Kern takes cudgels for father's comrades
LAURA G PEREZ SACRAMENTO
A number of battle-scarred Filipino soldiers are still
fighting a war that rages in their subconscious. To
them, the convoluted road to inner peace starts in
the US Congress.
By all indications, the right person to claim the US
promise to Filipino World War II soldiers is the
daughter of a war veteran herself, recently elected to
head the National Federation of Filipino American
Associations (Naffaa) composed of more than 500
Filipino-American institutions in 12 regions all over
the United States.
Alma Quintans Kern – social worker, newspaper
publisher and businesswoman – said that she
would fight for the passage of the Veterans Equity
Bill with all her might.
“I am basically fighting for justice for our countrymen.
It has been 61 years since the US government
reneged on its promise with the signing of the
Rescission Act.”
It is estimated that only 20,000 Filipino veterans are
still alive, from the hundreds of thousands who
joined the US Armed Forces to repulse the
advancing Japanese army in 1941. Reliable
sources put the figure between 120,000 and
250,000.
Kern, who replaced Loida Nicolas Lewis as chair of
Naffaa, comes from a clan of community leaders
and politicians in Pangasinan.
Along with cousins and her sister Dulce Saguisag
(Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and
wife of former Philippine senator Rene Saguisag),
Alma immersed herself in community work in
Manila, a passion she had pursued since her
school days at St Scholastica’s College.
Alma was working as a social worker in one of
Tondo’s slums when she met her would-be
American husband, a consultant for Harvard Institute
of International Development.
As soon as she came over to Washington in 1974,
Alma made her mark in the community. She got
involved in a tutoring program for underachieving
Filipino American students in Washington.
Her indefatigable spirit had likewise led her to work
with the Asian and Pacific Islander Women and
Family Safety Center in educating their community
on human trafficking and domestic violence.
She currently serves as vice-president of the Filipino
Community in Seattle, raising US$2 million for its
renovation – they have added 5,000 square feet and
put up a second floor for a library and rooms for their
comprehensive youth programs.
It is expected to be finished this December. She
also heads a non-profit organization that has
provided scholarships to 32 students attending
Pangasinan State University.
During last February’s hearing on the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act of 2007 in Washington DC, Alma’
s voice was firm: “The time is here, now, to show the
whole world that the US has not forgotten the
courage and bravery of those who fought for its
freedom.”
The Philippines was an American colony when
Japanese forces attacked in 1941. Thousands of
Filipino soldiers were tapped to fight the Imperial
army under the command of General Douglas
MacArthur.
President Franklin D Roosevelt promised Filipino
soldiers that they would be accorded the same
health and pension benefits given the American
soldiers after the war.
This was reaffirmed by General Omar Bradley, the
Administrator of the Veterans Administration in
October 1945.
However, the US Congress reneged on the promise
when the Philippines gained independence in 1946.
A newly elected President Harry Truman then signed
the Rescission Act or Public Law 70-301 saying that
the service of Filipinos “shall not be deemed to be or
to have been service in the military or national forces
of the United States or any component thereof or any
law of the United States conferring rights, privileges
or benefits”.
“My father was in the Bataan Death March and
suffered from war-related ailments until his death in
1961. My three uncles were also war veterans who
never got what was due them. Supporters have
gone on hunger strikes and organized protest rallies
to no avail,” Kern said.
“The Naffaa has been working on the passage of
the bill for ten years but it is only now that we have
taken it this far.”
The Filipino community has high hopes that the
change of leadership in the US House of
Representatives is a harbinger of great things. Many
feel that the time has come for the passage of the
Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 or HR 760,
maybe as early as June.
Representative Bob Filner, the chairman of the
House Veterans Affairs Committee, is a keen
supporter of the equity bill and co-sponsors are
increasing, notably Senate Veterans Affairs
Committee chairman Daniel Akaka, also a
Democrat.
LAURA G PEREZ SACRAMENTO
A number of battle-scarred Filipino soldiers are still
fighting a war that rages in their subconscious. To
them, the convoluted road to inner peace starts in
the US Congress.
By all indications, the right person to claim the US
promise to Filipino World War II soldiers is the
daughter of a war veteran herself, recently elected to
head the National Federation of Filipino American
Associations (Naffaa) composed of more than 500
Filipino-American institutions in 12 regions all over
the United States.
Alma Quintans Kern – social worker, newspaper
publisher and businesswoman – said that she
would fight for the passage of the Veterans Equity
Bill with all her might.
“I am basically fighting for justice for our countrymen.
It has been 61 years since the US government
reneged on its promise with the signing of the
Rescission Act.”
It is estimated that only 20,000 Filipino veterans are
still alive, from the hundreds of thousands who
joined the US Armed Forces to repulse the
advancing Japanese army in 1941. Reliable
sources put the figure between 120,000 and
250,000.
Kern, who replaced Loida Nicolas Lewis as chair of
Naffaa, comes from a clan of community leaders
and politicians in Pangasinan.
Along with cousins and her sister Dulce Saguisag
(Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and
wife of former Philippine senator Rene Saguisag),
Alma immersed herself in community work in
Manila, a passion she had pursued since her
school days at St Scholastica’s College.
Alma was working as a social worker in one of
Tondo’s slums when she met her would-be
American husband, a consultant for Harvard Institute
of International Development.
As soon as she came over to Washington in 1974,
Alma made her mark in the community. She got
involved in a tutoring program for underachieving
Filipino American students in Washington.
Her indefatigable spirit had likewise led her to work
with the Asian and Pacific Islander Women and
Family Safety Center in educating their community
on human trafficking and domestic violence.
She currently serves as vice-president of the Filipino
Community in Seattle, raising US$2 million for its
renovation – they have added 5,000 square feet and
put up a second floor for a library and rooms for their
comprehensive youth programs.
It is expected to be finished this December. She
also heads a non-profit organization that has
provided scholarships to 32 students attending
Pangasinan State University.
During last February’s hearing on the Filipino
Veterans Equity Act of 2007 in Washington DC, Alma’
s voice was firm: “The time is here, now, to show the
whole world that the US has not forgotten the
courage and bravery of those who fought for its
freedom.”
The Philippines was an American colony when
Japanese forces attacked in 1941. Thousands of
Filipino soldiers were tapped to fight the Imperial
army under the command of General Douglas
MacArthur.
President Franklin D Roosevelt promised Filipino
soldiers that they would be accorded the same
health and pension benefits given the American
soldiers after the war.
This was reaffirmed by General Omar Bradley, the
Administrator of the Veterans Administration in
October 1945.
However, the US Congress reneged on the promise
when the Philippines gained independence in 1946.
A newly elected President Harry Truman then signed
the Rescission Act or Public Law 70-301 saying that
the service of Filipinos “shall not be deemed to be or
to have been service in the military or national forces
of the United States or any component thereof or any
law of the United States conferring rights, privileges
or benefits”.
“My father was in the Bataan Death March and
suffered from war-related ailments until his death in
1961. My three uncles were also war veterans who
never got what was due them. Supporters have
gone on hunger strikes and organized protest rallies
to no avail,” Kern said.
“The Naffaa has been working on the passage of
the bill for ten years but it is only now that we have
taken it this far.”
The Filipino community has high hopes that the
change of leadership in the US House of
Representatives is a harbinger of great things. Many
feel that the time has come for the passage of the
Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 or HR 760,
maybe as early as June.
Representative Bob Filner, the chairman of the
House Veterans Affairs Committee, is a keen
supporter of the equity bill and co-sponsors are
increasing, notably Senate Veterans Affairs
Committee chairman Daniel Akaka, also a
Democrat.
I am basically
fighting for justice
for our countrymen.
It has been 61 years
since the US
government
reneged on its
promise with the
signing of the
Rescission Act
fighting for justice
for our countrymen.
It has been 61 years
since the US
government
reneged on its
promise with the
signing of the
Rescission Act
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