Filipino American National Historical Society

GIVE FILIPINO VETS N.M.'s SUPPORT
by: Kristelle Siarza

Published: Albuquerque Tribune
Election Day, November 2, 2004

I would first off like to thank New Mexico residents who continue to fight for diversity in our amazing state.

As a native Californian for 14 years, I found that coming to the Land of Enchantment opened up a larger scope of cultures for me, even though I had lived in a state that could not classify minority or majority races. I've never learned so much about Hispanic, American Indian and New Mexico life
until I met the citizens of New Mexico who continue to fight for the preservation of cultures.

I, a Filipino-American, am a second generation immigrant. Though my parents pretty much Americanized me by meeting in California, getting married in the states and popping me out of the womb in San Francisco, one valuable asset that I continue to cherish is my culture.

The Philippines is an amazing country, Filipinos are devoted to family and community, and I continue to push myself to uphold those expectations. The 5,000 Filipinos who currently live in New Mexico have a major influence in New Mexico life. This can be traced back to World War II, with the deployment of N.M. National Guard soldiers in Bataan. These soldier's memories and memorials have been a monument to the diversity of New Mexicans- especially the monument that was erected two years ago at Bataan Memorial Park on Lomas and Carlisle.

Currently, Filipinos that became Americans because of World War II have not received the same treatment as our other honorable veterans of WWII. They are alone and unnoticed among those in the massive pool of our past heroes.

The U.S. Congress lately is considering H.R. 677 - the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2003. This bill, if passed, would "deem certain service in the organized military forces of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippines Scouts to have been active service, for
purposes of Benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs."

These WWII veterans fought bravely and served as U.S. soldiers in defending our flag and country. They now have become heroes for second and third generation immigrants. These Filipino-Americans deserve full recognition for their U.S. military service, deserve their disability and pensions and need your support.

If you'd like more information about H.R. 677 and how to ask your representative or senators from New Mexico to support this bill, please contact the Filipino American Association of New Mexico or the National Federation of Filipino American Association, via the Web, at:
www.naffaa.org.

As a minority, I reach out to all New Mexican to help support veterans who fought for world peace and freedom years before my fellow Filipino-Americans and I were born.

Kristelle Siarza
Albuquerque

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Address: FANHS Rio Grande
P.O. Box 80241
Albuquerque, NM 87198

To Contact us: information@pinoy-newmexico.com

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		GIVE FILIPINO VETS N.M.'s SUPPORT by: Kristelle Siarza Published: Albuquerque Tribune Election Day, November 2, 2004 I would first off like to thank New Mexico residents who continue to fight for diversity in our amazing state. As a native Californian for 14 years, I found that coming to the Land of Enchantment opened up a larger scope of cultures for me, even though I had lived in a state that could not classify minority or majority races. I've never learned so much about Hispanic, American Indian and New Mexico life until I met the citizens of New Mexico who continue to fight for the preservation of cultures. I, a Filipino-American, am a second generation immigrant. Though my parents pretty much Americanized me by meeting in California, getting married in the states and popping me out of the womb in San Francisco, one valuable asset that I continue to cherish is my culture. The Philippines is an amazing country, Filipinos are devoted to family and community, and I continue to push myself to uphold those expectations. The 5,000 Filipinos who currently live in New Mexico have a major influence in New Mexico life. This can be traced back to World War II, with the deployment of N.M. National Guard soldiers in Bataan. These soldier's memories and memorials have been a monument to the diversity of New Mexicans- especially the monument that was erected two years ago at Bataan Memorial Park on Lomas and Carlisle. Currently, Filipinos that became Americans because of World War II have not received the same treatment as our other honorable veterans of WWII. They are alone and unnoticed among those in the massive pool of our past heroes. The U.S. Congress lately is considering H.R. 677 - the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2003. This bill, if passed, would "deem certain service in the organized military forces of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippines Scouts to have been active service, for purposes of Benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs." These WWII veterans fought bravely and served as U.S. soldiers in defending our flag and country. They now have become heroes for second and third generation immigrants. These Filipino-Americans deserve full recognition for their U.S. military service, deserve their disability and pensions and need your support. If you'd like more information about H.R. 677 and how to ask your representative or senators from New Mexico to support this bill, please contact the Filipino American Association of New Mexico or the National Federation of Filipino American Association, via the Web, at: www.naffaa.org. As a minority, I reach out to all New Mexican to help support veterans who fought for world peace and freedom years before my fellow Filipino-Americans and I were born. Kristelle Siarza Albuquerque top Address: FANHS Rio Grande P.O. Box 80241 Albuquerque, NM 87198 To Contact us: information@pinoy-newmexico.com Today's date is
	"The mission of the Filipino American National Historical Society shall be to promote understanding, education, enlightenment, appreciation and enrichment through the identification, gathering, preservation, and dissemination of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States" Address: FANHS Rio Grande P.O. Box 80241 Albuquerque, NM 87198 To contact us: Miss Myrna Samson