At a morning celebration at Casa Columbo on Monmouth Street in Jersey City on Feb. 21, Filipinos of various ages were socializing, having breakfast, and honoring several elders who don’t get out too often these days.
The celebration was held to acknowledge the $198 million allotted under the recently approved $787 billion federal stimulus bill to compensate Filipino veterans who fought on behalf of the U.S. in World War II, but were deprived of veterans’ benefits after the Philippines gained its independence from the U.S. on July 4, 1946.
About 470,000 Filipinos volunteered to serve after President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan after Pearl Harbor was attacked in Dec. 1941. Of those 470,000 about 18,000 are still living. According to local resident Linda Mayo, a liaison officer with the Filipino American National Historical Society present at Saturday’s event, there are an estimated 20 Filipino veterans living in Hudson County, down from 148 in 1990 when the fight to get the compensation started to gain popularity.
“I am very happy because for 65 years we have been waiting for the compensation.” – Jose Genito
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One of the vets who will benefit is 87-year-old Jersey City resident Jose Genito, who helped American troops in his native Philippines, joining up to serve at the age of 20.
“I am very happy because for 65 years we have been waiting for the compensation,” Genito said.
Survivors of a long fight
Mentioning the Philippines and World War II evokes memories of the brutal Bataan Death March, the 60-mile march through the central part of the Philippines made by over 77,000 American and Filipino prisoners-of-war (POWs) in April 1942. The forced transfer was notorious because the Japanese killed an estimated 5,000-10,000 Filipino and 600-650 American prisoners of war.
But many of these prisoners escaped while on the journey or before they were forced to march.
The Hudson County-based Philippine American Veterans Organization (PAVO) was formed in the 1980s when many of the veterans emigrated from the Philippines to stay with families already settled in the area. PAVO was one of the catalysts pushing for the compensation in the 1990s.
Understanding the struggle all too well is Linda Mayo, a native of the Philippines who first got involved with the veterans in 1992 after being appointed by then-Gov. Jim Florio to the state’s Ethnic Advisory Committee.
Mayo expressed relief and satisfaction recently, after having taken many trips with veterans to Washington D.C. to meet with elected officials to get the vets what they were owed.
“I am really very happy that after a long fight, the veterans are getting the recognition and their respect and dignity,” Mayo said.
Jersey City native Guy Catrillo, who helped organize the event, has also been working with the veterans to help them get their benefits in the past 20 years.
“This is a great moment to be with them because they are true heroes who sometimes get forgotten but they should be remembered,” Catrillo said.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonrreporter.com.