JFAV Updates
November 20, 2014

JFAV Supports Veterans Demand on Nov. 22 House Veterans Affairs Sub-Committee Hearings

Los Angeles—Equity and Justice , Now!

The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) supports the Filipino World War II Veterans and advocates action in the US Congress and join them today in solidarity from California Thursday, 10 a.m. November 20, 2014 in the Cannon House Bldg. Room 340 on Capitol Hill.

They will appeal to the US House of Representatives Veterans Affairs Committee to help restore their honorable official recognition and to grant equity compensation benefits they deserve.

House Vets Affairs Committee Action, Inadequate

The House subcommittee action on more than 25,000 Filipino denied claims has been lacking and inadequate. Again, in a lip-service by the Republican controlled committee, they will inquire into the adequacy (sic) of the equity compensation program of the VA Dept.

JFAV has stated time and again, the more than $56,000,000 in compensation benefits are at stake for the 4,500 elderly Filipino veterans and widows who have appealed the denials by the DVA should have been giving to them a long time ago. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Besides the 4,500 appeals, The DVA has rejected the claims of more than 25,000 Filipino-American World War II Veterans and only approved less than 18,00 claims to date. A glaring insult to injury.

Again, JFAV reiterate its position to push for the Filipino Fairness Act of 2013 co-authored by Rep. Jackie Spieir of Northern California and Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii still languishing in the House and the Senate.

Only total equity and recognition can erase the unfulfilled promises of the US government to the remaining 41,000 FIlipino World War II Veterans and more than 60,000 widows in the United States and the Philippines. No more , no less.

For more information about jfav and its lobby efforts please call (213)241-0995 or email us [email protected] or visit our FB at jfav-los angeles

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JFAV UPDATES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2014

JFAV CONDEMNS UC SYSTEM 27% TUITION FEE INCREASE, SUPPORT UC STUDENTS DEMANDS TO ROLLBACK INCREASES

Los Angeles—The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), the national alliance of veterans, widows and advocates stands with the UC Systems students and parents protests to stop the unjust and burdensome 27% tuition fees increases.

The JFAV National Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia said, “ The unpopular UC Board of Regent’s decision to increase the tuition fees to 27% is the height of the arrogance and uncaring attitude of the American reactionary ruling class. It is anti-people and grossly reactionary.”

Education is a Right, Not a Commodity

One UC student said, ” This 27% fee increase is anti-student, anti-worker, and anti-working class. They’re justifying this by saying that state funding has declined, but that’s not the whole story. The real story is that UC is mismanaging money in many ways. You’ve probably already heard about the 20% increases to chancellor’s salaries that were just announced.

But yet another way UC is wasting money is through contracting out workers and lining their own pockets—and then demanding students pick up the tab.”

JFAV also added, “ At UC Davis and at UCSF, the UC is subcontracting workers—which means they’re paying a subcontractor to get around the union, and hire on workers for minimum wage. These workers, who are primarily young people of color, work alongside UC employees but get none of the benefits, or job security that their coworkers enjoy.

The UC is spending more on contractors than it would cost to hire these workers in-house—their own records show that since March, two contracts alone have cost the university a whopping 1 million dollars more than it would have cost to hire the workers as UC employees, with living wages and health benefits. This is on top of the millions in fines the university pays for safety violations by outside contractors.”

Roll back the tuition fees increases, Now!

Money for education not for UC Coffers and War.

For more information about jfav please call at (213)241-0995 or email us at [email protected] or at our websites at www.peoplescore.net and at FB at jfav-los angeles

JFAV UPDATES
November 18, 2014

Historic Filipintown Calendar of Events,

November-December, 2014

November 20014

1. November 22, 2014 Day of Remembrance on the Maguindanao Massacre of 2009
From 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM
Sponsored by the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP)-USA,
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and FACLA
Social Hall, 1740 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

December 20014

1.December 5-6, 2014 International Filipino Business Exposition
Historic Filipinotown California Exposition LLC
From 8:00 AM to 6;00 PM
FACLA Social Hall, 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026

2.December 7, 2014 FACLA Special Membership Meeting
from 12:00 Noon to 2;00 PM
FACLA Social Hall
1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026

3. December 7, 2014 Premiere Showing –PEDRO CALUNGSOD
HiFI Indie Film Festival and SMR
Beyond te Stars Theater
Brand Glendale, CA

4. December 08, 2014 Historic Filipinotown Parol Parade
Lantern Parade Around Historic Filipinotown
Sponsored by Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HFNC0
4;00 PM to 9:00 PM
FACLA Social Hall, 1740 W. Temple St. :Los Angeles,, CA 90026

5. December 1-15, 2014 Historic FilipinoTown Indie Film Festival
Watch for the Schedule of Film Screenings
6. December 13, 2014 RVNC Tree Planting
Occidental Rounder led by RVNC And Council

7. December 30, 2014 Rizal Day
Wreath Laying at Rizal Monument at FACLA
9;00 AM
Salu-salo ang Program at FACLA Social Hall

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FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF LOS ANGELES(FACLA)
Established, April 26, 1945

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS: 2013-2015

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
Sigfred Balatan
Marc Caratao
Jerome Esguerra
Bernie Ganon
Paul Julian
Susan Oca.

SGT. AT ARMS

Archimedes Kim S Cabanig
Danny Adlawan

OFFICE STAFF:
Office Manager- Claire Julian
Asst. Manager- Concordia Dos Pueblos
Receptionist; Avelina Hall
Isabel Duat

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NEW FACLA NEWS
November 14, 2014

Historic Filipinotown Calendar of Events,

November-December, 2014

November 20014

1.November 16, 2014 FACLA General Assembly
From 3;00-5:00 PM
FACLA Social Hall
1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026

2. November 22, 2014 Day of Remembrance on the Maguindanao Massacre of 2009
From 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM
Sponsored by the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP)-USA,
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and FACLA
Social Hall, 1740 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

December 20014

1.December 5-6, 2014 International Filipino Business Exposition
Historic Filipinotown California Exposition LLC
From 8:00 AM to 6;00 PM
FACLA Social Hall, 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026

2.December 7, 2014 FACLA Special Membership Meeting
from 12:00 Noon to 2;00 PM
FACLA Social Hall
1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026

3. December 7, 2014 Premiere Showing –PEDRO CALUNGSOD
HiFI Indie Film Festival and SMR
Beyond te Stars Theater
Brand Glendale, CA

4. December 08, 2014 Historic Filipinotown Parol Parade
Lantern Parade Around Historic Filipinotown
Sponsored by Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HFNC0
4;00 PM to 9:00 PM
FACLA Social Hall, 1740 W. Temple St. :Los Angeles,, CA 90026

5. December 1-15, 2014 Historic FilipinoTown Indie Film Festival
Watch for the Schedule of Film Screenings

6. December 13, 2014 RVNC Tree Planting
Occidental Rounder led by RVNC And Council Member Mitch O’Farrell

*****

JFAV UPDATES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2014

HUNDREDS MARCHED FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR VETERANS IN HOLLYWOOD on VETERANS DAY, 2014

Los Angeles—“BANKS GOT BAILED OUT, VETS GOT SOLD OUT!

Hundreds of youths, students and advocates marched for the Filipino American World War II veterans, their widows and relatives for the third time last Tuesday November 11, 2014 Veterans Day in Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world.

The JFAV Veterans Day March started at 12;00 noon after a pre-rally at Ivar and Hollywood Streets. Speakers from the community spoke at the pre-rally included Veteran Rod Ramos of JFAV-LA, Mark Ramos Chair of Pro People YouthKMB; Jollene Levid, the National Chairperson of AFFIRM; KmB founder Christine Araquel of People’s CORE and Iraq War Veteran Mike Prysner of ANSWER-LA and March Forward Veterans.

Pre-Rally Program in FACLA and Rally Proper

Community leaders Dr. Veronico Agatep of FACLA; Ms. Cecille Ramos, Presdient of Historic Filipintown neighborhood Council and Dr. Orly Cagampan of the Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC) spoke earlier at the pre-rally program at FACLA Social Hall around 9:00 AM.

Representatives from FilAM student organizations as far south as San Diego and as far north as Santa Barbara took turns in speaking for equity and justice for Filipino WWII Veterans and widows at the final rally in the Hollywood and Highland. The rally ended at 1;45 PM.

More than 30 Participated in the Veterans Day Rally 2014

JFAV National Coordinator Arturo Garcia said, “the JFAV Veterans Day protest was held to dramatize and remind America of their broken promises and unfulfilled pledges to our remaining 25,000 living veterans and 60,000 widows and relatives. Aside from JFAV-LA more than 30 other groups participated in the march.”

More than 30 students, youth and community organizations joined the rally. Participating organizations were Alliance-Philippines(AJLLP), People’s CORE, S4PACE, AWARE-San Francisco, JFAV-San Francisco, Fiipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA),ANSWER-LA, March Forward Veterans, Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC). Philippinetown Inc (PTI), Knights of Rizal -HFT, Burlington School, HIFI Neighborhood Council (HFNC), Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC), FACLA Youth and Cultural Group, HIFI Expo LLC, HF Indie Film LLC, Ms, FILAM INTL LLC among others.

FilAm youth and student groups that participated were : Pro PeopleYouth (Kabataang makaBayan (KmB), Ugnayan Youth for Justice and Social Change, KmB San Diego, AF3IRM, Kappa Psi Epsilon, KMB SessionsX LA, SCPASA, Kababayan Alliance of UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara Kapatirang Pilipino, PASK, CalPoly Pomona Barkada, CSULB Pilipino American Coaltiton (PAC), XPO. TDB Dark Boyz, Samahang Pilipino of UCLA,Pilipinos For Community Health (PCH), USCTroy Philippines, UCR Katipunan, CSUN FASA, Pasadena City College (PCC) Tropa and other groups.

Fight Racism and National Oppression

Alliance-Philippines National Coordinator Al P, Garcia also added, “ Even if all the veterans have died five years from now, if the “do-nothing” US Congress think we will end our struggle, they are mistaken. There are still more than 60,000 widows and relatives and as long as there are youth and students we will keep on fighting for equity and justice.

We will continue to march for equity and justice, against racism and racial discrimination and we will not stop until we get justice and equity for our Lolos and Lolas and for community during our lifetime” Garcia exclaimed.

For more information about JFAV and the 14th JFAV March for Justice and Equity on November 11, 2014 please call jfav at (213)241-0995 or email us at [email protected] or at our websites at www.peoplescore.netand www.newfacla,org

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JFAV UPDATES
JFAV Statement for Veterans Day, 2014
November 11, 2014

Justice and Equity, Now!

We,in the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) a national alliance of veterans, widows, youth and students as well as community organizations in the United States have been marching for the last 14 years for our veterans and their widows and relatives every Veterans Day, November 11 of the year.
For the last three years were marched in Hollywood to remind America of their broken promises and unfulfilled pledges to our veterans and relatives.
World War II

Our struggle started with the American occupation of the Philippines in August 13, 1898. When the Philippines became a colony of the United States, we were drawn into a war of not our own choosing.
Heroism in World War II

On July 26, 1941, six months before the war, US President Franklin D.Roosevelt conscripted the 120,000 army of the commonwealth of thePhilippines into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) making the Philippines, the US Garrison outside of the US mainland.

Heroism in World War II

We have to defend our country against the Japanese invasion that came on December 8, 1941 when the Japanese planes bombed the Philippines, the same time they bombed Peal harbor on December 7, 1941 in Hawaii.
During the war, USAFFE surrendered in 1942 but not the Filipino people .They waged a three year long war of resistance ,kept their faith in America and rallied again under the US colors and liberated the Philippines from the Japanese yoke.

The whole Philippines was affected by this war. No Filipino family was spared. Every family had a relative who died fighting the enemy, was tortured, suffered deprivations because of the brutal Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

Role of the Filipina Women

More prominently the Filipina women bore the brunt of the suffering. They were left behind to tend for the family when the men were away fighting as guerillas during those terrible years and again during the liberation as soldiers fighting to drive away
the invaders.

The Filipinas did not only joined the resistance movement as guerillas but also as fighters, nurses, intelligence couriers and service providers for the wounded and convalescing men and women with the guerilla army and the army of liberation.

Even after the war, the Filipina women took care of the veteran and their children when more than 35,000 of them came to the United States in 1990′s during the twilight of their years. They were of the forefront of the Filipino Veterans struggle for equity. They were excluded from the lump sum and other benefits.

For their military service , at least 250,000 USAFFE soldiers and guerillas were recognized by the US Army as American soldiers out of more than 450,000 men and women who fought in the Philippines making them eligible for veterans benefits.

Adding Insult to Injury

But six months later on February 18, 1946, the 79th US Congress declared their “military service inactive” and until now, 68 years later they remained unrecognized as American veterans. Out of the 66 nationalities who fought during the war, only the Filipinos were excluded from benefits and privileges they deserved.

To rub salt into the gaping wounds, the US Congress in 2008 did not pass the S 1315 that recognized the Filipino Veterans and that give them lifetime pensions but instead passed the American Reconstruction and Recovery Law of 2009 that gave them measly lump sum. They bail out the banks and the corporations first then give the proper benefits to our veterans and widows they deserve.

But the most insulting about this law is that out of the 43,000 Filipino veterans who applied, only 18,000 were granted and more than 52% 0r 25,000 of them were denied their benefits.
Adding insult to injury, the ARRA law excluded 60,000 Filipina widows and relatives who were in the United States and in the Philippines from receiving these benefits.

Fight Racism and Racial Discrimination

This is the bare and brazen face of racism and racial discrimination that the Filipino-American community suffer in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”

This is the reason why we continue to lobby for equity and justice in the US Congress for the last 21 years. Why we march for the last 14 years. Why we will continue to struggle for equity and justice.

We are not only fighting for the benefits and rights of our Lolo’s and Lolas but also for the rights and dignity of our community. Until now, more than a year has passed, the Obama administration has not granted our demand for the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for our disaster stricken land, the Philippines.

Until now, the US Congress has not passed a Comprehensive Immigration Reform that will right the wrongs under the broken immigration system that affects more than 12 million immigrants including the Filipinos in America.

We march for equity and justice and we will not stop until we get justice and equity for our Lolos and Lolas and for community.

Signed: Alliance-Philippines (AJLLP), People’s CORE, S4PACE, Fiipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA),AWARE-San Francisco, JFAV-San Francisco, JFAV-San Diego, JFAV-Hawaii, ANSWER-LA, Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC). Philippinetown Inc (PTI), Knights of Rizal -HFT, Burlington School, HIFI Neighborhood Council (HFNC), FACLA Youth and Cultural Group,

Youth and Student Groups: Pro People Youth (Kabataang makaBayan (KmB), Ugnayan Youth for Justice and Social Change, AF3IRM, Kappa Psi Epsilon, KMB SessionsX LA, SCPASA, Kababayan Alliance of UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara Kapatirang Pilipino, PASK, CalPoly Pomona Barkada, CSU LB Pilipino American Coalition (PAC), XPO. TDB Boys, Samahang Pilipino of UCLA,Pilipinos For Community Health (PCH), USCTroy Philippines, UCR Katipunan, CSUN FASA, Pasadena City College (PCC) Tropa, Fe Koons, NUJP-USA.UC San Diego, KAMALAYAN, UC Fullerton PASA Kaibigan.

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Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
Statement of Veterans Day 2014
November 10, 2014

Don’t Say No, No to My Lolo/Lolas, Give Them Equity, Now!

We march again for the third time in 14 years for our veterans and their widows and relatives on Veterans Day, November 11, 2014 i Hollywood to remind America of their broken promises and unfulfilled pledges to our veterans and relatives.

On July 26, 1941, six months before the war, US President Franklin D.Roosevelt conscripted the 120,000 army of the commonwealth of thePhilippines into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East(USAFFE) making the Philippines, the US Garrison outside of the US mainland.

World War II

During the war, USAFFE surrendered in 1942 but not the Filipino people .They waged a three year long war of resistance ,kept their faith in America and rallied again under the US colors and liberated the Philippines from the Japanese yoke.
For their military service , at least 250,000 USAFFE soldiers and guerillas were recognized by the US Army as American soldiers out of more than 436,000 who fought in the Philippines making them eligible for veterans benefits.

But six months later on February 18, 1946, the 79th US Congress declared their “military service inactive” and until now, 68 years later they remained unrecognized as American veterans. Out of the 66 nationalities who fought during the war, only the Filipinos were excluded from benefits and privileges they deserved.

To rub salt into the gaping wounds, the US Congress in 2008 did not pass the S 1350 that recognized the Filipino Veterans and that give hem lifetime pensions but instead passed the ARRA Law of 2009 that gave them measly lump sum. They bail out the banks and the corporations first then give the proper befits to our veterans and widows.

But the most insulting about this law is that out of the 41,000 Filipino veterans who applied, only 18,000 were granted and more than 52% 0r 25,000 of them were denied their benefits.Adding insult to injury, the ARRA law excluded 60,000 Filipinawidows and relatives from receiving these benefits.

Fight Racism and Racial Discrimination

This is the bare and brazen face of racism and racial discrimination that the Filipino-American community suffer in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” This is the reason why we continue to lobby for equity and justice in the US Congress for the last 21 years. Why we march for the last 14 years. Why we will continue to struggle for equity and justice.

We are not only fighting for the benefits and rights of our Lolo’s and Lolas but also for the rights and dignity of our community. Until now, more than a year has passed, the Obama administration has not granted our demand for the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for our disaster stricken land, the Philippines.

Until now, the US Congress has not passed a Comprehensive Immigration Reform that will right the wrongs under the broken immigration system that affects more than 12 million immigrants including the Filipinos in America.

We march for equity and justice and we will not stop until we get justice and equity for our Lolos and Lolas and for community.

MAKIBAKA, Huwag Matakot!

Justice and Equity, Now!

Justice for Filipino American Veterans(JFAV)
United States

November 10, 2014

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EPCC NEWS
November 08, 2014

HIFI California’s International Filipino Exposition on December 5-6 at FACLA

Los Angeles—The International Filipino Business Exposition sponsoredby the Historic Filipinotown California Expostion LLC will be held onDecember 5 and 6, 2014 at the Filipino American Community of LosAngeles (FACLA) Social Hall at 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, Ca90026.

This was announced by Dr. Veronico Agatep, the HIFI Cali ExpoPresident who said: “ the trade fair and exposition is an annual event that will bring together FilAm business personalities and their potential partners from the Philippines to introduce products and services for possible trade partnerships

The HIFI Cali LLC partnered with the Philippine Chamber of Commerceand Industry , Cagayan Chapter. Philippine Coordinator Cloyd Velasco,President of the PCCI-Cagayan Chapter will lead the Philippinedelegates who will attend the trade exposition in LA.” Agatep ended.

Speakers and Panel

Meanwhile, HIF CALI Chief Executive Officer Sid Balatan assured the public,.” that theevent preparations is in full swing.”

Balatan also said, “ the trade fair is where the Fil-Am business community in California share information with their counter-parts coming from the Philippines

Invited speakers are Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Philippine Consul General for Los Angeles, Leo Herrera-Lim.”

Balatan also confirmed that, “Presidents of several Los Angeles and Orange County Chambers of Commerce will also be speakers at the panels for discussion andsharing of experiences and business trades.”

For more information please call Sid at (213)399-4052 or go thehificali website at http//hificalifornia.com or at the event [email protected]

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The Filipino Ministry of Wilshire United Methodist Church, HIFI
California Expo LLC, the Justice for FIlipino American Veterans (JFAV)
:
Calling all Filipino seniors, veterans, widows and community folks:

FEEDING PROGRAM AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT FACLA

Saturday, November 22, 2014
From 10;30 AM to 12:00 NOON
At the FACLA Social Hall
1740 W. Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026

For more Information please call Claire at (213)484-1527

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