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

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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