Politics & Government
Los Angeles City Council Votes to Support Filipino WW II Veterans
Councilman Bill Rosendahl makes an impassioned speech in favor of Councilman Richard Alarcon's two resolutions in support of state bills addressing denial of benefits to Filipino soldiers who fought alongside the U.S.
Returning after its two-week summer break, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday morning for two resolutions to support two bills in the California State Assembly that seek to create awareness of the role Filipino soldiers played in World War II, and to get veterans benefits awarded to surviving soldiers.
"The U.S. government promised Filipino soldiers that they would receive benefits as U.S. soldiers," Councilman Richard Alarcon said after several representatives of the Los Angeles Filipino community spoke.
Alarcon said that Filipino soldiers who fought the Japanese in the Philippines alongside U.S. troops were promised the benefits by the U.S. government in the late 1940s, a promise rescinded by President Harry Truman in 1951.
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H.R. 210 would authorize the secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize the Filipinos as American veterans, making them eligible for a variety of benefits, including health care. A supporting state bill, A.J.R. 6, would proclaim California's support for the House resolution. In addition, state bill AB 199 would encourage teachers to include the history of the Filipino veterans as part of their social studies curriculum.
One of the resolutions passed Tuesday supports H.R. 210 and A.J.R. 6, and the other supports AB 199.
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"Time is of the essence," said Mary Jo Bernardo, consul general for the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles.
She pointed out that many of the veterans are dying, and those who are still alive are in poor health.
"We need support for these World War II vets."
Sgt. John M. Aspiras Jr., one of the veterans, spoke at Tuesday's meeting of the ongoing effort to get benefits awarded, and reminded the council that the issue is pressing.
"Gentlemen, we are a dying breed," he said, choking up.
He later expressed his pleasure at the unanimous vote to support the resolutions in favor of the legislation by saying, "Wow."
Alarcon, who represents the Filipinotown neighborhood of Los Angeles, has been working on getting the Filipino veterans recognized for more 15 years.
Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents Brentwood in the 11th District, made a point of wearing his veterans hat during the discussion of the resolutions and when it was his time to talk, he spoke passionately about his support for the resolutions, calling the million Filipinos in the U.S. "an incredible group of Americans."
Rosendahl added that the Filipinos' story should be included in American history books.
"I put on my veterans hat from the Vietnam era," Rosendahl said, explaining that he did so when such issues came up before the council.
"When you wear this hat, you think about what war is and the sacrifice of war."
Rosendahl finished by saluting the Filipino veterans in the council chambers.
Ivy Dulang, of the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, was also pleased by the vote.
"I'm incredibly excited for the youth and the whole community," she said.
