JFAV UPDATES
April 16, 2014

JFAV REMEMBERS 73rd BATAAN DAY AT THE KMB/SIKAP PILIPINO VISIBILITY WEEK, APRIL 12 In HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN

Los Angeles- REMEMBER BATAAN! FIGHT FOR PHILIPPINE STUDIES!

Scores of youth, students, community advocates and Filipino World War II Veterans and widows from the Justice For Filipino American veterans (JFAV) commemorated the 73rd Fall Of Bataan, April 9, 1942 at the culmination of the KmB Pro People Youth /SIKAP Pilipino Visibility week last Saturday, April 12, 2015 at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles in Historic Filipintown.

JFAV Arturo P. Garcia said, “ we are still fortunate that we have three Filipino American veterans who were able to attend this event while in the Philippines there was none who were able to attend.

Most of our veterans are in their 100 years and late 90’s. They fought for us, this is the time we must struggle for them.”

Pilipino Visibilty Week, 2015

At the culmination of the Pilipino Visibility Week, the California Coalition for Philippine Studies (SIKAP) shared their stories with the veterans and widows as well as community members and imparted it into the murals they were making.

The murals being completed by different youth organizations were on the display at the stage of FACLA Social hall during the event.

Students from UC Irvine, Cal Poly Pomona PASK and XPO, USC Troy Phi , LAKAS Mentorship and ANSWER-LA attended the event. Veterans and widows from the JFAV and SPACE and community advocates from FACLA and FILAMARTS were also at the event.

In the event the Filipino World War II Veterans also shared their stories during war against the Japanese as a form of inter-generational sharing.

KmB Chair Eddy Gana and Stepahnie Sajor also gave a Spoken Word performance during the event, MArk Ramos, KmB Education Director, acted as the Emcee during the event.

A truly novel way to remember the 73rd Bataan Day in Historic Filipinotown Community.

For more information please call JFAV at (213) 241-0995 or email us [email protected]

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EPCC NEWS
April 13, 2015

Fearless Forecasts

By Arturo P. Garcia

Many sports analyst and even managers, promoters, trainers have give their fearless forecast on the coming Manny” Pacman” Pacquiao and Floyd “Money” Mayweather coming fight in Las Vegas on May 2.

Maybe my ten cents worth of analysis as a sports editor is not an additional burden to think about.

I have followed Manny Pacquiao’s fight from the time I noticed his fighting style when I saw him on TV in Las Vegas many years ago. He was bloodied but he kept of boxing and gave his opponent a run for his money.

I saw in him the spirit of a Filipino fighter; may he be a soldier, a poet, an activist. He embodied the Filipino fighting spirit of never surrender and from then on, I followed his boxing career path.

On the other hand, I also followed Floyd Mayweather’s boxing career. That is the advantage of having cable TV. I do not subscribe just to see him, but I am an ardent student of history and a sports buff, that is why, to know is “ to be forearmed, it to be forewarned.”

I saw in Mayweather a shrewd fighter. He is a defensive fighter and that is his edge. In Tagalog, “Magulang lumaban” Other analyst even some Filipinos partial to Pacquiao because he is a kababayan, says “Mayweather plays dirty.”

A common saying but also an excuse if someone does not win. And I don’t go for that . I always want to see the fight before I make a judgement.

On the other hand, I saw the evolution of Pacquiao from a “bara-bara” or “labang kanto” fighter to a methodical and wise fighter. That is after his sorry loss by knock-out in 2011 by his perennial opponent Mexican slugger Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez.

He also evolved from a Catholic devotee ( maybe because of Nanay Dionisia prodding of faith) to a Charismatic pastor ( maybe because of Jinkee’s faith) .

My Catholic pastor at St. Columban’s Chruch blame Jinkee, Manny’s wife for Pacquaio’s change of faith. Jinkee is a Protestant that is why. But maybe it was for the good, because his days of philandering may have ended. And that was good for his career. He is now, as many says, a man of God.

But this being a “man of God” also carries a lot of woes for Pacquiao. This is another added distraction. From ABS ( Alak-Babae-Sugal) became a man of God. Nanay Dionisia even went public to denounce many pastors who extracted money from Pacquiao.

To add more distractions, Pacquiao added basketball to his hobbies and his troubles with the BIR on his unpaid taxes that haunt him until today. He is up against a straight shooter Kim Henares who is a lawyer-accountant. On that ring he has no match. He must pay up, and he cannot be like Judas who does not pay.

But going back to our upcoming fight analysis, I agree both have strong and weak points. Mayweather is banking on his defensive skills and for five long years, he waited out so Pacquiao can spend himself and cannot get back his “knock-out power” or his “ killer instinct.” On the ring. He believes it is gone because as a pastor, Pacman has become soft and forgiving in the ring.

On the other hand. Even Freddie Roach, Pacman’s devoted coach wanted that “killer instinct back. Thus he focused a lot on Manny’s leg so it will not freeze or give way and can maintain a footwork that can match his speed of his hands. Thus he can fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

Watching Mayweather-Cotto fight of a long time ago, Mayweather managed to win by points defensively and was not able to knockdown Cotto,on the other hand was given a beating by Pacquaio who knocked him down for several times.

Like many other analyst, Mayweather like shrugged it off as a thing of the past. But for me, the living past is a prediction of the present and the future.

I agree with analyst that in order for Pacman to win convingcingly, he must beat Money with all the power he got. By a knockdown or a knock-out is better. But if he can bloodied him and punish him for all what he says and all his father said against him and Freddie Roach, that’s much better.

And I also agree. Mayweather is the favorite and if he does methodical-defensive fighting and avoid being knocked down or knocked out, he can win by decision. Then be as it does. he can always says, “win because he was born and was taught to win.”

All I can say is that the test of all analysis is the fight I the ring. All the fearless forecast is made for the media hype so everybody talks about it. I can even now, all the fearless forecast are shit in the sheets.

But as a Filipino, I am still for Pacquiao because he carries our colors. Don’t call me a racist, i will make it clear, I am a nationalist, thus I am for the Pacman.

Besides as Muhammad Ali said, “ he is the better fighter, not only as a boxer but an individual.”

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ANNOUNCEMENT

April 09, 2015

The members oi the Board of FACLA hereby announce the extension of the filing of Candidacy and Election of the Members of COMELEC.

The new deadline of the filing of Certificate of Candidacy shall be May 15, 2015

The Elections of the Members of the COMELEC shall be May 31, 2015 at 3:00 PM.

Qualifications of a Candidate:

1.He/She must be at least twenty one (21) years of age, he/she must be a legal resident of the County of Los Angeles.

2. He/She must be a member in good standing for at least one (1) year before the Elections of Commissioners.

3> He/She must at least knowledge of the Elections Laws and U.S. Constitution and must at least have some legal background.

Austin Baul Jr.
President/CEO

JFAV UPDATES
April 10, 2014

THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH, 1942.

The Bataan Death March (Filipino: Martsa ng Kamatayan sa Bataan) was the forcible transfer from Saisaih Pt. and Mariveles to Camp O’Donnell by the Imperial Japanese Army of 60,000–80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war which began on April 9, 1942, after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II.

More than 20,000 perished during the march. The march went from Mariveles, Bataan, to San Fernando, Pampanga. From San Fernando, survivors were loaded to a box train and were brought to Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.

The 60 mi (97 km) march was characterized by occasional severe physical abuse and resulted in some fatalities inflicted upon prisoners and civilians alike by the Japanese Army.

It was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime.

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EPCC NEWS
April 10, 2015

The Age Old Conflict Between the AFP and the PNP

By Arturo P. Garcia

The Mamasapano Incident of January 25, 2015 opened up old wounds and revealed the old age conflict between the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

These conflicts have simmering and appears on and off as the country goes on crisis after crisis over its 116 years of existence from the American Occupation of the Philippines from 1899 to 1946 to the life of the Philippine Republic thereafter.

In actuality, the American formed the Philippine Constabulary (PC) as early as 1899 as an insular force to keep peace and order in the country and used it in its pacification campaign against revolutionary forces until 1916 especially in the island of Mindanao.

On the other hand, it was only in 1921 with the enactment of the National Defense Act (NDA) and was only years later when the NDA was implemented around 1935 that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was formed.

By then, a 120,000 strong Philippine Army was formed to be used for external defense when the war in China and in Europe was simmering. To cut the story short, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was ill prepared for the war that was coming. Its plan to build a national army of 120,000 men fell short despite it’s hiring of the best military mind-retired General Douglas MacArthur in 1935.

The ill-prepared, untrained late-formed USAFFE was forces to surrender in Bataan after less than five months of battles and a successful Japanese 5-day military campaign.

The only good thing about the defeat in Bataan was that was the only time the AFP and the PC joined together to fight a common enemy under the command of the USAFFE.

They continued to fight jointly during the 3-year war of resistance against the Japanese and during the liberation of the Philippines.

The New Republic

After the war, the Republic went back to the former set up. The Philippine Constabulary (PC) was again formed after the war and handled the internal conflict. They t got help from the newly formed units of the Philippine Army in fighting the community Huks who controlled some parts of Central and Southern from the late 1940’s to the middle of the 1950’s.

On the other hand, the Philippine Army was formed from the group called Philippine Ground Forces (PGF) and from the USIP-NL Guerilla division. It was later incorporated to the AFP with different branches of service. It has the distinction of being one of the strongest and modern military in Asia until the end of the 1960s.

The professional jealousy between the two units started then. The Constabulary acting like the National Guards common in the United States, controls the police forces that were supposed to be a civilian units under the control of the Mayor or the local executive.

On the other hand, the army were deployed in the troubled areas of the country under the threat of bandits, communist rebels or other armed groups and cannot be subdued by the PC or the police forces. But it is a common knowledge that the PC and the police became the private armies of the politicians.

On the other hand, the AFP was known to be insulated from politics because it functions under a national structure and are ready against external threats. But at eve of martial, more and more AFP units were drawn to the conflicts all over the republic with the new threats from the newly formed NPA and the Muslim rebellion in the southern Philippines.

Martial Law Years

When Marcos declared martial law in 1972, he started to rebuild the PC and called it the PC-INP for Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police (PC-INP). It envisioned a national police force, away from the concept of the National Guards unit common in South America and patterned after the United States.

The idea of turning and building the AFP as a force to counter external aggression was the propaganda line of the US-Marcos regime. But the only thing that was done was the idea of building a mechanized division, the 5th division but it was only for show. The Philippines from one of the modern armed forces in Asia in the 1960’s became a poor man’s army by the end of the 1980’s.

The army was fully mobilized from one ready division ( the 1st Army “Tabak” Division formerly based in Fort Magsaysay) into five army division by the end of the US-Marcos Dictatorship. Most of the army divisions were deployed in Mindanao.

In fact, by the middle of the 1980’s the army and the constabulary were in turmoil. The Reform the Armed Forces Movement or RAM became a movement of disgruntled officers who have grown tired of Marcos favoritism and “Ilocanization” of the PC-INP and the AFP.

Reforms and the Formation of the PNP

In 1990, in line with the 1987 Constitution, the Philippine National Police (PNP), a civilian led and a police force separate from the AFP was formed. Accordingly, a PNP Police Academy or the PNPA was activated that will trained police officers was also formed.

This was to remedy that police officers trained by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) with a military orientation will be trained by a new PNPA to produce police officers trained for civilian duties as mandated by the constitution.

But this did solve the age old conflict between the PNP and the AFP With the Mamasapano incident on January 25, 2015 the old wounded burst asunder.

SAF sacked commander General Leo Napenas blamed AFP 6th ID Commander General Edmundo Pangilinan for not rescuing his beleaguered troops and for not firing and giving necessary artillery support.

On the other hand, 6ID Commander Pangilinan blamed the SAF for not giving details for his fire support and ultimately blamed “the peace process” for his decision not to reinforce and give support the SAF forces.

Different versions of the different agencies that conducted investigations on the Mamasapano debacle gave different reasons for the fiasco on the botched SAF mission. But both military and police forces are trying to put up a brave face of unity.

AFP Chief Gregorio Catapang declared in the latest House investigation on Mamasapano , “that there is no problem between the PNP and the AFP. We trust each other. It is only General Napenas who does not trust the AFP”.

Let the events that will unfold proved what he said.

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JFAV UPDATES
April 09, 2015

FROM THE VOICE OF FREEDOM RADIO BROADCAST, MALINTA TUNNEL, CORREGIDOR ON THE FALL OF BATAAN, APRIL 9, 1942

(This was read by Lt. Norman Reyes. Written by Lt.Salvador Lopez and broadcasted by the Voice of Freedom from the USAFFE Headquarters in Corregidor island on April 9, 1942)

” Bataan has fallen. The Philippine-American troops on this war-ravaged and bloodstained peninsula have laid down their arms. With heads bloody but unbowed, they have yielded to the superior force and numbers of the enemy.

The world will long remember the epic struggle that Filipino and American soldiers put up in the jungle fastness and along the rugged coast of Bataan.

They have stood up uncomplaining under the constant and grueling fire of the enemy for more than three months. Besieged on land and blockaded by sea, cut off from all sources of help in the Philippines and in America, the intrepid fighters have done all that human endurance could bear.

For what sustained them through all these months of incessant battle was a force that was more than merely physical. It was the force of an unconquerable faith—something in the heart and soul that physical hardship and adversity could not destroy. It was the thought of native land and all that it holds most dear, the thought of freedom and dignity and pride in these most priceless of all our human prerogatives.

The adversary, in the pride of his power and triumph, will credit our troops with nothing less than the courage and fortitude that his own troops have shown in battle. Our men have fought a brave and bitterly contested struggle. All the world will testify to the most superhuman endurance with which they stood up until the last in the face of overwhelming odds.

But the decision had to come. Men fighting under the banner of unshakable faith are made of something more than flesh, but they are not made of impervious steel. The flesh must yield at last, endurance melts away, and the end of the battle must come.

Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand—a beacon to all the liberty-loving peoples of the world—cannot fall!

****

JFAV UPDATES
April 08, 2015

BATAAN Diary, 1942.

On April 8, 1942, The 2nd and last line of defense crumbled. All along the battle front, units of I Corps together with the devastated remnants of II Corps, crumbled and straggled to the rear.

The last reserves led by the 57th Infantry Regiment gave way. The commanders on Bataan lost all contact with their units, except by runner in a few instances. In the last two days of the defense of Bataan, the entire Allied defense progressively disintegrated and collapsed, clogging all roads with 26,000 civilian refugees and fleeing troops.

By 8 April, the senior U.S. commander on Bataan, Maj. Gen. Edward P. King, saw the futility of further resistance, and put forth proposals for capitulation to the Japanese dor conditional surrender. King knows further resistance means more deaths for the defenders. He sent messages to General Homma, the Japanese commander in Bataan.

The end was near for the USAFFE in Bataan.

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JFAV UPDATE
April 08, 2015

VETERAN JOSE VARGAS GEAGA, 100

Los Angeles- The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) announced the passing of Bataan veterans and Death March Survivor, Jose Vargas Geaga, 100 years old last April 04, 2015.

He should have been 101 years old on May 23, 2015. He is a resident of Los Angeles. Here is the announcement from the Geaga Clan Facebook:

” To the Geaga family and clan: We announce the peaceful passing of our beloved (father, dad, lolo, tito, uncle, brother) Jose Vargas Geaga yesterday Saturday April 4. He would have been 101 years old on May 23, 2015. Manong Dolian Gomilla (our cousin priest) celebrated a beautiful and solemn funeral mass for Jose amongst family and friends in his home.

Shortly thereafter, his body was taken by the Abbott and Hast Mortuary. Internment of his ashes at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Memorial Park and a memorial service celebrating his life is set for Saturday May 16, 2015 (details to follow and will be posted on www.josegeaga.geagas.org).

“Dad, we are grateful and thankful for all you’ve done for our us and our family; and, we celebrate your life.”

*****

JFAV UPDATES
April 07, 2015

BATAAN DIARY, 1942

On April 7, 1942, The Japanese forces launched a drive into the center, penetrated into flanks held by the 22nd and 23rd regiments of the 21st Division, captured Mt. Samat .

The forces later continued its advance on the 2nd line of defense and outflanked all of II Corps. The USAFFE reserves counter- attacked to no avail, only the 57th Infantry gained any ground, soon lost.The Japanese artillery took its toll on the USAFFE forces.

After the failure of their first attack against Bataan, the Japanese general headquarters sent strong artillery forces to the Philippines in order to smash the American fortifications. They had 190 artillery pieces, which included bigger guns like 150 mm cannons and the rare Type 45 240 mm howitzer, with Bataan being its only known campaign.

The 1st Artillery headquarters under Maj. Gen. Kineo Kitajima, who was a known authority on IJA artillery, also moved to the Philippines along with the main forces to command and control these artillery units.

Also, the Japanese high command reinforced Gen. Homma’s 14th Imperial Army and toward the end of March, the Japanese forces prepared and have used more than 300 guns for the final assault.

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JFAV UPDATES
April 07, 2015

VETERAN BEN G. FALLORIA, 91

Los Angeles – Another Filipino World War II bites the dust.

Ben G. Falloria was born on December 18, 1923 in Botolan,,Zambales. He was an elementary school graduate. He was 91 years old.

He was a founding member and was an active member of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) until his health failed and began off from JFAV activities.

He joined the Magsaysay Guerillas of the Western Luzon Guerilla Forces (WLGF) in Botolan during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in 1942.

WLGF Magsaysay Guerillas

The Botolan military district became a special regiment under the command of guerilla leader Ramon Magsaysay who later became the defense secretary under the President Elpidio Quirino . And later was elected as the President of the Philippines in 1953.

He fought during an encounter with the Japanese In Bucao River, Botolan where 150 Japanese were killed. He was twice wounded in October 1942 and in December 1944

Although he receieved his lump sum, he continued fighting for his fellow veterans who was denied of their lump sum and for recognition and benefits with the JFAV>
.
He died on March 12, 2015 and was buried last March 29, 2015 .

We salute your Sir Ben Faloria. The gratitude of a grateful nation be with you.

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