Filipino veterans fight for equity, commemorate the Fall of the Bataan

Bataan Day, a Philippine holiday, marks the largest U.S. army surrender in history. More than 70,000 American and Filipino troops surrendered to Japanese forces after brutal fighting for over 3 months in 1942.

What followed was the gruesome 60-mile march from Bataan for the surrendering army. It was the trudge of battle-weary soldiers, bearing the pain, heat, and agony with little to no food to eat. A few soldiers escaped, but many died from starvation, dehydration, and disease. This became known in history as the Bataan Death March.

Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) commemorated the Fall of Bataan or Bataan Day on April 10 at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA).

I entered the small function room, modestly decorated with a banner on the center stage wall, framed by the American flag on stage left, the Philippine flag and a bust of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, on stage right. Plastic chairs in rows of five were set up with a small walkway through the middle, while draped tables with small plastic flowers as centerpieces are lined against the walls for the luncheon after the commemoration.

Arturo Garcia, National Coordinator for JFAV, spoke with me briefly at the event. He has a commanding presence, undoubtedly emanating from his passion for the cause, which becomes apparent within moments of speaking with him.

“We are commemorating the 68th fall of Bataan. Bataan Day, as it is called in the Philippines, is the fall of Bataan, when the main army of USAFFE (United States Armed Forces of the Far East) surrendered. That was the largest garrison of the US in the Far East,” he explained.

Garcia formed JFAV to continue the veteran fight for equity and rights as a campaign for People’s CORE (Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment). The group’s mission has been to bring the Filipino-American community together and fight for justice for all veterans.

“We are asking for the benefits rightly due to the veterans which where denied to them in 1946,” said Garcia. “The 250,000 veterans (who) served for the United States were not even recognized. That is why we are fighting for recognition. We are fighting for benefits. We are fighting for justice.”

As we spoke, several veterans stop by to say hello, shake his hand and look inquisitively at my notepad and recorder. They greeted me with a small hello, a wave or a nod. Garcia told them to grab a seat inside; the program will start soon. Donning their military uniforms and decorations, their medals clinked softly as they shuffled slowly to the function room.

A member of JFAV opened the event and the function room was buzzing with conversations and energy. Present in the commemoration were WWII Filipino veterans, veteran widows and special guests. Filipino-American groups from UCLA Gawad Kalinga, Samahang Pilipino, Kappa Psi Epsilon (Delta Chapter), and Theta Delta Beta (Gamma Chapter) presented the veterans and widows with certificates of recognition.

One by one, the veterans stood up to receive their certificate, though many of them were absent. A veteran sitting in my row carried a Priority Mail envelope with him when his name was called. He carefully placed his certificate inside to avoid wrinkling it. It was a humble reminder that for many veterans, this piece of paper is a small token of recognition for their sacrifice. A small “thank you” from the generation of young Filipinos who remember their historical contribution and significance.

“They (U.S.) want to forget it. We want to remember it. We want to show how the system is being unfair and how injustices are being perpetrated against our veterans,” he added, referring to the 1946 Rescission Act which stripped Filipino soldiers of benefits and veteran status.

Since then, Filipino veterans have been fighting for equity and recognition. It is a fight that JFAV wages along with many Fil-Am veteran groups across the nation.

“JFAV wants to highlight the historical contribution of the Filipino nation, the Filipino soldiers and the Filipino-American soldiers who fought in that war that the US wants to conveniently forget. We are fighting a war to remember,” Garcia said.

The ceremony closed and everyone grabbed their chairs to the tables. People lined up to get their share of pancit and other Filipino dishes. The veterans ate and talked. Each of them looking genuinely happy to be sitting among friends and fellow “kababayans” (countrymen). I sat down and spoke with some of the veterans, introducing myself as a journalism intern writing about the event. Their faces lit up and they told me their various stories (”I was only 16 years old when the Japanese came,” “I came here in 2003!”). One can sense immediately, that there are hundreds of stories waiting to be told and a multitude of voices fighting to be recognized.

Writer’s Note: The 2009 Stimulus Bill included the Filipino Veterans Equity legislation which gives Filipino-American and Filipino veterans a one-time lump sum payment. Today, only 18,000 WWII Fil-Am veterans are alive and living in the U.S. Though JFAV welcomes the compensation, JFAV joins the Migrant Heritage Commission in Washington, D.C. in filing a suit against the Department of Veterans Affairs for the denied claims. Read the press release here.