EPC News and Commentaries
April 6, 2009

Association of Widows, Relatives and Advocates of veterans for Equality (AWARE)

History

AWARE was formed after the passage of S. 1315 which excludes Filipinos veterans in the enhanced American veterans law of the 110th US Congress. This is the 2nd Recession Act of our time that discriminates against the Filipino World War II veterans.

In its place, on February 17, 2009- the 111th US Congress passed the Stimulus Bill or the American Recovery and Reinvestments Act (ARRA) that includes a one time-lump sum benefits for Filipino veterans. But the lump sum has quit claim, no recognition to the veterans and no benefits for Filipino World War II widows.

Thus on December 8, 2008, the widows and relatives of veterans banded together and formed this organization-AWARE in Los Angeles and San Francisco to fight and advocate for equal rights.

The widows started to get organized at first to support he veterans struggle but later to fight for themselves. They held their protests in July 25, 2008, September 22, 2008, February 18, 2009, March 9, 2009 and March 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other areas of the country.

Their Situation: A time for Change

There are thrice the number of widows than the veterans in the United States. Meaning more than 18,000 of them in the Filipino American communities all over the United States. There are still more than 40,00 living veterans in the Philippines. It is safe to assume that there are at least 120,000 widows and relatives of veterans in the Philippines

Most of them waited out for a long time (more than 63 years to be exact) for the benefits. It but right and just that the widows who stood and waited and struggled with their husbands for equity and justice must receive benefits – this is the essence of equality. This is what they are fighting for.

But at the same time, they also saw the need to struggle for their livelihood, welfare and wellness. Because most of them are seniors and minorities, monolingual and suffers different types of discrimination under the present system. One of them is male chauvinism and state neglect.

They withstood poverty in senior apartments, lining up for food distribution, get the least health care and attention in government agencies, suffers adult abuses, suffering the cuts in state , county and city budgets. It is time to take care of our seniors, and widows. work for their rights and welfare.




The Goals and Task of AWARE

1. AWARE seeks to improve the welfare and wellness of widows and relatives of Filipino Veterans. They will also seek to take of future widows, the spouses of still living veterans and assure their wellbeing,

AWARE will advocate for benefits for widows of departed Filipino World War II veterans who struggled for equity and who have not received their benefits under the law.

2. AWARE will fight for the recognition of widows and their right to receive such additional benefits under the law.

3. AWARE will work for the rights and welfare and wellness of widows and relatives of veterans and struggle for better housing, heath care, attention, food distribution and promote the rights of women and children and seniors.

For more information please contact: Jerry Esguerra at 818-749-0272 or email at epcc_la@hotmail .com

There are thrice the number of widows than the veterans in the United States. Meaning more than 18,000 of them in the Filipino American communities all over the United States. There are still more than 40,00 living veterans in the Philippines. It is safe to assume that there are at least 120,000 widows and relatives of veterans in the Philippines

Most of them waited out for a long time (more than 63 years to be exact) for the benefits. It but right and just that the widows who stood and waited and struggled with their husbands for equity and justice must receive benefits – this is the essence of equality. This is what they are fighting for.

My mom's old boyfriend served in the Phillipiens in world war 2. He got no ( NO! ) pension. ONLY GIs who served 20 years as a career soldiers and sailors get pensions. NOT people who served a few years in war time.

What "equality" are these freeloading freeks talking about???