This twenty-first day of Filipino American History Month brings information on Filipino World War II veterans and veteran rights.
One of the most pressing long-time issues in the Filipino American community is the fight for Filipinos, who fought for the American military during World War II, to receive full veteran benefits. Over the years, these veterans have acquired partial benefits such as becoming naturalized U.S. citizens, burial benefits with military honors in national cemeteries, and access to care in Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.
However, Filipino World War II benefits still fall short. They are not eligible for non-war related disability pensions that their American counterparts receive. Many Filipino Americans are barely subsisting and seek livable pensions. In 1993, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act was first introduced to enable Filipino World War II Veterans full benefits. Until today, this act has not been successfully passed. The Filipino American community, young and old, continue to struggle and fight for the rights of our Filipino heroes.
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