At least, the thousands of living Filipino veterans now based in the United States have the valid reason to be happy but on the other side of the coin, they may feel bad, too. Why?
Because the equity bill that they were fighting for the past several years now may not be enacted into law. Although there are reports humming around that the family reunification bill is likely to push through undeterred. Those in Southern California, where a big concentration of Filipino veterans is waiting on the sideline to hear the good news, are a bit frustrated at how the U.S. Congress has unfairly treated the equity bill. Although they have expressed elation over the news that the reunification bill is boing to be deliberated on the floors.
In case the reunification bill is approved, it is likely that many of the Fil-vets dependents will be rushing up to take advantage of the situation. And why not? For many years, their parents have worked hard to lobby for the passage of this bill in the U.S. Congress because they have no way of petitioning their dependents considering that most, if not all of them, are largely dependent on the federal government’s dole outs through the social security benefits that they’re getting at the moment, if only to survive in America. Without this benefit, life would have been extremely difficult for most of them, knowing the stiff competition and the high standard of living in America.
With the approval of the reunification bill, affidavits of support and other financial justifications are no longer needed once it becomes a law. This means that many of these dependents who are eager to come over could eventually find opportunities for their families. And surely, the federal government will also be gaining a great deal from this mass inflow of people from the Philippines through the huge immigration fees that they will be paying to the U.S. government. Hopefully, this will push through this year so that those dependents who are eager to come could escape the economic hardships that they experience in the Philippines.