Filipino veterans complete applications Wednesday at the Bayinhan Center in Vallejo for federal stimulus dollars approved last month. Advocate Mel Orpilla, left, helped organize the event. (Jessica A. York/Times-Herald)
An estimated 60 Filipino veterans of World War I took their first steps Wednesday to claiming a share of $198 million in federal dollars. An event organized by Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, gave the veterans -- all 80 or older -- a step-by-step tutorial on applying for the one-time payments available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Veteran Haciento Lacorte, 81, has been waiting 60 years to receive promised benefits for joining with U.S. troops, benefits eliminated after the war. He and his wife, Rosalinda, drove Wednesday from Fairfield to get an application for the much-needed money, the couple said. "It's great," Rosalinda Lacorte said of the veterans benefit. "It's better late than nothing." Lacorte added that the money would be put away to guard against health emergencies for her husband, who has congestive heart failure. Only those Filipino veterans who fought for the United States in WWII may apply within the next year for the non-taxable funds, amounting to $15,000 for American citizens, $9,000 for others. The lump-sum payment will not reduce other benefits the veterans currently receive. The how-to workshop came only three weeks after President Obama signed the act and was an area trend setter, said event organizer Elise Amaya, a Miller staffer overseeing military and veterans affairs. "This was part of the recovery legislation, so it's new," Amaya said. "It's a one-time benefit, and there were a lot of questions."

About a 100 people, including family members and friends of the veterans, gathered at Vallejo's Bayanihan Center at Seafood City for the workshop. Many came from outside of Vallejo to work with advisers one-on-one. Members of the Solano County Veterans Service Office and regional Veterans Affairs office in Oakland came armed with translators and resources. Staff from Miller's office provided pre-addressed packages for the veterans to apply for the benefit, including a to-do checklist. American Legion Manuel L. Quezon Post 603 Commander Warlito Moises brought 10 of his WWII veterans to the workshop. He said that the event was a little noisy, but helpful. "This is long overdue," Moises said, adding that he hoped the one-time funding would provide momentum for full reinstatement of Filipino veterans' benefits. Sitting nearby, Erlina and Alejandro "Eleno" Bingten, from Sacramento, agreed with Moises. The couple describe themselves as low-income, who live with their children. "This is helpful to us," Erlina Bingten said. "There is so much to do with this money -- it is very much needed. We hope there is more ... At least they recognized that our vets were helping out." For an application by mail, call (800) 827-1000 or LOOK online at https://iris.va.gov. For further help, contact Solano County Veterans Services, (707) 553-5261. Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at (707) 553-6834 or jyork@thnewsnet.com