In the past, the bill simply died in committee. Our champions, a bipartisan group of legislators, took up the cudgels every legislative session and introduced the same bill over and over again. But it never got anywhere.

This time around, there’’s real political will to find the money to fund this bill. And our supporters have done exactly that by including Filipino veterans benefits in this year’’s budget resolution –– a totally unprecedented move. It gives one goose bumps just thinking about it.

But it’’s still rough sailing ahead. ““Off-sets”” are needed for the estimated $900 million that this spending bill entails. Filner and Honda assure us, however, that the money is there.

We’’ve come this far. Failure is no longer an option.

Another good reason to be optimistic is the Republicans themselves. Despite their objections, they all acknowledged during the hearings that this injustice must be remedied. Now! In our meetings with congressional aides, we noted their concerns –– particularly having to pay the same benefits to both veterans in the Philippines and in the U.S. Something to do with variances in standard of living. A valid point, but nonetheless unacceptable. As my father –– a Death March veteran –– used to say, ““regardless of where we live now, we all faced the same bullets during the War. To treat veterans in the Philippines differently is to inflict yet another injustice.””

My dad is dead now. His surviving comrades –– about 18,000 of them –– are dying at the rate of ten a day. I can understand the desperation of some of them, prompting a willingness to settle for anything less, if only to get this matter done and over with.

This fundamental difference in strategy has plagued this campaign for full equity from the outset. It’’s one reason for inaction by Congress. We were basically told that until we spoke with one voice, the U.S. government wouldn’’t act. Of course that was a lame excuse, but we gave them cover for  their indifference.

Finally, we did get our own act together last December –– drawing all the veterans groups and community activists and service providers literally in one room to map out a coordinated plan and a common message. We formed the National Alliance for Veterans Equity (NAFVE), hired a professional staff (a national coordinator and two legislative consultants), and mobilized our supporters nationwide. We expanded our base of support outside the Filipino American community by enlisting several civil rights organizations. The message: Full Equity Now!

We’’re almost there. The bill is, at least, moving from committee to the floor. But we can’’t be complacent. It’’s not over until a conference committee agrees on a final measure and presents it to President Bush for his signature. We need to continue making phone calls and visits to our representatives and senators. We also need to raise money.

Ret. Major Gen. Antonio Taguba (who was fired by the Pentagon for his honesty, integrity and loyalty to duty) is a staunch advocate for our Filipino veterans. At a recent national teleconference, he appealed to Congress and to the community ““to help our veterans restore their faith that their wartime service meant a great deal of honor. They depend on us to be their voices to help find redemption for their cause and help them restore a small, but important recognition that was lost some 61 years ago. I asked all of us to be totally unified in this most important endeavor ¼¼ and attain the recognition that is long overdue for our veterans.””

Taguba knows what he’’s talking about. In effect, our veterans, too, were ““fired”” when they were shamefully stripped of their rightful status and benefits, deprived of their honor and pride, humiliated by a country they’’ve served with courage and valor. Is this the price one pays for being loyal to duty?

I seethe with outrage, and I’’m sure you do too. But just being angry doesn’’t get us anywhere. We need to act and act decisively. Now.

To those who have yet to do something significant for our veterans, this is your chance to change history. I’’m personally appealing to you to make a contribution to this noble cause. It’’s a matter of pride for our community, and for our children who will be proud to know that we’’re up to the task and didn’’t waver when it mattered most. Don’’t miss out on this opportunity to bring out the best in ourselves. Indifference now will doom us forever as a community that failed to do the right thing.

Please. Please write a check to NAFVE, and mail it to APALA, c/o Gloria T. Caoile, 815 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20006. It’’s tax deductible.

Thank you for stepping up to the plate.

E-mail your comments to jonmele@aol.com