For people around the world, September 11, 2001 will forever be etched in their memories as the day when America was attacked. It was the day when thousands of innocent lives were mercilessly taken by a handful of terrorists. The victims left behind thousands more grieving.
Countries from across the globe mourned with America . People from more than 75 countries call New York home, and thus, lost their own people in the attacks as well.
There were 18 victims of Filipino descent who died in the “Twin Towers” of the World Trade Center, and two Filipinos were on two of the planes that crashed into the towers on that tragic day.
This week, the Filipino-American community banded together to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11 through the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Vigil for Filipino American Families, spearheaded by Dr. Kevin Nadal, one of the organizers of the event.
One of those who passed away on that day was Hector Tamayo, a project engineer who worked in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. He was survived by his wife, Evelyn, and his two children, Ian, and Pamela, who were 19 and 16 at the time. Ten years later, Ian is currently a student completing a degree in journalism at New York University, while Pamela is a graphic designer for a major corporation.
According to his New York Times biography, Hector was remembered by his family as “a happy person who loved jokes, his family and, of course, to sing.”
Another Filipino-American family which was indirectly affected by the terrorist attacks is Cesar Borja’s family.
Borja is not among the Filipinos who perished in the twin towers, but as an NYPD officer, he was at Ground Zero days after the attacks happened. The ill effects of inhaling the toxic smoke from the debris took its toll on him in 2007, six years later.
“Whenever 9/11 is around the corner, I can’t help but think 
about all the families that got affected. After my father passed away, it became personal,” said Cesar’s eldest son Ceasar, when we talked to him earlier this week in their home in Bayside. “God is always going to help you and time heals you. Then you have your family and friends to support you.”
The elder Borja became a poster child of the after-effects of the toxins inhaled by rescue and recovery workers. A retired NYPD police officer, Borja passed away while waiting for a lung transplant in the intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Medical Center. He had pulmonary fibrosis, a type of chronic lung disorder that involves scarring of the tissue between the air sacs, caused by exposure to the toxic dust at Ground Zero. He was 52.
Because of the publicity generated by his case, Officer Borja’s then 21-year-old son, Ceasar, gained national prominence and was invited to attend President Bush’s address as a guest of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. In a couple of events, both at ground zero and again in Washington, DC, the young man stood next to Mrs. Clinton and discussed the need for federal financing for treatment of 9/11 workers.
He somehow feels fortunate to have the attention drawn to his father’s plight. “Sen. Hillary Clinton wanted to help us out,” he said.
On the day that Cesar died, his son Ceasar was preparing to appear at the State of the Union address to symbolize the desperate health problems of some Sept. 11 workers.
Now 25 years old, Ceasar continues to miss his father, especially around this time of the year.
“I miss my dad’s adobo. He always left the skin on the chicken, my mom would always take it off because she wants us to be healthy. I like being healthy but I miss the way he cooked adobo,” he shared.
“We were on this couch the night before he drove himself to the hospital, that was the last time he was in the house. He refreshed my memory about my credit card bills. In the hospital, we talked about a lot of random things,” Ceasar went on, detailing memories of his father.
While the attacks made him more aware of the existence of terrorists, Ceasar was quick to point out that it doesn’t mean that he’d live his life in fear or that he’d be afraid to ride the train or bus, or be in populated areas like Times Square.
“What 9/11 taught me are mortality, humility and respect for life. After our loss, it changed my outlook, especially because our loss was caused by an act of war,” he said.
Heroism
Many consider Cesar Borja as a hero. Sure, he has his own of detractors, but that doesn’t take anything away from what he did to help in the aftermath of the attacks.
Ironically, as a father, he always told his first-born (and namesake) one thing.
“My dad always told me to never be a hero. ‘Heroes always die. They die young,’ he would tell me. But the thing is, even if he said that, he always was a hero to me. He would tell me not to put myself in harm’s way, but as a police officer, he did it every single day of his life,” Ceasar said.
It was only later when Ceasar realized what his father meant all along.
“He didn’t want me to have the life he had. He came to America and started a family with my mom so that we wouldn’t experience the struggles they had to go through. My brother, sister and I are very fortunate to have been blessed with great parents. We are very thankful,” he said.
Credit must be given to the Borja matriarch, Eva.
When Cesar passed away, she was left with three children to take care of - Ceasar, Evan and the youngest, Nhia Nicole.
“I continued working to be able to take care of my children and their future. The biggest change that happened? I discovered Jesus Christ even more. In our hardship, we learned how to depend on God more,” Eva shared.
Her belief in God helped in lightening the load that she was carrying. It also helped her navigate life especially during their darkest hours.
“Kahit anong hirap ang daanan natin, huwag tayong ma-discourage. Turn to God. Wala namang imposible sa kanya eh. Humingi tayo ng tulong sa kanya. Tapos, dapat din nating magpasalamat sa mga blessings,” she added.
Toxic fumes
According to Eva, Cesar worked near Ground Zero three days later when he was called to report there.
“Gustong gusto kong makita noon ang Ground Zero, pero ayaw niya akong papuntahin doon kasi grabe raw ang usok. Tahimik lang siya, tapos ako naman hindi matanong,” she said.
Six months later, things turned for the worse. “Nag-start siyang ubuhin (He started coughing). He went to the doctor and they said he had asthma. They gave him inhalers but they didn’t work,” Eva quipped.
One year before he passed away, his condition further worsened.
“He didn’t want to sue. He would tell me, ‘It was my duty. It was part of my work’,” Eva shared.
“If he were alive, he wouldn’t accept being called a hero. Humble kasi yun eh. For me, he’s a hero. He’s very brave,” Eva said, adding that her husband’s first job here in the United States was in the Army, as a paratrooper.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ Sept 9-15, 2011 LifeEASTyle pg.2)
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