Impatience, annoyance mark 2nd day war vet application
Patience are running low and annoyance are high as hundreds of remaining Ilonggo World War (WW) II veterans and family members await processing for the group’s latest United States (US) benefit.
While the first day was abuzz with excitement and livened spirits of the veterans in their 80s to 90s, it was an altogether different scene and scenario yesterday. Venue is still the conference room in the second floor of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol with hundreds of veterans occupying the entire ground floor of the Capitol building.
A number even seemed to be dejected, unaware of what was going on at the second floor. One wearing a matching bright yellow cap and shirt was slumped on the floor holding on to a plastic chair occupied by a fellow veteran.
Back in the conference room, a lady security guard manned the glass doors, refusing entry to more than one companion of a veteran applicant. Holding a microphone, she barked repeated orders to clear the area and wait for numbers to be called. It was an exercise in futility though since her announcement can only be heard inside the conference room itself.
At one point, one of the lady staff of the US Embassy Department of Veteran Affairs had to call the lady guard and tell her about the karaoke being in the wrong place. Wheel-chaired target audience of the lady guard’s announcement was all lined up outside the conference room while at least another 200 hundred were seated in the hallway.
While 250 was initially targeted in the first day, by 2 pm yesterday applications accommodated only neared the 200 mark. The News Today (TNT) in a check made with the local veterans office gathered that a total of 1,415 applications were received as of Tuesday afternoon. Current records were not immediately available with queries made unanswered.
A little over 1 pm yesterday, the interview process and acceptance of claims was momentarily stopped. The embassy staff sought for a 15 minute break amidst the grunts of those inside the conference room.
It was literally “fastfood” for the trio who despite being visibly overwhelmed and swamped by the number of war veterans present, remained calm and composed throughout their ‘ordeal.’ It was burger, fries and drinks for the three embassy women
“15 minutes lang po… kakain lang kami ng 15 minutes at balik agad (Just 15 minutes please… we will just eat within 15 minutes and we will immediately resume),” the embassy representative said almost in subdued appeal.
One veteran stood up and grabbed the microphone to vent his frustration, “there should be three of you doing the interview so it will be faster.” As he sat down, he went on to complain mistaking the other embassy representative to be “just the photographer.”
Someone from the local veterans office then explained and pointed out that indeed, all three are conducting the interviews with “the photographer” part of the team.
The complaining veteran was eventually enlightened and went back to peacefully wait for his turn.
TNT in a query was told by the embassy representatives that those unable to be processed in the Capitol may submit claims using the embassy forms distributed.
The claims cum benefit is expected to be availed by some 18,000 living Filipino WWII veterans with $198 million appropriated.
Hand-outs on the Equity Compensation Fund stated that eligible are those who served before July 1, 1946 “in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States.”
Also eligible are members of the organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated or subsequently recognized by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area or other competent authority in the Army of the United States.