Events

BETERANO Exhibit in Washington D.C. at Philippine Embassy and U.S. Congress

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

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The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines cordially invites all to the launching of the BETERANO Exhibit in Washington, D.C. from September 9 - 12, 2008. The unveiling of memorable black and white portraits of Filipino WWII Veterans taken by respected photographers from the Frontliners Media Group based in Los Angeles, CA, is to bring awareness and urgency for support of the passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill (S.B.1315) now in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Beterano” A Tribute to our Fil-Am World War II Veterans

“We are at war” - A statement we kept hearing from today’s politicians. Judging from where we are now and what we are presently doing, the war seems almost nonexistent. It is in Iraq, in Afghanistan and in the Middle East, and on TV. But not in our backyards, not in our schools, and definitely not in our communities.

And we only have to thank the men and women who are serving in the military for the freedoms we are now enjoying, who keep us safe every single day. It is they who keep us from harm. It is they who let us come home to be with our families, to see our children grow.

But have you ever stopped and think the horrors each of these servicemen go through in places of conflict? Some of us do, especially those who have experienced war itself - just like our very own Filipino-American war veterans.

“Beterano” is a traveling photo exhibit of the portraits of Filipino war veterans, who, during their younger days, were forced to leave their families and loved ones; they offered their lives to fight for our Motherland.

Unfortunately, while most of us enjoy the benefits of what they had fought for, they have not been as lucky even if they made it out alive after the war. Some of them died poor, some live alone. They’re sick and lonely. Worse, they are still being discriminated against - until now - because they are not given by the government as compared to other war veterans.

A project of Frontliners Media Group, in cooperation with the Filipino American Service Group Inc. and sponsored by Balita Media Inc., publisher of Weekend Midweek Balita, “ the largest Filipino-American newspaper company in Southern California.” “Beterano” brings to the fore the faces of inequality and years of hardship. Each and every wrinkle in any of the portraits is a testament of the courage these veterans have bestowed upon us.

We at Frontliners Media Group, and our partners, are humbled by our veterans’ willingness to have posed for us, to have been a part of their lives. Please join us in their quest to get their fare share.

We call on the members of Congress to pass the Equity Bill and we urge everyone to join us in this cause.

LONG LIVE THE FILIPNO AMERICAN WAR VETERANS!