Chapter IV

Results

This chapter discusses the results derived from interviews conducted with nine (9) key

informants. It was organized into three parts. The first part shows the socio-demographic profile

of the key informants and WWII Veterans. The second part addresses the research questions:

on the benefits/programs provided by the United States and Philippine government for the

World War II Veterans since 1946; experiences, issues and problems of WWII Veterans and

their family on claiming the benefits; and how the benefits supported the needs of the WWII

Veterans.

Profile of Key Informant and Veterans

In this portion, the researchers gathered information from nine key informants in Zamboanga

Sibugay about the list of the benefits that were given by the United States government and

Philippine government, their experiences encountered while processing the benefits in the

respective government agency, and how does the benefits support the WWII Veterans. First,

the socio-demographic profile is categorized into two parts. First part is for the nine (9)

legitimate and direct family of WWII Veterans while the next part is for the late WWII Veterans

that shows in table 3.1 and table 3.1.1. The children and the surviving spouse of the WWII

Veterans serves as a secondary source while the late WWII Veterans serves as a primary source.

The key informants were investigated about their age, cause of death, religion etc.

All of the interviewed key informants were married and legitimate family of the WWII

Veterans. Majority of the key informants were able to present documents in relation of

legitimizing their WWII Veterans parents as a true one of the participators of WWII in the

Philippines while minority of them were not able to present documents due to lack of interest,

lack of knowledge and lack of compassionate to acknowledge and honor their veteran’s family
but able to narrate the story behind the reasons how the benefits were given to the veterans and

their family.

Table 3.1 indicates that majority of the interviewed key informants were able to have

higher education and regular occupations, while table 3.1.1 shows that the majority of the late

WWII Veterans were able to finish basic education and simple occupations.

Table 3.1.1 Informants’ (WWII Veterans family) socio-demographic profile (n=9)

Characteristics Total

n=9
Age of Death:
50-below
51-60 3
61-70 2
71-80 2
81-90 2
91-above
Highest Educational Attainment:
Elementary 4
Secondary 2
Tertiary 3
None
Religion:
Roman Catholic Protestant 5
4
Previous Occupation:
Professional 3
Laborers 2
Businessman 4
Farmer 1
Not applicable
No. of children
0-5 1
6-10 7
11-above 1
Rank/Designation:
Enlisted 9
Officer
 Cause of Death:
Disease 7
Aging/Natural Death I
Accident I
Ethnicity:
Cebuano 7
Ilonggo
Tagalog 1
Others 1

Table 3.1.1 Informants’ (WWII Veterans family) socio-demographic profile (n=9)

Characteristics Total

n=9
Age:
50-below 1
51-60 4
61-70 1
71-80 2
81-90
90-above 1
Highest Educational Attainment:
Elementary
Secondary 2
Tertiary 7
None
Religion:
Roman Catholic Protestant 4
5
Occupation:
Professional 5
Businessman 1
Farmer 3
Not applicable
Birth order:
Eldest 3
Middle 2
Youngest 4
Ethnicity:
Cebuano 6
Chavacano 1
Ilonggo 2
 Others

Programs and other forms of support provided by the United States and Philippine

government for the veterans since 1946.

In searching for the benefits of the informants, they were asked not just about what were their

benefits but they requested also to give details pertaining their experience and issues

encountered on while availing the benefits were given to the WWII Veterans from the United

States and Philippine government. Table 3.2 shows the list of the benefits and programs that

were offered by the United States while table 3.2.1 illustrates the list of the benefits and

programs that were given by the Philippine government.

Table 3.2.1 Programs and other forms of support provided by the United States

government for the veterans since 1946.

Types of programs and supports Yes No

The Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Act of 2009 1 8

Filipino WWII Veterans Parole Policy 0 9
Naturalization Act of 1946 1 8
Veterans Enhancing Act of 2008 0 9
Reinvestment Act of 2009 0 9

The table shows the classification of the programs established for the veterans provided

by the government of the United States since 1946. As shown in the table, it further indicates

that majority of the informants has not attained the said benefits. Most of the key informants

said that the key grounds for not reaching the programs were due to lack of information and

interest about the benefits and programs, and loads of documents required. One of the key

informants narrated:
 “Kung naa man galing gisaad nga hinabang ang goberno sa United States or kung naa
man galing nay mga hinabang ang Amerika ngadto sa mga beterano sama sa among
ginikanan, dili ra gihapon mi ana magtagad kay una: kulang mi sa kwarta, kulang pud
sa kahibalo kabahin sa paglihok sa dokumento, og labaw sa tanan layo ang opisina nga
adtuonon – US Embassy, sa Manila.”
“If ever there are promised support from the United States government or if ever there
are support from the America to the veterans like our parents, we would still not give
an attention to that because first of all: we don’t have enough money, we are also lack
of information about on how to process the documents and more than anything else the
office is too far – US Embassy, in Manila.”
Next was a financial problem in processing the benefits was a crucial part since the

concerned offices are distant from beneficiaries’ residential location that requires financing

support for vehicular fare, fees and other expenses as well as time consuming. One of the key

informants said:

“Sa tinuod lang biya, nalipay mi sukad na nakadungog mi sa balita bahin anang mga
programa og benepisyo nga gisaad gikan sa goberno sa United States para sa mga
beterano. Pero wala mi ning suway ug apply nianang gidalit nga mga programa og
benepisyo kay gasto og kuti kaaayo ang paghikay sa mga papilis.”
(Honestly, we were happy when we heard the news about the benefits that was offered
by the United States Government for the veterans. However, we did not attempt to apply
to that given programs and benefits because the process of the documents is so
expensive and hassle.)

However, there were two WWII Veterans interested of the programs offered by the

United States but they did not continue to pursue due to some reason. According to them:

“Interesado pud muapply akong amahan nianang programa nga tugutan makaadto ug
Amerika ang mga beteranong pinoy pero kay isa sa giingon nga kondisyon sa
embassy nga ang asawa lang ang gitugutan makauban sa beterano og magbilin ang
mga anak. Pagkahibalo niya nga mabiyaan ang iyahang pamilya wala na mingdayon
akong amahan kay gusto gyud niya nga mag-usa nalang mi diari sa Pinas.
(My father was interested to apply to the programs that was offered by the United
States government to the Filipino WWII Veterans. Unfortunately, one of the
conditions were said by the US embassy that only the wife of the veterans was
allowed to enter the country and his children will be left behind. Suddenly, when his
father found out about the conditions – he refused to apply because he really want his
family complete.)

The other key informant said:

 “Kaming mga anak niay plano sauna nga mag-avail bisag isa sa nianang mga
programa ug benepisyo nga gigahin sa goberno sa US ngadto sa mga beterano ng mga
Pinoy pero wala mi saktong papilis og dokumento nga gikuptan sa among ginikanan
mao nga wala napud mi ning tagad niana.”
(We children had plan to avail even just one program and benefits that were given by
the United State government for the Filipino WWII Veterans unfortunately we don’t
have enough documents that were kept by our parents that’s why we did not also give
an attention to that.)

But somehow, among the nine informants, two of them attained some of the provided

programs from the United States namely the “Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Act of

2009” and the “Naturalization Act of 1946” because some of their constituents notify them

about the imposed programs. However, as narrated by one of the sons of the late WWII

Veterans who attained the Naturalization Act of 1946, due to severe illness of his WWII

Veterans father cause by the climate of the US, his parents didn’t stay there for too long.

According to the one of the sons of the WWII Veterans who attained the Naturalization Act of

1946 said:

“Wala ra nagdugay akong ginikanan didtua kay sukad nakaadto sila sa akong amahan
sa Amerika gusto napud nila nga makauli pabalik diari sa Pilipinas kay dili nila makaya
sa akong mama ang kabugnaw sa klima didtua ug mao pud ang hinungdan nganong
nagsakit sila nga maong gikamatay nila.”
(They did not stay there for too long because when they arrived in United States, they
immediately want to go back here in the Philippines due to the extreme cold weather
and they got sicked that caused their death.)

Another key informant whose her father availed the Filipino Veterans Equity

Compensation Act of 2009 said:

“Akong amahan nakadawat ug $9,000 nga nagkantidad ug P376,000 gikan sa United

States Treasury pinaagi sa paghikay nako sa mga dokumento sa akong amahan. Ang
maong kwarta gipahimutang kana sa iyahang bank account ug didto ginakuha ang
iyahang mga panghinanlanon sa medikal hangtud sa iyang pagkamatay.”
(My father received $9,000 that is worth P376,000 from United States Treasury.
Through processing the documents of my father, the money was put in his bank and it
was used to provide his medical needs until he passed away.)
Table 3.2.1 Programs and other forms of support provided by the Philippine
government for the veterans since 1946.

Types of programs and supports Yes No

Education Scholarship for their children 1 8

Old Age Pension 8 1
Disability Pension 0 9
Hospitalization Benefits 3 6
Burial Assistance 4 5

This table categorizes the initiatives developed by the Philippine government for World

War II veterans since 1946. As shown in the table, the majority of the informants have not

completed some of the programs offered. Among the provided programs, the scholarship for

educational assistance of their children was not obtained by some of the WWII veterans because

some of the children weren’t interested in learning, other factors where the processing of

documents was challenging and the absence of documents. Aside from that, none of the nine

informants had received a disability pension because there were no disabled WWII veterans.

In addition, just a few of the nine informants were qualified for the hospitalization benefits for

free medical expenses of the WWII veteran. Lastly, four informants out of nine completed the

funeral assistance program. Of all the provided programs, only the old age pension has the most

beneficiaries recorded (8 out 9 attained).

Issues encountered by the WWII Veterans in regards with availing the programs

Table 3.4 Issues encountered by the WWII Veterans in regards with availing the
programs.
Experiences Total
n=9

Submission of documents:
Walk-in 3
Letters/mail 2
Proxy/representative 4

Source of information about the programs/benefits:

Organization (VFP/SDAI) 3
Fellow veterans family/relatives
6

Person who assisted and processed the benefits:

3
WWII Veterans
4
Surviving spouse
2
Son & daughters

1
Problems while processing the benefits:
2
Financial problem
2
Lack of information
4
Lack/loss of documents
None

Programs and benefits helped support the WWII Veterans on their needs.
Types of needs Total n=9

Medical needs 6
Educational needs 2
Daily needs (foods, shelter, etc.) Others 1
0
 The Data Analysis is patterned based on the Statement of the Problem or the Research

Questions.

Some of the Data are not yet finished but there is sample above: the Socio-demographic

profile of WWII veterans and their family that serves as part of the introduction; and

the Benefits and Programs provided by the United States and Philippine Government.

While the other subtopic of the second part: the issues encountered while processing
the benefits; and how the benefits support the needs of Veterans.

Research Questions or State of the Problem

1) What programs and other forms of support provided by the United States government for the

veterans since 1946?

2) What programs and other forms of support provided by the Philippine government for the

veterans since 1946?

3) How did the programs support the veterans?

4) What are the issues encountered by the veterans regards with availing the programs?

DATA ANALYSIS PATTERN

Socio-demographic profile of Key Informant

Socio-demographic profile of WWII Vetarans

1. Benefits and Programs provided by the United States Government

2. Benefits and Programs provided by the Philippine Government
3. Issues encountered while processing the benefits
4. How the benefits support the needs of Veterans