Bill to Help Filipino Veterans Signed
By Janet Dang

Thousands of Filipino American World War II veterans can return to their homelands in the Philippines and still keep 75 percent of their Supplemental Social Security benefits, thanks to a bill signed by President Bill Clinton last Tuesday.

Sponsored by Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), the bill is hailed as the first step toward restoring some of the benefits and recognition for the veterans. Nevertheless, it “falls short of what our veterans truly deserves,” said Jon Melegrito, executive director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations.

“This bill is not a veterans bill; it’s a welfare bill,” Melegrito said. “Congress hasn’t begun to address the grievances that these veterans have felt in the last 53 years,” he added, referring to the 53-year-old Rescission Act, passed by Congress in 1946. The act appropriated $200 million to the Filipino military for their services during the war, but turned over all responsibilities including veteran benefits to the Philippines.

“[It] basically stripped them of the benefits,” Melegrito said.

It doesn’t matter where the veterans live, he said, “there should be no discrimination between those who are naturalized and those who aren’t. These are American servicemen.”

The cash benefit could amount to as much as $380 per month, or about 15,000 Pesos, an income comparable to a college professor’s salary in Manila, according to Eric Lachica of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations.

Based on surveys and the Social Security Administration’s estimates, Melegrito said fewer than 1,000 veterans whose families are in the Philippines will return to their homelands.

And because the bill calls for paying only 75 percent of SSI payments and because the vets will lose other assistance like Medicaid if they return, it is expected to save U.S. tax payers $7 million, he said.

Furthermore, some 7,000 naturalized expatriates who are in the Philippines probably won’t be able to return to the United States to claim benefits by the Dec. 31 deadline expressed in the bill.

“It’s unrealistic,” said Melegrito.

Only Filipino American veterans who are U.S. residents in December can be eligible for the SSI special benefit, according to the provision.

Filipino American veteran Gary Aranal of Daly City, Calif., said he might consider returning to the Philippines with his wife. He said he’s glad he can choose between the two countries. “SSI makes it workable, to visit the Philippines. Maybe we will stay for good,” he said. “If I can help it, I would rather die in the Philippines.”

Aranal, 73, fought in the 125th infantry regiment of the Sulu Area Command between 1943 to 1945. In 1992, he along with thousands of other veterans came to the United States and was naturalized. He now lives with his wife, though his children are all in the Philippines.

“Most veterans were waiting for it [the bill],” he said. “They would like to go home. It’s nice that they even have part of the SSI.”

Filipino American advocacy groups have only been lobbying Congress to repeal the Rescission Act and provide the veterans full benefits such as burial allowance, medical care and disability pension for the last two years. Prior to that, “the veterans have been fighting themselves,” Melegrito said.

Most veterans considered themselves U.S. military men, he said. “They have suffered enough indignity and injustice. It’s now time for America to translate that gratitude by redeeming its past promises to its heroes.”

In 1990, the first of those promises was fulfilled by a law signed by then-President George Bush, allowing WWII Filipino veterans citizenship. That brought the most recent wave of Filipino veteran immigration to the country. In total, there are some 26,000 Filipino vets living in the United States according to Melegrito. Most, however, are homeless or languishing away in low-income housing and senior centers, Melegrito said. “They’re dying at the rate of six a day.”

The humanitarian gesture expressed in the bill, he said, allows the now elderly veterans to “rejoin their loved ones and spend their twilight years in the Philippines.”

“It’s a win-win situation all around,” Lachica said. “It’s not the full package, but it’s a big breakthrough, especially if the President recognizes these men.

“They worked for this benefit. They fought for this benefit,” he said. “They are U.S. nationals. This is one way of keeping the promise -- giving something that’s worth a lot to these folks.” Advocate groups continue to lobby Congress for legislation that calls for full VA benefits like pension, disability, medical care and burial services, as well as VA medical care in the Philippines.