A Note From Evelina Galang

House Resolution 121, if passed, will ask Japan to take full responsibility for the systematic raping and enslavement of over 200,000 women and girls during WWII. In the Philippines, historians estimate that over 1000 Filipina girls young as eight years old to women in their forties were abducted and held captive in garrisons — churches, town halls, schools and private homes captured by Japanese soldiers and turned into comfort stations. Those girls are now lolas in their eighties.

For a moment, imagine war and your family. Imagine this. Is it acceptable?

To date, House Res. 121 has 80 co-sponsors in Congress. We need at least 100 to get House Res 121 to pass.

We need to let Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi know that the Filipino American community of Northern California, their constituents, believe in House Resolution 121. Please write them. Determine who is your representative and then cut and paste the email message below, sign it and send it to them.

If you live in the following zip code areas — 94002, 94005, 94010, 94011, 94013, 94014, 94015, 94016, 94017, 94019, 94030, 94037, 94038, 94044, 94061, 94062, 94063, 94065, 94066, 94070, 94080, 94083, 94114, 94116, 94117, 94122, 94125, 94127, 94128, 94131, 94132, 94134, 94143, 94401, 94402, 94403, 94404, 94497 -- your congressman is Lantos. Please follow the link and cut and paste the message below.

USE THIS LINK TO EMAIL LANTOS:

Dear Representative Lantos,

I am a Filipino American citizen who lives in your district. It is time for the Japanese government to take responsibility for the systematic rape and enslavement of 200,000 women during WWII. Historians believe that 1000 of those women were Filipina and of that number 173 women have come forward. These women are old and dying and waiting for their formal apology. Please give them peace. Please support House Resolution 121. Be a co-sponsor and make your constituents of District 12 proud.

Sincerely,

(your name here)


All others in the Bay Area can email Nancy Pelosi directly at sf.nancy@mail.house.gov

You can use the form letter below or write your own note:

Dear House Speaker Pelosi,

I am a Filipino American citizen who lives in your district. It is time for the Japanese government to take responsibility for the systematic rape and enslavement of 200,000 women during WWII. Historians believe that 1000 of those women were Filipina and of that number 173 women have come forward. These women are old and dying and waiting for their formal apology. Please give them peace. Please support House Resolution 121. Be a co-sponsor and make your constituents of District 8 proud.

Sincerely,

(your name here)


This is an important time for our work as Filipino American citizens. Our elders who have suffered during WWII are looking for our help, our support and our respect. Just as we must band together to support the Filipino American WWII Veterans, it is time for us to step up and speak out for our lolas, our mothers and our aunties who have suffered the plight of the comfort woman.

Thank you in advanced for your support. If you want to know more about the story of the Filipina Comfort Woman and all WWII Comfort Women go to Laban for the Lolas. To sign the petition to support House Res. 121 click here.

Maraming Salamat,

M. Evelina Galang,
Author of HER WILD AMERICAN SELF