THREE VETS:
Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, a Korean War veteran, autographs two recent books on World War II: VALOR and THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, for ret. Maj. Jesse Baltazar, 86, and ret. Maj. Alberto Bacani, 96, of American Coalition for Filipino Veterans during their September 30, 2007 fundraising merienda (snacks) in Washington DC.

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See ACFV photos and Philippine News SF story of our successful merienda w/ former Pres. Ramos Sunday afternoon (Sep. 30, 2007).

The ABS-CBN "Balitang America" featured our event on their international TV news segment

www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=94636.

Super maraming salamat po to our generous and gracious host: Ms. Cora Alisuag and her family.

Our deepest appreciation to our tireless volunteer-leaders: Annie Wilderman, Dr. Bambi Lorica and Mitzi Pickard for spearheading the invitations, logistics & appeal efforts.

We dedicated our "Onward to Victory & Equity" merienda to the memory of Pete Alisuag (WWII vet uncle of Cora), Mamerta delos Reyes Block (WWII guerrilla leader & wife of Rev. Block) and to our living and fallen heroes.

To our DC-area WWII vets: Guillermo Rumingan, 82,
Albert Bacani, 96, Celestino Almeda, 90,  Jesse Baltazar, 86, Amadeo Urbano, 82, Joaquin Tejada, 84, Baldomero Naranja, 81, and Angelesio Tugado, and Rev. Isaac Block, we deeply extend our deepest appreciation.

A financial report to our donors & members on our fundraiser will be prepared soon after pledges, in-kind donation and expenses are accounted.

Membership dues & donations will help cover meals, accomodations, travel, materials, management and advocacy expenses of the hardworking team of veterans, volunteers and the executive director in Oct.- Nov. homestretch.

ACTIONS:

We asked our leaders in various cities to hold "Onward to Victory" events to mark the anniversary of Philippine Liberation Oct. 20 Leyte Landing Day and to send supporters to Washington DC Oct. 24 and 31 Action Days on Capitol Hill.

Actions speak louder, results only matter.
Salamat po!

ERIC LACHICA
Executive Director
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.

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www.philippinenews.com

Fundraiser for veterans nets $6,000

Jennie L. Ilustre, Correspondent, Oct 03, 2007

WASHINGTON D.C. - A community event held Sept. 30 here to raise lobbying-related funds for the passage of the equity pension bill for Filipino World War II veterans in the Philippines and the U.S. netted $6,000.

The event, organized by the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV) based here, featured former President Fidel V. Ramos, here on a book-signing tour of "Democracy and Discipline: Fidel V. Ramos & His Philippine Presidency," written by Scott Thompson and Federico Macaranas.

The fundraiser was hosted by Cora Alisuag, to help the veterans, and in memory of her uncle, WWII veteran Pete Alisuag, who passed on last year. Ms. Alisuag, is a registered nurse who founded Aliron, a global health care resource firm, in 1989.

Eight area veterans and two veterans' widows were also present at the event which drew some 30 guests on a Sunday afternoon.

"I'm challenging all of you to support the veterans," said Ramos, pulling out his wallet. It was during his term that the Office of Veterans Affairs opened at the Philippine embassy in this nation's capital, "because we have to have someone posted there to work on the issue."

In a follow-up interview at a press conference here the following day, Ramos said an embassy official told him there are "seven senators who are wavering" who needed to be persuaded to lock in their vote to the pension bill, to insure a 60-veto proof vote in the senate, ACFV Executive Director Eric Lachica said, "This is a very crucial time, so we have to step up our lobbying efforts."

Two guests praised the community's enthusiastic support for the veterans, but added there should be "transparency" in the accounting of the funds raised by ACFV.

Host Alisuag pledged a donation of $2,000, responding to a challenge from veterans' supporter Annie C. Wilderman to provide a matching fund.

 

Community members Tito Tolentino, Jun Quion,  Dr. Victor Lorica, and guest Maria Hardy-Cooper donated $500 each, for a total of $2,000.

A raffle of an FVR-autographed book on "Valor, the Filipino WWII Veterans' Memorial" raised $410, and donations by guests resulted in a total of $5,800.

Ms. Wilderman later called to say an additional $200 was donated to round up the figure to $6,000.

The veterans present at the event were: AlbertoBacani, Celestino Almeda, Amadeo Urbano, Jose Naranja, Angelesio Tugado, Jesse Baltazar, Joaquin Tejada, ACFV Service Offier Guillermo Rumingan. The veterans' widows were Candy Romulo and Constancia Honorio.

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EQUITY CAKE:
Former President Fidel V. Ramos helps cut the "Onward to Victory & Equity" cake with his host, Ms. Cora Alisuag, during the September 30, 2007 merienda of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans at her home in Washington DC, as veterans and guests watch.