Photography

Beterano Photo Exhibit Officially Launched at Philippine Consulate in L.A.

Photos by Bob Bacalia, Frontliners Media Group. All rights reserved.

LOS ANGELES - The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles hosted the official launch of the “Beterano” Photo Exhibit of Frontliners Media Group (FMG) in cooperation with the Filipino American Services Group, Inc. (FASGI) last Tuesday, July 8.

Twenty-eight dramatic 16″ x 20″ black and white individual portraits of Filipino WWII Veterans showed the years of struggle and survival endured by these heroes who until now, have not received the benefits promised by the U.S. government. The launching of the exhibit was timed perfectly as July is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) during WWII.

The event was emceed by Anna Diaz, ABS-CBN Int’l Correspondent Balitang America and a member of the Frontliners Media Group. Invocation was by Romy Borje, writer of Weekend Balita, who also led the group in singing the Star Spangled Banner and Manny Evaldez, Frontliners Media Group Associate, sang the Lupang Hinirang.

Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, Consul General for Los Angeles, welcomed the attendees and reiterated the pledge of the Philippine govermnment to support the campaign of the Fil-Am veterans for their recognition and their rights and benefits. “This photo exhibit is timely; it shows our working together for the Veterans Equity Bill to be passed, but our work is not done”, ConGen Aragon emphasized. She reminded everybody that “We need to work some more so that due recognition be extended to the Veterans. We are working hard with our friends in Congress.”

Susan Espiritu Dilkes, FASGI Executive Director, commended the Frontliners Media Group for their outstanding photographs and support for the Filipino Veterans through their art. She recognized Mr. Melvin Tabilas from the Office of U.S. Congressman Javier Becerra (Special Assistant to Speaker Pelosi) and Mr. Alberto Alpasan of Veterans Affairs who were present to lend their support for this event. Susan Dilkes stated in her remarks that the exhibit is “excellent, excellent and will be the key instrument for the Equity Bill to pass.” She asked for the support of all to have the moral courage to call your Congressman this month, especially the California Republicans, so that SB.1315 (Filipino Veterans Equity Bill) will make it in the U.S. House of Representatives. (The Bill has passed by an overwhelming vote of 96-1 in the U.S. Senate.)

Joe Cobilla, Chief Liaison Officer for Frontliners Media Group, gave the closing remarks. Short but succint, the exhibit was dedicated to the veterans. Gil Mislang of the Philippine Scouts Honorary Society said, “I applaud this group (Frontliners), this exhibit has a special meaning to me personally as a representative of the Philppine Scouts.”

Kudos to Frontliners Media Group for this exhibit. They are: Joe Cobilla, Jay Fermin, Ver Penaranda, Nic Arriola, Albert Vargas, Jerry Ubalde, Joel Pastor, Robert Gamo, Benny Uy, Manny Legaspi, Arturo Ramos, Philip Ner, Ricky Morales, Ric Gavino, Joseph Pimentel, Noel Guinto, Romeo Balboa, Rosemarie Manese, Phillip Ner, Jun Camacho, Manny Ortega, Gerry Edra, Elizabeth Edra, Ricky Morales, Bong Malabanan, Rhony Laigo, Roberto Bacalia, Manny Evaldez, Danny Calleja, Paul Cabigao, Joel Crelencia, Willie Cheng, Joey Gonzales, Ed de Guzman, Vics Magsaysay, Rene Lavares, Dante Quiboloy and Anna Diaz. The spectacular images in black & white of the Filipino Veterans were unveiled with the assistance of the usherettes for the event, Jelene and Melissa.

Photographs used in this exhibit were processed by Saro Yousefian of Prestige DigiAlbums who was seen enjoying the gallery atmosphere at the consulate among the 100 plus special guests, civic leaders and members of the media who showed up on launcing night. The ‘BETERANO’ exhibit brought the faces & emotions of the Filipino Veterans up close to the community thru the lens of Frontliners Media Group.

Photos by Benny Uy, Frontliners Media Group. All rights reserved.

The exhibit will be at Los Angeles City College (LACC) for the next leg of this traveling gallery. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is scheduled to lend support to the Filipino Veterans when he visits the exhibit opening day at LACC on Saturday, July 19, 2008. The ‘BETERANO’ exhibit will be available for public viewing for the week of July 19-25, 2008 after which it would continue on to different venues on its mission to give awareness and support for the successful passage of SB.1315 (Filipino Veterans Equity Bill).

Filipino Veteran Engracio Diesta Dumaplin has been waiting for the Equity Bill for the past 60 years. He can still recount the days when he served in Zambales with the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) under General Douglas MacArthur. He immigrated to the United States in 1992, the country he had fought for and defended in World War II.

The most valuable keepsake he possess has been the Victory Medal and his U.S. Service Medal awarded to him. He silently awaits together with hundreds of unknown Filipino Veterans for the day when the Equity Bill will pass. His is a just a face lost in the crowd. But not this time. The ‘Beterano’ photo exhibit honored and told his story and the other amazing stories of his Filipino Veteran comrades to the world thru the 16×20 still images. He did the ultimate sacrifice for Freedom. Now he needs your help. Visit the exhibit and call your Congressman to pass SB.1315 before it is too late.

UPDATE 07.12.08: Rene Villaroman, Asian Journal, has written a great article about this event, go to this link.

The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles was established in the 1950’s and serves the consular needs of the largest Filipino community outside the Philippines numbering more than one (1) million.
http://www.pcgenla.org/

Filipino American Services Group, Inc. (FASGI), a non-profit neighborhood-based health and human care provider that has been helping veterans since 1981.
http://www.fasgi.org/

Frontliners Media Group is an association of leading Filipino-American photographers, videographers and writers based in Southern California.
http://frontlinersmedia.com/

Video File of Kababayan LA’s coverage of the BETERANO Launching

About 40 seconds into the video, Jannelle So starts her report on the launching for around 3 minutes