Why did it take so long for Filipino veterans to receive benefits? Originally, the U.S. government promised Filipinos who fought in World War II the same benefits as U.S. citizens. But President Truman issued a rescission order in 1946. It became a bitter issue for us.
What did you do about it? For many years, a group of us would try to convince members of Congress to help. Many said yes, but when it came to the actual voting, some were absent, didn't vote or said they needed more time.
What made the difference? Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka pushed and pushed to find support. They eventually received it from key people, including former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. The benefits were included in the stimulus bill.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
What did you get from this bill? On April 8, I was presented with a check at the Philippine Embassy. Because I'm now a U.S. citizen, I received $15,000. Veterans who are citizens of the Philippines are due to receive the equivalent of $9,000.
Do you think that's fair? It's a satisfactory amount considering the government is in debt and we're all tightening our belts now. But it's not the amount that matters. It's the recognition of what we did in the service of the United States for the sake of democracy.
How did you get involved in the fighting? The Philippines was still a U.S. commonwealth. I was in the reserve army and answered a call to duty from President Roosevelt.
How did you serve? I was an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. My battalion was supposed to delay the advance of the Japanese. But we were surrounded by Japanese soldiers, and eventually about 60 of us were captured.
How were you treated? We were hog-tied and made to sit along the highway the whole day with two machine guns mounted in front of us about 30 yards away. We were imprisoned for ten days and interrogated every day. They released us because we were not professional soldiers. We were all either teachers or government employees.
-
Stocks Chop as the Unemployment Rate Jumps: Stock Market TodayNovember job growth was stronger than expected, but sharp losses in October and a rising unemployment rate are worrying market participants.
-
Should You Renew Your CD?With rate cuts impacting earnings, we examine if now is a wise time to renew CDs.
-
7 Ways to Plan Now to Save on Medicare IRMAA Surcharges LaterUnderstand the critical two-year lookback period and why aggressive planning before you enroll in Medicare is the most effective way to minimize IRMAA.
-
457 Plan Contribution Limits for 2026Retirement plans There are higher 457 plan contribution limits in 2026. That's good news for state and local government employees.
-
Medicare Basics: 12 Things You Need to KnowMedicare There's Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and so on. We sort out the confusion about signing up for Medicare — and much more.
-
The Seven Worst Assets to Leave Your Kids or Grandkidsinheritance Leaving these assets to your loved ones may be more trouble than it’s worth. Here's how to avoid adding to their grief after you're gone.
-
SEP IRA Contribution Limits for 2026SEP IRA A good option for small business owners, SEP IRAs allow individual annual contributions of as much as $70,000 in 2025, and up to $72,000 in 2026.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
SIMPLE IRA Contribution Limits for 2026simple IRA For 2026, the SIMPLE IRA contribution limit rises to $17,000, with a $4,000 catch-up for those 50 and over, totaling $21,000.
-
457 Contribution Limits for 2024retirement plans State and local government workers can contribute more to their 457 plans in 2024 than in 2023.
-
Roth 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026retirement plans The Roth 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 has increased, and workers who are 50 and older can save even more.
