EPCC News

Dec. 29, 2008

JFAV Activists continue protests throughout Christmas Nationwide

LOS ANGELES— JFAV activists here continue their unrelenting advocacy in support of various causes and in protest of other issues even as the community savors Christmas and the advent of a new year.

The Filipino Veterans Support Bill, or SB 3689 that passed the Senate hearings last November 17 remains as the foremost concern of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV). Despite failing energy, living FilVets and their young advocates stay active on the road, making their presence felt in mass actions and community gatherings, and taking the opportunity to speak their minds.

On Dec.25, the Daly City JFAV veterans held their Christmas Party. The Daly City veterans led by Commander Mel Malayag joined JFAV together with the San Francisco Veterans and Spouses Association led by Commander Mordeno.

On Dec. 19. scores of Filipino Veterans from JFAV joined the 4th Annual Parol Parade in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles. Hundreds of school children, seniors and community residents joined the parade. They joined the Christmas program at SIPA and had gifts distributed to the veetrans by JFAV staff.

On December 11, JFAV veteran leaders Faustino Baclig and Jack Vergara were present at a rally staged by the more than 6,000 workers of the United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) union local at the Radisson Hotel here against the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

On December 10, In San Francisco, FilVets Gomer Bondad and Reggie Nacua, with activists Ago Pedalizo and Violy Reyes, discussed the seemingly unresolved impasse on the lump sum clause of SB 36879, now pending in the US Congress, at a community meeting held at the ABS-CBN studio in Redwood City in the Bay Area.

“The JFAV does not endorse SB 3689. We criticize the fact that it has no recognition for Filvets, it comes with a quit claim clause, and there’s no provision for widows of the veterans. We will pursue a different strategy and tactics on the veterans’ equity struggle,” says a JFAV statement furnished the FilAm media.

On December 8, JFAV announced the formation of a partner organization, the Association of Widows, Advocates and Relatives for Equality (AWARE) at a meeting held at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) here.

Also on Dec. 8. the JFAV and the ACFV together with NAFFAA paid tribute to the late Jack Tejada, a veteran lobbyist who died Dec. 1. He was laid to rest Dec. 12 in Washington DC.

For more information on jfav please contact Al P. Garcia@jfav_us@yahoo.com or call (213)241-0995

On December 10, In San Francisco, FilVets Gomer Bondad and Reggie Nacua, with activists Ago Pedalizo and Violy Reyes, discussed the seemingly unresolved impasse on the lump sum clause of SB 36879, now pending in the US Congress, at a community meeting held at the ABS-CBN studio in Redwood City in the Bay Area.

“The JFAV does not endorse SB 3689. We criticize the fact that it has no recognition for Filvets, it comes with a quit claim clause, and there’s no provision for widows of the veterans. We will pursue a different strategy and tactics on the veterans’ equity struggle,” says a JFAV statement furnished the FilAm media.