For Immediate Release
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
Contact Person: Arturo P. Garcia
Phone;(213) 241-0995
August 15, 2015

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 70th YEAR OF AUGUST 15, 1945, AMERICA’S VICTORY OVER JAPAN IN WORLD WAR II

Los Angeles-- TODAY ON AUGUST 15, 1945, THE REAL VICTORY OVER JAPAN DAY HAPPENED 70 YEARS AGO.

On August 15,1945, the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito announced that Japan’s surrender to the Allies. This happened after the United States dropped two Atomic bombs on August 6 in Hiroshima and on August 9 at Nagasaki that obliterated the two cities and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

For many Asian countries like Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and China, its freedom day for countries colonized by Japan. Actually, they made it their day of Independence.

The Significance of the 70th Anniversary of August 15, 1945

But in a country like the Philippines where fighting was still going on, it will be September 6, 1945 when Japan officially surrender that is why it is called V-J Day or “Victory over Japan Day.” But for many Asians the real V-J Day is August 15, 1945.

But for the remaining 25,000 Filipino World War II Veterans and thousands of their survivors, they cannot rejoice for this day of liberation. For more than 70 years, they remained unrecognized American Veterans. They are still denied of their rights, privileges and benefits as American Veterans.

Although the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) acknowledged the fact that greater problem that more than 600,000 American Veterans are denied of their benefits, we highlight the plight of the Filipino WWII Veterans.

Justice and Equity For Filipino World War II Veterans

Even the current DVA Secretary Robert MacDonald accepted to the JFAV in June 29 meeting and as even US President Obama acknowledged, “The Filipino World War II Veterans have waited too long for their recognition and benefits to be denied.”

We honor the 70th Year of America’s Victory Over Japan on this day by continuing the struggle of our community and nation for equity and justice for Filipino World War II Veterans and their 60,000 survivors in the America and the Philippines.

Last June 12,2015. Rep. Jackie Speier filed for the third time the Filipino Veterans Recognition Act of 2015 or the H.R. 2766. with 34 co-sponsors. We have been filing this bill for the last 22 years in the US Congress.

JFAV as the lobby group for the Filipino WWI Veterans and their 60,000 survivors in the US Congress will not let up until justice and equality prevailed against systemic racism and institutionalized discrimination.

Baby Steps

Last June 29, JFAV and ACFV has a 30-minute meeting with the DVA Secretary Robert MacDonald and he promised to expedite the 4,000 appeals of denied Filvets.

In the latest move, POTUS Obama last July 15, 2015 has issued the “Memorandum on Streamlining and Modernizing the US Immigrant Visa System” to the Department of Homeland Security that expedited the “parole system “ for 25,000 Filvets “ who can now petition their children to the United States sans the Comprehensive Immigration Reform law.

While we in JFAV acknowledged that this is not real “family reunification” but we feel that this baby steps or palliatives has its valuable effect. It can be measured with the reality on the grounds until a true comprehensive immigration reform law can be realized in the future.

Salute to Filipino WWII Men and Woman Veterans

Lastly, we honor the more than 500,000 Filipino Men and Woman patriots who fought during World War to defend the Philippines . Those who and served under the Filipino and America’s flag and the very many of them who did not ask for a single centavo as a remuneration for their wartime services during the war.

We salute the 250.000 recognized Filipino- American Veterans under the US Army and the Commonwealth Army, the USAFFE and all the guerilla forces and their survivors but who were unrecognized and disenfranchised under the unjust Rescission Act of 1946 . Now, there are only 25,000 living Veterans both in the Philippines and the United States.

We in JFAV and the Filipino American community in the United States make this solemn promise:

We will fight for you until justice and equity is achieved. You fought for us and gave your all, now are our turn to fight for your recognition, justice and benefits.

MAGITING NA PAGPUPUGAY SA INYONG KABAYANIHAN!

MAKIBAKA TUNGO SA TAGUMPAY!

Arturo P. Garcia
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
National Coordinator

August 15, 2015
Los Angeles, CA

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For Immediate Release
Grace Poe For President Movement (GPM)
Contact person: Al P.Garcia
August 16, 2015

SOCAL FILAM LEADERS REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR SENATOR GRACE POE

Los Angeles—More than ten Southern California Filipino-American community leaders reaffirmed their support for Senator Grace Poe if she decides for President this coming May 2016 Presidential Elections.

During the weekly TALAKAYAN SA FACLA last Thursday, August 13, 2015 at FACLA, in one way or the other the community leaders expressed their belief that Senator Grace Poe has the integrity and is capable of leading the nation.

They reaffirm the fact that Grace Poe can improve the accomplishments of the “Tuwid Na Daan” of President Noynoy Aquino III whose term ends on June 30, 2016.
Dr.Orly Cagampan of the Knights of Rizal-HFT said, “ Grace Poe has integrity and I prefer integrity over experience. Experience can be learned but integrity must be inherent on a person in order to properly lead.”

Reaffirmation for Grace Poe For President

Robert Abraham also said, “ I am not familiar with Grace Poe but for me VP Binay has insulted the intellect of the Filipinos. He defied and does respect anyone. Not the Courts, the Senate and any branches of government. For me its anyone but Binay.”

FACLA President Austin Baul Jr. framed the question “Who do you prefer to be the next President of the Philippines?” thus it elected different point of views from
the community leaders.

RVNC Leader Macky Fortu said, “ I go for Grace Poe not because she is popular among voters but because she has proven that she is a capable leader in the Senate. Mar (Roxas) although is a good technocrat, is a little bit too stiff.”

GPM Consolidates Its Forces

For Al P. Garcia said, “ Even Sen. Grace Poe has admitted she is in the cross. But she admitted that “ the candidacy of her dad, FPJ and the cheating on 2004 has an effect why she is running for President on May 2016.”

The Grace Poe For President Movement or the GPM was launched last August 06, 2015 in a Press Conference attended by 15 FilAm Community leaders at FACLA and vowed to support the candidacy of Senator Grace Poe for President of the Philippines on May 2016.

Plans are in motion to expand to other major cities like San Francisco, New York and Washington DC and other states of the United States to broaden the base of the GPM’s machinery in preparation for the May 2015 Philippine Presidential Elections.

Al Garcia of Bantay-Pilipinas-USA; Jun Caringal of Pangasinan Brotherhood ,Lissa Pacheco Chow of SMR and Sid Balatan of AYUYANG were some of the Grace Poe For President Movement (GPM) convenors in The United States.

For more information about the GPM please call Al Garcia at (323)253-1818 or email us at [email protected]

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