NEW YORK – Families of those who perished in the attacks, including Filipino Americans, were allowed to enter the Ground Zero pit to pay their respects on the sixth anniversary of 9/11. Of the 2,750 WTC victims, 18 were Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. Three more Filipinos were killed in the hijacked planes that crashed in the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania field, the Filipino Reporter said. But Zuccotti Park, at Broadway and Liberty Street, is where the names of the victims were read on 9-11. Among the Filams in the rites were the kin of Hector Tamayo, project manager of Vanderbilt Group, Inc. and was on assignment on WTC when the suicide attacks took place.

A native of Aklan province, Tamayo served as president of Aklan Association Eastern USA. The Reporter said the 18 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans WTC victims are Grace Alegre Cua, Carl Allen Peralta, Marlyn C. Bautista, Judy Hazel Fernandez, Maria Theresa Santillan, Jayceryll DeChavez, Hector Tamayo, Cynthia Betita Wilson, Frederick Kuo Jr., Manuel Lopez, Cecilia Caguicla, Rufino Conrado ?Roy? Santos, Cesar Alviar, Hilario ?Larry? Sumaya, Ramon Grijalvo, Arnold Lim, David Marc Sullins and Benilda Pascua Domingo.

The three Fil-Ams killed in the plane crashes are Ronald Gamboa, Ruben Ornedo and Manolito Kaur.