LOS ANGELES—Filipino World War II Veteran Peping Baclig’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day.

And the 87-year-old is about to receive a gift 60 years in waiting The US House of Representatives and Senate on Feb. 13 have passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which include a provision authorizing the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

"We’ve been fi ghting for this [the FilVet Equity Act] for the past 60 years," said Baclig. "I’m just happy that these legislators have done their duties well." President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law on Feb. 16.

The $198 million Filipino veterans Equity Compensation Fund authorizes the US Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make a one-time payment to eligible Filipino veterans who served in the Philippines during World War II.

Filipino WWII veterans residing in the US would receive a lump sum payment of $15,000. Non-US citizens or those residing in the Philippines would receive $9,000.

"Finally," said 85-year-old Franco Arcebal of the American Coalition of Filipino Veterans (ACFV). "We are excited. We are high and joyful…many of us have been waiting, some were resigned to keep fighting [for the bill], and others have already died."

It’s been a long journey for Baclig, Arcebal and the estimated 18,000 or fewer remaining Filipino WWII veterans, mostly residing in the Philippines.

When President Franklin Roosevelt ordered Philippine citizens to fight as soldiers with the American military against the invading Japanese army on July 1941, they were promised American veterans affairs military benefits.

However, several years later, the US Rescission Act of 1946 was enacted and those same Filipino WWII veterans were left with no military benefit and recognition.

The Filipino Veterans Equity compensation fund seems to alleviate that, according to Arcebal. "This is what we want," he said.

But for other Filipino WWII Veterans and their supporters, the Senate and House passing the stimulus bill with the FilVet equity act is not a tactical victory.

"It’s not complete unless it has recognition in the bill," said Art Garcia of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans. "The inequity still exists. The Recession Act is not being amended or rescinded so therefore, the inequity still exists."