Representative Bob Filner Celebrates "Araw ng Kagitingan" with Filipino WWII Veterans

U.S. Representative Bob Filner, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, joined Filipino WWII veterans, Filipino American community leaders and Embassy officials in celebrating the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) at a reception held in the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. on 09 April 2008. Representative Filner updated the veterans and community leaders on the status of the House version of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill, H.R. 760, and reassured those present at the reception of his continued efforts to secure the passage of the equity bill.

During the reception, Representative Filner was assisted by Veterans Affairs Officer M/Gen. Delfin Lorenzana (Ret) and NAFFAA Executive Director Doy Heredia issuing the Philippine WWII Victory Medal to two Filipino American veterans of the U.S. Army who served, and later became Prisoners of War, in the Philippines during WWII: Mr. Aguinaldo Fontanilla and Mr. Sostenes Rivera.

PHOTO: (Upper left) Representative Bob Filner addressing Filipino veterans, community leaders and representatives at the “Araw ng Kagitingan” reception at the Philippine Embassy. (Upper right) Representative Filner with Minster Carlos Sorreta of the Philippine Embassy (Lower left) Representative Filner presenting the Philippine WWII Victory Medal to Mr. Agiunaldo Fontanilla (Lower right) Representative Filner presenting the Philippine WWII Victory Medal to Mr. Sostenes Rivera.