A Tribute to Filipino American World War II Veterans
Panel Discussion and Book Signing
To commemorate Filipino American History Month in October, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program presents a panel discussion to honor the history and campaign of Filipino and Filipino American veterans for recognition and equity.
Time:
Friday, October 23, 2009
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location:
Rasmuson Theater
National Museum of the American Indian
Fourth Street and Independence Avenue, SW
Metro:
L’Enfant Plaza (Yellow and Green lines)
Maryland Avenue/Smithsonian Museums exit
In July 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt drafted 140,000 soldiers of the Philippines to fight alongside American soldiers against invading Japanese forces. In 1942, Congress passed legislation allowing Filipino veterans to become U.S. citizens, but, in 1946, President Harry Truman signed bills rescinding those citizenship and veteran benefits. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a law allowing Filipino veterans to come to the United States and to become citizens but without the veteran benefits. More than 60 years later, Filipino veterans are still fighting for their rights.
Rick Rocamora, a Filipino American photojournalist, documented the plight of these elderly veterans as they started new lives in the United States. Rocamora will discuss his documentary photography and sign copies of his book, America’s Second Class Veterans, at the end of the program. He will be joined by local Filipino American World War II veteran Celestino Almeda and filmmaker Paul Tanedo, who will show his video on WWII veterans, Filipinos Singled Out. Gloria Caoile, a civic leader in the community, moderates.
The event will also feature remarks from the following:
- The Honorable Bob Filner, Congressman, California 51st District
- Robert Nakamoto, President, Japanese American Veterans Association
- Brigadier General Victor Corpus, AFP (Ret.), Head, Office of Veterans Affairs and Special Presidential Representative, Embassy of the Philippines
- Edward Chow Jr., Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs
This event is free and open to the public.
Congratulations and salamat ng marami, Rick brod, sa iyong walang sawang pagpupugay sa ating kaawaawang mga beterano ng Ikalawang Digmaan Pandaigdig! Matagal na rin namang naghirap at dumanas ng hirap at pasakit ang ating mga beterano. Naalala ko tuloy ang aking ama, Tranquilino V. Atienza, Sr., at tiyo, Ireneo M. Cabrera, na parehong nag-Death March at nagkasakit ng malarya sa Capas. Sila’y naging gerilya rin – Maluya at Blue Battalion sa Batangas ng sakupin na tayo ng mga Hapones. Pareho rin nilang di na inabot itong huli at malaing benepisyo g USA. Sumalangit nawa sila at iba pang kagaya nila na di narin nakita ang tagumpay at tulong mo na kapuwa Pilipino.
Lastly, how I hope too that you could work on the documentation of the Filipino-American War with equal fervor and skills. It may be politically incorrect at this point but I want it recorded that Uncle Sam has much more to recompense than it does yet for our countrymen who minded not their welfare and properties for the sake of their country.
MABUHAY KA, RICK!!!
yes we salute the unsung heroes of world war 11 VETERANS , WE ARE PROUD OF YOU ,MY DAD IS ALSO ONE OF THE WORLD WAR II VETERANS BUT NOT AMERICAN FILIPINO VETERAN BUT HE DIED 2 YRS AGO. WHEN I SEE YOU GUYS I REMEMBER MY DAD SO I WISH THAT YOUR EVENT WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL ONE ! MABUHAY ANG MGA FILIPINO! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
I’m so glad this has finally come into fruition. My Dad, Andres C. Alcober, were one of these guys. And from the photo, I recognize 2 of them from my youth. Because of both of my parents experiences in the Philippines during World War 2 and putting their lives on the line every minute of that experience, they taught their 4 children a strong work ethic and a strong sense of community. I only wish that Pilipina women of that time could also be recognized for their contributions to that war effort — particularly since my mother faced the Japanese soldiers, was shot by them and saw her grandfather murdered. The women of my mother’s generation are just as much heroes as their male counterparts.
[…] A Tribute to Filipino American World War II Veterans If you are near to this event, do go and let’s all pay homage to all the Filipino-American WWII vets! I am a Navy Veteran and feel honored to be and I want to Thanks them for what they have done to help the war. This article is from here […]
Mabuhay fellow Filipinos. My dad worked tirelessly for and on behalf of Filipino veterans. He was hunted as a Philippine guerilla in charge of coomunications in Bohol by the Japanese during WW2 and was wanted “dead or alive” by the Japanese army. In Bohol, the enemy looked for the guerilla “Corabes” an acronym for my dad, Cornelio Rana Besinga. He is the author of several Workmen’s Compensation and Labor Law books in the Philippines. After my mother died, he moved to Los Angeles and lived with my sister, Charito Besinga Talaid and her family and later married Luz Montemayor (also active in the Filipino American community. His advocacy for the Filipinos included his battle with the California Courts relating to his attempt and attempt by others to repeal a “rider” in the 1946 Rescission Act (the Act gave $3.6 billion in benefits to Filipino soldiers during WW2, the sum subsequently reduced to $200 million). The rider provided that Philippine Commonwealth Army servicemen who did not die or were not disabled are deemed not to have rendered service in the US Armed Forces. This Rescission Act cancelled whatever benefits Filipino veterans of the war were entitled to under the War Powers Act of 1942 (granting Filipinos fighting the war outright US citizenship. My dad worked tirelessly towards benefiting his fellow Filipino veterans, was dubbed the “persistent plaintiff” by a District Judge in California, presided over the Asian Pacific Coalition on Aging Inc. and was a compassionate and accomodating father and husband to my mom, Josefa Olano Besinga and to his six grown children. Thank you for honoring him and others with this event. Estrella Besinga Sybinsky, Retired Political Science Professor, Univ. of Hawaii
My Filipino (FASA) Club and I are celebrating Filipino Week next week and I was wondering if you can give me information on how to get a video or more information about Filipino Vets. My high schoolers planned this Wednesday as Filipino History Night and it would be an honor to get more information about this topic.
It was a great event and a superb experience for everyone there.
Thanks to the Smithsonian, the great speakers, everyone who sponsored, supported and participated in this event, and, most of all, the veterans who deserve our appreciation.
Let’s maintain that forward movement.
America recruited local to fight their war and after they denied all benefits: it is a shame for all American citizens.