“The Caucus’s vision of progressive API activism as part of a broader movement to secure equality and justice for all, is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago,” said Rho. “I am honored to be joining the talented team at the Caucus to build on this powerful legacy.”

Rho brings valuable litigation, advocacy and executive management experience to the position. She began her career as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program, and subsequently practiced poverty law as a staff attorney at the Urban Justice Center in New York City. Most recently, as the Country Director of the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) China Program, Rho managed the national office and led the implementation of ABA ROLI’s social justice programs in areas including public interest lawyering, criminal justice reform, women’s rights and environmental protection.

Rho’s selection comes after the Caucus board conducted a nationwide search with assistance from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.

A member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco is the nation’s oldest organization advocating for the civil and legal rights of APIs. The mission of the Asian Law Caucus is to promote, advance and represent the legal and civil rights of API communities, with a focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved individuals. In addition to supporting clients with legal expertise, the Caucus seeks to bring together elements of policy advocacy and community organizing so that through one person’s individual struggle it is able to achieve broader results for the community.

Source: Asian Law Caucus news release

NAPAWF, Mr. Angry and Hyphen have been highlighting community leaders – one per day since Oct. 24 – from the labor union powerhouses to the student activists to the working moms who are organizing in their neighborhoods.  These fearless women are not only leading the way towards social change, they’re also raising funds for NAPAWF in honor of the 15th year anniversary.

Cheer these women on by donating on their behalf and support the work of NAPAWF who will continually fight for the rights and issues of our communities.

Here’s to the sisters!
Urooj Arshad, nominated by NQAPIA
Lisa Chen, nominated by ASPIRE
Zenei Cortez, nominated by FAJ
Caroline Fan, nominated by APALA
Lillian Galledo, nominated by Jean Tolentino
Lisa Hasegawa, nominated by Sandy Lee
Isabel Kang, nominated by Terry Park
Amy Lam , nominated by Anne Chiang
Jenny Lares, nominated by Peter DeCrescenzo
Theresa Navarro, nominated by CAAM
Sham-e Ali Nayeem, nominated by Jane Kim
Tram (Jas) Nguyen, nominated by Vinh Kim Vu
Stephanie Tanny, nominated by Brandon Iwamoto and Iimay Ho
Mari Rose Taruc, nominated by Ellen Choy
Monica Thammarath, nominated by Minhchau Dinh

Visit angryasianman.com to view the profiles, starting with Isabel Kang, the director of Shimtuh, a domestic violence and sexual assault program based at the Korean Community Center of the East Bay (KCCEB), a multi-service organization located in Oakland.

Manufou Liaiga-Anoa'i (Photo from apaforprogress.org)

(Reprinted from Samoa News) Manufou Liaiga-Anoa’i was sworn in on May 20 as a new member of the San Mateo County’s Commission on Status of Women. Manufou is the first Pacific Islander to serve on this commission which addresses issues surrounding Women and families across twenty one Bay Area cities.

The Commission on the Status of Women of San Mateo County is a non-partisan appointed body that advises the County Board of Supervisors. Established by the Board of Supervisors in 1982, to provide leadership in developing policies, programs and legislation that address the needs of women, girls and families.

Manufou “Fou” Liaiga-Anoa’i is a native San Franciscan and who has called Daly City, CA home for the past fifteen years. She is a proud mother of four children who are students of both the Jefferson Union and South San Francisco School districts.

A product of public education at Lowell High School, American Samoa Community College and University of San Francisco. Manufou believes the pursuit of higher education should always be accessible to all and that financial need nor age should ever prohibit anyone from pursuing their educational and life goals.

Manufou’s family is a founding member of the first Samoan church in Northern California, CCCAS-SF more widely known to many as “Anoa’is Church”. She also was the founding Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Pacific Islander Youth Alliance (P.I.Y.A.) Summer Program at the Samoan Community Development Center which has been in existence for the past fourteen years.

Manufou served as the City and County of San Francisco’s first Pacific Islander Liaison and Special Assistant to District 11 under former Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. throughout his administration. She has also been part of the San Mateo County’s first Differential Response team of North County, under City of Daly City & Daly City Peninsula Partnership Collaborative which is now known as C.A.R.T.

Manufou is a social entrepreneur serving as a consultant by profession and cultural broker not just in the Pacific Islander community, but also for San Francisco Districts 10, 11 and San Mateo County, particularly North County. Her community outreach efforts are updated daily at www.MANUFOU.com.

Manufou is the founder of SF Samoa – Pacific Islander Community Partnership, Samoan Parents In Action (a literacy & advocacy program) and oversees the day to day operations as the Program Manager while also serving as an active Board Member for Bay Area Benefit, SF Chief of Police Youth Forum, Mission District Re-Entry Center for Youth, SF Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration, API (Asian Pacific Islanders) Circle, SF Community Challenge Grant, Polynesian Athletes in Action’s Annual Polynesian Bowl.

This past January 2011, Manufou was nationally recognized by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress as an Unsung Hero. Her work with voter education and registering over seven hundred new California Pacific Islander voters this past year was applauded and her community work was celebrated.

Manufou is married to Muagututi’a Ryan T. Anoa’i and is a proud mother of four, Heavenley-Siniva, Hamilton-Samasoni, Hiramoreno-Seali’ioaiga and Harmony-Sitama’ita’ioManufou. She is also the daughter of the Late Pepine Lafulafu Liaiga-Mulitauaopele and local resident Papali’i Manufou Liaiga of Petesa; sister to TSA Deputy Director Papali’i Fatu Ah Soon, LBJ Hospital Auxilary Volunteer Wendy M. Ah Soon, and daughter-in-law to KVZK Veteran Siniva Anoa’i & Peseta Tumua Anoa’i-Amituana’i.

Manufou’s organization SF Samoa-Pacific Islander Community Partnership is no stranger to the Territory as they have been avid supporters of local philanthropy. SF Samoa has given back through partnering with the Territory’s American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition, PICED and Human Services Agency to provide relief efforts to our local residents and over a thousand children’s books for the devastated schools which were donated via Department of Education. They also hosted the First Annual Toy Drive in partnership with Hawaiian Air under Muagututi’a Ryan Anoa’i's tenure as Station Manager, Moana Purcell and the late Joan Petelo which gave over 300+ brand new toys to local school children.

When asked what this new appointment means to her, she replied, “I first give THANKS to my Heavenly Father, my Maker for creating this opportunity for me. I am deeply honored to receive this gift, this blessing to be a public servant. Helping others, serving my communities and my people is my lifelong passion. Many women before me have opened doors and I humbly and graciously accept this position in honor of THEM – my mother Papali’i Manufou Fonoti-Liaiga, Nofoaluma Tuiasosopo – Founder of Samoa Mo Samoa and Suataute “Coke” Auemoelogo-Anoa’i – Community Activist; all strong women who have paved the way for a better tomorrow. I look forward to the work ahead and hope that I might be able to have my voice be reflective of the needs and strengths of the great women of this vibrant county of San Mateo. I am continuously telling others that if we all make a concerted effort to take incremental steps in making progressive change, we can count on leaving a legacy that we can be proud of. Giving is a reciprocal process and as I am always asking others to give to a worthy cause I end on the note of ANY HELP IS A BIG HELP. My sincere gratitude to all those who have kindly endorsed and supported me through this process – thank you so much!”

Sen. Moua and Ms. Manansala will join vice president of operations Patricia Aguilera who began on October 1, 2010, in setting the strategies of APIAHF’s work. This includes all areas of substantive work across programs, in policy advocacy at the federal and state levels, and expanding APIAHF’s national profile and leadership role in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities, as well as in public health and health policy.

“Charmaine Manansala and Senator Mee Moua join us with distinguished backgrounds in health advocacy, social activism and community engagement. We look forward to their leadership and guidance as we work to influence policy, mobilize communities, and strengthen programs and organizations,” said Kathy Lim Ko, president and CEO of APIAHF. “Together, they will lead our health justice agenda and our work to address health disparities and to advance policies and programs that improve the health of all vulnerable communities.”

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Read the complete announcement here.

The first Fred Korematsu Day will be celebrated on January 30, 2011 on Fred Korematsu’s birthday. The Korematsu Institute, launched last year by the Asian Law Caucus and in partnership with the Korematsu family, plans to roll out curriculum in K-12 schools that week and on all future Korematsu Days.

The bill, authored by Assemblymembers Warren T. Furutani (D – South Los Angeles County) and Marty Block (D – San Diego), is in honor of the late Fred Korematsu, a man who became a civil rights icon for defying the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

“This is historic not only for Californians but for all Americans,” says Ling Woo Liu, Director of the Korematsu Institute. “Establishing Korematsu Day ensures that Fred Korematsu’s legacy will not be forgotten and future generations of Californians will learn about the importance of protecting civil liberties.”

Korematsu Day was spearheaded by former San Diego Superior Court Judge Lillian Lim and Susan Woo, who were dismayed by the general lack of knowledge of the Fred Korematsu story. These concerns were shared with others who agreed it was important to establish a a Fred Korematsu Day where schools would incorporate into their curriculum the history of the Japanese American incarceration. An ad hoc committee was then formed within the Southwest Center for Asian Pacific American Law, with the goal of establishing a Fred Korematsu Day.

“I would like to thank Governor Schwarzenegger for signing this significant piece of legislation, which promotes the protection of freedom and constitutional rights,” said Assemblymember Furutani. “Fred Korematsu was an ordinary man who did an extraordinary thing during a time when his constitutional rights were violated, and as a consequence, changed the course of history. The Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution will provide an important teaching moment for California and its students.”

“As a trailblazer of civil rights who stood against the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, Fred Korematsu’s legacy reminds us that we must use this dark period in our history as a teaching tool to educate future generations on the importance of preserving civil liberties for everyone,” said Assemblymember Block. “I thank the Governor for signing the Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution into law because it further ensures that Fred’s legacy of bravery and sacrifice will be taught in classrooms and help us remain vigilant against the racism and stereotyping he fought to overcome.”

During World War II, Korematsu was a 23-year-old welder in San Leandro, California who defied military orders that ultimately led to the evacuation and incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, including Korematsu and his family. The Korematsu family was held first in the Tanforan Race Track Assembly Center in San Bruno, Calif., and then incarcerated in the Topaz incarceration camp in Utah.

He took his challenge to the military orders to the U.S. Supreme Court, which, in 1944, upheld his conviction on the ground that the forced removal of Japanese Americans was justified by “military necessity.” That decision has been widely condemned as one of the darkest chapters in American legal history.

After four decades of having to live with a “disloyalty” conviction on his record that limited him from securing full-time work, Korematsu filed suit to reopen his case on proof that the government, when arguing his case during the war, had suppressed, altered, and destroyed material evidence that contradicted the government’s claim of military necessity. In 1983, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California granted his petition for a writ of error coram nobis (a notice of error) and overturned his conviction.

“Fred Korematsu’s eventual court victory taught America about the fragility of civil rights especially during times of international tensions,” said attorney Dale Minami, a member of Korematsu’s legal team and Steering Committee of the Korematsu Institute. “It reinforced our belief that civil rights must be fought for and are not simply guaranteed by the courts or by any governmental institution.”

Korematsu went on to champion the cause of civil liberties, not only seeking redress for Japanese Americans who were wrongfully incarcerated, but also traveling the country to advocate for the civil rights of other victims of excessive government action, especially after 9/11. He passed away in 2005 at the age of 86.

“After my father’s conviction was overturned in 1983, his focus and mission was education,” said Karen Korematsu. “He believed it was important to teach about his struggle for justice and the Japanese American incarceration so that the mistakes of history would not be repeated in the future. The significance of this day will enable students of today and tomorrow to learn and discuss the lessons of American history relevant to the current discussions of the Constitution and our civil liberties.”

In a post-9/11 nation where national security policies are based on fear and prejudice, the Korematsu Institute is dedicated to advancing pan-ethnic civil rights through education, activism and leadership development.

SOURCE: Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education. PHOTO by Lia Chang.

Glen S. Fukushima, Chairman & Director of Airbus Japan, and former President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, delivered the following remarks at the July 31, 2010, commencement ceremony of the University of Tsukuba’s MBA Program in International Business in Tokyo.

Thank you, Professor Murphy, for your kind introduction.

Let me begin by congratulating each of you on the successful completion of your studies and on being conferred today the degree of Master of International Business by the University of Tsukuba’s MBA Program in International Business.

You should all be proud of your achievements-first, for having been accepted as an MBA candidate to this selective program in international business, and second, for having graduated after successfully passing the academically rigorous requirements of the program.

Since this graduating class of 25 students is so diverse in terms of age, nationality, and academic and professional background, I don’t know to what extent my brief comments of 10-15 minutes today will be of value to you. But I hope that, based on my own diverse background and experiences, you may learn something from my comments that you can profitably apply to your personal and professional life as a business school graduate getting ready to re-enter the real world of work on a full-time basis.

In the 38 years since graduating from college in 1972, I have worked for 1 year in journalism, 9 years in academia (including graduate and professional schools), 3 years in law practice, 5 years in government service, and 20 years in business (working for one European and four American corporations). During my business career, I have also had the opportunity to serve on the boards of numerous foundations, NGOs, and NPOs. I consider my involvement in all six of these sectors-academia, journalism, law, government, business, and nonprofits-to have been valuable experiences that have contributed importantly to my ability to understand, manage, and lead global organizations. And, along the way, I have also had a lot of fun working in these diverse sectors!

For those of you who are trying to figure out my personal background, I can tell you that I am a U.S. citizen of Japanese ancestry working in Japan for a European company. This sentence has provided you four clues about me: (1) my citizenship, (2) my ethnicity, (3) where I work, and (4) where my company’s headquarters are located.

But globalization-which has accelerated rapidly since the collapse of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989-means that there is no longer a necessary correlation between a person’s citizenship, ethnicity, locus of work, and geographic location of his or her company’s headquarters. So companies are increasingly hiring and placing recruits based on their ability to get the job done, rather than based on their citizenship, ethnicity, gender, or geographic origin. What this means for all of you is that the opportunities open for you to work are increasingly global. My wife, who is a Stanford MBA and Chairperson of the Japan operations of Korn/Ferry International, the world’s largest executive search firm, would say that all of you are extremely fortunate in that your potential field of operations is virtually the entire world.

With so many opportunities available, one needs to be selective and focus on those activities that are most meaningful from a personal and professional standpoint. Based on my experience, I would like to offer three attributes or orientations and seven maxims or aphorisms that I have found helpful to me in my career over the past 38 years on three continents-North America, Asia, and Europe.

The first important attribute is optimism. This is especially true in Japan, where so many people, including in the mass media, tend to be pessimistic about everything-whether it’s the economy, politics, or the future. In Japan, someone who is optimistic risks being ridiculed as being naïve and simple-minded. To be regarded as a sophisticated and thinking person in Japan, one needs to express pessimism. However, on the macro level, stock prices are affected by the psychology of investors, and on a micro level, individual endurance, perseverance, and tenacity are difficult to sustain without optimism about one’s ability ultimately to succeed. Of course, one needs to be realistic and not Pollyanish. But in the real world, optimism is a powerful factor that contributes to finding solutions to problems and to getting things done.

The second important attribute is flexibility. In an increasingly globalized world characterized by change, speed, and diversity, one’s ability to adapt to new and changing circumstances is critical for personal and professional success. In my experience, the best lawyers, government negotiators, and business executives are those who quickly and accurately assess their counterparts and environments and can adapt to them effectively to bring about the desired results. To put it another way, inflexibility, rigidity, and narrow-mindedness are recipes for failure, especially in a cross-functional, cross-cultural, or cross-national setting.

The third important attribute is maintaining a sense of perspective. This includes keeping a sense of balance between the macro and micro, theory and practice, global and local, function and geography, hard and soft, universal and particular, public and private, professional and personal, office and family, work and play, serious and humorous, and so on. It is easy, given the extraordinary demands on our time and attention, to become single-mindedly obsessed with achieving narrow professional goals or objectives. But it is important at times to step back, take a deep breath, and gain a sense of perspective on both the means, methods, and processes one is engaged in and the ends and objectives one is trying to achieve.

Having discussed three attributes or orientations that I believe are important to be effective in the real world, let me now turn to seven maxims or aphorisms that I have found helpful in dealing with reality. Some academics may consider them to be pedestrian or even trite, but I have personally found them to be both entertaining and useful.

1. “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Some of the things I have observed and experienced in organizations, both public and private, are too bizarre to be believed if they were written up in the form of a novel, if only because they are based on decisions and actions that cannot be explained as logical or rational. Another way to put this is that, contrary to what one may read in microeconomics textbooks, one should not and cannot assume that all human behavior follows the model of the rational economic man or woman. In the real world, rationality and reality are often poles apart.

2. “The devil is in the details.” It is often easy to agree on general principles but extremely difficult to work out the concrete specifics, especially of implementation, in a way that is acceptable to all parties concerned. This is true even in two-party negotiations. When the number of parties involved increases, the difficulty of reaching agreement on the specifics can multiply exponentially. Witness, for example, the failure of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negations under the World Trade Organization, involving more than 150 countries.

3. “It’s never over until it’s over.” This is similar to the previous aphorism, although the emphasis here is less on the substance and more on the crucial element of time. Things usually take longer than originally planned, especially if many parties are involved, because there is always the possibility that one or more of the parties will change their minds or introduce new elements into the decision-making or negotiation that had not been considered before. Thus, it is often wise to work on several elements of a project in parallel, rather than sequentially, to ensure that a delay on one item will not bring the entire project to a halt.

4. “The best is enemy of the good.” or “Timing is everything.” Human beings, especially of the highly educated variety, tend to aim for perfection. This results in delaying decisions until more complete information is obtained or in postponing actions until all the right pre-conditions are in place. With speed an increasingly critical differentiator in global competition, it is often better to reach a decision or take action quickly, and to make adjustments, if necessary, later, rather than to delay important decisions or to not act at all. Missed deadlines can be fatal for the success of a project.

5. “Expect the unexpected.” Things in the real world almost never proceed as anticipated, even with the best laid plans. Thus, it is always important to be flexible and nimble enough to adapt to changing circumstances and shifting environments. It may not be possible to predict the future, but one needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Very few so-called “experts” accurately predicted the timing and nature of the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, or the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008. But effectively managing risk, uncertainty, and unpredictability is essential for overall management success.

6.”Different strokes for different folks.” or “Diversity is strength.” In the globalizing environment in which we all work, where the workforce is increasingly mobile and diverse, differences between individuals in values, orientations, and personal preferences are to be expected and respected. I currently work in a company, Airbus, in which the CEO is German, one COO is French, and the other COO is American. The company has 52,000 employees from over 84 nationalities, but the common language is English. A core strength of the company is its ability to recruit, hire, train, develop, and retain highly talented individuals from around the world, and to draw on their diversity to design, manufacture, test, market, sell, and maintain the world’s most technologically advanced commercial aircraft. Increasingly, the ability of companies to manage diversity effectively will weed out the winners from the losers in global competition.

7. “Strategy is execution.” Consultants are masters at crafting ever-more sophisticated corporate strategies based on the latest management theories and arcane quantitative methodologies. Such strategies can be elegant, intellectually appealing, and seductive, but a pure waste of time unless they are firmly grounded in reality and are capable of being implemented. In my experience, for every 10 beautiful corporate strategies that are formulated-often at great expense and investment of time and frequently using teams of highly paid outside consultants-only one or two end up actually improving the organization’s performance. I have concluded that it’s usually better to have a strategy that is inelegant but can be executed and produce positive results rather than a strategy that is theoretically and deductively attractive but removed from reality.

I have provided you three attributes or orientations-optimism, flexibility, and a sense of perspective-and seven maxims or aphorisms-dealing with rationality and reality, principles and specifics, time horizons, perfection and decisiveness, risk management, diversity power, and strategy execution-that I have found useful in my 38 years working in six professional sectors on three continents. Time constraints have not allowed me to elaborate, but I hope that you will find some of these 10 observations to be of value to you as well.

Congratulations again on your graduation. You have a world of tremendous potential in front of you, and I hope you make the best of it, empowered and enriched by the fine education you gained through the Tsukuba MBA Program in International Business.

Best wishes for a future of personal and professional success, however each of you may define it. And, by the way, don’t forget to have fun along the way!

Thank you, and good luck!

I’m proud to join an event host committee that includes David Chiu, Phil Ting, Fiona Ma, Steve Ngo, Angelica Jongco, Colbert Tse, Genevieve Jopanda, Gladys Soto, Keesa Ocampo, Lisa Le, Andy Wong and Zoe Dunning.

The event takes place on Thursday August 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Mercury Lounge, 1582 Folsom Street (between 12th St and Norfolk St), in San Francisco.

Suggested donation levels are $35, $100, $250 and $700. Contributions to Jennifer Pae for Oakland City Council 2010 (FPPC #1326068) are not tax deductible. Maximum contribution of $700 per contributor. For more information, visit http://jenniferpae.com.

RSVP via email at vote@jenniferpae.com. Or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132435350131230

If you don’t know Jennifer, here’s in her own words why she’s running.  I hope you can join me in supporting her!

Jennifer Pae: Now is the time

Oakland faces significant challenges in unemployment, schools and safety. Budget decisions we make this year will impact our lives for years to come. So we need fresh solutions and leadership that brings a deep commitment to community into City Hall. My campaign is grounded in the belief that local government can better serve our basic needs and set up our community for long-term success. It’s possible for us to regain our faith in Oakland City Hall. With your support and investment in my campaign, I will champion a set of policy solutions that will help create a city that will make us proud.

I’ve been listening

I have spent months listening to the concerns of hundreds of parents, merchants, and community leaders in District 2, and we all agree that we face serious and deeply rooted problems. It is not surprising that Oakland residents have lost faith in their government.

I know we can do better, and I am prepared to help lead the way. I hope you will join me, and together, we will build a strong future for Oakland.

Bringing my national experience home

I grew up watching my mother, a first-generation immigrant who raised two children while working and studying to become a nurse, demonstrate what hard work and perseverance can create. Thanks to her success, I have been able to serve as a community organizer, public policy advocate, and an effective leader for change at the local, state and national levels. I served as President of a national organization where I worked closely with the White House, Department of Education, and Congress on key issues affecting education. I currently serve on the Oakland Community Policing Advisory Board and advocate for better public safety policies in our neighborhoods.

I’ll need your time and financial support to make this campaign a success. Please consider investing in our campaign for Oakland by making a donation and signing up to volunteer.

Your support will help us reach voters who want to believe in Oakland again.

Together we can,
Jennifer Pae

During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt recruited soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who were then U.S. nationals into American military service. Approximately 250,000 Filipino soldiers fought alongside the U.S. Army against the Japanese and were promised the same benefits that were given to the U.S. Army soldiers. In 1946, U.S. Congress passed the Rescission Act which stripped the Filipino soldiers of their promised benefits. The Rescission Act said Filipino soldiers “shall not be deemed to have been active military, naval, or air service for the purposes of any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges, or benefits…” For over 60 years, Filipino veterans have fought to get official recognition of their honorable U.S. military service during World War II and to be declared eligible to receive full veterans benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

In February 2009, President Obama signed a law called the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) which set aside $198 million for their benefit. The Department of Veteran Affairs assured them that they would be able to receive the long delayed benefits that had been promised them for serving in World War II. Filipino veterans living in the U.S. would receive $15,000 and Filipino veterans living in the Philippines would receive $9,000.

Many of the Filipino veterans who sent in their applications to the Veterans Affairs office had their applications denied because they were not on a so-called “Missouri List”, a database that was intended to include all of the personnel who served in the U.S. armed forces in the 20th century. This list is an authoritative source of reference but is not an exclusive list of military veterans. On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at NPRC destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel files. Of those destroyed, 80 percent were Army personnel who were discharged from November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960. There were no duplicate copies of the records that were destroyed. As the VA acknowledges, Filipino veterans were dissuaded from putting their name on this list because the Japanese military had access to that information and would find and kill the family members of those veterans who put their name on the List. Despite this historical fact, the VA has denied the applications of all Filipino veterans who are not on the List and have made no effort to develop any alternative mechanism for verifying service in World War II. Many of these Filipino veterans are in their late 80′s and 90′s and the VA’s actions may make it impossible for this country to fulfill the promise it made decades ago to these brave men and women.

According to Pete McCloskey of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, the lead attorney in this case, “As a veteran myself, I know the sacrifices that have been made by these soldiers in both blood and tears. Compounding one injustice made decades ago with new injustices today do not reflect the true spirit of America. Hopefully, this suit will serve as a catalyst to convince the VA to do what is right.”

A copy of the complaint can be found at http://www.cpmlegal.com.

Mark Grafilo
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy
(650)697-6000
www.cpmlegal.com

Lourdes Tancinco
Tancinco Law Offices
(415)397-0808
www.tancinco.com

Luisa M. Antonio
Veterans Equity Center
415.255.2347
www.vetsequitycenter.org

COTCHETT, PITRE & McCARTHY

TANCINCO LAW OFFICES

The vigil is being organized by a group of community members – Sally Chan, Allison Chen, Linda Chu, Calvin Hom, Edward Hom, Sharon Hom, Norman Fong, Joe Huang, Michael Leung, Vincent Pan, Roger Tan, Michael Yip, Emily Yuen, Eddy Zheng – who met at the offices of Chinese for Affirmative Action to discuss the recent violence along the Third Street light rail in Southeast San Francisco on April 4th .

The theme of the vigil is “Stop the Violence, Start the Healing” and will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 3rd Street and Palou Avenue. The organizers are inviting all members of all communities to participate. The organizers see the vigil as an important step in the community’s healing process and a way to demand that the recent violence stop.

Edward Hom, one of the active organizers, said “The point of the vigil is to show that we are united against violence. There will be more actions to come because these are long-term problems, but for right now, we want the community to come together to start the process.”

Joe Huang, who lives in the Bayview, said “All of us who live in this neighborhood and this City are safer and stronger if we support one another. Coming to the vigil is just one way of doing that.”

Allison Chen, a resident in Southeast San Francisco, said, “Those of us who live in this area know that there are many problems that are difficult to talk about and difficult to address. But if we don’t start now, when will we ever?”

Vincent Pan, executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, expressed, “Our organization is doing what we can to support these new leaders — we believe that tremendous untapped power and potential is in the community and with the people.”