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Filipino Amerasian Children of United States Basic Facts

By VVAW

Who are the Amerasian Children?

For nearly 50 years, the largest US military bases outside US territory were to be found in the Philippines. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo led to the closing of Clark Air Base in 1991, the rejection by the Philippine Senate in September 1991 of a new Bases Treaty led to the closure of Subic Naval Base in November 1992.

Countless children were born of the contract between US servicemen and the women of local communities. The servicemen were from the bases, those in transit and the countless others- particularly during the Vietnam and Gulf wars-who had R& R shore leaves.

These children, sired and then abandoned by US military personnel, are the Amerasian children. In a majority of cases they are being raised by their mothers. In other cases extended family members are the care-givers.

Under what conditions are the Amerasian children living?

These are children living in conditions of extreme poverty which result in poor housing conditions, inadequate nutrition, interrupted schooling, and lack of medical care. As children of sexually exploited and marginalized Filipina mothers, the children themselves suffer discrimination and the risk of exploitation.

Why is the issue coming up now?

With the closing of the bases, the women have lost even the meager livelihood that working in the bars provided.

The Philippine government's economic plans for conversion of the former bases include the possible creation of commercial and industrial complexes. Nowhere has provision been made for the training of women, their employment or their participation in economic development. The "entertainment" business was the main economic activity of Olongapo and generated enough annual income for Olongapo to gain city status in 1966.

The women's contribution to the relative wealthy of Olongapo has been considerable, yet these very women are being totally overlooked and not being offered the alternative livelihood that they desperately need.

With no current sources of income, and no employment prospects, the mothers are extremely concerned about the situation of their children.

Is US citizenship for Amerasian children the answer?

There are some moves to press for an amendment to include the Philippines in the 1982 law granting citizenship to American children from South Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.

The mothers of Amerasian children feel that the citizenship option should be open to their children, particularly when they reach young adulthood. But for now the concerned population feels that:

1. As few children have documentary evidence of US paternity, most would not qualify for citizenship, and would continue to be raised in the Philippines.
2. For the few mothers who were able to obtain required documentation, their low educational level, no marketable skills, and lack of family or community support network would make integration into the US extremely difficult.
3. In many cases, the mothers have other children by Filipino husbands or partners. The mothers are apprehensive about leaving behind Filipino children or the difficulty of trying to raise larger families in the US.

What is the class action suit?

In November 1992, a San Francisco law firm, Cotchett, Illston & Pitre, approached Philippine organizations to propose filing a class action suit on behalf of Filipino Amerasian children.

The suit seeks to obtain medical and educational benefits averaging $8000 per child until 18 years of age, based on the implied contract between the US Navy and the women of Olongapo that provided health and education services to the women in exchange for their sexual labor for US servicemen. The lawsuit seeks to extend those benefits to the children born of those relationships.

What do the children and their mothers need?

Educational and medical funds are needed and will be welcome. However, the extreme poverty of this population makes limiting aid for the children to these two components inadequate. It may mean, for example, trying to ensure the children's education while their nutritional needs would continue to be unprovided for.

The children's basic needs include food, clothing, shelter, schooling, medical needs, and recreation. There are also special needs such as counseling and day care.

How can interested parties contribute to this campaign?

1. Monitoring developments in the class action suit. For more information contact the law firm, through Don West, Cotchett, Illston & Pitre, 840 Malcom Road, Suite 200, Burlingame, CA 94010 (Telephone: 415-697-6000; Fax: 415-697-2390);
2. Lobbying for the passage of legislation providing child support for Filipino Amerasians and other positive legislative initiatives:
3. Forming support groups
4. Drumming up public awareness of this concern; and
5. Giving material support through donations and the like.