Currently, service-connected veterans get the half-rate when they retire to the Philippines.

Under this bill, Filipino WWII veterans residing in the U.S. with nonservice disability would receive $911 in monthly pension. The bill seeks to grant Philippine-based veterans $300 monthly pension if single. The spouse of the married veteran gets an additional $75 a month.

The pension amounts could go down, as both the House and Senate supporters of the veterans-related bills engage in negotiations with other lawmakers and the U.S. Veterans Affairs.

Senator Inouye issued a statement Wednesday saying the provisions would:

Restore full veterans status to Filipino veterans of World War II who lost this status under the Rescission Acts of 1946;

Pay Filipino veterans of World War II who suffer from disabilities incurred or aggravated by military service with service-connected compensation at the full rate, regardless of where they live;

Permit Filipino veterans of World War II and survivors residing in the United States to receive pensions and death pensions paid at the same rate and under the same conditions as U.S. veterans;

Provide Filipino veterans of World War II residing outside of the United States a special pension and death pension paid at a lower flat rate which does not require documentation of income, assets, and medical expenses."

Philippine pension

The proposed monthly pension for Philippine-based veterans would be in addition to the 5,000 peso-pension they get from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate veterans affairs committee, was concerned the Philippine government would scrap the PVAO pension once the U.S. approves pension for the Filipino WWII veterans.

Philippine Senator Dick Gordon, who met with Senators Akaka and Inouye and other legislators last week, on learning about the mark-up good news, said in a phone interview he would introduce an amendment to this effect as soon as the Philippine Congress reconvenes on July 23.

"I would like to reassure the U.S. government that they are not alone in providing benefits to our veterans," he said, adding the Philippines is committed to honoring its veterans.

Craig assured veterans' supporters that "I want to help the veterans." But he opposed a big pension for veterans in the Philippines, citing its lower cost of living in contrast with those living in the U.S. and the need to rein in the deficit. Last Wednesday, he proposed a $100 monthly pension, which was defeated by an 8-6 vote.

Among those who voted against it was very sleepy Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), whose support community leaders successfully obtained fairly recently. Obama sat near Akaka, who was presiding at the mark-up.

The 2008 presidential hopeful, clearly exhausted from his schedule, rested his chin on his right hand, his eyes closed. He and another Philippine ally, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), headed for the exit after voting.

Ambassador Willy C. Gaa said he met with Craig after he testified in Congress last April and found him accessible. He expressed appreciation for Akaka and Inouye for sponsoring the bill, and for Obama and Webb, and also community and veterans leaders.

"For the first time ever in history, the important contribution of Filipino veterans of the last World War is now being officially recognized, " he said, adding that correcting the 61-year injustice was "a very important part of the foreign policy agenda of the Arroyo administration."

More lobbying

Eric Lachica, executive director of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans based here, thanked lawmakers for "the huge victory for our veterans."

But he pointed out: "Although the provisions are incorporated on a bill assured of passage in the 110th U.S. Congress, there's a slim chance that during voting Senator Craig or other Republicans might introduce amendments to the veterans provisions, particularly on the pension appropriations."

"We have never gotten this far before, and now everything is moving fast," said Irene Bueno of the National Filipino Veterans for Equity (NAFVE) based in this U.S. capital. "It's possible that when the omnibus bill goes to the Senate floor that there would be no actual voting. It could be approval by unanimous consent."

But she cautioned, "We need to do more, and get everybody involved in calling their senators and congressmen." From California, NAFVE Co-Chair Lillian Galedo, agreed, saying, "Our work is far from over."

NAFVE Co-Chair Jon Melegrito said in this capital, "We are pushing for full equity.As passed by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, S. 1315 falls short of treating all the Filipino veterans equally as the U.S. veterans with whom they stood shoulder to shoulder on the field of battle."

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Guillermo O. Rumingan of Arlington, Virginia, came with his wife Febe at last Wednesday's mark-up. "All these years, for us this was really a fight for our dignity and  honor," he said. "The Rescission Act of 1946 deemed our service not as military service, in effect saying we did not fight in the war. What were we supposed to tell our grandchildren? But now, we can hold our head high."

"I'm so happy over the news," said retired Maj. Alberto C. Bacani, who's 96. Other veterans who came were: Patrick Ganio, 86, of Florida; New York-New Jersey area's Elpidio Ramos, 85, Mario Lumida, 83, Pedro Navida, 80 who came with wife Leonor, and Pacifico Timbol, 85 and Jack Tejada, 84, of this capital city.

In San Francisco, community leaders and veterans advocates received the news with cautious optimism and warned against complacency.

"We cannot be complacent yet. From the Senate, we have to make sure that the House moves forward with this bill and finally enact it into law," said Rudy Asercion of the War Memorial Commission.

He further said, "We still need to call our senators and congressmen and ask them to fully support the Act. What I want to emphasize is that the success we are now achieving is the result of the collaborative effort of everyone working on behalf of our Filipino veterans, whether they are based on the East Coast or West Coast."

Asercion echoes the position taken by Retired Major General Antonio Taguba of "taking whatever comes our way for now and just work for an additional amount."

"Overall, the greatest victory is that we have finally gotten the U.S. government - and, in effect, the American nation - to acknowledge the role and contribution of Filipino veterans to this country. We have earned the respect and gratitude of a nation and, therefore, the amounts involved are a secondary consideration," he stressed.
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