Many ageing veteranos who aided the US are without pensions despite several attempts to push through an equality bill

“Don’t say no, no to my lolo. We want equity now!”

The sound of cars passing and honking in the streets of Los Angeles was quickly drowned out by the dozen student and community organizations coming from MacArthur Park. They flooded the streets around 6th and Parkview.

On Veterans’ Day last month, the 18th annual Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) march was organized by the LA chapter of Kabataang maka-Bayan, a progressive revolutionary youth organization. The event honored more than 260,000 unrecognized Filipino soldiers – or veteranos – and widows who were instrumental in helping the US in the second world war. Among 66 US allies, only Filipinos were denied benefits.

“I hope they know that they are not forgotten even if the US disrespects and puts their service at such a low value,” said Czarlene Manangan, political chair of the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Kapatirang Pilipino student organization. Her grandfather – or lolo – was Bernardo Tucay Manangan, a veterano.

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Twenty years ago, Roger Dagdag was one of many veteranos who occupied MacArthur Park. “I was there every day, for almost a year,” Dagdag said. The veteranos were demonstrating against the Rescission Act of 1946, which exclusively denied Filipinos the benefits given to American soldiers they fought alongside during the second world war: veterans, their widows and family members are unable to receive pensions.

“I’m 97,” said Dagdag. “I was 20 years old when I started in the war. I was a first year in college and [Gen Douglas] MacArthur was recruiting. He liked Filipinos because he knew we would fight.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Activists hope for action from Congress to support Filipino veterans. Photograph: Decerry Donato

He recalled violence by the Japanese military in his hometown: “They were killing civilians. Kids. Wives of soldiers!” he said. Many Filipinos, he said, wanted revenge.

Dagdag enlisted in the guerrilla forces, one of the four groups that made up the US Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE): the “Old” Philippine Scouts, Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts. The only veterans currently being acknowledged and able to receive pensions are the “Old” Philippine Scouts.

Since JFAV started organizing in the 1990s, the veterans have gained burial benefits with American honors. In 2003, George W Bush signed a bill that provided the veteranos with access to hospitals and clinics. And in 2017, Dagdag was among the veteranos who received the Congressional Gold Medal – the nation’s highest civilian honor. Though a step towards recognition, it still doesn’t recognize him as a Filipino American veteran.

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Congress has seen attempts by Democrats and Republicans to pass the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act, a bill to ensure benefits for veteranos. But the legislation has repeatedly failed.

The bill is expected to be reintroduced to Congress next year. The march organizers and the JFAV national coordinator, Arturo Garcia, are hopeful that change will come as Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives.

It will be too late for many. But an estimated 11,000 veteranos are still living, Garcia said, most of them in their 90s.

“I have eight kids, all alive and well. I’m still here,” Dagdag said.