PAUNAWA NG JFAV
Pahayag sa Ika 72 Taon ng Pagbagsak ng, April 9, 1942
April 15, 2014

Sa Ika 72 Taon Ng Araw ng Bataan, Alalahanin Ang Bataan!

Los Angeles—Ginunita ng Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) ang ika-72 taon ng Pagbagsak ng Bataan , Abril 9, 1942 at pinarangalan ang mga beteranong Pilpino at Amerikano sa Ikalawang Pambansang Komperensya nito nong Abril 5, 2014 sa Student Activities Center ng University of California of Los Angeles (UCLA).

Hindi malilimot at laging tatandaan ng JFAV at ng komunidad Filipino-Amerikano ang Araw ng Bataan dahil hindi lamang ito na mabuluhang pagkatalo kundi isang tagumpay ng diwang palaban ng mga Pilipino na manaig kahit sa pinakamahirap na pagkakataon.

Araw ng Kagitingan

Pinarangalan ng JFAV ang mga yumaong baterano maging ang mga nabubuhay at ang kanilang mga naiwan sa paggunita ng ika-72 taong ng Pagbagsak ng Bataan kayat tinawag din itong Araw ng Kagitingan . Ito ang araw ng pagsuko ng may 90,000 pwersa ng USAFFE sa mga Hapones noong Abril 9, 1942.

Pagkaraan ng halos apat na buwang pakikipaglaban at limang araw ng matinding labanan,, isuko ni Heneral Edward King Jr. ng USAFE ang kanyang 90,000 tropa kay Heneral Hommna “upang maiwasan ang hindi kinakailangang pagbubuwis ng maraming buhay.”

Matapos sumuko, pinilit ng mga Hapones ang mga pwersa ng USAFFE sa isang “Death March” mula sa Mariveles, Bataan hanggang sa San Fernando, Pampanga at mula doon sila pinasakay sa mga bagong ng tren patungo sa Camp O’Donnel sa Capas. Tarlac.

Sa loob ng 60 kilometrong martsa, may mahigit na 30,000 Pillipino at Amerikano ang nasawi dahil sa kalupitan at pagpaparusa ng mga Hapones.

Hindi ibig sabihin nito na ipinagdiriwang ng mga Pilpino ang mga pagkatalo kung hindi tayo ay isang magiting na lahi at ang pagsuko ay hindi natin gawi. Ang nagsuko sa Bataan ay utos ng mga Amerikano at sumunod lamang tayo s autos. Kung hindi magpapatuloy na lalaban ang mga Pilipino.

Lumaban tayo sa loob ng mahigit na 12 taon kahit nadakip na si Heneral Aguinaldo ng mga Amerikano sa digmaang Pilpino Amerikano ng 1899 hanggang 1902, hanggang ibigay ng mga Amerikano ang kalayaan ng Pilipinas noong 1946.

Para sa isang Pilipino, ang pagsuko ay isang kahihiyan at lumaban tayo laban sa mga Hapones sa loob ng ilang taon ( 1942-1945) hanggang makalaya ang Pilipinas noong 1946.

Ang Hindi Magagaping Diwa ng Bataan

Sa kabila ng pagsira ng Pilipinas ng mga Hapon at mga Amerikano noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig, muling bumangon ang Pilipinas at naging Ikalawang makapangpangyarihang Bayan sa Asya. Nasira lamang ito sa loob ng 14 na taong ng paghahari ng diktadurang Marcos sa loob ng 14 na taon. Ng batas militar.

Kaya ang di-magagaping diwa ng Bataan ay nabubuhay tulad ng pagbabangon ng bayan sa People’s Power ng EDSA 1 na nagpabagsak kay Marcos noong 1986. Ito ang diwa ng Bataan na hindi susuko sa pang-aapi kailanman.

Hindi katulad ng mga Amerikanong hindi ipinagdiriwang ang pagsuko ng Konpederasyon noong Abril 9, 1865 sa Appomatix Court House sa Virginia ni Heneral Robert Lee kay Heneral Ulysses Grant ng Unyon ng Amerika,

Ito ay dahil sa nirerespeto nila ang rasistang sensibilida ng Timog Estados Unidos Ngunit sa atin, maringal nating ginugunita ang labanan sa Bataan at ang makahayop na “Death March” at ang pagsuko dahil mula sa pagkatalong ito muli tayong bumangon upang ganap na magtagumpay.

Ipaglaban ang Equity at katarungan

Kaya dito sa Amerika, patuloy na ipaglalaban gn JFAV ang katarungan at equity na hindi pa nakakamit ng may 41,000 nalalabing beteranaong Pilipino at may 60,000 kamag-anak at balo nila. Ipaglalaban ito ng JFAV sa Kongreso at sa lahat ng korte hanggang makamtan nila ang kanilang mithiin.

Lalaban nating ang lahat ng uri ng diskriminasyon at rasismo saan man ito magbuhat upang itaguyod ang ating komunidad.

Alam natin ang pagkabigo ang ina ng tagumpay. Dapat nating maunawaan na liku-liko man ang landas, sa huli tayo ay magtatagumpay! Muli nating isigaw ang ating paninindigan noon at hanggang ngayon:

Alalahanin ang Bataan, 1942!

Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
Pambansang Komite
April 9, 2014

NEW FACLA NEWS
April 14, 2014

HUNDREDS JOIN FACLA DAYS OF SERVICE, APRIL 9-12, 2014

Los Angeles—Hundreds of Filipino-Americans and other minorities joined the Days of Service from April 9-12, 2014 most especially on Saturday, April 12.

FACLA conducted this days of service as a part of its community outreach. Hundreds of Filipinos joined the days of service during the GEPENC and RVNC Neighborhood Councils elections on Saturday, April 12 from 8:00 AM to 11:;00 PM especially during the free-public viewing of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight during the night.

–On April 9, scored of senior joined the Wednesday Social Dancing and Bataan Day remembrance at FACLA. The Buddy Reyes Band played the music from 11;00 AM up to 3:00 PM.

TALAKAYAN SA FACLA Every Thursday

–On April 10, TALAKAYAN SA FACLA Public Forum was held from 10;00 AM to 1;00 PM . TALAKAYAN’s guest was Dr. Leonardo Pandac of the Rotary Club and the HFNC, He discussed the development in Mindanao especially the roots of the Muslim-Christian Conflict. Filipino-American leaders joined in the interesting discussions.

Dr. Marc Caratao on the other hand reported the RAND Corporation’s report on the Ukraine-Russian crisis especially the Eastern Ukrainian border problem. Dr. Caratao was invited by the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica office to join in its discussion and analysis.

-Also on April 10, the Asian American Pacific Policy and Planning Council (AP3CON) conducted a forum on mental health for the Filipino community at around 2;00 PM.

-April 11- The Ms. FACLA and Ms. Teen FACLA Search Committee held its planning meeting at around 3:00 PM.

Ms .FACLA an Ms. TEEN FACLA will hold its 2nd canvassing on April 2O from 5;00 PM to midnight. Buddy Reyes and his band will provide the music for the dance party.

Later on, a commercial presentation was held around 5:00 PM attended by clients of FACLA.

NC Election Services and Free Viewing of the Pacquiao Fight

-April 12 from 10:00 AM to 4;00 PM hundreds of voters for GEPENC converged in FACLA to vote at the GEPENC and the RVNC elections. The FACLA service bus was used to ferry the voters especially the seniors to do their civic duty.FACLA also provided informational services about the neighborhood councils elections.

This was a public service feature of FACLA for the residents of GEPENC and RVNC. FACLA also conducted this free public service during the last 2011 GEPENC and RVNC elections.

In the evening, FACLA held a free-public viewing of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight at the Social Hall. Hundreds of Filipinos cheered the Filipino champion during the fight and went home happy that the Filipino boxing champ won over his opponent.

For more information please call us at (213)484-1527 or email us at [email protected] and visit our website at newfacla.org.

****

JFAV Communiqué
Second National Conference
April 09, 2014

CERRITOS MAYOR MARK PULIDO CALLS ON THE FIL-AM YOUTH AT THE SECOND JFAV CONFERENCE “RIGHT THE WRONGS ONCE AND FOR ALL”

Los Angeles – “ Our Veteranos , they serve as inspiration and as catalysts for action. This is my answer to people who ask, why are you still fighting after 68 years— still fighting for equity?”

This was the speech of the first Filipino-American Mayor of Cerritos, Mark Pulido as the guest speaker at the The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) when they mark the 72nd Bataan Day, April 9, 1942 and honor the Filipino World War II Veterans and their survivors on the JFAV Second National Conference that was held at the University of California of Los Angeles (UCLA) last April 5, 2014

Mayor Mark Pulido of Cerritos also said, ” As a son, as a grandson of a Veterano, I redo my commitment to our beloved Veteranos, that we should keep our fire burning. I should provide leadership and speak up on every opportunity for them.

I have an obligation, a moral obligation to my community, to the American society to right these wrongs once and for all.”

Mayor Pulido also commended the youth and students, present and past that have supported the JFAV. He exhorted them to keep the “fire burning and keep on the struggle until we win.

JFAV Consolidates at the 2nd National Conference

JFAV 2nd National Conference’s Theme; was ” Consolidate Our Gains, Struggle for Veterans/Survivors Equity and Justice”

Some of the speakers during the one day conference in UCLA who pledged to support the Veterans struggle were: People’s CORE Board President Mark Masaoka, FACLA President Austin Baul Jr,Dr.Marc Caratao of the Knights of Columbus, Pro People Youth KmB Chair Mark Ramos and AFI3RM Representative Jaime Carlos,

JFAV National Coordinator Arturo Garcia made the JFAV General Report for 2007-2013 while Ago Pedalizo gave the Lobby and Court Cases Report. Chevy Evangelista acted as the emcee of the Conference.

Ago Pedalizo and Chevy Evangelista led the workshops in the afternoon for the Lobby and Court Cases while Arturo Garcia and Violy Reyes handled the Welfare and Rights Workshops. They made a report back after at the plenary session.

Conference Was a Success

The Conference was a success for it mapped out the JFAV next steps for advocacy and lobbying in the US Congress, campaign for the welfare and rights of the remaining 41,000 Filipino veterans and 60,000 of their survivors and the pursuance of Pilipino Studies in schools in the United States.

Scores of delegates from allied organizations of the JFAV, the S4PACE, Alliance –Philippines, the Pro People Youth KMB, Samahang Pilipino, AWARE, FACLA, KOC Loreto Church, AF3IRM, Ugnayan Youth for Social Change NY/NJ and others attended the conference.

The conference started at 10:00 AM and ended at 3; 30 PM. The Park Finest Restaurant provided the lunch and Fausta Lopez provided the refreshments.

COMMUNITY EMPOWERED, CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED!
IPAGLABAN ANG MGA KARAPATAN NG MGA BETERANO AT BALO!
LAKAS NG BAYAN, IPAGWAWAGI NG MAMAMAYAN!!

DARE TO STRUGGLE, DARE TO WIN!

For more information please visit our FB page at jfav-los angeles.or call (213)241-0995 and 323-253-1818 or email us at [email protected] or at [email protected]

***

Officers and Directors

FACLA Officers and Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE TEAM

President- Austin Baul Jr.
1st Vice President- Manicito “Fender” Santos
2nd Vice President- Dr. Veronico Agatep
3rd Vice President – Leticia Reyes
Treasurer – Rosalinda Nery
Secretary –Arturo Garcia
Auditor – Aleli Abrigo-Neal

DIRECTORS:
Ben Basilio
Marc Caratao
Jerome Esguerra
Bernie Ganon
Paul Julian
Arthur Teodosio
Sigfred Balatan

OFFICE STAFF:
Office Manager- Claire Julian
Asst. Manager- Concordia Dos Pueblos

Sgt at Arms
Kim Cabanig
Danny Adlawan

***

JFAV Updates
Statement On the 72nd Fall of Bataan, April 9, 1942
April 09, 2014

ON THE 72nd BATAAN DAY, REMEMBER BATAAN

Los Angeles--The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) marked the 72nd Fall of Bataan or Bataan Day, April 9, 1942 and honored our veterans on its Second National Conference that was held at the University of California of Los Angeles (UCLA) last April 05, April 5, 2014.

The JFAV and the Filipino-American community never forget and always will remember the 72nd Bataan Day for it is not only a glorious defeat but also a triumph of the Filipino spirit to fight despite all odds and prevail.

Araw ng Kagitingan

JFAV honored our departed veterans, our living heroes and all their survivors as we mark the 72nd Year of the Fall of Bataan or April 9. It is called ” Araw Ng Kagitingan” or the Day of Valor to mark the surrender of 90,000 USAFFE forces to the Japanese in April 9, 1942.

After almost four months of siege and five days of terrible battle, the USAFFE led by US General Edward King Jr. surrendered the 90,000 Filipino-American troops to General Homma of the Japanese Imperial Army. In his words “ to avoid the unnecessary slaughter of humanity.”

After the surrender, the Japanese forced the Filipinos into a “Death March” from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. They were then herded into the rail boxes and forced to walk again at Capas ,Tarlac to the POW camp at Camp O Donnel.

During the 60 kilometers march, more than 30,000 Filipino and American soldiers died due to Japanese brutalities and hunger.

But it is that we Filipinos glorify surrender and defeat as other naysayers say, but we are as a proud race; say that surrender was not our own doing. The Americans colonizers surrendered us. If not, we will go on fighting until we win.

It is like during the Filipino-American War from1899 to 1902, our leaders like Aguinaldo were captured and some surrender but we kept on fighting as a people for our independence for 12 years more, until the Americans granted us our independence in 1946. For a Filipino surrender is shame so we kept on fighting until the Americans came back sad to say to ”liberate “us.

The Indomitable Spirit of Bataan

Thus despite and inspite of the destruction of the Philippines by the American in WWII, we stood up as a new nation and made the Philippines– tne 2nd economic power in Asia in the 1960’s until it was again destroyed by another dictatorship under Marcos for1 4 years.

But the spirit of Bataan lives on until the Filipino rose up in the People’s Power Revolt and deposed Marcos in 1986. That’s the spirit of Bataan- the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people that never surrender and will always prevail.

Thus, unlike the Americans who do not celebrate nor commemorate April 9, 1865 when the Confederacy under general Robert Lee surrendered in Appomattox Court House, Virginia to the union Forces under General Ulysess Grant.

This is to respect the sensibilities of the racist south, we are proud to commemorate our fight, the battle of Bataan and the infamous Death March after the surrender to remind us that in defeat we rise up and fight and erase such ignominy by being a Filipino.

Fight for Justice and Equity

So, in the United States, JFAV will continue to fight for equity and justice for the 41,000 Filipino Veterans and 60,000 survivors in the US Congress and the US Courts until they are recognized as American veterans and are granted their benefits they deserve.

We will fight racial discrimination, blatant racism and marginalization of all kinds in our community and in the American mainstream society.

We know that the mother of success. In failure and defeats, we learn by reminding ourselves that we are and always be Filipinos who will fight for freedom and democracy and we will win. We say as our battle cry then and now:

REMEMBER BATAAN, 1942!

Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
National Committee
April 9, 2014

NEW FACLA NEWS
April 06, 2014

PABASA OR THE PASYON AT FACLA ON THE HOLY WEEK, APRIL 16-18, 2014

Los Angeles—In a public service feature of the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) on the Christian dome celebration of Holy Week, FACLA is offering the Filipino-American Community three days of the Filipino tradition of the PABASA ANG PASYON NG POONG HESUKRISTO or the singing oral tradition of the Philippines during the Holy WEEK.

FACLA President Austin Baul Jr announced this today, April 06, in anticipation of the next two weeks of the Holy Week celebrations of the Filipino American community.

The FACLA president also announced that FACLA will open the social hall for two nights and three days for 24 hours of non-stop singing of the PABASA ( Reading which is actually reading by singing)

FACLA launched the event in cooperation with LA Fil-Am journalist Larry Pelayo who will provide the PABASA books during the period.

History of the PASYON or the PABASA

The PABASA became a tradition when the Spanish colonizers of the Philippines used the oral tradition of singing of the Filipinos to spread Catholism for the more than 300 years they occupied the Philippines. The Spanish used the passion of Christ and the Tagalog Language written in BAYBAYIN for the PABASA or the PASYON during the Annual Holy Week of the April.

Different Tribal traditions in the Philippines have a rich oral tradition like the DALLOT and DAN-DANIW of the Ilocos and the Cordillera , KUNDIMAN and KUDYAPI of the Tagalog regions during the Pre-Spanish period.

This was continued with the new forms that the Spanish introduced and enrich, integrating this oral tradition with the DUPLUHAN, SARSUERLA, MORO-MORO and the PABASA or the PASYON.

A Call to the Public

FACLA invite all people who knows to sing the PABASA to join in this tradition. FACLA will be open from 9:00 AM in April 16, Holy Wednesday up before 3;00 PM on the Holy Friday for 24 hours from April 16 and 17.

We also call on the public not only those who knows the PABASA but also especially the younger Fil-Am youths and students and their organization to learn and participate in the PABASA .

They can also bring cooked foods and refreshments for the PABASA readers at FACLA to keep them awake and strong during the two 24-hour period of non-stop reading.

For more information about this cultural event at FACLA, please contact Clarita Julian of FACLA or Bernie-Targa Ganon at (213)484-1527. Or please email us at newfaclayahoo.com

***

Rep. Manny Pacquiao at his residence during the courtesy call of New FACLA officers led by its President, Austin Baul and Director Pol Julian.

“Pambansang Kamao” Pacman Pacquiao promised to visit FACLA office after his upcoming bout with Bradley to conduct Bible Study among FACLA members.