During World War Two, over two hundred and fifty thousand Filipinos were inducted into and fought on behalf of the United States armed forces. Following the end of the war and the independence of the Philippines, the United States Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946, effectively denying the Filipinos eligibility for naturalization in the U.S. Today, over sixty years later, the Filipino veterans (Veteranos), are still struggling to be seen as equals in the eyes of the U.S. government.
Through interviews with politicians, activists, and the Veteranos themselves, this documentary tells the story of sacrifices made, loved ones lost, and hardships endured by the Filipinos as a result of their entanglement in WWII. We celebrate the pride and loyalty these men and women exhibit, even in the face of betrayal and racism, and hope that by telling their story, we can move the country to settle a debt overdue.
For every generation there is a war that must be fought. And with every war, there is hope of a happy ending when soldiers will return to warm embraces of their loved ones and the opens arms of the country for which they proudly fought. For the US, World War II was a battle with that happy ending: the enemy was defeated and all was right with the world. All of the brave soldiers who fought for the United States in World War 2 returned from battle with unending welcome and gratitude from the country for which they fought; that is, all soldiers from 66 countries that fought on behalf of the US, but one.
The issue between the Filipino Veteranos of WWII and the United States government is truly controversial, yet it is an unfamiliar issue for many people in the US. The United States carry much pride in the soldiers that fought for their country, and so one would think the "benefits" factor would cause no issue in any matter, but according the U.S. , the Veteranos who fought on behalf of the American flag cannot receive the same benefits as their American counterparts who even fought along side of them in the Philippines against the Japanese.
This topic is not only imperative, but also extremely crucial because these Filipino Veteranos are already in their senior years, with many of them having already passed on. The goal of this documentary is to inform the public and to open people's eyes to the brave Filipino men and women who have been fighting for over sixty years to attain the respect and honor that they deserve. We produced this film to finally give the Veteranos a voice and to inspire the viewer and to rally in the support and help of the Filipino Veteranos to finally achieve their goals: to be seen as equals.
- Martin Rossetti