THIS week, we glorify the heroism and gallantry displayed by American and Filipino World War II veterans.
This celebration encourages those of us who are now enjoying freedom, to pay tribute to all these freedom fighters — those who survived and perished when world peace was compromised.
Former President Franklin Roosevelt vowed that Filipino soldiers would be recognized as American veterans after the war, and will be provided full benefits — including lifetime monthly pensions.
“We owe our service members and veterans a debt of gratitude. Our debt to our veterans cannot be repaid with a mere hero’s welcome alone,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry Thomas Jr.
Thomas, who attended the US Veterans celebrations at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City, said that President Barack Obama has promised to improve the Philippine Veterans Act.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr., led the commemoration of Veterans’ Day in the US.
“Today, we remember the heroism of countless Filipinos and Americans who answered the call to serve and fought side by side to defend the freedoms we now enjoy. We will not be where we are today if not for these brave men and women from our uniformed services,” Cuisia said in a statement.
Cuisia also urged the US government to resolve denied appeals of more than 24,000 Filipino WW II veterans, pursuant to the 2009 Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund (FVEC) Law.
Under this law, services of Filipino World War II veterans are formally recognized as active military service in the US Armed Forces.
“With the elections over, we are hoping that the US Government would now be able to move the process forward,” he said.
Signed by Pres. Obama in February 2009, the program grants a one-time lump sum to Filipino veterans amounting to $15,000 for US citizens and $9,000 to non-citizens. Out of the 43,083 veterans who applied for the benefit, 18,499 were approved and 24,125 were denied.
Article 16, Section 7 of the Philippine Constitution promulgates: “The State shall provide immediate and adequate care, benefits, and other forms of assistance to war veterans and veterans of military campaigns, their surviving spouses and orphans. Funds shall be provided therefore and due consideration shall be given them in the disposition of agricultural lands of the public domain and, in appropriate cases, in the utilization of natural resources.”
In the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino assured surviving Filipino veterans and their families of the government’s continuing assistance.
Through the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) has been very assertive in making certain that the list of pensioners is accurate and updated through the agency’s Pensioners’ Revalidation Program.
Aside from ensuring a clean list of Filipino veterans’ pensioners, Aquino also announced improved medical care available to the veterans. He also revealed that the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) widened its veteran access to hospitalization services, by accrediting more than government hospitals
What ensued for Filipinos during WWII was a protracted, excruciating period of tyranny. That moment in history was highlighted by these veterans’ service and sacrifice. It is not enough that memories of their valor and efforts to claim freedom be enshrined in memorials and monuments.
As time flies, the events of WWII fade into the past. Those who survived and lived to tell the tale are diminishing each year — leaving experiences from the war, as lessons we need to learn in school.
A salute to our heroes can only be expressed by this generation, through being equally patriotic, and devoted in pursuing freedom and keeping vigilant about our democracy, as our departed soldiers and aging veterans did.
For the sake of justice and compassion, it is only fair to have accolades and ceremonies honoring these heroes, translated into a tangible form of compensation.
(AJPress)
