Thousands of Filipino soldiers and volunteers lost their lives and property in the savagery of World War II waged here against the Japanese Imperial Army.

Filipino and American flags were foisted together on top of many a hill - while Pinoy and Kano blood literally blended and cascaded together in many fields and canals in the battlefields throughout the country.

War history, war films and books have been written about the awesome courage of many Filipino soldiers, bucking inferior artillery but gave their lives in the altar of freedom so that America's brand of democracy would prevail in Asia.

Manila was devastated by US war planes to "free" the capital from the Asian invaders.

Hundreds of Filipinos likewise fell down exhausted and depressed in the infamous Death March to Bataan.

They were there - upon American advice - to make Corregidor and Bataan to be the last fortresses to be defended while awaiting the return of General Douglas Macarthur.

It was to buy him time. But the price we paid to implement Washington's strategy was steep and costly.

After the war - time healed old wounds between enemies. But between friends, memories of shared commitments and values seemed to have frozen in time.

America's cruel Rescission Act of 1946 denied "rights, privilege of benefits" to Filipino soldiers who fought under the American flag during World War II.

Many of Filipinos had died and many more remained poor throughout their lives - some maimed for life for accidents thrown their bodies in warfare. Many of them left destitute widows and orphans while America built herself to become a space and military superpower.

For 61 years - Filipino veterans and Filipino activists in the USA had organized American grassroots support and lobbied the US Congress. They marched and demonstrated at the White House. Many were jailed for civil disobedience.

Still no pension for veterans.

But a new hope may be forthcoming. Though let's be also realistic about the odds.

Because of the new control of the Democrats of both the United States Lower House and the Senate, the leadership passed the "Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007"" (H.R. 760) This resolution may be voted upon by both floors during this summer in America.

Once acted by both Houses, a conference committee will convene to reconcile the differences in their versions.

The reconciled version will then be endorsed to President George W. Bush and the bill becomes law with proper budget allocation of a whooping US$1.0 billion for Filipino veterans for the next 10 years.

Of course, the Filipino veterans currently living in the USA will get higher compensation compared to those living elsewhere including the Philippines.

This new light at the tunnel for veterans can be translated into the following compensation package using the present exchange rate of US$1 : P 45:

House Version Senate Version
Married Veteran P 378,000/year P 220,000/year
Single Veteran P 270,000/year P162,000/year
Widow of Veteran P 162,000/year P 108,000/year

That should translate into a maximum of P31,000/month for living married veteran or close to P2 million in the next five years; P22,000/month for a single living veteran or P 1.2-Million in the next five years and P 14,000/month for a living widow of a veteran or about P750,000 in the next five years.

It is a huge amount of US$1 billion for 10 years. And that is the reason why aside from the Republicans who will vote against the measure, many American veterans associations in America are vigorously opposing, wrongly fearful that it will jeopardize their own benefits. The source of funds for H.R 760, however, will be different.

But a lot of lobbying is still necessary until we get the final approval. For information and contribution for lobby funds, do write to National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE) by visiting the website www.nafve.org. Also write to relatives and friends in the USA to request their congressman or senator to approve the measure since it will not prejudice the other old American war veterans there.

This veteran war pension fund is long time in coming. Sixty one years is a long passage of time to deny this just recompense for defending Filipinos defending American interest with life and limb in the Asia Pacific.

Veteran war soldier Joe Pernia (87 years old) of this city hardly remembers names and faces today. But thankfully, maybe even part of the horrors of war. A Filipino and USAFFE veteran, Pernia was felled by Japanese guns on his behind that sidelined him from further fighting. He was rightly honored with a Purple Cross medal of valor for being wounded in war action by the USA. His wife Fe Lopez-Pernia is a WAS (Woman Auxiliary) war veteran.

Joe's sister, the matriarch of this enterprise Rosario Pernia-Dejaresco is likewise a WAS.

Her husband and founder-publisher of this paper Jun Dejaresco was a war veteran (in Bohol) who used to deliver secret coded messages sewn inside his polo while doing intelligence work for the underground movement during the war.

Caught by the Japanese, he was almost beheaded by a shining samurai by a Japanese kempetei as the former editor-publisher recalled in his Memoirs. The Japanese soldier's changing of mind proved that not only women are afflicted with a curse (or was it a blessing, in this case?)

Many Boholanos were valiant guerilla leaders and soldiers. The late President Carlos Garcia's house was burned down in Talibon when the Japs heard about his war exploits.

And so on.

These stories of gallant patriotism and love for flag and people were repeated a hundred times in the storied stand of the American allies in the Pacific.

Sixty one years after, the just recognition of such valor could become a reality with an Act of American Congress. Believers in the cause say: "it is co close, we can almost taste it."

But just like the recent Boom Boom boxing disaster, it is always best to view this case with cautious optimism. But who knows?

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For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com