|
Thank you Statement of
RUDY PANAGLIMA
June 9, 2016
U.S. Capitol Washington DC
Good morning everyone.
My name is RODOLFO "Rudy" PANAGLIMA. I am Filipino World War II veteran. I am a member of American Coalition
for Filipino Veterans. I am 86 years old. My wife and I are US Citizens. We reside in Arlington, Virginia.
My wife PURA is 83. She and I immigrated to the United States more than 20 years ago. We have four adult children. My
two sons in Philippines, ROLANDO and RAOUL, have approved immigration petitions since 1995 - and have waited more than twenty
years to join us.
We need Rolando and Raul to take care of us - because of our age. We don't have relatives in the area. Fortunately, my
two other children, Olivia and Roel, happily live in England.
In World War II, when I was 13 years old, my father, a guerrilla commander, drafted me as his runner or courier to smuggle
vital intelligence, gather information and collect voluntary contributions from our town people. Later during the liberation
campaign, my father and I were attached to US Airborne & 1st Cavalry Division.
Today, I am a proud American who had served honorably. Hopefully in a few months, my two sons could be with me in America
with this parole visa program.
On behalf of the whole Panaglima family, I would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude to his excellency, President Barack
Obama and to the honorable Senators MAZIE HIRONO, HARRY REID, TIM KAINE and others for their humanitarian leadership and for
helping us elderly veterans.
We hope President Obama's executive order for a humanitarian parole visas for the children of my comrades and their widows
will be implemented quickly and fairly by the U S C I S.
Maraming salamat. Thank you very much.
---------------------------------
www.USCIS.gov/FWVP
Click on the US Citizenship
& Immigration website. Promote the Humanitarian Visa Program for Filipino Veterans Family Reunification.
Join us! Actions speak louder. We deliver results.
AMERICAN COALITION FOR FILIPINO
VETERANS, Inc. 867 North Madison St., Arlington, VA 22205
Phone: 202 246-1998 (DC) or 213 626-0485 (LA)
and DONATE below!
|
