A Pinoy Blog About Nothing

A bit late on picking this up, among other things. I caught this bit on a CNN broadcast and wasn’t able to follow up on it. I usually tune out most discussion on the situation in Iraq but during the last portion of the segment, a mere footnote really, was what really caught my eye.

The talking head on the broadcast was saying that a soldier by the name of Sgt. Anthony “Laag-man”, as he pronounced it, died in Afghanistan fighting with the US Army against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. He apparently served with distinction and was awarded the Bronze Star. It turns out there’s an association called Gold Star Mothers whose sons died and were awarded the Bronze Star. However, the sergeant’s mom isn’t eligible to be included in the association because she’s Filipino. Ligaya Lagman is legal resident of the US since 1982 but did not become an American citizen. Her son Anthony Lagman, was a naturalized citizen and served in the US Army.

Ms. Ligaya has since dropped her bid to be included in the group despite gaining support from Sen. Hilary Clinton and New York Governor George Pataki. If I read that situation correctly and as Petite suggested, she might have felt slighted and felt she lost face (napahiya). Can’t blame her for feeling that way, right? Yonkers, the city where Ms. Ligaya is currently a resident, may give out its own award to recognize Lagman and other mothers whose sons and daughters died serving the US.

Photodude expresses my sentiments so I would no longer go into it further: if the only reason why Ms. Ligaya wasn’t allowed to join the group is because of a frickin’ 77 year old rule, then they might as well close shop. With the US all-volunteer military facing a crisis in recruitment, the major factor of which are that of the moms and dads discouraging their children from joining, foreign-born nationals serving in the military are beginning to grow. The Gold Star Mothers should evolve or become extinct.

Incidents like these are discouraging for Filipinos who are just trying to do their best to make their way in this country. We’re lucky we haven’t faced such overt bias against foreigners but we are well-aware - and constantly reminded- that we are guests in this country. As Sgt. Lagman showed, it’s not a question of skills. Only a chance to have a fair shot at the opportunities offered to everyone and to give something back to our host country.