PH Consulate honors 9/11 victims

NEW YORK - On the 24th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in world history, the Philippine Consulate in New York expressed hope that more victims will be identified.

Consul General Senen Mangalile said the Philippines joins in mourning and remembering those who perished, including Filipino and Filipino-American victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

“We join the nation in commemorating the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, which claimed and impacted the lives of so many, including Filipinos. We remember the courage of countless first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, as well as the many acts of kindness shown by nameless individuals in the aftermath, which stood in stark contrast to the violence perpetrated that day," said Mangalile,

Mangalile also expressed hope that with the help of new technology, more victims will eventually be identified, finally bringing peace to their loved ones.

“We understand that many victims remain unidentified, and we hope that future scientific and technological breakthroughs will help provide closure to their bereaved families,” he said.

The office of New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the identification of three victims through advanced DNA analysis conducted by forensic experts.

Two of the victims were named as Barbara Keating and Ryan Fitzgerald, while the third remains unnamed at the request of the family.

Dr. Jason Graham of the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office said their work continues to identify victims, reflecting their commitment to honoring those who were lost and to providing answers to families.

Of the nearly 3,000 who died, only 1,653 have so far been identified, leaving more than 1,000 victims still unnamed.

Photo by Dave Llavanes Jr.

Ground Zero

At a press briefing at Ground Zero, 9/11 Memorial & Museum Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Hillman said that on the 24th anniversary, all 2,983 victims will be honored.

“We’ll commemorate 24 years since 9/11, when family members read aloud the names of all 2,983 victims killed in 2001 and in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. During the reading of the names, we’ll pause to observe six moments of silence, acknowledging when each of the World Trade Center towers was struck and when they fell, as well as remembering the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Families from all over the world join us each year on that day,” Hillman said.

Among the victims were 372 foreign nationals.

“In total, 372 foreign nationals perished that day. We remain deeply committed to recognizing that immense global loss here in the United States at the World Trade Center,” Hillman added.

The tragedy remains vivid in the memory of Filipina lawyer and New York nurse practitioner Angie Cordova.

She recalled being on a train when the attack occurred and witnessing the collapse of the Twin Towers with her own eyes. She still keeps her train ticket from September 11, 2001.

“At that time, I had only been in New York for 10 months. I was traumatized by that incident—it’s not good to remember. After that, I had nightmares. It was truly an unforgettable and frightening experience for me.”

Another powerful symbol of remembrance at Ground Zero is the Survivor Tree.

A single oak tree—the only one left standing at the site—was recovered and transported to a nursery in the Bronx, where it was nurtured by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. With careful tending, its burned and gnarled stumps gave way to longer, smoother branches. Replanted at the 9/11 Memorial in December 2010, the Survivor Tree blossoms magnificently each spring, embodying a living symbol of resilience.

Families of victims and visiting tourists place messages on the tree as tributes to the lives lost and to their grieving loved ones. –VAL, GMA Integrated News