the United States we are receiving full dollar rates, but if we go home to the 

73

Philippines and stay outside the United States for 61 days, our service-connected 

disability compensation will be reduced to 50 percent of every dollar authorized. 

I earnestly appeal to the Washington leadership—from the U.S. Congress to the 

White House to the Department of Veterans Affairs to consider my statement of 

facts that hopefully should lead to the Congress approval of H.R. 760, not for pity 

and mercy to the veterans of the Philippine Army and the Recognized Guerrilla 

Fighters, but it is an honorable act of Congress who has included the various Philippine military organizations into the service of the Armed Forces of the United 

States, during World War II. 

Members of the 110th Congress cannot afford to ignore the fact that from the very 

beginning the Philippine Independence Act was approved by the U.S. Congress on 

March 24, 1934, Pub. L. No. 73–127, Section 2(a)(12), 48 Stat. 456, 457 all military 

forces organized by the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines in December 

1935, became ‘‘reserves’’ army of the United States. 

Evidence: In 1932, while the Philippine Islands was then a colony of the United 

States, Philippine leaders Sergio Osmena, Sr., and Manuel A. Roxas had secured 

the passage of Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act from the U.S. Congress, granting Philippine 

Independence. 

Manuel L. Quezon, however, objected to the provisions contained in H.H.C. Law, 

granting the U.S. to establish military and naval bases on several sites such as Fort 

McKinley (which is now Fort Bonifacio), Cavite Naval Yard (Cavite City), Infantry 

Quarters in Intramuros, Hospital at Arroceros (Manila), Clark Field in Pampanga, 

and John Hay at Baguio City. 

Mr. Quezon did not like such condition of the H.H.C. Law. What he wanted was 

an absolute independence without any U.S. military and navy bases to be established in the Philippines. In fact, during his feud with Governor General in Manila, 

Leonard Wood, he frankly commented, ‘‘I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos to a government run like heaven by Americans, because no matter how bad 

Filipino government might be, it can be improved.’’

In 1934, Mr. Quezon went to Washington, DC and worked hard to get the approval of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. His primary mission in relation to the law, focused solely on a clear provisions of the Philippine Independence Act. He opposed 

the inclusion of military and other reservations in the provisions of the Philippine 

Independence Act. But this mission of Mr. Quezon was not acceptable to the United 

States. 

A known nationalist, Mr. Quezon was aware that the United States will not agree 

with him, because in the 1930s, Japan’s expansionist ambitions in Asia, through its 

Imperial forces, threatened Asian countries; that the Philippines under the American rule was strategically located and thus vital to the defense of the United 

States, and to avert the Japanese taking over the control of the Western Pacific Region; and because of the most popular sentiment of Filipinos, which was eventual 

Philippine Independence, the sooner the better, he agreed to the United States, and 

further continue on the matter after the Philippines became a self-governing nation. 

But the whole matter died with him in 1944. 

After the two sides’ agreement, the Philippine Independence Act was approved on 

March 24, 1934, Pub. L. No. 73–127, which contained two notable sections: 

Section 10(a), 48 Stat. 456, 463 the Philippines became self-governing nation on 

July 4, 1946; 

Section 2(a)(12), 48 Stat. 456, 457 which clearly showed that instead of only U.S. 

military and naval bases to be established in the Philippines, the U.S. Congress included various Philippine military organizations to be incorporated into the service 

of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

The said section reads in relevant part: 

‘‘To maintain [United States] military and other reservations and armed forces in 

the Philippines and, upon order of the President to call into the service of the 

[United States] armed forces all military forces organized by the Philippine Government.’’

The phrase ‘‘upon order of the President’’ and the part of the provision that says 

‘‘to call into the service of the [United States] armed forces all military forces organized by the Philippine Government’’ refer to the Philippine Army, already intended 

by the U.S. Congress to be a ‘‘reserves’’ army of the United States. 

On July 26, 1941, President Roosevelt issued a military order calling members of 

these forces into the service of the United States Army Forces in the Far East 

[USAFFE]. The President’s order stated in relevant part: 

‘‘[A]s Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States I hereby 

call and order into the service of the armed forces of the United States for the purpose of the existing emergency, and place under the command of a General Officer 

74

United States Army... all of the organized military forces of the Government of 

the Philippines.’’

By President Roosevelt’s July 26, 1941 Order, induction of the Philippine Army 

units into the United States Army Forces in the Far East was somewhat gradual, 

but was completed on December 8, 1941 and they were already formed parts of the 

U.S. Army during World War II until released therefrom on June 30, 1946, per military order of President Truman. 

Treating the Philippine Army veterans differently before President Roosevelt 

called said army into the service of the United States Army became irrelevant once 

they were called into the armed forces of the United States, de facto command and 

control passed to the United States Army personnel fighting the same terms as 

member of the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II. 

Therefore, at that point the original Philippine Army status was abrogated they 

were members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Under the fundamental 

law of the United States, all persons similarly circumstanced should be treated 

alike, or those similarly situated be treated similarly, and the Philippine Army, Recognized Guerrilla Fighters, and the New Philippine Scouts should receive the same 

rates of benefits as that received by American veterans. 

Less amount of dollars in benefits to be awarded to the Filipino veterans would 

be a continuously humiliating and degrading treatment prohibited by the U.S. Constitution Amendments which directed the government to protect the veterans’ rights 

and for them to be treated on the same basis as others with whom a person is similarly situated. 

The foregoing statutory provisions and military order of President Roosevelt are 

the determinative issues here—repeat determinative—as supplied by rational basis 

for Congress approval of H.R. 760, the ‘‘Filipino Veterans Equity Act’’ of 2007. 

May I add, with passionate emphasis and not afterthought, that the U.S. Army 

members on their return to civilian life were granted full benefits under the GI Bill 

of Rights. The Filipino veterans, on the other hand, returned home to a cruel punishment by an unjust first and second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Acts of 1946. 

Because the Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine Army 1946 accepted U.S. $200,000 from the United States on the condition that Philippine Army World War 

II service to the United States is not considered to be of service into the U.S. Army. 

Were you the Commander-in-Chief of your country can you do the same? 

Thank you Mr. Chairman, this completes my statement. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF LYNNE GUTIERREZ, PRESIDENT, OAHU FILIPINO COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, as President of the Filipino Community Council (OFCC), I thank you for the 

opportunity to present this written testimony in overwhelming support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. OFCC is composed of 62 member organizations on the 

island of Oahu in Hawaii. The Council’s mission is to improve the quality of life for 

Hawaii’s Filipinos, in order for our communities to make positive contributions in 

local, national and global arenas. Last year marked the centennial anniversary of 

the first Filipinos who immigrated to Hawaii. We are grateful that Filipinos have 

had the privilege to live, work, prosper, raise our families, serve in the U.S. military, and vote. 

The Oahu Filipino Community Council strongly supports S. 57 and H.R. 760, as 

many Filipino World War II veterans and their family members are longtime Council members. OFCC passed a resolution to advocate for Filipino World War II veterans benefits at our statewide annual convention in June 2006. These proposed 

bills are integral to the social justice that has been kept from our aging Filipino 

WWII veterans, who have served in good faith alongside U.S. Armed Forces, yet had 

their veterans’ benefits rescinded. We urge you to support passage of S. 57 and H.R. 

760. Thank you for your service on the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF BEN DE GUZMAN, NATIONAL CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR, 

NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR FILIPINO VETERANS EQUITY (NAFVE) 

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and Honorable Members of the Senate 

Veterans’ Affairs Committee. 

I am the National Campaign Coordinator for the National Alliance for Filipino 

Veterans Equity (NAFVE). On behalf of NAFVE, I am honored to be able to submit 

this testimony to you today in strong support of S. 57, the Filipino Veterans Equity 

75

Act. NAFVE is a coalition of local, national and international organizations and individuals committed to securing justice for Filipino World War II Veterans through 

restoration of U.S. Veterans status for purposes of benefits. All the groups have 

been part of a 60-year campaign to restore to Filipino WW II veterans their rightful 

claim to U.S. veterans status and recognition for their bravery in defending the 

United States. 

Since the S. 57 has been introduced in the Senate along with its sister bill, H.R. 

760 in the House of Representatives, NAFVE has been working tirelessly in partnership with its member organizations, allies and other leaders in the community 

to raise awareness of the plight of Filipino World War II Veterans in light of their 

ongoing exclusion from the benefits promised to them by the United States Government, then unceremoniously stripped from them by the 1946 Rescission Act. 

Working with countless individuals and organizations around the country, we 

have discovered several encouraging findings:

(1) The Filipino American Community’s Groundswell of Support: The approximately 2 million Filipino Americans in this country have rallied behind this issue 

as their key political issue for this year. We know that having waited 61 years for 

restoration of the honor and dignity of our veterans is far too long and the community has mobilized itself as never before. 

(2) April 9 and the Day of Valor: Attached for your review at the conclusion of 

this testimony, please find a list of events around the country that commemorate 

April 9 as Day of Valor. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the fall of Bataan 

on that day and the subsequent infamous Bataan Death March. Day of Valor ceremonies around the country not only honor the brave service and commitment of 

ALL of our veterans who fought in World War II, but also give rise to the community’s support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. 

(3) Support from our Friends: As we speak with more and more people who are 

not familiar with this issue, we gain more converts to our cause and more support 

for this bill. Attached for your review at the conclusion of this testimony, please find 

a letter that has been circulated around the country which includes support from 

an incredibly diverse cross-section of the community, Filipino, and non-Filipino 

alike. Their collective voices join ours in calling for passage of the Filipino Veterans 

Equity Act.

We are excited about the increasing support for this issue and hope that your 

Committee follows this momentum and helps move this bill forward to final passage. Our veterans have waited too long. 

Information about our Alliance is also included below. Thank you again for allowing NAFVE the opportunity to play a role in your deliberations on this important 

bill.

[Letter in support of the Filipino Veterans Equity bill follows:]

DEAR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS: We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, 

strongly urge you to support H.R. 760/S. 57, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. During World War II, Filipino Veterans fought bravely for the United States in the Pacific theater, only to have their eligibility for full benefits revoked by Congress 

through the Rescission Act of 1946. For decades, Filipino Veterans have been fighting this injustice, and as they enter their twilight years, are now dying with dreams 

deferred and promises unfulfilled. The Filipino Veterans Equity Act will restore justice for these veterans, who fought and sacrificed for freedom and liberty. 

While the U.S. Government has taken steps to restore some health care benefits 

to the veterans in recent years, full equity has not yet been achieved. Many of the 

veterans are now in their 80’s, and too many of their comrades have already died 

without receiving the benefits they deserve. 

H.R. 760/S. 57 will amend current law to consider the service of eligible Filipino 

Veterans who fought in World War II to be active service for purposes of benefits 

under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

H.R. 760/S. 57 will undo the injustice committed against the Filipino Veterans 

through the 1946 Rescission Act, which denied these brave soldiers appropriate recompense for their duty. 

H.R. 760/S. 57 will allow these veterans to spend their golden years enjoying the 

fruits of their sacrifices for freedom and liberty, instead of fighting the very government they fought for in World War II. 

We need your help now to provide justice to our Filipino Veterans who fought 

bravely under the U.S. flag as part of the ‘‘Greatest Generation.’’ We turn to you 

to help undo decades old injustice done to those who have served our country most 

bravely. Your support of H.R. 760 will help close the book on a shameful chapter 

76

of our nation’s history, and will honor the military service of veterans who have 

been waiting for over sixty years for this recognition. Please help us pass H.R. 760. 

Sincerely, 

National Organizations 

National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Washington, DC 

Asian American Institute, Chicago, IL 

Asian American Justice Center, Washington, DC 

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL–CIO, Washington, DC 

Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Washington, DC 

Hmong National Development, Washington, DC 

Japanese American Citizens League, Washington, DC 

Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Los Angeles, CA 

National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, Denver, CO 

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Washington, DC 

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, Washington, DC 

National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, 

Washington, DC 

National Korean American Service & Education Consortium 

Southeast Asian Resource Action Center, Washington, DC 

National Assn of Sons & Daughters of FilAm World War II Veterans USA, 

Seattle, WA 

National Network for Veterans Equity (NNVE), San Francisco, CA 

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), 

Washington, DC 

Local Organizations 

Filipino World War II Veterans Federation of San Diego County, San Diego, CA 

Filipino American Support Group Inc. (FASGI), Los Angeles, CA 

Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Los Angeles, CA 

Veterans Equity Center (VEC), San Francisco, CA 

Erasto Batongmalaque Foundation, Inc. (ERBF), Los Angeles, CA 

Federation of Filipino American Associations, Inc. (FFAAI), Los Angeles, CA 

FilAm Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), Los Angeles, CA 

Filipino American Veterans & Families, Inc (FAFVI), San Francisco, CA 

Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA), Oakland, CA 

National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Region 5, Broomfield, CO 

Asian Gold, Broomfield, CO 

Filipino-American Community of Colorado, Brighton, CO 

Philippine Nurses Association, Broomfield, CO 

Aurora Asian Partnership, Aurora, CO 

Philippine American Society of Colorado, Parker, CO 

Asian Gold, Westminster, CO 

Asian Roundtable of Colorado, Aurora, CO 

Uplift Internationale, Littleton, CO 

Aurora Asian Partnership, Aurora, CO 

University of the Philippines Alumni Association, Colorado Chapter, Aurora, CO 

ANCOP Foundation USA, Colorado Chapter, Aurora, CO 

Fil-Am Veterans Society, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida (FASI), Jacksonville, FL 

Illinois Veterans Equity Center (IVEC), Chicago, IL 

Filipino American Democrats of South New Jersey, Cherry Hill, NJ 

Philippine Nurses Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Cherry Hill, NJ 

AALDEF, New York, NY 

Filipino American Republicans of Virginia (FARV), Alexandria, VA 

Filipino American Veterans of Hampton Roads (FAVHR), Virginia Beach, VA 

Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND), Fairfax, VA 

Filipino War Veterans of Washington (FWVW), Seattle, WA 

Bataan & Corregidor Survivors Assn & their Families (BCSA&TF), Seattle, WA 

KAC–DC, Washington, DC 

Individuals 

Ben Cayatano, Former Governor of Hawaii 

Mark Pulido, ABC School Board 

Armin Reyes, ABC School Board 

Chris Cabaldon, Mayor of West Sacramento 

Elito M. Santarina, City Councilman of Carson, CA, Mayor Pro Tempore 

Robert Bunda, Hawaii State Senator 

Will Espero, Hawaii State Senator 

Lorraine R. Inouye, Hawaii State Senator 

77

Ron Menor, Hawaii State Senator 

Kris Valderrama, Maryland House of Delegates 

Velma Veloria, Former Washington State Assembly Member 

Ferdinand Tolentino, Former Board Member Virginia Beach Public Schools 

John Amores, West Virginia House of Delegates 

The Hawaii State House of Representatives Filipino Caucus 

Chair Rep. Michael Magaoay 

Rep. Della Au Belatt 

Rep. Lyla B. Berg Ph.D 

Rep. Rida T. R. Cabanilla 

Rep. Jerry L. Chang 

Rep. Corinne W. L. Chin 

Rep. Lynn Finnegan 

Rep. Robert N. Herkes 

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu 

Rep. Joey Manahan 

Rep. John Mizuno 

Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine 

Rep. Karl Rhoads 

Rep. Roland D. Sagum III 

Rep. Alex M. Sonson 

Rep. James Kunane Tokioka 

Rep. Clift Tsuji 

Rep. Glenn Wakai

Lisa Mamangon .................................................................................. AZ 85243

Salvador I. Lopez ................................................................................ AZ 85009

Stacey Castor ..................................................................................... AZ 85281

Danielle Tejada .................................................................................. AZ 85226

Alejandra Hernandez .......................................................................... AZ 85041

Kristin Reynante ................................................................................. AZ 85224

Melanie Garcia ................................................................................... AZ 85044

Angelie Meehan .................................................................................. AZ 85041

Louie Depante .................................................................................... CA 91326

Benjamin DeGuzman .......................................................................... CA 90019

Benita Benavides ............................................................................... CA 94577

Evelyn Bernardo ................................................................................. CA 92672

Meleilani Barnes ................................................................................ CA 92115

Ellen Y. Gomez ................................................................................... CA 91381

Mayumi Santiago-Shupe .................................................................... CA 95835

Jose Angelo R. Benavides .................................................................. CA 94577

Donna LaVigne ................................................................................... CO Broomfield 

Romeo Magalong ................................................................................ CO Lakewood 

Giselle Rushford ................................................................................. CO Westminster 

Edith Pasion ....................................................................................... CO Aurora 

Arthur & Joy Meyers ........................................................................... CO Denver 

Elbert Eloriaga ................................................................................... CO Parker 

Gloria Williams ................................................................................... CO Aurora 

Jaime Yrastorza, DMD ........................................................................ CO Littleton 

Nestor & Elnora Mercado ................................................................... CO Denver 

Joseph Noli Lopez ............................................................................... CO Parker 

Malou Mateo Stirman ......................................................................... CO Brighton 

Felino Paran ....................................................................................... CO Aurora 

Bart & Marlene Perez ......................................................................... CO Aurora 

Raymond Teodoro ............................................................................... CT 6450

Elizabeth Kim ..................................................................................... DC 20009

Toni Daya-Luetgers ............................................................................ GA 30075

Marilyn Z. O. Doromal ........................................................................ GA 31906

Sarah Hawk ........................................................................................ GA 30309

Onofre R. Paguio ................................................................................ GA 30604

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S Beltran ............................................................................................ IL 60618

Maricor Lacaya ................................................................................... IL 60465

Angelito Santos .................................................................................. MA 2375

Adelamar Alcantara ........................................................................... NM 87105

Theodore S. Jojola .............................................................................. NM 87109

Rey Antonio ........................................................................................ NV 89110

Lilia Ledesma ..................................................................................... NY 10950

Mary Ann Pearson .............................................................................. NY 10022

Grace Rodriguez ................................................................................. TX 77478

Derick Mendoza .................................................................................. TX 77082

Belle Quisel-Sibug .............................................................................. TX 77099

Bobby Reyes ....................................................................................... TX 77536

Andrew B. Dompao ............................................................................. TX 77477

Florencio Guinhawa ............................................................................ TX 77083

Cesar M. Naguit ................................................................................. TX 77581

Arsenio R. Martin ............................................................................... TX 77642

AJ Rosario, M.D., M.P.H. ..................................................................... TX 77584

Tess Tuazon ........................................................................................ TX 77042

Norma Benzon .................................................................................... TX 77479

Meredith Benzon ................................................................................. TX 77479

Honesto ............................................................................................... TX 77479

Gary Ilagan ......................................................................................... TX 77056

Robert Pucio ....................................................................................... TX 77478

Lope G. Lindio .................................................................................... TX 77036

Napoleon Ramirez .............................................................................. TX 76123

Jessie del Mundo ................................................................................ TX 77459

Bill Encarnacion ................................................................................. TX 77478

Celia Vasquez ..................................................................................... TX 77056

Cyril Maza .......................................................................................... TX 77082

Lina Umali .......................................................................................... TX 77055

Phoebe D. Catli .................................................................................. TX 77071

Arlene Machetta ................................................................................. TX 77068

Samuel Catli ...................................................................................... TX 77071

Mendel Cheng .................................................................................... TX 77062

Ben Ongoco ........................................................................................ TX 77080

Wally C. Arias ..................................................................................... TX 77478

Travis Millard ..................................................................................... TX 77478

Paige Perez ......................................................................................... TX 77478

Ave Basa ............................................................................................ TX 77489

Cornelia G. Emboy .............................................................................. TX 77083

Carlo Rodriguez .................................................................................. TX 77478

Luz Rodriguez ..................................................................................... TX 77478

Daniel Jones ....................................................................................... TX 77027

James ‘‘Face’’ Yu ............................................................................... TX 78747

Victoria Ma ......................................................................................... TX 77077

Rolando Ulanday ................................................................................ TX 77082

Myrna Saludares ................................................................................ TX 77075

Renato Famatigan .............................................................................. TX 79922

Mamta Accapadi ................................................................................ TX 78727

Leo Dela Rosa .................................................................................... TX 77478

Jerome Redor ...................................................................................... TX 77030

Marc Pedregosa .................................................................................. TX 77584

Bobby Ilagan ...................................................................................... TX 77083

Kathleen Ulanday ............................................................................... TX 77478

Dan Diaz ............................................................................................. TX 77505

Ernie Azucena ..................................................................................... TX 77015

Irwin ................................................................................................... TX 78759

Federico Villamayor ............................................................................ TX 77003

Imelda Malapitan ............................................................................... TX 77055

79

Sam Barzilla ....................................................................................... TX 78713

Alex Estatis ........................................................................................ TX 77477

Nanette Lacsamana ........................................................................... TX 77478

Munir Ibrahim .................................................................................... TX 77024

Janella Gee ......................................................................................... TX 77025

Patrick Nguyen ................................................................................... TX 77075

Maria Theresa Mangahis ................................................................... TX 77478

Jason Redor ........................................................................................ TX 77055

Ninfa Alcantara .................................................................................. TX 77478

James A. Harris, Jr. ............................................................................ TX 78729

Angela L. Lee ..................................................................................... TX 77036

Daniel Mee ......................................................................................... TX 77098

Ellen L. Aguilar .................................................................................. TX 77546

James Yu ............................................................................................ TX 77008

Elsie Gaid ........................................................................................... TX 77584

Steven M DiMatteo ............................................................................. TX 77027

Regine M Biscoe ................................................................................ VA Vienna 

Sheena Black ..................................................................................... VA Vienna 

Andrew Lee ......................................................................................... VA Vienna 

Gem Daus ........................................................................................... VA lexandria 

Marietta Basnillo ................................................................................ WA 99223

Annabel Garcia-Andresen ................................................................... WA Seattle 

Third Andresen ................................................................................... WA Seattle 

APRIL 9, THE DAY OF VALOR

April 9, 2007 marks the 65th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan in the Philippines 

during World War II. On April 9, 1946, Maj. Gen. Edward ‘‘Ned’’ King formally surrendered to the Japanese army. Following the surrender, over 11,000 Americans 

and 66,000 Filipinos were relocated from Mariveles in Bataan to Camp O’ Donnell 

in Tarlac. The brave soldiers who were forced to march suffered brutally over the 

course of the over 30 mile trek. This would go down in infamy as the ‘‘Bataan Death 

March,’’ and still stands as one of the historical milestones of the war. 

Today, April 9 is celebrated as a national holiday in the Philippines as Araw ng 

Kagitingan, or the ‘‘Day of Valor.’’ In the United States, Filipino American communities recognize the Day of Valor and take the opportunity not only to pay respect 

to the service and sacrifice of American and Filipino soldiers who fought, but to also 

raise awareness of the current plight of Filipino veterans, whose status as U.S. veterans was unceremoniously stripped from them by the 1946 Rescission Act. 

Around the country, local communities are celebrating the Day of Valor this year 

by showing their support for the the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. This bill has been 

introduced in Congress to remedy the injustice of the Rescission Act and reaffirm 

America’s commitment to all who fought for the United States in WWII as part of 

‘‘the Greatest Generation.’’

In Washington, DC, the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE) 

will join this groundswell of support as it takes part in an historic hearing on this 

bill before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Partnering with its members 

around the country, NAFVE will take the message of support and solidarity directly 

to Capitol Hill.

LIST OF NAFVE MEMBER SPONSORED EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE THE DAY OF VALOR

Current information for events as of April 6, 2007. 

San Diego, CA 

Event: ‘‘Remember Bataan Candlelight Vigil’’; Time: April 9, 7 p.m.; Location: 

1243 National City Boulevard (In front of National City’s City Hall); Contact: Joann 

Fields 

Los Angeles, CA 

Event: 65th Anniversary of the Day of Valor: ‘‘Remember Bataan and Corregidor’’; 

Time: April 9, 10 a.m.; Location: Filipino American World War II Memorial, Lake 

80

Street Park, Los Angeles, CA; Sponsors: E.R. Batongmalaque Foundation Historical 

Society, Filipino Veterans Foundation, Veterans Center Association; Contact: Dr. 

Jenny Batongmalaque 

San Frencisco, CA 

Event: Candlelight Vigil: ‘‘Remember Bataan’’; Time: April 9, 5:30 p.m.; Location: 

City Hall San Francisco, CA; Sponsors: Veterans Equity Center, SAVE, others; Contact: Angelica, SAVE 

Washington, DC 

Event: Wreath-Laying; Time: April 10, 5:30 p.m.; Location: World War II Memorial Washington, DC; Sponsors: Philippine Embassy, NAFVE, American Coalition 

for Filipino Veterans; Contact: Del Lorenzano 

Atlanta, GA 

Event: Bataan Day Commemoration: Honoring Filipino Veterans, ‘‘The 

Unforgotten Heroes’’; Time: April 7, 3p.m.; Location: Morrow Presbyterian Church, 

Morrow, GA; Sponsors: NaFFAA-Southern Region, Philippine Consulate General Office, Atlanta, GA, others; Contact: Marilyn Doromal 

Honolulu, HI 

Event: Balik-Tanaw: Remembering Bataan and Corregidor; Time: April 15, 1 

p.m.; Location: Filipino Community Center Waipahu, HI; Sponsors: Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawai’i, Consulate General of the Philippines; 

Contact: Nic Musico 

Chicago, IL 

Event: 65th Commemoration of Bataan Day; Time: April 9, 9:30 a.m.; Location: 

Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge (corner of State Street and Wacker Drive); 

Sponsors: Philippine Consulate General (Chicago, IL), Mayor’s Office, Commission 

on Human Relations, Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs, Illinois Veterans Equity 

Center, others; Contact: Jerry Clarito 

Cherry Hill, NJ 

Event: Commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan; Time: April 

9, 6:30 p.m.; Location: Bataan Death March Memorial/Rizal Monument Cooper 

Park, Cherry Hill, NJ; Sponsors: VFW Pvt. Tomas Post 1063 and Ladies Auxiliary, 

Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia, American Legion Gen. Alejo 

Santos Post 717 and Ladies Auxiliary; Contacts: Senten Fontanilla/ Lambert Santos 

Albuquerque, NM 

Event: Bataan Day Commemoration; Time: March 31; Location: Albuquerque, 

NM; Sponsors: NaFFAA-NM, others; Contact: Dely Alcantara 

Houston, TX 

Event: Bataan Day Rally; Time: April 21, 2 p.m.; Location: Veterans Administration Auditorium, Houston, TX; Sponsors: NaFFAA, FACOST, others; Contact: Wally 

Arias 

Virginia Beach, VA 

Event: Vigil for Day of Valor; Time: April 9, nightfall (7:30 p.m.); Location: Veterans Memorial Garden, Philippine Cultural Center Virginia Beach, VA; Sponsors: 

Filipino American Veterans of Hampton Roads, Student Action for Veterans Equity 

(SAVE), NaFFAA-Capitol Region, others; Contact: Romy San Antonio, President

About the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity 

The National Alliance for Filipino World War II Veterans Equity is a coalition of 

local, national and international organizations and individuals committed to securing justice for Filipino World War II Veterans through restoration of U.S. Veterans 

status for purposes of benefits. All the groups have been part of a 60–year campaign 

to restore to Filipino WW II veterans their rightful claim to U.S. veterans status 

and recognition for their bravery in defending the United States during WWII. The 

National Alliance’s sole purpose is to pass the long overdue Filipino World War II 

Veterans Equity Act in the 110th Congress. 

The National Alliance formed in December 2006 at a meeting of over 60 participants including leaders from around the United States and the Philippines who 

have been working on issues of concern to the Filipino American and Filipino Veterans communities for decades. At the meeting, participants agreed that with champions of the Filipino Veterans in key positions of leadership in both houses of ConVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
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gress, the time was right to secure final passage of the Filipino World War II Veterans Equity Act. 

The National Alliance is currently working to pass the Filipino World War II Veterans Equity Act in the 110th Congress. With a national, coordinated structure and 

a dedicated team of seasoned political professionals working in Washington, DC, the 

Alliance represents the most broad-based and well-funded effort to secure justice for 

Filipino World War II Veterans to date. 

Current List of Alliance Members 

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) 

Bataan & Corregidor Survivors Assn & their Families (BCSA&TF), Seattle 

Embassy of the Philippines 

Erasto Batongmalaque Foundation, Inc. (ERBF), Los Angeles 

Federation of Filipino American Associations, Inc. (FFAAI) 

FilAm Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) 

Filipino American Democrats of South New Jersey Filipino American Republicans 

of Virginia (FARV) 

Fil-Am Veterans Society, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida (FASI) 

Filipino American Support Group Inc. (FASGI), Los Angeles, CA 

Filipino American Veterans of Hampton Roads (FAVHR), VA 

Filipino American Veterans & Families, Inc (FAFVI), San Francisco, CA 

Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA) 

Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND) 

Filipino War Veterans of Washington (FWVW), 

Seattle Filipino World War II Veterans Federation of San Diego County 

Illinois Veterans Equity Center (IVEC) 

National Assn of Sons & Daughters of FilAm World War II Veterans USA 

National Network for Veterans Equity (NNVE) 

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) 

Philippine Nurses Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey 

Veterans Equity Center (VEC), San Francisco 

Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) 

Filipino American National Historical Society-East Bay 

National Association of Filipino American United Methodists (NAFAUM)

Alliance Leadership 

Co-Chairs 

Jon Melegrito, NaFFAA 

Lilian Galedo, NNVE 

Steering Committee 

Alma Kern, NaFFAA (National) 

Ernie Ramos, NaFFAA (NaFFAA Southwest Region) 

Rozita Lee, NaFFAA (Nevada Region) 

Perry Diaz, National Federation of Filipino American Republicans 

Lou Tancinco, NNVE 

Luisa Antonio, NNVE 

Jerry Clarito, Illinois Veterans Equity Center 

Romy Monteyro, San Diego Veterans 

Jenny Batongmalaque, Los Angeles Veterans 

Susan Dilkes, FASGI, Los Angeles 

Gloria Caoile, Treasurer 

Lisa Yuchengco, Fundraising Committee 

Legislative Team 

Irene Bueno, Legislative Adviser 

Charmaine Manansala, Policy Adviser 

Ben de Guzman, National Campaign Coordinator 

Vida Benavides, Campaign Adviser 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF MARGARITA HOPKINS, PRESIDENT, AND SERAFIN

COLMENARES, JR., VICE PRESIDENT, CONGRESS OF VISAYAN ORGANIZATIONS

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, as President and Vice President of the Congress of Visayan Organizations 

(COVO), we thank you for the opportunity to present this written testimony in 

82

unanimous support of the Filipino Veterans’ Equity Act 2007. COVO is a statewide 

umbrella organization representing 22 unit organizations of Visayan ancestry

in Hawaii. 

For years, COVO has been a staunch advocate of Filipino veterans’ equity to make 

right a broken promise that was rescinded in 1946 by an act of Congress. Taken 

away or gravely limited were veterans’ benefits that included family reunification, 

health care, veterans burial rights, and more that were afforded to all World War 

II allied troops except from the Philippines. 

COVO’s commitment to advocacy for our Filipino veterans is rooted in the spirit 

of social justice set by Visayan native chief Lapu-Lapu, who is recognized as the 

first Filipino national hero for subduing the conquistador Ferdinand Magellan in the 

Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. 

In 2007, one year after the Filipino centennial anniversary of the first arrival of 

Filipinos to Hawaii, the fate of Filipino veterans is awaiting another act of Congress. COVO looks to your leadership and moral values to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, to recognize the sacrifice and contributions to Americans in a time 

of war, and to reinstate veterans’ benefits. COVO extends our gratitude to your public service to the American people. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF NIC G. MUSICO, ADVISER, WWII FIL-AM VETERANS

AND LADIES AUXILIARY, HAWAII CHAPTER

Aloha, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, my name is Nic Musico, 

a naturalized American citizen and resident of Honolulu, Hawaii for over 35 years. 

I am one of the advisers of the WWII Fil-Am Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary Hawaii 

Chapter. 

I testify in support of S. 57, also known as the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 

2007. 

When the Filipino veterans arrived en masse in 1992 to take advantage of the 

Immigration Act of 1990, I managed shelters to temporarily house them. We fed between 80 to 100 veterans every day for one year. The Hawaii community did an excellent job providing food, transportation, transitional housing, and monetary support. That year, the Honolulu Immigration and Naturalization office processed 

about 6,000 veterans to become American citizens who made Hawaii, for majority 

of them, their new home. 

Now, fifteen years later, and many of them gone, I still see them with great need. 

Many are here alone, away from their family who are in the Philippines. It is a very 

sad situation, but they maintained this lifestyle hoping that someday they will be 

reunited with their family. 

Many veterans are on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). They are of course 

very grateful for this financial aid program, but when they are able to save some 

money to visit their family in the Philippines, they stay there for no more than 28 

days because if they stayed longer, they would be required to reapply for SSI when 

they return to Hawaii. It does not seem to be a friendly program because when they 

reapply, they worry whether they would be disqualified from the SSI program or 

penalized. Mostly in their early or late eighties with no immediate or extended family members who can assist them, they find it very difficult to navigate the system 

of public assistance or deal with government red tape. 

Hawaii has one of the highest standards of living in the country. These veterans 

came here to avail of American citizenship but unknowingly placed themselves in 

a tough predicament. In 1992, their average age was 70. At this age, what chances 

would they have to buy a house or a car? What chances would they have to find 

a good job? The chances naturally are very little because at their age, they should 

be enjoying retirement. Who would hire a 70-year-old person with no experience? 

But these veterans are very resilient people. A few of them hold part time jobs 

as security guards. Some collect empty bottles and cans for redemption at recycling 

centers. Some do vegetable gardening. Some queue at various food bank locations. 

They are engaged in these activities to supplement their SSI. It is rather funny that 

they have to supplement their supplemental income. 

These veterans have learned to minimize their expenses. They buy monthly bus 

passes to use public transportation. They use ‘‘handi-vans’’ to bring them to hospital, clinic, or doctor. They wake up early to go to ‘‘flea market’’ to buy discounted 

goods and fresh vegetables. They patronize discount stores and watch for sales. 

They have also learned to socially, psychologically, and financially support each 

other. When someone among them dies, they collect donations for burial services, 

attend funeral services, conduct group prayers, and comfort each other. They orgaVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
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nize events to keep themselves busy and occupied. They share information, particularly those that directly affect them. 

Life for the aging Filipino WWII veterans in this country whose freedom they 

helped preserve for all Americans to enjoy is a mixed blessing. They have been 

given the opportunity to pledge allegiance to the United States flag under which 

they served during the war, but they have not been given the full rights and benefits accorded to other war veterans who served under it. There is something morally 

wrong about this. This is a grave injustice that the U.S. Congress must rectify 

NOW! 

I strongly urge this honorable Committee to pass S. 57, the Filipino Equity Act 

of 2007. 

Mahalo for this opportunity to testify. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF EMMANUEL V. DE OCAMPO, PRESIDENT, VETERANS FEDERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES

World War II in the Philippines started on December 8, 1941 and ended on September 3, 1945. 

The contributions of the Filipino soldiers to the war effort of the United Sates of 

America during World War II are documented in official records and have been adequately presented in newspapers, magazines, books and even in movies. 

The Veterans Federation of the Philippines seeks the full recognition by the 

United States Government of the military service rendered within the period from 

December 8, 1941 to September 3, 1945 by persons, of any nationality, in the regular army units of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and in the Philippine guerrilla organizations recognized by the United States Army as military service to the 

United States of America for all intents and purposes. 

The Veterans Federation of the Philippines supports and thanks the proponents 

of any measure toward that end. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF TESSIE OCULTO, PRESIDENT,

PHILIPPINE NURSES ASSOCIATION-HAWAII

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, as President of the Philippine Nurses Association-Hawaii, I thank you for the 

opportunity to present this written testimony in undivided support of the Filipino 

Veterans Equity Act. 

Philippine Nurses Association-Hawaii represents over 70 registered nurses. As a 

national affiliate of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, our shared mission is to uphold and foster the positive image and welfare of our constituent members; to promote professional excellence, and to contribute to significant outcomes 

to healthcare and society. 

We strongly support S. 57 and H.R. 760 to reinstate veterans’ benefits, which the 

U.S. Congress unfairly rescinded in 1946. As health care providers, we see that this 

policy resulted in the lack of access to health care and much more for our Filipino 

veterans. The 110th Congress has the opportunity to correct this unfortunate racist 

policy, which has no place in an America that is based on the premise of equality 

for all. We respectfully ask for your support to champion the passage of the Filipino 

Veterans Equity Act. Thank you for your commitment to social justice and for your 

dedication to public service. 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF BEATRICE RAMOS-RAZON PRESIDENT,

NURSING ADVOCATES AND MENTORS, INC. 

Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished Committee Members, as President of the Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc. (NAMI), I thank you 

for the opportunity to present this written testimony in strong support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. NAMI’s membership is comprised of over 75 nurse, allied 

health care professionals, and Filipino leaders, who are dedicated to improve the 

health of Hawaii’s people by addressing the global issues of a worldwide nursing 

shortage through the training and mentoring of foreign medical graduate nurses to 

pass Hawaii’s nurses board exams. 

NAMI is in full support of S. 57 and H.R. 760 with all of its provisions. Our Filipino World War II veterans have endured and survived compounding life hardships, 

in spite of having their veterans’ benefits rescinded by the U.S. Congress in 1946. 

As experienced gerontology practitioners and skilled nursing facilities or care home 

84

administrators, NAMI nurses are keenly aware of the predicament faced by our 

aging Filipino veterans. As young men, they put themselves in harm’s way to defend 

Americans, but now in their twilight years, they cannot avail of veterans’ benefits. 

NAMI urges you to please support the passage these important bills. 

STATE OF HAWAII, EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS, 

Honolulu, HI, April 10, 2007. 

Hon. DANIEL AKAKA, 

Chairman, Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

Prince Kuhio Federal Building, 

Honolulu, HI. 

DEAR SENATOR AKAKA: I am asking for your support of S. 57, Filipino Veterans 

Equity Act of 2007. It is extremely important your Veterans Committee move the 

bill out so the full senate may vote on the measure. This bill will grant the children 

of Filipino World War II veterans a special immigration status. This status would 

reunite these children with naturalized Filipino WWII veterans already residing in 

the United States. 

In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt drafted over 250,000 Filipino citizens into 

the United States Armed Forces. Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, Filipino soldiers fought valiantly alongside American soldiers in defense of 

freedom. 

The 1990 Immigration Act allowed these Filipino veterans the opportunity to obtain U.S. citizenship. However, the legislation did not extend to their adult children, 

many who have been on immigration waiting lists for an extended number of years. 

Current estimates place over 47,000 of these WWII Filipino veterans residing in 

America, many of them here in Hawaii. 

The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 will expedite visa issuance for the children of these surviving veterans by excluding them from numerical categorial limits. 

This would allow the reunification of these families, especially with many Filipino 

veterans now in their eighties. 

It is my hope that passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 will continue America’s tradition of recognizing the sacrifices made by our veterans so many 

years ago and reward them with the opportunity to bring their children to our great 

country. 

Sincerely, 

LINDA LINGLE, 

Governor. 

CITY OF LOS ANGELES, 

THIRTEENTH COUNCIL DISTRICT, 

APRIL 11, 2007. 

This letter is to inform you of my support for the passage of Filipino WWII Veterans Equity Act. Today can be one of many steps to correct the wrong that was 

done in the past. 

I represent Los Angeles, the District with the highest concentration of Filipino 

American Veterans in the city. I can attest to the many Filipino Veterans who have 

called our office who need assistance in housing because they can no longer afford 

their rent with the small income they receive each month. These men need our help. 

They deserve our help. 

Last Veterans Day 2006, I joined the many Filipino American Veterans in the 

United States in unveiling a Filipino Veterans Memorial, the first of its kind in the 

nation. This is but a small token to the brave men that contributed to the war efforts of the United States during World War II and their struggle for veteran recognition, equity, and justice. 

Although the Federal Government has yet to fully recognize the Filipino Veterans, 

at least the city of Los Angeles did our part with this memorial. Likewise, just this 

month, I introduced a resolution that the City Council of Los Angeles unanimously 

passed in support of the passage of H.R. 760 and S. 57. 

For many years, these Veterans have staged hunger strikes, protested here in Los 

Angeles, at Sacramento, and at Washington DC, chained themselves to the White 

House, and lobbied their elected officials; all to regain what they deserve: Full Equity and Justice. The United States Government has the obligation to take care of 

85

those who defend the country. Please do not overlook the vital role Filipino soldiers 

played during WWII. 

ERIC GARCETTI, 

Councilman, Thirteenth Council District,

City of Los Angeles. 

DEAR CHAIRMAN AKAKA AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE: My name is Wilfreda 

Tungol, a resident of Hawaii and a retired U.S. Army Reserve Officer. I am submitting this testimony in support of S.B. 57 entitled Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 

2007. I would have preferred to give this testimony in person, but given the circumstance of timing and distance, I respectfully submit it in writing for the record. 

If time permits, I request that one of your staff members read it aloud for the whole 

Committee. 

The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 will finally correct the miscarriage of 

justice suffered by thousands of Filipino veterans who risked their lives in fighting 

for our country in the Philippines during World War II. The bill will enable them 

to have their service in the organized military forces of the then Commonwealth of 

the Philippines and in the Philippine Scouts equally recognized as services rendered 

in the United States Army. Some of the surviving veterans are now into their 80’s. 

More than two thousand live in Hawaii. Most of them live alone because they cannot bring their immediate relatives under the current immigration laws. Most of 

them suffer financial hardships because they are not eligible for service connected 

benefits as a result of their service during World War II in the regular Philippine 

Army or the Philippine Scouts. Each time I see one of these Filipino veterans, I am 

reminded of my two uncles who fought alongside the regular U.S. Army during the 

war and who both made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country. 

One of my two uncles (Jesus Tungol) was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces 

of the Far East (USAFFE), and the other (Manuel Tungol) was a member of the 

Philippine Scouts. According to my grandmother, Manuel died fighting the Japanese 

Army in Intramuros, Manila while Jesus during a battle in Bataan. My grandmother was one of the survivor beneficiaries of Jesus’ death as a result of his service 

before the law was changed in 1947 whereby veterans who served in either organization was excluded from receiving benefits or their beneficiaries in the event that 

they were killed during the war. The Filipino veterans would have been entitled to 

receive service connected disability benefits as well as other benefits if the laws 

have not been changed. Their loved ones would have been entitled to survivors’ benefits if they made the ultimate sacrifice. Instead, the surviving Filipino veterans 

have had to wait for over three generations before they can rightfully receive what 

they are entitled to. 

Each passing week, a Filipino veteran dies in our country, without having received what they were entitled to for serving their country. They die alone, in poverty, and in distraught becasue they were left behind. While they have been given 

partial benefits by allowing them to come to this country, and be buried in veterans’ 

cemeteries, the more substantial benefits such as medical and monetary pensions 

have not been accorded to them. 

I urge the Members of this Committee to do the right and honorable thing and 

to do everything in its power for the passage of this bill in the soonest possible time 

given the urgency of the time that is left for the surviving Filipino veterans. 

Mahalo and Aloha. 

LTC WILFREDO TUNGKOL, 

U.S. Army, Retired. 

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEGAL CENTER

OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, 

Los Angeles, California. 

DEAR CHAIRMAN AKAKA AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE: On behalf of the Asian 

Pacific American Legal Center, we are writing to support the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, which would restore veteran status for Filipino WWII veterans, making 

them eligible for the veteran benefits they deserve and reversing an injustice they 

have suffered for over 60 years. 

Founded in 1983, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) is a nonprofit 

organization dedicated to advocating for civil rights, providing legal services and 

education, and building coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific 

Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. APALC is affiliVerDate 0ct 09 2002 13:59 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 H:\RD41451\DOCS\35645.TXT SENVETS PsN: ROWENA
86

ated with the Asian American Justice Center (formerly NAPALC) in Washington, 

DC. 

Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American community, and California has the largest Filipino American population of any state in the country by 

far. Almost half of the nation’s Filipino Americans live in California, home to approximately 1.1 million Filipino Americans. For over twenty years, APALC has 

worked with and advocated for the Filipino American community in Southern California, and we can assure you that the plight of the Filipino WWII veterans is very 

important to this sizable community. 

Filipino WWII veterans have waited for over 60 years for Congress to correct the 

historical injustice that took place in 1946. From 1941 to 1945, over 200,000 Filipinos fought and died as American nationals under the American flag and under 

the direction of U.S. military leaders. Despite their service, the Rescission Act of 

1946 stripped these veterans of both the ability to become U.S. citizens and the 

rights and benefits given to all other World War II veterans. Today, fewer than 

20,000 Filipino WWII veterans remain, and they are dying at the rate of ten a day. 

The plight of these veterans is particularly acute here in California. In 1990, Filipino WWII veterans were finally given the opportunity to obtain U.S. citizenship, 

and thousands of them moved to California to spend their remaining years in the 

U.S. These veterans, however, soon found themselves separated from the daily 

interaction and support of family members due to quotas in issuing visas to adult 

children of U.S. citizens. 

Separated from family, many of these veterans experience financial difficulties, 

health problems, and loneliness. Some do not meet the income level required to petition to have their family join them in the U.S. A survey of 404 veterans in Northern 

and Southern California, conducted by the Filipino American Service Group, Inc.’s 

(FASGI) Filipino Veterans Health Project, found 84 percent of the veterans reporting health problems, 75 percent suffering from loneliness and 3 percent contemplating suicide. 

The Filipino Veterans Equity Act would provide these remaining Filipino WWII 

veterans with the recognition and status they deserve and pensions they need. After 

60 years, this bill is a measure of compassion for aging veterans, many of whom 

are approaching their last days. 

APALC strongly urges Congress to support the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, and 

we thank you for your consideration of this testimony. 

Respectfully yours, 

STEWART KWOH, 

President and Executive Director. 

DANIEL HUANG, 

Policy Advocate, Immigration and Citizenship Project.

Æ