-----CPS WEEK OF ACTION-----
Hello Brothers and Sisters of Samahang Pilipino,
First things first, welcome back! We're into the last quarter of the school year! And we already have so much planned for Spring Quarter, so get excited!
And what better way to kick off Spring Quarter, than with CPS Week of Action?! Week 1 marks a crucial week for the Campaign for Pilipino Studies. Throughout the week we'll be having different activities on Bruin Walk to build up momentum and support for the campaign before the Asian American Studies departmental meeting on Week 3.
Come join us on Bruin Walk all week as we try to raise awareness for this cause!
Thanks!!
- JC De Vera
Activities Coordinator
Samahang Pilipino
-----CPS BAKE SALE----
HEY EVERYONE!! Welcome back to whole new quarter!!!
What is a better way to start of the new quarter than by coming to the bake sale
THIS WEDNESDAY, April 1, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM!!!
Join Samahang Pilipino as we promote CPS Week of Action!!
Come by the table to learn more about CPS. and buy from
Treats from the bake sale!! =)
SPRING IS HERE and so our sweet cupcakes and rice krispies =)
-----PILIPINO SCHOLARS' DAY-----
UCLA's Pilipino American Graduate Students Association (PAGASA), Samahang Pilipino's Campaign for Pilipino Studies (CPS) and Pilipino Alumni Association (PAA) would like to invite you to...
PILIPINO SCHOLARS' DAY 2009: "The State of Pilipino Studies"
Thursday, April 2, 2009
12:30 to 9:00pm
James West Alumni Center
University of California Los Angeles
MORE INFORMATION
You are invited to attend any or all parts of Pilipino Scholars' Day. Special invitations are extended to community members, faculty members, undergraduate and graduate student groups, UCLA Pilipino Alumni, and support staff. Admission is FREE. Dinner and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
SPONSORS
- Pilipino Alumni Association of UCLA
- Pilipino American Graduate Student Association
- Samahang Pilipino of UCLA
- UCLA Graduate Student Association
- UCLA Alumni Association
-----WEEK 1 GENERAL MEETING-----
Samahang Pilipino is having its first General meeting of the quarter this Friday, from 6 PM to 8 PM in the Kerkhoff State Rooms. Join us as we learn about topics such as the High Potential Program and reveal the theme for this quarter!
Let's get this quarter started right!
Recent News 
CPS Week of Action Events!!
March 31, 2009
SPEAR and SPACE Applications!!
March 15, 2009
Are you interested in being a staff member of either SPACE (Samahang Pilipino Advancing Community Empowerment) or SPEAR (Samahang Pilipino Education and Retention)?!
It is that time of year again where Samahang Pilipino is looking for future leaders to help staff our projects. Please fill out the following application and turn it into the SPEAR cubicle (Room 105 of the Student Activities Center) no later than Thursday, April 16 at 5:00 PM.
We encourage all of you to apply!
SPACE_%26_SPEAR_Application_2009-2010.doc
It is that time of year again where Samahang Pilipino is looking for future leaders to help staff our projects. Please fill out the following application and turn it into the SPEAR cubicle (Room 105 of the Student Activities Center) no later than Thursday, April 16 at 5:00 PM.
We encourage all of you to apply!
SPACE_%26_SPEAR_Application_2009-2010.doc
Pilipino Youth Empowerment Day (PYED)!!
March 10, 2009
PYED is coming up soon and there are ways for both high school students and current UCLA students to get involved. Tell all your friends!
High School Students: Applications are out now! Please fill out the forms and e-mail pyed.ucla@gmail.com if you have any questions.
PYED_Forms.doc
Current UCLA Students: We need more volunteers to help facilitate and house high school students. We are also looking for people who are able to donate meal swipes. If you want to help, please e-mail pyed.ucla@gmail.com or admin@samahang.org.
Thanks!
Filipino American Veterans continue to fight for FULL EQUITY
March 7, 2009
I understand there has been some confusion on why there will be a protest (given that the recently passed stimulus bill would give our veterans money) so I'm going to share a couple things.
The veteranos have been fighting for the following:
1) Recognition from the US Government for their services during WWII
2) Lifetime Pension Benefit
3) Family Reunification
4) Financial support for widows, sons, daughters, and legal heirs of the veteranos
5) Full equity
Although the recently passed stimulus bill is giving Filipino WWII Veterans in the US $15,000 and Filipino WWII Veterans in the Philippines $8,000 there are a couple things we should be critical of:
1) Recognition
- If you read the actual lump sum provision document, it says that the Filipinos from WWII will be compensated for the "human suffering" they endured, NOT for their service to the military. Here, the US government continues to fail to recognize our veteranos and their military service to our country.
2) Lifetime Pension Benefit
- A question you should ask yourself is, why are the Filipinos in the US receiving a different amount of money from the Fil vets in the US? Didn't all of the Filipino veterans serve on the US military in the same capacity? Didn't they ALL risk their lives in WWII? What do you think this says about how our government views Filipinos in the Philippines?
- Depending on where they live, our veterans will receive a lump sum of either $15,000 or $8,000 (after applying for it). If you risked your lives for this country and only received a check of $15,000, how would you feel? Average white American veterans have been receiving a monthly pension since 1946. How would if you feel if your white counterparts from the war have been recognized for their services, treated like heroes, and receive all kinds of benefits while all you receive is a $15,000 check for your trouble, your suffering. Instead of being treated like the valiant heroes they are, this lump sum treats our veteranos like mercenaries. It's like the US government sees them as outside people who fought in support of the US and they should be compensated for their trouble. This lump sum is a complete slap in the face to our community and continues to reflect the racist discrimination of the US government. Our veteranos fought for our country because they believed in its principles of equality and are still proud to be American to this day. However, how can the US be about equality when they treat White WWII veterans one way and Filipino American veterans another? Why does the US resist to recognize them in the same way when their service was the same? If you ask me, this is hypocritical, racist, discriminatory, and INEQUITABLE.
- This lump sum is also a "quit claim"—a provision that indicates that upon acceptance of the lump sum, the veterans SHALL RELEASE future claims including lifetime pension, was kept intact. Therefore, if any of our veterans take this lump sum, IF they were able to gain some benefits like health care assistance or pension in the past, their acceptance of this lump sum will make them ineligible to continue receiving some of their benefits they were able to gain from past advocacy efforts or may be able to gain from future advocacy efforts. How would you feel if you have been fighting for full, lifetime benefits for the past 60 years but received a lump sum instead? AND to add insult to injury, if you were to accept this lump sum, this would make you ineligible to receive any other form of veterans' benefits that you have been receiving or could possibly receive in the future. It's like the US is paying off our veterans.
3) Family Reuinification
- Many of our veterans were promised that they will become US citizens if they fought for the US in WWII. However, the passage of the Recission Act of 1946 (under President Franklin Roosevelt) deemed Filipino veterans services as "inactive" and therefore failed to officially recognize our veteranos as United States Veterans. Because of this, our Filipino American WWII veterans could not receive benefits like other recognized veterans and were unable to receive their citizenship. However, since their chances of supporting their family typically seem to be more promising in the United States, many of them have chosen to stay in the US while remitting money back home to the Philippines. Although they should be receiving the care and help from their family as they near death in their old age, they will be unable to petition their families to come to the US because many are not US citizens. Unfortunately, the reality of this situation is that many of our veteranos will die alone and their efforts to come to the US to help their family will go in vain.
4) Financial Support for widows, sons, daughters, and legal heirs
- The lump sum will only be given to the veterans. However, many of our veteranos have died and their families have continued to feel the pain. Therefore, just because the veteran died, does that mean the US government is no longer obliged to recognize them in some capacity? If you think about it, the veterans wanted and needed the financial support so that they can help support their families. Therefore, although the veterans who have passed may not be able to receive the lump sum, the least the US government can do is have a provision where widows or family members can receive the veterans' money to not only help support their families but to do it memory and in honor of their service.
I understand that was ALOT of information but I do want to help clarify some of the questions people may have about why we do not feel the veterans were fully recognized and that the provision for our veterans in the stimulus bill was not a true victory for our community. Although it can be interpreted as a step forward in our fight for TRUE EQUITY, please remember to stay critical of what is given to us and to remain vigilant.
Let's continue to support our veterans and help them fight for full recognition, lifetime benefits, reuniting their families, financial support for widows and their families, and for FULL EQUITY.
Makibaka! Hwag Matakot!
Emily Bautista
Samahang Pilipino President
The veteranos have been fighting for the following:
1) Recognition from the US Government for their services during WWII
2) Lifetime Pension Benefit
3) Family Reunification
4) Financial support for widows, sons, daughters, and legal heirs of the veteranos
5) Full equity
Although the recently passed stimulus bill is giving Filipino WWII Veterans in the US $15,000 and Filipino WWII Veterans in the Philippines $8,000 there are a couple things we should be critical of:
1) Recognition
- If you read the actual lump sum provision document, it says that the Filipinos from WWII will be compensated for the "human suffering" they endured, NOT for their service to the military. Here, the US government continues to fail to recognize our veteranos and their military service to our country.
2) Lifetime Pension Benefit
- A question you should ask yourself is, why are the Filipinos in the US receiving a different amount of money from the Fil vets in the US? Didn't all of the Filipino veterans serve on the US military in the same capacity? Didn't they ALL risk their lives in WWII? What do you think this says about how our government views Filipinos in the Philippines?
- Depending on where they live, our veterans will receive a lump sum of either $15,000 or $8,000 (after applying for it). If you risked your lives for this country and only received a check of $15,000, how would you feel? Average white American veterans have been receiving a monthly pension since 1946. How would if you feel if your white counterparts from the war have been recognized for their services, treated like heroes, and receive all kinds of benefits while all you receive is a $15,000 check for your trouble, your suffering. Instead of being treated like the valiant heroes they are, this lump sum treats our veteranos like mercenaries. It's like the US government sees them as outside people who fought in support of the US and they should be compensated for their trouble. This lump sum is a complete slap in the face to our community and continues to reflect the racist discrimination of the US government. Our veteranos fought for our country because they believed in its principles of equality and are still proud to be American to this day. However, how can the US be about equality when they treat White WWII veterans one way and Filipino American veterans another? Why does the US resist to recognize them in the same way when their service was the same? If you ask me, this is hypocritical, racist, discriminatory, and INEQUITABLE.
- This lump sum is also a "quit claim"—a provision that indicates that upon acceptance of the lump sum, the veterans SHALL RELEASE future claims including lifetime pension, was kept intact. Therefore, if any of our veterans take this lump sum, IF they were able to gain some benefits like health care assistance or pension in the past, their acceptance of this lump sum will make them ineligible to continue receiving some of their benefits they were able to gain from past advocacy efforts or may be able to gain from future advocacy efforts. How would you feel if you have been fighting for full, lifetime benefits for the past 60 years but received a lump sum instead? AND to add insult to injury, if you were to accept this lump sum, this would make you ineligible to receive any other form of veterans' benefits that you have been receiving or could possibly receive in the future. It's like the US is paying off our veterans.
3) Family Reuinification
- Many of our veterans were promised that they will become US citizens if they fought for the US in WWII. However, the passage of the Recission Act of 1946 (under President Franklin Roosevelt) deemed Filipino veterans services as "inactive" and therefore failed to officially recognize our veteranos as United States Veterans. Because of this, our Filipino American WWII veterans could not receive benefits like other recognized veterans and were unable to receive their citizenship. However, since their chances of supporting their family typically seem to be more promising in the United States, many of them have chosen to stay in the US while remitting money back home to the Philippines. Although they should be receiving the care and help from their family as they near death in their old age, they will be unable to petition their families to come to the US because many are not US citizens. Unfortunately, the reality of this situation is that many of our veteranos will die alone and their efforts to come to the US to help their family will go in vain.
4) Financial Support for widows, sons, daughters, and legal heirs
- The lump sum will only be given to the veterans. However, many of our veteranos have died and their families have continued to feel the pain. Therefore, just because the veteran died, does that mean the US government is no longer obliged to recognize them in some capacity? If you think about it, the veterans wanted and needed the financial support so that they can help support their families. Therefore, although the veterans who have passed may not be able to receive the lump sum, the least the US government can do is have a provision where widows or family members can receive the veterans' money to not only help support their families but to do it memory and in honor of their service.
I understand that was ALOT of information but I do want to help clarify some of the questions people may have about why we do not feel the veterans were fully recognized and that the provision for our veterans in the stimulus bill was not a true victory for our community. Although it can be interpreted as a step forward in our fight for TRUE EQUITY, please remember to stay critical of what is given to us and to remain vigilant.
Join the protest for our Filipino American veterans Monday, March 9 at 4pm at the Federal Building in Downtown LA. Please check the facebook event link below for more details.
Let's continue to support our veterans and help them fight for full recognition, lifetime benefits, reuniting their families, financial support for widows and their families, and for FULL EQUITY.
Makibaka! Hwag Matakot!
Emily Bautista
Samahang Pilipino President
Week 10 Talent Show!!
March 6, 2009
SAMAHANG PILIPINO and PILIPINOS COMMUNITY HEALTH present
GAWAD KALINGA AWARENESS TALENT SHOW!
Do you love performing? Dancing? Singing? Or do you just have a talent that you can’t wait for others to see? Well, Samahang Pilipino and Pilipinos for Community Health have the answer for you! Come perform at the Gawad Kalinga Awareness Talent Show, happening Friday, March 13, 2009 (Week 10) from 6:00-8:30PM in Moore 100.
Even, if you’re not interested in performing, you should still come anyways! Do you know what Gawad Kalinga is about? If you don’t, then this is a great event to be exposed to what this organization does! Throughout the night, we will also be collecting donations that will go towards schools in Cibol, Philippines! It only takes $19 to sponsor a child! This is just one of the many things that Gawad Kalinga does, so come on out to learn more!
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING:
Applications are out now! They are due Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 6:30PM. Applications can be found on the Samahang Pilipino website at www.samahang.org or at the SPEAR cubicle in SAC 105. Please submit completed applications to jcdevera2011@gmail.com or to the SPEAR cubicle.
Again, on behalf of Samahang Pilipino and Pilipinos for Community Health, we hope to see you join us for a night of talent and education. SEE YOU THERE!
For the application, just click here: Talent Show Application
GAWAD KALINGA AWARENESS TALENT SHOW!
Do you love performing? Dancing? Singing? Or do you just have a talent that you can’t wait for others to see? Well, Samahang Pilipino and Pilipinos for Community Health have the answer for you! Come perform at the Gawad Kalinga Awareness Talent Show, happening Friday, March 13, 2009 (Week 10) from 6:00-8:30PM in Moore 100.
Even, if you’re not interested in performing, you should still come anyways! Do you know what Gawad Kalinga is about? If you don’t, then this is a great event to be exposed to what this organization does! Throughout the night, we will also be collecting donations that will go towards schools in Cibol, Philippines! It only takes $19 to sponsor a child! This is just one of the many things that Gawad Kalinga does, so come on out to learn more!
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING:
Applications are out now! They are due Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 6:30PM. Applications can be found on the Samahang Pilipino website at www.samahang.org or at the SPEAR cubicle in SAC 105. Please submit completed applications to jcdevera2011@gmail.com or to the SPEAR cubicle.
Again, on behalf of Samahang Pilipino and Pilipinos for Community Health, we hope to see you join us for a night of talent and education. SEE YOU THERE!
For the application, just click here: Talent Show Application
Week 9 GM: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Come join Samahang Pilipino for its last general meeting for the quarter!
Tie together what we have learned as we consider this meeting's topic, "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally." What is peer organizing and how effective is it? What achievements have students achieved in the past and what can we do to fight for progress?
Date: Friday, March 6
Time: 6 to 8 PM
Location: Kerckhoff State Rooms
Close out the quarter knowing that you as a student can help make a world of change.
Also, we will be completing our Samahang family tree, so get excited!!
Also also, we will be voting on a t-shirt design! Look forward to that!
Also also also, come to OSA Rock Band social after GM!!!
Thanks! :D
Tie together what we have learned as we consider this meeting's topic, "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally." What is peer organizing and how effective is it? What achievements have students achieved in the past and what can we do to fight for progress?
Date: Friday, March 6
Time: 6 to 8 PM
Location: Kerckhoff State Rooms
Close out the quarter knowing that you as a student can help make a world of change.
Also, we will be completing our Samahang family tree, so get excited!!
Also also, we will be voting on a t-shirt design! Look forward to that!
Also also also, come to OSA Rock Band social after GM!!!
Thanks! :D
