Filipino Americans tackle rights issues at LV meeting

Ed Koch and Jeffrey Libby

Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

More than 80,000 Filipinos fought under the American flag in World War II, some as U.S. citizens and many more as conscripted soldiers, and most have yet to receive the same benefits as other U.S. war veterans.

That unresolved inequity is one of many issues national and local leaders will address at the fourth National Empowerment Congress of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations convention this weekend at Bally's.

The 600 expected national delegates will also be celebrating their culture at a food expo alongside members from the Las Vegas Filipino American community, the fastest growing Asian American population in the nation.

"This is a total movement to have a network linking all the disparate organizations into a unified whole so we can exercise some power in mainstream America," said Alex Esclamado, national chairman of the Filipino American federation and a resident of Las Vegas since late June.

"Our community is known as less involved in voting because we've been disaffected by the politics of the home country. They're not quite clean, so we have that disillusionment," said Esclamado, who in 1961 established and printed out of his San Francisco garage the first Filipino American newspaper in the United States. "We have to encourage them that this is a different type of ballgame."

Illustrating that theory at the federation will be several Filipino Americans who've made it to the top of their respective fields and are scheduled to speak.

Norman Mineta, the first Asian Pacific American to serve as cabinet secretary in a U.S. administration, will be a keynote speaker.

President Clinton's personal physician, Rear Adm. Eleanor "Connie" Mariano, will speak. Mariano, 45, director of the White House Medical Unit, described her recent promotion as "proof that Filipino Americans in the Navy no longer must go through the kitchen, the back door or the garage."

Vice President Al Gore's daughter, 23-year-old Kristin Gore, a Harvard graduate, will also address the convention.

U.S. Assistant Attorney General Bill Lann Lee, the first Asian Pacific American to be put in charge of the Justice Department's civil rights division, was scheduled to speak today on hate crimes and racial profiling.

Topics that are expected to be addressed include civil rights, equity benefits for Filipino World War II Veterans, hate crimes, access to higher education and immigration. The event is open to the public.

"Education is so important for us. Not just of youth," said Rosita Lee, chairwoman of the convention. "Many of the veterans are old men now and they are still fighting for their rights. Can you imagine?

"Congress is slowly, inch by inch, giving them their rights, but by the time they get what is their due, many will be dead."

Today, Filipino American veterans say they still do not have equal access to health care, they have no burial benefits and they are not eligible for disability pensions.

About 600 delegates from all over the country are expected to attend the conference, which has received sponsorships from high-powered local, national and international companies. "What you have is a budding awareness on the part of corporate America that this particular population is reaching critical mass," said Aurora Wong, a fund-raising committee member for the convention. "And what's also important to note -- we also have the support of our own ethnic community. We are making new partnerships as we mainstream with America."

Census figures from 1990 estimate that 35,000 Filipino Americans live in Southern Nevada. And some say that number has doubled in recent years.

Nationwide, the Asian and Pacific Islander population increased from 7.5 million in 1990 to 10.5 million by 1998 -- a nearly 41 percent gain.

NaFFAA is a three-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the interests and betterment of the Filipino American community. Last year's keynote speaker at the group's convention in New York was Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Among those headlining another event this weekend -- the 12th annual Philippine American Convention, Exposition, Food Festival and Auto Show -- are Filipino recording stars Saison and Las Vegan Jonathan Potenciano. They will perform at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Saison, who records for boxing champion Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Records label, has two gold records. Potenciano was a recording star in the Philippines who now calls Las Vegas home.

Other entertainers expected to perform are Emy Baysic of the Broadway hit play "Miss Saigon," the recording groups Kai and Devotion and the duo , Brodeeva, which has recorded with Smokey Robinson. Ric Arellano, dubbed the Little Richard of the Philippines, also is among those who are scheduled to perform.

Tickets are $5 for the general public and $4 for senior citizens.