National Federation of Filipino American Associations

From Rudy Asercion, Commissioner of the American Legion War Memorial Commission (he is also our NaFFAA Region 8 City and County chair for San Francisco):

Colleagues:

Veterans applying for the benefit must provide the information requested on the attached VA Form 21-4138(CF), Statement in Support of Claim (Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund). We will finalize and post this information to the Internet as soon as possible. The Manila VA Regional Office will process all claims for this benefit. Therefore, veterans should mail the completed information to:

(From the United States):
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Manila Regional Office
PSC 501
FPO AP 96515-1100

Vets may also submit their forms to VA Regional Offices in the US. They will forward the claim to Manila.

Attached is a copy of the form and Answers to Frequently asked Questions.

All the best as always,

Rudy Asercion

PS: This $198 million payment is neither compensation or pension. While the law established entitlement we need additional legislation to get money into our Fund. I met with Congressman Darrel Issa at the GOP convention in Sacramento last week end and he is introducing the additional legislation this week. He estimated that the funds will be at the VA in six weeks more or less.

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Filipino American WWII Veterans Equity Compensation Fund - FAQs as of Feb. 23, 2009

Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund - Statement in Support of Claim CF

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Thank you to Eric Lachica of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. for this update that he posted at the Filipino American Network yahoo group.

This press release came from the US Department of Veterans Affairs:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2009

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a new benefit for Filipino Veterans who aided American troops in World War II — a cash payment authorized through the newly enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Claims are now being accepted from Filipino Veterans eligible for one-time payments of $9,000 for non-U.S. citizens and $15,000 for Filipino Veterans with U.S. citizenship. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to begin making payments as soon as possible.

VA and the Embassy of the United States in Manila have announced locations in the Philippines where Veterans can apply immediately. The list has been posted at http://manila.usembassy.gov. To receive information by mail, United States residents may call 1-800-827-1000. Philippine residents may call 632-528-2500 (within Metro Manila) or from outside Manila at 1-800-888-5252. In addition, Filipino Veterans may request information via email at https://iris.va.gov.

The VA Regional Office in Manila will process all claims for this benefit. Therefore, U.S. residents should mail the application to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Office, PSC 501, FPO AP 96515-100.

Extensive outreach is planned to alert World War II Veterans throughout the Philippines. Claims must be submitted by Feb. 16, 2010, a year after the bill’s signing.

The payments do not affect other benefits Veterans may be receiving. The VA regional office in Manila currently provides approximately $15 million monthly in monetary benefits to Veterans residing in the Philippines. About $8 million of this goes to Filipino World War II Veterans or their survivors each month.

As of today, February 19, 2009, NaFFAA Region 8 has not received any updates regarding how Filipino American World War II veterans can file their claims and get their benefits. In the meantime, we have the press release from the US Embassy in Manila.

President Barack Obama signed into law on February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes among the many provisions, an additional U.S. benefit to eligible Filipino World War II veterans. The new law recognizes the service of Filipino WWII veterans as active military service in the Armed Forces for purposes of this law. It authorizes one-time lump-sum payments to all eligible Filipino WW II veterans. Those veterans with U.S. citizenship will receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $15,000. Non-U.S. citizens will receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $9,000.

Continue reading at the Embassy of the United States in Manila website.

For further information on how to submit a claim [Click here] and for frequently asked questions [Click here.]

For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [Click here.]

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UPDATE AS OF FEBRUARY 23, 2009:

Dear NaFFAA Region 8 All-Star Volunteer Team:

This past weekend was a tribute to our community! For those who did not get a chance to make it out to the Counselor Training and Foreclosure Clinic over the weekend, I wanted to report how greatly successful the training and Clinic was.

Many thanks to our team of Volunteers whose “willing to help attitudes”, effortlessly met the needs of our affected homeowners. Everyone performed at such a high level and the clinic attendees were very appreciative and walked away much more informed of their options. Homeowners couldn’t believe that they were able to get “free” legal advice from the 3 Volunteer Attorneys, Jason Buckingham, Donna Echiverri and Rodel Rodis. I was told by Baylan Megino, who was one of many volunteers who manned the Registration area, that, initially, some of the homeowners were skeptical of the “free” clinic and were almost expecting to be charged for something or another at registration.

A special thanks to Betsy Zoebel and Maritess Lagandaon (City of Daly City), who helped provide the venues for the two events and whose tireless efforts to ensure we had what we needed was very instrumental to our success.

A shout-out to Hazel Valera whose Credit Workshop was as enlightening as it was invaluable. Her suggestions and her expert understanding of Credit helped inform homeowners just how to move forward from this catastrophic point in their lives.

Of course many, many thanks to Faith Bautista, Lynn McLaughlin, Daughlet Ordinario, Eleza Nooris and Louie Guererro of Mabuhay Alliance. Faith and Mabuhay continue to pave the way to make it easier for all us. Thanks for all your leadership on empowering our Filipino Community.

None of this would have happened had it not been for the Bayanihan Spirit of the 45+ volunteers who braved the elements and sacrificed time from their families to be with so many who needed a hand. Your desire to volunteer and help those in trouble are a testament to you. Thanks for your inspiring dedication and tremendous example to those in need.

Words cannot convey our gratitude for your contribution. We wanted to thank you with this note as our personal round of applause. The credit for our good deeds firmly rests with our dedicated volunteers. It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with all of you.

Next stop, San Jose! Date to be determined…stay tuned!

Sincerely,

Jose A. Pecho, Chair
Region 8, Northern California
NaFFAA

Capitalizing on the success of our first Foreclosure Prevention Clinic held in Vallejo on December 13, 2008, NaFFAA Region 8 in cooperation with the Mabuhay Alliance, the city of Daly City and the Community Child Care Council of Santa Clara County, invites you to a “Foreclosure Prevention Clinic” to be held on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at the Doelger Community Center in Daly City.

Come to the Clinic if you are experiencing difficulties making your monthly mortgage payments. Has your interest rate changed? Has your home value decreased? Do you have questions about foreclosure or bankruptcy? Do you await foreclosure or eviction notices? Do you have questions about how non-payments can affect your credit rating? What is a short sale?

You can answer all these questions by attending this foreclosure prevention clinic. Housing counselors, mortgage counselors and volunteer attorneys can give you valuable information to assist you to make needed decisions.

Please help us spread the word by getting this invitation to as many homeowners as possible. Loss mitigation Representatives from several banks will be present including: Countrywide Home Loans, Bank of America, Citi Mortgage, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase Washington Mutual, HSBC, Indymac Federal Bank, Downey Savings and EMC Mortgage.

Sincerely,

Jose A. Pecho, Chair
Region 8, Northern California
NaFFAA

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02222009 - Daly City Foreclosure Prevention Clinic at Doelger Community Center

Executive Summary

Regional and County Officers met on January 17, 2009 at the home of Regional Chair Jose Pecho to review Region 8 challenges and issues and to determine the strategic priorities for 2009.

Several organizational challenges were identified ranging from funding to clarifying and streamlining the organization to better respond to the emerging priorities due to the growing Northern California Filipino Community.

In this regard NaFFAA Region 8 will pursue the following on-going operational issues:

- Strengthen the organizational and financial infrastructure.

- Strengthen the leadership capacity at the Regional, County, City and Local levels

Responding to the Filipino community’s continuing growth, diverse demographics and issues, the Strategy and Planning participants chose the following priorities:

1. Advocate for the Congressional passage of legislation providing benefits for World War II Philippine Veterans

2. Continue to increase the number of Filipino voters and their participation in the Democratic process

3. Pursue programs in conjunction with strategic alliances with other organizations which
advocate Economic Empowerment including the holding of Foreclosure Prevention Clinics. Help educate the Filipino business community for opportunities to do business with Corporate America, as well as address the supplier diversity needs of these Institutions.

4. Institute a Pilot Program involving our youth on health and wellness, lifestyle and Financial literacy in conjunction with West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center in San Francisco.

5. Improve the academic achievement of K-12 public school Filipino Americans and access to funding for higher education.

6. Legacy Program to insure leadership succession by our youth.

7. Identify unique issues at the local level affecting our community via County Chairs.

8. Continued Membership Growth.

(more…)

IT’S A CELEBRATION!

Please scroll below for the updates as of February 13, 2009 and February 18, 2009!

For those Filipino veterans and families of Filipino veterans who have been inquiring about how to file their claims (to get their benefits), please stay tuned for more news and details. Subscribe your e-mail address for updates here at our website or email us at NaFFAANorCal@gmail.com.

February 11, 2009

The Filipino community is invited to attend a Candlelight Rally on February 18, 2009 to commemorate the anniversary of the Rescission Act. The Rally will begin at 6:00pm in front of the US Federal Building (450 Golden Gate Avenue) and ends at the Veterans War Memorial Building where we will be serving light refreshments.

As you may already know, Senator Inouye inserted the Filipino WWII Veterans Equity Bill in the Stimulus package being debated by a conference committe and should the bill pass, we will turn the candle light rally into a mock funeral procession to bury the Rescission Act and celebrate the restoration of the honor and dignity taken away from these once brave and gallant men after service have been rendered in good faith.
.
Best regards,

Cdr. Rudy Asercion
Commissioner
Veterans War Memorial
401 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

NOTE: Rudy Asercion is NaFFAA Region 8’s San Francisco City and County Chair.

Telltale Signs/ RESCINDING THE RESCISSION ACT
Rodel Rodis, February 11, 2009

The infamous Rescission Act of 1946 may soon be rescinded if the Filipino veterans equity provision in the stimulus bill that passed the US Senate on February 10, 2009 is retained in the joint Senate-House conference bill that is approved by both Houses of Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama.

There were approximately 430,000 Filipino WW II veterans who were slated to receive US military benefits (health care, G.I. Bill of Rights, pension, vocational rehabilitation etc) when this bill removing those benefits was approved by the US Congress on February 18, 1946. Before signing the bill into law, President Harry Truman declared that “the passage and approval of this legislation does not release the US from its moral obligation to provide for the heroic Philippine veterans who sacrificed so much for the common cause during the war.”

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Two former San Francisco mayors, along with more than a dozen current and former Trustees and the current and former Chancellors of the San Francisco Community College, joined more than 400 guests to honor former City College Trustee Rodel Rodis for his 18 years of service to City College of San Francisco in a testimonial dinner held at the Green Room of the Veterans War Memorial Building on January 27.

Former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos spoke about his desire to empower the Filipino community when he appointed Rodis to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in 1987, making Rodis the first Filipino American to be appointed to a major commission in San Francisco. After a year on the commission, his fellow commissioners elected Rodis president of the commission in 1988 and re-elected him again in 1989.

While president of the SFPUC in 1989, Rodis sponsored a resolution transferring 15 acres of SFPUC land (the South Balboa Reservoir), right across the main campus of the City College of San Francisco, the most congested campus in California, over to City College. While in the process of transferring the land to City College, a vacancy occurred on the College Board in January of 1991 and Mayor Agnos appointed Rodis to the vacant post.

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