Senate Finally Approves Filipino Veteran Benefits
Nichi Bei Times, News feature, Akito Yoshikane, Posted: May 03, 2008
At 87 years old, clutching his cane at his side, Lucio Dimaano remembers fighting in the Philippine Army alongside the United States against Japanese forces in World War II. Dimaano recalled joining the army in 1941, moving up the ranks from a trainee to corporal, until he was promoted to sergeant in his seven years of service.
As a soldier who fought in Bataan and survived the Death March, in which more than 10,000 of the 70,000 Filipino and American soldiers died marching to a prison camp at the hands of the Japanese military, he is one of more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers that fought in World War II when the Philippines was a commonwealth of the United States.
Today Dimaano is a part of an estimated 18,000 surviving World War II Filipino veterans — 13,000 that
live in the Philippines and 5,000 in the U.S. — many of whom are also in their 80s and 90s, struggling to get by without adequate veteran’s benefits the U.S. government promised the soldiers nearly six decades ago. Instead he has been living mostly on Supplemental Security Income.
"I feel we are totally discriminated,” said Dimaano. "All the soldiers of all nationalities who have joined
the American forces are fully paid and they are enjoying their benefits, but all the Filipinos who
fought the Japanese are neglected.”
Leonardo V. De Torres, 82, was also a civilian guerilla soldier in World War II recognized by the
U.S. His military papers showing his service in the Philippines have turned brown and are taped together.
"I’m trying to get by with what I have but it’s not enough,” said De Torres through a translator.
In what has been a long legislative process — 62 years after Congressional legislation stripped Filipinos of their veterans’ benefits under the Rescission Act — the U.S. Senate approved legislation April 24 to provide pensions to Filipino veterans and restored their status as American veterans. But despite the
significant milestone for Filipino veterans, opponents of the bill say the measure is too generous, while
advocates on behalf of the veterans say the compensation for veterans living abroad is still not
enough.
Senate Bill 1315, sponsored by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), was approved 96-1.
The bill grants a $221 million pension fund to Filipino veterans, roughly a $300 monthly pension to
veterans in the Philippines. The measure is part of a larger bill that would expand health insurance,
education and housing programs for veterans.
"The Filipino veterans of World War II fought bravely under U.S. military command, helping us win the war, only to lose their veteran status by an Act of Congress,” said Akaka, the chairman of the Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee.
During World War II, Filipino veterans joined military units at a time when the United States law mandated control over national defense and foreign affairs of the Philippines. In 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered Philippine soldiers and guerillas into service alongside the United States and they were promised pensions, benefits and citizenship.
But in 1946 Congress passed the Rescission Act, denying recognition of Filipino veterans as American
veterans. The legislation made them ineligible for the pensions and benefits that their American counterparts had.
There has been some legislative success over the years. Congress passed a bill enabling thousands of
veterans to immigrate to the U.S. to become citizens. Burial rights in national cemeteries soon followed.
In 2003, President George W. Bush signed a bill making Filipino American veterans eligible for the same
federal health care as U.S. veterans.
Last week’s provision comes after years of congressional lobbying by advocates and Filipino
veterans who have been trying to restore their veteran status for decades. Senate Bill 1315 ostensibly
restores the status of Filipino veterans as American veterans, particularly in regards to qualifying for
veterans’ pensions, but critics say the legislation has not yet reached full equity for veterans in the
Philippines.
When asked what Dimaano thought of the recent bill he said he felt "half lonely, half happy.”
"The Filipinos in the Philippines do not receive the same benefits as us,” he said.
Veterans residing in the Philippines will receive a fraction of the pension of what Dimaano and De Torres would receive in the U.S. as a result of the differences in the cost-of-living. According to
advocates like Luisa Antonio, executive director of San Francisco Veterans Equity Center, while the Senate bill enhances veterans’ benefits, the financial disparity for Filipino veterans’ pensions abroad
doesn’t grant them the full equity they deserve.
"As much as I am happy with the provision of the bill, what worries me is that the veterans in the
Philippines are given one-third,” she said.
But critics like Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), whose amendment to restrict the $221 million pension was
defeated 41-56 last week, says Filipino veterans who have no service related injuries already receive
benefits from the Philippine government.
"The creation of a new foreign pension benefit is unacceptable when the needs of our disabled veterans
are so great,” said Burr in a press release.
Burr, who is also the ranking Republican on the Veterans Affairs Committee, argued for shifting
resources to ongoing wars in the Middle East.
"I respect the Filipinos who served during World War II, but this special pension is the wrong priority at
the wrong time. We must focus on the needs of American veterans, including those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Burr added.
Antonio, however, said it’s unfair and unlawful to adjust the pension funds of Filipino veterans based on their geographical location and said the Burr measure was "a cheap shot to pit one veteran against another.”
"They should be able to receive the benefits that any U.S. veteran receives regardless of residency,” she
said. "Any U.S. veteran can go anywhere in the world without suffering the adjustment of payment. Why is it that the Filipino veterans are treated that way? They’re American veterans.”
"Separate but equal is not equal,” said Antonio.
As the Senate Bill 1315 moves to the House, Antonio says time is of the essence for the aging veterans.
"In my village there were about 30 veterans, but now I’m the only one left,” said Dimaano, originally from Batangas City, Philippines.
De Torres, a native of Laguna City in the Philippines who now lives in the Bay Area, said he was happy the legislation was approved. But he said he feels sad for the compatriots he sees every year in his hometown who won’t receive the same pension as he will.
"What we’re still feeling is for Congress to recognize them and give them full benefits, not partial,
regardless of their stay in the Philippines,” he said.
Filipino related stories
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User Comments
jose p. velez on May 29, 2008 at 22:27:36 said:
i'm the son f u.s. philippine scout veteran and before he died several years ago, he told me that if the equity bill the are waiting for so many years will be approved by us govt. we will have a good life with our mother.but the question is, how long and when can my mother enjoy these benefits.shes 82 now, diabetic,heart disease,etc.hoping that the we U.S. govt. will pity the philippine scout veterans.thank you and god bless america.
Paul on May 29, 2008 at 07:35:41 said:
Dan,
You are so ignorant of history. The Filipinos were fighting for America because the Philippines was a US territory when the Japs invaded the islands. They were Americans and defending America. I won\\\'t comment on your statement on Philippine Insurrection... that statement is one of the stupidests I\\\'ve read on the internet.
Dan on May 22, 2008 at 19:23:38 said:
To expect the same benefits as US-originated veterans is greedy. Filipinos get benefits that US-veterans did not and Im concerned about: A. Double-dipping and B. Philippine gov't. shirking its responsibilities. The reason Filipinos are fighting so hard for this is that they want right to come to US and to bring their families and grandchildren. Filipinos are getting benefits from both US and Ph. govts. Finally, Roosevelt made the promise of benefits based upon US ownership of Philippines and benefits would have been paid from the cultivation of resources and revenues of the Islands. Once the islands were turned over to the new government it was the responsibility of the new government to assume the assets AND the liabilities. Remember, the Filipinos were essentially fighting to regain their island and the US lost many lives helping them.....after the Filipinos killed many Americans during the Philippine Insurrection. Enough is enough.
maria christine c. reyes on May 18, 2008 at 22:45:04 said:
Good day!
Im a grand daughter of one Filipino veteran leaving in the Philippines my only concern it that is my grandfather is received the same amount as other veterans who leaves now in u.s? or and what benefit will he receives when we went in U.S.?
Yonie Paguirigan Nowak on May 16, 2008 at 22:04:45 said:
My father (Jacinto Paguirigan )was passt away last 1989 and my mothers name is Angeles Balisi Paguirigan They were maried 1948 my father was at the second wordwar in Philippine in Korea,
-->Well Iv been trying to apply for my educational Benefit in USA for my Doughter,But failled The Phil.Goverment in manila they using those thing that they not suppost to be like,pay them ,and they work for the,why?
Well could yould you kindly help me,Thanks for your understanding Mrs.Yonie Nowak from Germany