What’s Inside?
Vice President Robredo is Gala Dinner Speaker at National Empowerment Conference U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott to give opening keynote speech
Gala Performers & Sponsors NaFFAA Election’s Candidates 2nd AE Awards Winners Chair’s Saipan Report FilVets Tribute to Joe Montano Bataan Legacy Historical NaFFAA R3E Consular Services Membership Form
Washington, D.C. Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo has accepted NaFFAA’s invitation to attend the 12th National Empowerment Conference, which will be held next month in Valley Forge, PA, a city 25 miles north of Philadelphia. She will be the featured speaker at the gala dinner on Saturday, Aug. 6, following an early evening reception in her honor. “We are extremely delighted and honored that the Vice President is coming to our conference,” says Loida Nicolas Lewis, National Chair Emeritus and one of NaFFAA’s founders. “In addition to her position of national leadership, her well-known advocacy on behalf of women and the country’s poor makes her presence deeply meaningful and significant. As an organization dedicated to civic engagement and community empowerment, NaFFAA can certainly relate to the worthy causes she has passionately championed.” Robredo was recently appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). She said she welcomed her new role because housing was one of the major concerns of her late husband, former Interior& Local Governments Secretary Jessie Robredo. He was killed in a plane crash in 2012. The Vice President said the Cabinet post would allow her to tackle problems that have deprived marginalized sectors of society from enjoying a better quality of life. “We are, of course, excited that the second highest official of the Republic of the Philippines is joining us,” says Conference Chair Aida Rivera. “There has already been a surge of interest and attendance. It’s not too late to register and participate in the various plenary sessions and workshops as well as listen to other prominent speakers. Please visit our website for more details.” The venue for this year’s National Empowerment Conference is the Valley Forge Casino Resort on 1160 1st Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406. For more information, go to http://www.empowermentphilly.com/ Photo: Google images
Opening Keynote. U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D) of Virginia, the first American with Filipino ancestry to serve as a voting member of Congress, will give the opening keynote address Friday morning, Aug. 5. Scott represents the state’s third district, which includes the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Richmond where large Filipino populations are located. A strong advocate of Filipino American issues, Scott was among the first to sign on as co-sponsor of HR 2737, the Filipino Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015. He has consistently supported legislation over the years providing benefits to Filipino World War II veterans, including repeal of the 1946 Rescission Acts. Recognition of the Filipino and American soldiers for their wartime service to the Philippines and the United States will be the main focus during a panel on “Filipinos in the Military.” Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), Chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) will make the case for why the 260,000 soldiers who fought under the USAFEE deserve the country’s highest civilian award. 1
“Now that the Senate has approved this measure, we must urge House members to follow the Senate lead and pass this legislation while some of our veterans are still alive,” Taguba said. “But we need Filipino Americans across the country to reach out to their representatives and demand action in the next two months. If we fail, we’ll have to start all over again next year and that is not an option.” The Filipino Veterans’ 72-year fight for equity and justice has been NaFFAA’s major advocacy initiative since its founding in 1997. Speakers and Workshops. The lineup of speakers for the 3-day conference includes Filipino American performer Allan Pineda Lindo, more popularly known as apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas; Wei-Tai Kwok of the Climate Reality Project; Industrialist and Philantropist Loida Nicolas Lewis; Multimedia Journalist Rose Tibayan; and Musician Michael Dadap. More than a dozen workshops will focus on capacity building, financial literacy, professional development, cultural identity, political participation through FilAm Vote, physical and mental health, music and the arts, and an intergenerational dialogue. A highlight of the conference is a special awards program honoring the legacy of Alex Esclamado, NaFFAA’s Founding Chairman and lifelong advocate of Filipino American unity and empowerment. The Alex Esclamado Memorial Award for Community Service, which was conceived by NaFFAA and GMA International, was first conferred in August 2014 at the 11th National Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA. Brad Baldia, NaFFAA Pennsylvania State Chair and NEC Co-Chair points out that this conference is important because “it brings together the entire community on issues that matter, notably professional and leadership development of the next generation and community participation in our country’s political process. Top Fil Ams in all fields will be coming together to celebrate achievements in our community and engage in conversations about opportunities for effective collaboration.” Formed in 1997 in Washington, D.C., NaFFAA mission is to actively promote civic engagement and community empowerment among the nearly 4 million Filipinos in the U.S. today. In the last 19 years, NaFFAA’s advocacy initiatives have focused on securing equity benefits and recognition for Filipino World War II veterans, voter registration and education, overseas voting and dual citizenship rights. NaFFAA is also part of national Asian American coalitions working on comprehensive immigration reform and other civil rights programs that seek protections against hate crimes and all forms of discrimination that undermines cultural diversity and inclusion. Lending their corporate support to the 12th National Empowerment Conference are AARP, Comcast, GMA International, PagIBIG Fund, Santander Bank and Wells Fargo.
Featured Special Performances
Kirby Asunto, New Jersey Michael Dadap, New York Kayla Tejero, Illinois
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BRENDAN FLORES National Chair Candidate NaFFAA Elections 2016
I’ve been a highly engaged and active member of NaFFAA for over a decade. It has given me an adequate amount of time to learn, grow and cultivate ideas around what I see the for the future of NaFFAA. As a National Chair Candidate I am ecstatic to make these plans a reality. When I consider the direction I want to lead NaFFAA towards it is very clear: always move forward. I want to cultivate a culture that increases the participation and visibility, invest in the infrastructure, bridge generational gaps and develop young professionals who will be the future of this organization. In addition, I want to provide a sound organizational structure for all regions and its members. As stated in my letter of intent, I have seven platforms that include several new programs I would like to implement, allow me to elaborate two of these. As National Chair, I plan to execute an advocacy program and an intensive funding initiative. While bridging generational gaps through active participation it is important to address that we need to help both young and old- whether it be via health care knowledge, financial literacy, voter education and professional development. These key aspects impact our daily lives. Developing a strong, structured funding program will be key to the growth and development of this organization. I am committed to creating and overseeing a funding focus group with grant writers, working to find funding sources which will allow us to support region and state chapters. I will not only work on the flawless execution of these new programs but continue to enhance the existing programs we already have. Aside from my ten years of experience in NaFFAA, I am a three time executive program graduate and Vice President of a major financial institution. I represent over 450 team members across Clay and St. Johns County. I also have a long history in local and national non-profit boards outside of the Filipino-American arena. I have demonstrated balanced leadership, versatility, have a depth of experience in leading people and working with different generations and diverse backgrounds collaborating with all of them effectively. The culmination of my extensive professional career and community involvement alone has prepared me to impact NaFFAA under my term as National Chair. I cannot wait to continue to move forward with you!
GISELLE RUSHFORD National Chair Candidate NaFFAA Elections 2016
I am announcing my candidacy for Board of Governor and as Chair of NaFFAA at the National Officers’ Election. I am the best person for the position because of my wide and deep experience and understanding of how to lead a national organization as far reaching in its impact to the Filipino Americans and Filipinos as NaFFAA. As a Charter Member of NaFFAA since 1997, I believe National provides the leadership and direction of NaFFAA while the Regions implement the programs at the grassroots level. So for the next two years, I am focused on strengthening our Regional capacity to implement national initiatives and local programs. In other words, NaFFAA provides the Regions with tools, guidance, and in some cases assistance in finding the necessary grants or funding, albeit from corporate, nonprofit or governmental agencies. New projects I would like to implement deal with two generational issues: Our Youths and our Filipino WWII Veterans: First, I would like to ensure our Youths continue to be engaged in community service, especially with NaFFAA through mentorship, leadership development and networking. We will leverage our partnerships with national organizations and agencies that have proven training and development programs for the youths and aspiring political leaders. And we need to start them early, therefore, I am partnering with Inspire-USA whose mission is a great fit for NaFFAA: “Our mission is to transform young leaders’ inspiration into action that improves our communities and strengthens our democracy.” http://www.inspireusa.org/about. Because their Inspire USA National Program Director is based in Colorado, it is an easy task to partner with them locally today through our Region 5 Youths as well as with a local nonprofit which works with Kids. This partnership can grow to mutual programs as far and wide as California. Second, when NaFFAA begun its advocacy in 1997, the Filipino World War II Veterans equity issue was its first initiative. With NaFFAA’s persistence, coalition building and networking efforts, President Obama signed into law the Filipino WWII Veterans Equity Bill in 2009. I would like to continue our advocacy work for our Filipino WWII Veterans by assisting them with their Parole Visa process. This may include pro-bono legal assistance or providing affidavit of support if the Veteran requests it. We owe it to our Filipino American WWII Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. NaFFAA will be paying it forward by shepherding a new generation of contributing and patriotic Filipino Americans. As a Project Manager of a Fortune 50 telecommunication company, I managed several Fortune 500 Finance companies’ infrastructure projects and worked through more often than not managed chaos. However, I was not prepared to deal with a catastrophic event like the 9/11 attack on the two towers in New York, no one was. My clients’ telecommunication infrastructure crumbled because they conducted business at the two towers. This calamity gave me on job training in dealing with disaster recovery on a catastrophic scale, including client management from a professional and personal level. Many of my clients lost loved ones, friends and colleagues during the attack. By treating my clients with respect, humanity and professionalism during their time of grief, the technical processes and goals fell into place, albeit chaotic. Consequently, over the years of leading or managing I do not preclude human conditions and capacity in my goal setting nor do I over-promise and under-deliver. So for NaFFAA, I will lead with the same passion, professionalism, level headedness and calmness without losing sight of NaFFAA’s Vision and I will always be there for NaFFAA!
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Washington, D.C. The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and its official media partner, Filipino broadcast giant GMA Network, today announced the winners of the second Alex Esclamado Memorial Award for Community Service. Following a thorough screening process, the following organizations were named winners of the award: The Filipino Cultural School based in Norwalk, Los Angeles County; Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc.; Filipino American Community Action Group of Hampton Roads, Va.; and the Washington DC-based Feed the Hungry. The winners will be presented at the 12th NaFFAA National Empowerment Conference to be held at the Valley Forge Casino Resort on 1160 1st Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406. The event will run from August 4 to 6, 2016. Inspired by the life and works of notable news publisher and editor Alex Esclamado, this honor recognizes outstanding contributions of Filipino-American organizations to the community. “Alex Esclamado, founder and first national chairman of NaFFAA, was an impossible dreamer, who dreamed of something that we, overseas Filipinos, especially those of us in the United States, have always wanted for a long, long time,” says former NaFFAA Chairperson and head of the Awards Commitee, Greg Macabenta on the motivation behind the Alex Esclamado Memorial Award for Community Service. “Alex dreamed of FilAm empowerment and unification, and it was only Alex who dared to dream of achieving those goals, and he actually did it. We want to continue to honor him through these awards.” Leading the roster of honorees is The Filipino Cultural School. This excerpt from a testimonial and endorsement by Prof. Brandon J. Reilly, Ph.D., of the UCLA Department of History amply describes Filipino Cultural School, based in Norwalk, Los Angeles County, the Awardee for Outstanding Community Service in Education and Cultural Preservation. “Now entering its 50th year, the FCS is looking to continue to refine its cultural-educational curriculum. On the most basic level, this means continually striving to improve the development and deployment of its core curriculum” courses in Popular Culture, Lifestyle, History, Dance and Language for children of all ages, K-12. These classes are held in the summer over the course of 7 weeks. Families are actively solicited to take part in their child’s education, at all levels. Parents and grandparents chaperone, uncles and aunts assist with daily tasks, and older students are even paired up with younger ones so that the two groups can help each other. FCS is also continually striving to improve the process by which its volunteers, who are at the heart of its daily operations, are trained. These volunteers are all college-educated (from many top-tier local universities like UCLA and USC) who come from a variety of fields and industries. They are not paid but seek to work with FCS because they believe in its mission of giving back to the community.” 4
The Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. (FAAPI) was unanimously chosen by the Alex Awards Panel of Jurors for its historic and sustained civic involvement in the Philadelphia mainstream, representing the FilAm community and the Philippines. FAAPI was founded in 1912 as the Filipino Association of Philadelphia (FAP) by some 200 discharged US Navy personnel who settled in the city. The association marked its centennial in 2012 with a year-long celebration dubbed, “100 years of Filipinos in Greater Philadelphia,” tracing its active representation of the Philippines and of Filipino culture and history, including the annual commemoration of Rizal Day. The association represented the Republic of the Philippines in the grand military parade in Philadelphia on the occasion of the granting of Philippine independence by the US on July 4, 1946. It was also an association member, historian Carlos Quirino, who found the ground breaking article on the “Manila Men of St. Malo” written by Lafcadio Hearn in the Harper’s Weekly 1873. This was in 1931 in the Philadelphia public library. In 2013, FAAPI unveiled a mural depicting the Philippines and Filipinos in Philadelphia. Entitled, “Alab ng Puso” (Hearts Ablaze), with an imposing portrayal of Dr. Jose Rizal, it was the first Filipino mural on the US East Coast. Another recipient is The Filipino American Community Action Group (FilAmCAG), based in Virginia Beach, VA, was unanimously chosen by the Alex Awards Panel of Jurors for its active, tireless and valuable involvement in the American civic, economic and political mainstream, representing the interests of the Filipino community. For over 25 years, FilAmCAG’s activism, especially in terms of voter registration and participation in the mainstream political process, has resulted in the recognition of the FilAm community as a potent political bloc in the State of Virginia and in Washington DC, the appointment of FilAms to key positions in government, prompt action on cases of racial discrimination, and the resolution of conflicts in the community (including juvenile violence). FilAmCAG played a major role in the long struggle to gain equitable rights for Filipino World War II veterans, culminating in legislation providing benefits. Rounding out the list of awardees is Feed the Hungry (FtH). Based in Washington DC, FtH was unanimously chosen by the Awards Panel of Jurors for its selfless, meaningful and multi-faceted efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Philippines. Starting as a simple act of feeding a small hungry street urchin during a Christmas visit to the Philippines in 1992, Feed the Hungry has evolved into a vibrant, volunteer-driven multi-program non-profit charitable organization. It has been among the first responders to natural disasters in the Philippines, and has been involved in relief and rehabilitation, feeding and nutrition, educational projects (scholarships, books, classroom construction), building water systems, gift-giving in orphanages and homes for the aged, livelihood development and poverty alleviation. Since its inception, FtH has sent approximately 200 million pesos worth of assistance to the Philippines, some of them coursed through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. This does not include what the volunteers spend on their own travel and living expenses while on charitable missions in the Philippines. Macabenta relates that the winners were chosen based on their “commitment to the Filipino people both in the United States and in the Philippines, a desire to empower our people and to claim our rightful place not only in the United States but all over the world, and lastly, integrity which are all truly apparent in the man who inspired this award.” The winners of the first Alex Esclamado Community Service Award include the Council for Filipino American Organizations of Central Florida, the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service, Inc., Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas, and the Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc. Formed in 1997 in Washington, D.C., NaFFAA mission is to actively promote civic engagement and community empowerment among the nearly 4 million Filipinos in the U.S. today. In the last 19 years, NaFFAA’s advocacy initiatives have focused on securing equity benefits and recognition for Filipino World War II veterans, voter registration and education, overseas voting and dual citizenship rights. NaFFAA is also part of national Asian American coalitions working on comprehensive immigration reform and other civil rights programs that seek protections against hate crimes and all forms of discrimination that undermines cultural diversity and inclusion. 5
Executive Report: Saipan Fact Finding Trip By JT Mallonga, National Chair Upon the invitation of NaFFAA Region 12 Chair, Dra. Celia Lamkin, I flew to the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) with main base in Saipan on July 7 (Thursday), and flew back to NY July 16 (Saturday). I didn't expect the trip to take 2 days, arriving in Saipan at 3 am Saturday (July (9). The schedule, as arranged by Dra. Lamkin, was as follows: Sunday (July 10): Saipan Island, legal clinic at St. Anthony's Parish hall, from 1- 5pm; Monday (July 11): Tinian Island, legal clinic with out-of-work and out-of-status 250 Filipino and 200 Asian workers, from 9 am to 5 pm; Tuesday (July 12): Meeting with CNMI Secretary of Labor Edith Deleon Guerrerro. Wednesday (July 14) Back to Tinian Island, for a second briefing both Filipino and Asian out-of-status workers on talks with CNMI Secretary of Labor. Creation and induction of the officers and board of "Asian Association for the Northern Marianas Islands", Tinian Chapter. The Saipan and Rota chapters to follow suit. Thursday (July 13:) Meeting with CNMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan at 10 am; meeting with CNMI Senators at 2 pm; and two consecutive legal clinics held from 11 am to 1 pm and 6pm to 8 pm in Saipan on the same day. Friday (July 15): Meeting with CNMI Governor Ralph Torres and legislative Aides and General Counsel at 11 a.m. Saturday (July 16) Lunch with R12 Chair Dra. Lamkin and officers; then at 6 pm, flight back to NY. There were two immediate legal issues that needed to be addressed: (1) The SHORT TERM problem (involving Tinian Residents only): There are some 900 employees of employed by the Tinian Hotel and Casino who are currently out of work and also out-of-status; they all live on Tinian Island, the site of their employment. Of this 900 employeees, about half of them (the majority of which are Filipinos and a mix of some 5 major asian ethnic nationalities) are still on the island, still awaiting their unpaid salaries. Half of the 900 have already left Tinian Island and the other half remaining are asking this question: should they accept the offer of free tickets to go home? The facts are as follows: 1) The Tinian dynasty employees stopped getting their salaries when on Dec. 8, 2014, the USCIS revoked all of their employees CW nonimmigrant visa for the reason that their employer was not operating as a "legitimate business". 2) The decision was based on a Northern Marianas District Court ruling that Tinian Hotel and Casino was in serious violation of the Bank Secrecy Act and of the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance program. The complaint was filed by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) with the District Court on April 19, 2013 which resulted in a $75 million civil monetary penalty against Tinian Dynasty. 3) On February 17, 2016, the Department of Labor of CNMI issued a Stipulated Order signed by both the Resident Director of Tinian Labor Office and a Representative of Tinian Hotel and Casino that the employees were owed unpaid wages plus 25% liquidated damages for each late payment (which to date remain unpaid). 4) On August 14, 2015, the hotel and casino closed down and, the casino employees were informed of the closure on the same day the casino closed. 5) To date, all employees (both those who have already left and those who still remain) are still owed unpaid wages. Those still remaining, an estimated 350 (Filipinos and other Asian nationals) live in company housing units, with power and water utilities nearing termination due to nonpayment of usage.
Attendees at the legal clinic conducted in San Antonio Parish in Saipan
Saipan legal forum
Legal clinic in Tinian Island
(2) The PROPOSED SOLUTION: 1) There is a specific policy memorandum from DHS granting residents of the Northern Marianas Islands (which include Tinian Island) the T & U Visas if they can prove that they are direct or indirect victims of a qualifying criminal activity under the T & U Visas. Under the T Visa, the qualifying criminal activity is labor trafficking and under the U Visa, the qualifying criminal activities fall under 29 categories and, more specifically, the following 5 criminal activities, namely: Fraud in Labor Contracting, Involuntary Servitude, Peonage, Trafficking and Related Criminal Activities, among others. The T & U visas can be applied for by applicants whose immigration status have already expired (as is in the case of all Tinian employees, which includes their derivative beneficiaries (spouse and children) and may be gotten whether they remain on the island illegally or have already left for their home countries. Once they get their T & U visas, they can be reinstated into lawful status and, in the future apply for their green and, later on, for their US citizenship.
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However, the regulations require that no T or U Visa application will be accepted by the USCIS for filing UNLESS the same is accompanied by a CERTIFICATION signed and completed by 1 of 7 certifying agencies which include but is not limited to 1) Federal, State, Local, tribal and Territorial Law enforcement agencies 2) Federal and State Departments of Labor and 3) Other Federal, State, Local, Tribal, or Territorial government agencies that have criminal, civil or administrative investigative or prosecutorial authority. Hence, the need to meet both the CNMI Secretary of Labor, Ms. Edith Deleon Guerrerro and the CNMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. As the Office of the CNMI Attorney General appears as the counsel on record on behalf of the Department of Labor in the cases filed against Tinian Dynasty and also appears as counsel on record the money laundering case filed against the same employer, is agreement to the issuance of a CERTIFICATION to be signed by the Secretary of Labor is critical to the signing of the same Certification by the Secretary of Labor for the purpose of filing either a T or a U visa application before the USCIS. Both the Secretary of Labor and the Attorney General agreed to my request for consideration of the issuance of a Certification for each and every Tinian employee/applicant affected in my capacity asa NaFFAA PRO BONO counsel for them on the following basis, namely: That if the enterprise Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino was set up primarily so that it can engaged in money laundering activities, then any and all activities associated with it, including the hiring of the foreign worker population, was done with both criminal and fraudulent intent, resulting in labor trafficking, involuntary servitude, peonage and Fraud in Labor Contracting. Both the Secretary of Labor and the Attorney General expressed that this is the first time they ever heard of the relief of T & U visas, notwithstanding the presence of immigration lawyers in the Marianas Islands. They nonetheless agreed to accept my request for certification and will await said request with an accompanying memorandum of law attached justifying the issuance of such a certification. (B) The LONG TERM problem. Practically the entire foreign labor population of Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) are under a non-immigrant CW visa status. A lot of them have been in the islands for as long as 25 years and have children born and raised in the Marianas as U.S. citizens. The CW program was only given a 5 year life span and ends in the year 2019. The economy of CNMI is currently booming due to the influx of investors in the area of tourism, with a lot of hotels and some casinos under construction. A report has stated that the influx of investors is flourishing to the point where available local workers are unable to meet the demands. The report also states that the growth of the CNMI economy indispensably requires the continued importation of non-resident workers. It has also been reported that if CNMI expels all its foreign workers by the end of 2019, the CNMI government will be seeking bankruptcy protection in 7 years or by 2023. The foreign labor work force far exceeds the local population. The LONG TERM Solution. gress as soon as possible.
As only the US Congress can amend the law, there is an urgent need to file a bill before the US con-
Meeting with CNMI Senators
JT with CNMI Gov. Torre and R12 Chair Lamkin
Meeting with CNMI Attorney General Manibusan
When I met the CNMI senators and Governor Ralph Torres of CNMI, they did express that a bill is in the process of being drafted for submission to the US Congress. I did state that since the CNMI elected congressman is a NON-VOTING member of Congress and may not even be in a position to sponsor the bill, then getting co-sponsors and lobbying for the passage of the bill into law may prove difficult. I mentioned that NaFFAA can help in the lobbying of the bill through our affiliation with both NCAPA and CAPAC (the Asian American Caucus in Congress, While they did mention that the bill is requesting for a 10 year extension of the CW program from 2019 to 2029, I also mentioned that a) they include a path to citizenship for all their CW foreign workers and b) consider adding their own undocumented population to the existing 11 million undocumented aliens that may be the subject matter of a future Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill. The comments were taken graciously. In sum, they promised to enlist NaFFAA's help when the bill is filed and, will send us a final copy of the bill once finalized. In conclusion, the above sums up my stay in Saipan and Tinian and, with the exception of the set legal clinics, any and all appointments set up by Dra. Lamkin was on the fly, namely: the meetings with the Secretary of Labor, the Attorney General, the CNMI Senators and last but not least, the CNMI Governor.
Attendees at the legal clinic conducted in Saipan Center
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More on p.11
Senate Approves Congressional Gold Medal Bill for Filipino World War II Veterans; Main focus now is to secure 290 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. The U.S. Senate approved by unanimous consent S. 1555, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) Act of 2015, a measure that would grant national recognition to the more than 260,000 Filipino and American soldiers who served under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Introduced in June last year by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), with U.S. Senator Dean Heller (D-NV) as lead co-sponsor, the bill gained bipartisan co-sponsorship of 72 U.S. Senators – a super majority that demonstrates the support needed to merit moving the bill in an expedited manner. Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) also played key roles in moving S. 1555 this far. “Our veterans and their families have been waiting for this awesome news,” says Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), chair of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP). “They will be very pleased and proud to know that the U.S. has not forgotten their wartime service to this country. We call on the U.S. House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and finally make this long-awaited recognition a reality for our soldiers who performed their duty with honor and uncommon valor.” To date, the House companion bill, HR 2737, which was also introduced in June last year by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI-2), with U.S. Rep. Joseph Heck (R-NV-3) as lead co-sponsors, currently has 168 co-sponsors. It is expected, however, that today’s Senate’s action will help build momentum to gather more bipartisan support in the House. Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret)
passed this year.”
“We are extremely grateful to Sen. Hirono and Sen. Heller for their personal commitment and determination to push this bill through,” says Marie Blanco, FilVetREP Vice Chair. “They championed this very important legislation because they appreciate the urgency of getting it
Blanco also thanked the Senate Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over CGM legislation, for “giving the green light to pass this bill by unanimous consent. We are appreciative as well of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (RKY), U.S, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) for their leadership in promptly facilitating the approval process.” Informed of this Senate action, 85-year-old Rudy Panaglima, a Filipino World War II veteran of Arlington, Va. welcomed the news with a sense of joy and relief. “My comrades and I have been waiting for more than 70 years, so I am delighted that we will finally be recognized,” he said. “I can only say ‘God bless America’ for doing the right thing.” Panaglima is among 15,000 surviving veterans residing in the U.S. and the Philippines. Most of them are in their mid 90’s. They served in the USAFFE as Philippine Scouts, members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Recognized Guerillas.
NaFFAA Statement on the Passage of S. 1555, the Filipino Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 Washington, D.C. “We are extremely encouraged by the action of the U.S. Senate to bring us closer to fulfilling a very important mission that means a lot to our Filipino World War II veterans and their families,” says NaFFAA National Chairman JT Mallonga. “We thank our community supporters and veterans advocates who worked hard to secure enough Senate co-sponsors in the last 13 months.” In light of this positive development, Mallonga is calling on all Filipino Americans to step up their congressional engagement and urge their U.S. Representatives to support H.R. 2737, the House counterpart measure. With only two months left in the legislative session, Mallonga stressed the urgency of House action before the campaign season begins. “We’ve won half the battle,” he points out. “We need to continue with the same zeal to ensure that the U.S. House of Representatives does the right thing by finally granting this long-awaited recognition. It’s a matter of honor and justice that America closes this dark chapter in its history by affirming the uncommon valor and courage of the thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who served under the U.S. flag.”
JT Mallonga, National Chair
Since its founding in 1997, NaFFAA’s main advocacy initiative has been equity and justice for Filipino World War II veterans. NaFFAA is among more than a dozen national organizations working closely with the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) to raise public awareness about the role of Filipino and American veterans during the war and to obtain national recognition for their wartime service. 8
NaFFAA Mourns the Passing of Former Executive Director Joe Montano Washington, D.C. Hailed by Filipino American leaders, civil rights advocates and elected officials as a committed public servant and passionate community activist, Joe Montano passed away peacefully on July 25 in his home in Falls Church, Va. He was 47. “We are all saddened and overcome with grief,” says National Chair JT Mallonga. “Joe personified NaFFAA’s aspirations for community empowerment, which he demonstrated in ways that are admirable and inspiring. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.” Montano served as NaFFAA’s Executive Director from 2000-2002. During his tenure, he coordinated NaFFAA’s FilAm Vote, a nationwide voter mobilization program that involved extensive outreach to Filipino American communities and student campuses across the country. “Joe enjoyed organizing get-out-the-vote campaigns, especially among the youth, always reminding them to be engaged and let their voices be heard, loud and clear,” recalls Gloria T. Caoile, NaFFAA’s founding director of FilAm Vote. “In the trenches, one could not help but feel his energy. He lived his life to empower the disenfranchised and marginalized and to create pathways for many!” Fighting for Filipino Veterans Steven Raga, NaFFAA Regional Youth Director, also recalls how Montano inspired him the first time he attended a Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND) conference: “Joe patiently broke down the importance of the FilVets Full Equity campaign, how critical it is for students to take part in greater community advocacy, and the principle of fighting for those who fought for you. I've forgotten many of my FIND experiences, but I won't forget that. Joe gave me and countless others that initial clarity and motivation to put community before ourselves.” Proud of his father who served in the U.S. Navy, Montano took up the cause of Filipino World War II veterans “with dedication and zealous commitment,” says NaFFAA National Chair Emeritus Loida Nicolas Lewis. “Joe’s enthusiasm was infectious when he walked the halls of Congress or marched with Posing for a photograph after a White House briefing are (from right) Joe Montano, Mike Reyes, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Bing Branigin our veterans on the streets. He always knew what was at stake.” and Ceritos Mayor Mark Pulido. (Photo by Jon Melegrito).
At NaFFAA’s founding conference in August 1997, Montano was among the youth leaders who rallied the community to march to the White House and support the Filipino Veterans’ demand for equity and justice. The Rescission Acts passed by Congress in 1946 stripped them of their rightful benefits. Because he was “a tireless advocate for issues of concern to both the Filipino American and AAPI communities, we all feel the impact of his loss,” points out Sonny Busa, Chairman of the Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC) and a regional director of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP). Passion for Politics Charmaine Manansala, the 2008 Obama Campaign AAPI Vote Director, describes Montano as “a giant in the Filipino American community, a strong organizer in Virginia politics, and a mentor to many young Filipino American up and comers. Our community shines a little less bright today but let’s continue the work that Joe loved so well.” As NaFFAA Executive Director, Mon- Joe Montano was among a group of leaders who convened a youth summit in August 2006 to develop strategies tano represented the organization in Wash- for community engagement. (Photo by Jon Melegrito). ington’s policy-making circles, working in coalition with other AAPI leaders on such issues as comprehensive immigration reform, hate crimes, workers rights and other civil rights concerns. “Joe was among the many young people – a new generation of eager activists – who responded in the early 1990s to a call to form Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA), a national civil rights organization,” recalls Lillian Galedo, executive director of Filipino Advocates for Justice. “He shared his passion for political involvement through hard work and humor. (I loved how funny he could be.) He found his niche in electoral politics -- fired up by the election of the first African American President; working tirelessly for liberal and progressive candidates. Joe embodied his generation’s desire to bring the Filipino community to the national political stage.”
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Cultural Activist During his college days at George Washington University, Montano pursued more than a passing interest in Philippine history, arts and culture. Like many of his contemporaries who were born in the U.S., he wanted to learn as much as he could about his roots and national heritage. The Philippine Cultural Society at GWU provided a venue for exploring cultural identity and sharing experiences with other students. He later availed of further opportunities to learn more by performing in various cultural shows for Tanghalang Pilipino ng DC and taking on various dramatic roles in QBD Ink’s theatrical productions. QBD Ink director Reme Grefalda remembers Montano’s auspicious start, and how he racked up a variety of roles: as a menacing military goon in "Hacienda the Musical," as a runaway teen mentored by Rizal in "Oyang Dapitana," as a member of the firing squad that killed Rizal, and as a member of the tribunal in "In the Matter of Willie Grayson." Joe the actor also extended to being stage manager, stage hand, and assistant to the producer. Montano also volunteered with Mabuhay, Inc.’s Camp Mabuhay Project, which endeared him with Filipino children adopted by American parents. “Joe realized early on that the children need to have role models and to be anchored to their birth culture in their ongoing struggle to define who they are and what they bring to the table, especially in the context of being Filipino American,” says Mencie Hairston, a founder of Mabuhay. “At camp, you saw several kids hanging on to him and competing for his attention. Of course, he always managed to be the ‘coolest’ kuya (big brother) in the room.” Tribute from Elected Officials Joe Montano speaks at a demonstration in front of the White House where several Filipino World War II veterans chained themselves to a fence to protest their unjust treatment by the U.S. government. The protest action was organized by NaFFAA during its founding conference in August 1997. (PHOTO BY PAUL TANEDO).
Montano’s boss, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, said in a statement that “Joe was an outstanding representative of this office, enthusiastic servant of the people of Northern Virginia, and admired colleague by all who worked with him. We will remember him by his positive energy, tireless work ethic, and infectious smile.”
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe commended his “passion and boundless enthusiasm,” while U.S. Rep. Don Beyer praised him as “a voice for the people of Northern Virginia” who was “committed to achieving progress through public service. We need more like him, and his death at such a young age fills me with sorrow.” Born in Norfolk, VA., Joe is survived by his parents, Lori and Jose Montano, his sister Amy Lopez and brother Ben.
World War II in the Philippines in the New History Curriculum Framework for U.S. History July 14, 2016 – Nearly 75 years since the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II, history was made today when the California State Board of Education (SBE) approved the inclusion of World War II in the Philippines in the revised history curriculum framework for the state. This seminal part of WWII history will be included in the Grade 11 U.S. history (Chapter 16) curriculum framework. The approval by the SBE is the culmination of many years of hard work from the Filipino community. In 2011 AB199, legislation sponsored by Fiona Ma and Leland Yee was passed by the California legislature which “encourages for the inclusion of the role of the Filipinos during WWII in the history/social sciences curriculum for Grades 7-12.” In 2014, the Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS) started working with the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) of the California Department of Education to implement AB199. With the support of State Superintendent Tom Torlakson, BLHS was able to expand the scope of the proposed curriculum framework to include World War II in the Philippines. On May 19, 2016, the IQC’s History Social Sciences Committee approved all of the recommendations made by BLHS. Chapter 16 of the Grade 11 U.S. History will include the following: The Philippine Commonwealth; the creation of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) comprised of Americans and a majority of Filipinos; the disruption of the timetable of the Imperial Japanese Army by the USAFFE Forces despite suffering from massive disease and starvation and fighting without any air support; the Bataan Death March and the thousands of casualties; the role of the Filipino and American guerrillas during the liberation; the American soldiers who were transported in hell ships to labor camps in Asia; the Battles of Leyte Gulf and the destruction of Manila. This will be the first time that WWII in the Philippines will be taught to high school students in California and even in the United States. California’s new history curriculum framework can become the model for teaching this seminal point of WWII history in the U.S. BLHS has formed a curriculum steering committee to create a sample curriculum template that schools can use to implement Chapter 16 of the Grade 11 U.S. History. BLHS is also organizing an exhibition that will open on October 15 at the War Memorial Performing Arts Center and a conference on October 29 at the San Francisco Main Library.
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From p.7
NaFFAA is indeed fortunate with the recent appointment of Dra. Celia Lamkin as our new Region 12 Chair. She is indeed quite formidable in her own right in the Marianas. And with the creation and setting up of the ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS, of which Dra. Lamkin is also the National President, with independent chapters in Saipan, Tinian and Rota Islands, the associations is expected to be the largest and most potent advocacy group in the entire Marianas. The Asian Association also has pledged to join NaFFAA as a formal member and is expected to pay its dues before our plenary convention in August. Pursuant, therefore, to NaFFAA's mandated objective of ASSISTANCE TO NATIONALS, I as NaFFAA National Chair, have committed to assist NaFFAA Region 12 Chair Dra. Celia Lamkin in her advocacy of the immigration issues affecting our Fellow Filipinos in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands as described above. The handling of the Marianas case may prove to be the single most sweeping and life-changing advocacy issue NaFFAA may be handling now and in the near future for an entire group of Filipinos anywhere in the US. I also hope to create a pro-bono legal group to help us process the various applications that needs to get filed in the future. In the meantime, I shall initiate the process by drafting the memorandum of law accompanying my request for Certification for submission to both the CNMI Secretary of Labor and the CNMI Attorney General.
Induction of Asian Association officers in Tinian Island
Celebrating Philippine victory in Spratly Islands in Saipan
Briefing among residents in Tinian Island
30 JULY 2016 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wright State University
(Millett Hall) 3640 Colonel Glen Hwy Dayton, OH 45435
NaFFAA National is a monthly newsletter with the goal of circulating information on NaFFAA’s advocacy events and projects, appointments, messages from leadership and other related activities in the Filipino American community.
Ryan Tejero
Editor-In-Chief ryantejero@yahoo.com
Eduardo “Ed” Navarra ejn0115@aol.com
Jon Melegrito
(L-R) NaFFAA Ohio State Chair Ed Stanek, Deputy Consul General Romulo Victor Israel of Philippine Consul General Chicago, and NaFFAA Region 3East Chair Armin Sayson.
Staff of the Philippine Consul General Chicago and NaFFAA members during the consular services hosted by NaFFAA Region 3East.
jdmelegrito@gmail.com
Bing Branigin
MCBranigin@aol.com Please forward event announcements and news articles in your community for August issue by the 25th. Submission must be in word format and pictures are in jpeg formats. Thank you to all July contributors !le Fil-Ams swearing for their dual citizenship.
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Passport processing and document authentication services.
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