“We join the American people in hailing the recent (approval) of the U.S. Congress to restore the status of our Filipino World War II heroes as U.S. veterans, and provide them with financial assistance at a critical time when it’s needed the most,” says NaFFAA National Chair Greg Macabenta.
“The Filipino community is grateful for this victory, coming only a few days before the 63rd anniversary of the 1946 Rescission Act, which stripped our veterans of their rightful status and benefits. Over the years – even as their ailing and aging comrades faded away – their struggle for justice has always been a matter of honor and dignity. NaFFAA placed Filipino Veterans equity on top of its community empowerment agenda at the 1997 founding conference in Washington D.C.
Led by its first national chairman, Alex Esclamado, NaFFAA pressed the U.S. Congress to pass the equity bill, working with other veterans and community advocacy groups – notably the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans and the National Network for Veterans Equity. “We’ve always demanded full equity for our veterans,”
Macabenta adds, “and we will continue to fight for what they justly deserve.” Former NaFFAA leaders Loida Nicolas Lewis and Alma Kern followed Esclamado’s lead in mobilizing grassroots support for the equity bill.
On December 2006, during Kern’s term as national chair, NaFFAA and the Philippine Embassy formed the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE), drawing the participation of more than 50 organizations in a nationwide campaign. “We came very close to achieving our goal last year,” says Kern. “It is very satisfying to know that our efforts have not been in vain.”
Adds Lewis: “It is crucial to our community’s political empowerment that our voices are heard loud and clear in the White House and in the halls of Congress.” Macabenta points out that the historic vote in Capitol Hill Thursday night was due in large measure to “our champions in Congress who have never wavered in their commitment to our veterans. We will continue to work with them in the coming months ahead to make sure that administrative implementation of the bill’s provisions goes smoothly.”
NaFFAA Vice Chair Rozita Lee, who was a constant presence in Capitol Hill during critical hearings and national lobby days, also attributes the victory to the “hard work and sacrifices of activists and civil rights advocates. I’m very proud of the way our community came together to wage this very important campaign, overcoming setbacks and obstacles, with its eye on the prize each step of the way.” – ?