Post by dcgrava on Nov 6, 2006 23:02:21 GMT -5
Community honors deceased WWII vet with military rite
ADIEU TO A FREEDOM FIGHTER: Acting Consul General Mary Jo Aragon, standing front in Filipino Barong, attends a memorial service for a deceased veteran, Catalino Castillo, at the MacArthur Park. Seated on wheelchair is retired Col. Antonio Ortega. Second row, from left: Jose C. Reyes, Eulogio Vergara, Amada Vergara, Al Alpasan, Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque, and Jona Yap. Behind them are the honor guards, left to right: Teddy Ortega, Philip Garcia, Ray Ortega, Manny Ortega and Joseph Rocamora.
A memorial to a WWII veteran who passed away a month ago revisits a sad chapter in the 60 year advocacy of Filipino WWII veterans.
The remains of Catalino Castillo (1922-2006) were cremated and the ashes brought by friends in a paper bag to the office of the Filipino Veterans Foundation at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles, according to Dr. Jenny L. Batongmalaque, FVF executive director.
On Saturday morning, Oct. 28, the Filipino Veterans Foundation and the Veterans Center Association honored the deceased veteran with a solemn rite at the foot of the monument of Gen. Douglas MacArthur located in a park bearing his name because, according to Dr. Jenny, “every veteran deserves the full military honors when it is time to say goodbye.”
Acting Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon extended, on behalf of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the people and government of the Philippines, “our deepest condolence” and expressed gratitude for veteran Castillo’s sacrifices in the service of the country. “The Philippine government will work doubly hard to achieve the equity and recognition that the veterans deserve for what they have done for the country. So we will work very hard with our ambassador in Washington, Ambassador Gaa, taking the lead for them.” The head of consular post gave assurance earlier that the consulate will assist in the shipment of the veteran’s cremated remains to the Philippines, it was learned.
Retired Col. Antonio Ortega, said to be a junior officer of the late Col. Erasto R. Batongmalaque, in whose memory the FVF was established, helped in the laying of a wreath during the event. Ortega was wounded during the war and received the Silver Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. Addressing the Rescission Act of 1946 which curtailed Filipino veterans’ benefits and full recognition, Ortega stated: “No matter whether (the US) Congress recognizes our services or not, I did serve because I was there. God Bless America!”
Col. Ortega’s three sons, Manuel, Teddy and Ray, are members of a historical reenactment group and, together with Philip Garcia and Joseph Rocamora, served as honor guards during the memorial. Ortega’s wife died recently. He also lost another son, Annapolis graduate Antonio, Jr., during a tour of sea duty a few years ago.
Alberto Alpasan, a field deputy veterans’ service officer of the California Dept of Veterans Affairs, also remarked that their office helps Filipino-American veterans in the quest for recognition of services in WWII, in claiming for benefits, and for burial benefits of widows. A veteran’s family can also request for burial at the Riverside Veterans Memorial Park, he said.
Last Saturday’s rite brought back memories of a historic episode in 1997 when Filipino-American veterans decided to bring national attention on their plight by establishing an “Equity Village” at the MacArthur Park, named after their former commander-in-chief. It soon became a base of operations to put pressure on a proposed legislation in the US Congress – the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill – designed to reinstate the veterans’ pay and benefits summarily taken from them after the war.
It was a huge media opportunity and sympathy was high especially with photos of emaciated veterans chaining themselves inside the “Village”. The advocacy succeeded in rallying the usually divergent veteran groups to work for a common goal, helped initiate a veterans’ caravan that wound its way in the capital to seek audience with legislators, and was credited for gathering more than 180 congressional supporters. However, the advocacy surge failed to push through the bill beyond committee hearings.
The Equity Village had existed for some 100 days when this writer dispatched the following dated April 21: “The tent-headquarter of elderly World War II veterans that has been the acknowledged symbol of a long-running protest against broken promises and injustice to their wartime exploits is gone.
Yesterday at dawn, trucks and rangers of the Recreation and Parks Department descended on the encampment and hauled away the makeshift headquarters – the chairs, desks, tables, tarps, sofa, portable toilet, the trash bins and everything else on the site.
They even hosed down the place with water, practically flooding the place, to deter the veterans from returning… “
According to Dr. Jenny, “the late Veteran Castillo represented all Filipino-American Veterans who have died in the United States in recent years without family, a few friends, and known only to God.”
Castillo was 19 years old when he was inducted at the outbreak of WWII in the Philippines as a member of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East. He was with the Second Regular Division, a Bataan Defender, and a prisoner of war who survived the Death March.
In 1994 Castillo came to the United States and was granted citizenship. However, despite the fact that his being a veteran was attested by records in Missouri, his claim for benefits was denied supposedly because of the Rescission Act of 1946. He was one of those who joined the advocacy at Equity Village.
Jose Reyes of the Veterans Center Association gave the invocation during the ceremony. The few veterans present during the memorial underlines the fast disappearing veterans group whose average age is 84 years, Dr. Jenny said.
“It is no longer the money we are after. We just want to be sure that the truth about us, the Filipino troops, is rightfully placed in the history of the United States,” stated Veteran Jose C. Reyes. The program ended with a flute rendition of “Amazing Grace” by Teddy Ortega.
The Filipino Veterans Foundation, a charitable tax-exempt organization, has provided advocacy and assistance for veterans in the past four years, connecting them to a veterans’ service officer of the County of Los Angeles and the Regional Veterans Administration. The Foundation has temporarily vacated its space at Hope Patriotic Hall together with all tenants while the 80-year old building is undergoing refurbishment and repairs. In the interim, its address is at the DPSS Building of the County of Los Angeles, 2615 S. Grand Ave., this city. -- By Dionesio Grava
From WEEKEND BALITA
ADIEU TO A FREEDOM FIGHTER: Acting Consul General Mary Jo Aragon, standing front in Filipino Barong, attends a memorial service for a deceased veteran, Catalino Castillo, at the MacArthur Park. Seated on wheelchair is retired Col. Antonio Ortega. Second row, from left: Jose C. Reyes, Eulogio Vergara, Amada Vergara, Al Alpasan, Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque, and Jona Yap. Behind them are the honor guards, left to right: Teddy Ortega, Philip Garcia, Ray Ortega, Manny Ortega and Joseph Rocamora.
A memorial to a WWII veteran who passed away a month ago revisits a sad chapter in the 60 year advocacy of Filipino WWII veterans.
The remains of Catalino Castillo (1922-2006) were cremated and the ashes brought by friends in a paper bag to the office of the Filipino Veterans Foundation at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles, according to Dr. Jenny L. Batongmalaque, FVF executive director.
On Saturday morning, Oct. 28, the Filipino Veterans Foundation and the Veterans Center Association honored the deceased veteran with a solemn rite at the foot of the monument of Gen. Douglas MacArthur located in a park bearing his name because, according to Dr. Jenny, “every veteran deserves the full military honors when it is time to say goodbye.”
Acting Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon extended, on behalf of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the people and government of the Philippines, “our deepest condolence” and expressed gratitude for veteran Castillo’s sacrifices in the service of the country. “The Philippine government will work doubly hard to achieve the equity and recognition that the veterans deserve for what they have done for the country. So we will work very hard with our ambassador in Washington, Ambassador Gaa, taking the lead for them.” The head of consular post gave assurance earlier that the consulate will assist in the shipment of the veteran’s cremated remains to the Philippines, it was learned.
Retired Col. Antonio Ortega, said to be a junior officer of the late Col. Erasto R. Batongmalaque, in whose memory the FVF was established, helped in the laying of a wreath during the event. Ortega was wounded during the war and received the Silver Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. Addressing the Rescission Act of 1946 which curtailed Filipino veterans’ benefits and full recognition, Ortega stated: “No matter whether (the US) Congress recognizes our services or not, I did serve because I was there. God Bless America!”
Col. Ortega’s three sons, Manuel, Teddy and Ray, are members of a historical reenactment group and, together with Philip Garcia and Joseph Rocamora, served as honor guards during the memorial. Ortega’s wife died recently. He also lost another son, Annapolis graduate Antonio, Jr., during a tour of sea duty a few years ago.
Alberto Alpasan, a field deputy veterans’ service officer of the California Dept of Veterans Affairs, also remarked that their office helps Filipino-American veterans in the quest for recognition of services in WWII, in claiming for benefits, and for burial benefits of widows. A veteran’s family can also request for burial at the Riverside Veterans Memorial Park, he said.
Last Saturday’s rite brought back memories of a historic episode in 1997 when Filipino-American veterans decided to bring national attention on their plight by establishing an “Equity Village” at the MacArthur Park, named after their former commander-in-chief. It soon became a base of operations to put pressure on a proposed legislation in the US Congress – the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill – designed to reinstate the veterans’ pay and benefits summarily taken from them after the war.
It was a huge media opportunity and sympathy was high especially with photos of emaciated veterans chaining themselves inside the “Village”. The advocacy succeeded in rallying the usually divergent veteran groups to work for a common goal, helped initiate a veterans’ caravan that wound its way in the capital to seek audience with legislators, and was credited for gathering more than 180 congressional supporters. However, the advocacy surge failed to push through the bill beyond committee hearings.
The Equity Village had existed for some 100 days when this writer dispatched the following dated April 21: “The tent-headquarter of elderly World War II veterans that has been the acknowledged symbol of a long-running protest against broken promises and injustice to their wartime exploits is gone.
Yesterday at dawn, trucks and rangers of the Recreation and Parks Department descended on the encampment and hauled away the makeshift headquarters – the chairs, desks, tables, tarps, sofa, portable toilet, the trash bins and everything else on the site.
They even hosed down the place with water, practically flooding the place, to deter the veterans from returning… “
According to Dr. Jenny, “the late Veteran Castillo represented all Filipino-American Veterans who have died in the United States in recent years without family, a few friends, and known only to God.”
Castillo was 19 years old when he was inducted at the outbreak of WWII in the Philippines as a member of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East. He was with the Second Regular Division, a Bataan Defender, and a prisoner of war who survived the Death March.
In 1994 Castillo came to the United States and was granted citizenship. However, despite the fact that his being a veteran was attested by records in Missouri, his claim for benefits was denied supposedly because of the Rescission Act of 1946. He was one of those who joined the advocacy at Equity Village.
Jose Reyes of the Veterans Center Association gave the invocation during the ceremony. The few veterans present during the memorial underlines the fast disappearing veterans group whose average age is 84 years, Dr. Jenny said.
“It is no longer the money we are after. We just want to be sure that the truth about us, the Filipino troops, is rightfully placed in the history of the United States,” stated Veteran Jose C. Reyes. The program ended with a flute rendition of “Amazing Grace” by Teddy Ortega.
The Filipino Veterans Foundation, a charitable tax-exempt organization, has provided advocacy and assistance for veterans in the past four years, connecting them to a veterans’ service officer of the County of Los Angeles and the Regional Veterans Administration. The Foundation has temporarily vacated its space at Hope Patriotic Hall together with all tenants while the 80-year old building is undergoing refurbishment and repairs. In the interim, its address is at the DPSS Building of the County of Los Angeles, 2615 S. Grand Ave., this city. -- By Dionesio Grava
From WEEKEND BALITA