MANILA — Filipino World War II
veterans leaders May 5 expressed mixed feelings about the recent 3-day visit of
US Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson in which he
announced a small $500,000 grant-in-aid to the Philippine Veterans Memorial
Medical Center.
Nicholson paid a courtesy call on Philippine
President Gloria Arroyo at the Malacanang Palace April 29 after which he he
announced the medical grant-in-aid to VMMC.. That same evening he socialized
with 100 veteran leaders and Philippine Government officials at a reception
held at the US Ambassador Kristie Kenney’s home.
The veterans said they thanked Nicholson
and also asked him to support hearings on the veterans equity bills in the US
congress. They expressed disappointment when he merely said: “it was up to the
congress to decide.” Franco Arcebal, 82, vice-president of the American
Coalition for Filipino Veterans, a Washington-based advocacy group, said:.
“Nicholson passed the buck despite his earlier praises on the courage and
sacrifices of the Filipino soldiers who fought for America in WWII.”
According to Arcebal, Philippine
government officials he talked with seemed disappointed that Nicholson only
announced the $500K grant - half of the expected annual $1 Million grant-in-aid
that they had received over the past three years.
At the reception, local leaders from the
American Legion, the Veterans Federation (VFP), and the Philippine Veterans
Legion (PVL) approached Nicholson. Mariano Eslao, 86, adjutant of the American
Legion Philippine Department, hand delivered to Nicholson a copy of their
recent annual conference resolution in Clark Airbase. It urged Nicholson and
Kenney to recommend hearings on their equity pension bills, S. 146 and H.R.
4574.
On May 1 under tight security, Nicholson
and Kenney toured the VMMC hospital with hospital officials and Philippine
Ambassador Albert Del Rosariio. They inspected the $3 Million worth in earlier
donated new equipment and repairs. The aging facility was gifted by the
American People in 1955. Currently, about 18,000 surviving WWII veterans, in
addition to their sickly dependents and Philippine military retirees, avail of
the VMMC services.
Arcebal who was visiting from Los Angeles
and his fellow veteran leaders in Manila plan to meet with Ambassador Kenney
and the VA regional director at the US Embassy to follow up their requests.
They will embark on a media campaign on the unkept American promises to the
former US soldiers.
The coalition is also planning action
forums in San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento on weekend of May 13-16 to
mobilize their supporters in preparation for their June 8-9 Action Days in
Washington DC.
They are also expected to meet soon with
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to follow-up his December 8, 2005
letter to President Bush urging support for their bill: the Filipino Veterans Equity Act and the $200
monthly pension proposal of Rep. Lane Evans (D-Illinois), the retiring ranking
Democratic member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
