Author Topic: Interview with Anita Taghap Borja: Leading the Boholanos of Eastern USA  (Read 1676 times)

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Leading the Boholanos of Eastern USA
By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post


      Ricardo Borja of Tagbilaran City and Anita Taghap of Bilar are a formidable team, especially when they tied the nuptial knot. With six children resulting from the union, all of them successful professionals, and with the couple already retired, what more can they wish?

      The saga of Ric and Nita leaving their children in Tagbilaran while they tried their luck in America, is wrought with pain… and later... smiles of contentment. For a job well-done. For a mission accomplished. A success-story not served on a silver-platter; but an achievement after hurdling through obstacles life is heir to.

      Now, with their children living their own lives, is it a life of 24-hour leisure and bliss? Definitely not, because for the Ric and Nita, life is barren as a desert when compassion for others is lost. For this reason, after retirement they have given their time in community outreach programs.

      I met Ric and Nita twice in a row at ICM’s The Prawn Farm, where most of this interview took place. With Ric still looking strong and dashing, and Nita… forever the articulate classroom teacher of yore, the tête-à-tête was a wholesome experience spiced by the sumptuously fresh foods only the Prawn Farm can give. 

      LMP: What is your present position in the organization, Bohol Circle of Eastern USA?

ATB: The President.

LMP: For how long?

ATB: 5 years.

LMP: You mean to say that it is a presidency for life?

      ATB: That’s why I promised to the organization back in Eastern USA that as soon as I arrived home from here, we’re going to have an election. 

LMP: What happens if they will elect you again? Will you say no?

ATB: I think I have to say no.

LMP: Why?

      ATB: I’m already retired, I have to come home here in Bohol and stay, maybe for 6  months.

LMP: What year did you leave the Philippines for the first  time?

ATB: That was way back in 1981.

LMP: But you were teaching?

ATB: Yes.

LMP: Did you resign or retire?

ATB: I did not resign and I did not retire.

LMP: How did you do it?

ATB: I went to United States for my Doctor’s advice.

LMP: For medical purposes?

ATB: Yes.

LMP: And you came back?

ATB: I came back but after many years.

LMP: But you did not go back to teaching anymore?

      ATB: No more. I just sent a letter to my Head of Office that I have to stay more years in the United States; but I really did not sign any paper.

LMP: So, what happened to your record with the Department of Education?

ATB: It’s still there.

LMP: How about the benefits?

ATB: I didn’t get any benefit yet.

LMP: But you could get if you want to?

ATB: I could.

LM: You’ve been teaching for how many years?

AB: 22 years. I have my GSIS ID and I can get my pension.

LMP: You’re not retired, but you could, and then collect the benefits.

ATB: I could.

LM: When are you doing that?

      ATB: Am here until the second week of August, so I’m planning to see our Division Superintendent.

LMP: Why did you leave your teaching profession? For greener pasture?

      ATB: You know, in the beginning I just went there for my medical check-up. But when I was there, I liked to stay longer with my sisters. I have 6 children; so, I thought maybe I could let them study there.

      LM: So, there was already a plan even during that time for your children also to go there?

ATB: No. There was no plan at all.

LMP: But they are already there.

ATB: Only after many years when they finished their college studies.

LMP: So, they studied here and then they went over there.

ATB: Yes.

LMP: And all of them are there already?

ATB: Only one is here, the one who is the Barangay Kagawad in Dampas.

LMP: And she has no plans to go there?

ATB: She’s planning, maybe just to see America but not to stay for good.

LMP: But the other 5 are staying there for good?

ATB: Yes.

LMP: Where are they now?

ATB: One is in Australia, Texas, California, and 2 are in New Jersey.

      LMP: Would you be able to think now that after all the sacrifices you’ve made you have accomplished your job as a mother?   

ATB: Yes. I am very happy.

      LMP: When you became the President of the Bohol Circle of Eastern USA, what was your first project?

      ATB: My first project was with Gawad Kalinga, a housing project. I was able to convince some friends in New Jersey and in New York; and they donated about 7, 000 dollars. 

LMP: And you yourself brought the money to the Philippines?

ATB: Yes.

LMP: How many houses were built?

ATB: I think it was 7 or 8.

LMP: After that, what else?

ATB: Now, I also have 1, 300 dollars.

LMP: That is also for the Gawad Kalinga?

      ATB: Yes, but Pepe Ong was telling me that, instead of the building it will be useful if we will use it for the water system.

      LMP: But does it follow that this role will not end? What I mean is, there will be more coming up.

ATB: I promised, even if I am not the President.

LMP: But it will still be through the organization?

ATB: Yes.

LMP: Who are the people who might be able to follow your footsteps?

ATB: We are thinking of Mr. Larry Galang.

      LMP: At this point in your life, you are now in the capacity to help but this was not the situation before. Everybody who went abroad for greener pasture had to pass through a lot of sacrifices. What was your first problem when you arrived abroad? 

      ATB: I missed my children; I just wanted them to finish their college so they could  come. 

LMP: Can we go back now to your children. Who is the eldest?

      ATB: Reanne. She finished Linguistics but she is not working because they have a baby and her husband won’t let her work.

LMP: The second?

      ATB: Milreymond is a Nurse, he is now in Australia. The third is Miguel also a Nurse, then Mildred. She stays here, a Barangay Kagawad. The fifth is Millian, a Nurse; she’s in New Jersey; and the sixth is a Physical Therapist and she lives with me in New Jersey.   

      LMP: Did you recall when you and your husband missed and needed your children?

      ATB: I can’t understand my feeling. That’s why I had to call them everyday. 

      LMP: Now you are retired, what are your plans? Would you stay here or in the States, or commute back and forth?

ATB: Commute back and forth.

LMP: How long?

      ATB: Maybe, we will stay here 3 to 4 months and then we go back, like during winter time in USA.

      LMP: What other community outreach projects are you planning to do?

      ATB: Aside from that money we shared with the Gawad Kalinga, we have a Medical Mission just this TBTK.

LMP: How was it? How did you gather the medicines?

ATB: We asked donations from New York and from my brother-in-law who is a  Doctor.

LMP: Did you not have a problem procuring the medicines?

ATB: There was no problem. 
LMP: Who are the recipients of this medical mission?

ATB: Dampas and Bilar.

LMP: But you have to get Doctors?

ATB: Yes, we have two doctors.

LMP: Did you pay them?

      ATB:  No.

      LMP: Why Bilar?

      ATB: Before, we already used to have a medical mission every 2 years in Bilar. We had a 2-day medical mission in Bilar for 3 consecutive years, because we are from Bilar. But this year I asked my brother-in-law to have a medical mission in Dampas because my daughter Mildred is the Barangay Kagawad in-charge with Health.

      LMP: So, when will be the next medical mission?

      ATB: 2 years from now.

      LMP: And where will that be?

      ATB: For sure it will be in Bilar.

      LMP: Even if you are not an Officer or the President?

      ATB: Yes. Maybe I could ask my sister also if we could have another medical mission somewhere in Tagbilaran.

      LMP: What are your impressions about the TBTK? Let’s start with the good one.

      ATB: Well, I understand that there were lots of people coming from abroad who came here, for a school reunion, family reunion but very few registered.

      LMP: What could be the reason?

      ATB: I believe that if they register they cannot attend all of the activities because they have also their reunion and other family activities. So why do they have to register and pay for the whole the package? So, what they did was buy individual tickets instead of the entire package.

      LMP: I also learned that you also brought your Ms. Bohol Circle of Eastern USA.

      ATB: Yes, Jay Anne Palaca from Valencia, Bohol.

LMP: Was it a money contest over there?

      ATB: Yes.

      LMP: That’s why you are able to generate funds?

      ATB: A little.

      LMP: How many candidates did you have?

      ATB: I had 6 candidates.

      LMP: And how much did you make out of those 6?

      ATB: I was able to have like 15, 000 less the expenses and everything.

      LMP: Did you make her participate in the Ms. Bohol International?

      ATB: Yes. The one who won for the Ms. Tourism, Pia Toribio, was one of the contestants for Ms. Bohol.

      LMP: As a whole, was TBTK successful?

      ATB: It was.

      LMP: A score of 1 to 10, with 10 as the highest, what score would you give TBTK?

      ATB: Maybe 8.

      LMP: And you believe that you will still be around for the next TBTK?

      ATB: Yes.

      LMP: And it will still be successful.

      ATB: Hopefully.

      LMP: Why don’t you run as the chairman of TBTK?

      ATB: No. It has not come to my mind and never will.

      LMP: What do you consider as the most meaningful of all the activities that you participated in this last TBTK?

      ATB: Definitely, it was the Medical Mission. All members of our group want to share the blessings God has given to us. It was exhilarating seeing our fellow Boholanos happy. Also the parade, I’m very proud that it was all from Bohol.

      LMP: What would you wish to say to the next President of the Bohol Circle of Eastern USA?

      ATB: Focus more activities on the next TBTK that is 3 years from now.

      LMP: And you believe that TBTK should go on?

      ATB: Yes, I believe. Forever. As long as it is for the good of Bohol.

      Anita Taghap-Borja is a typical Boholana who loves to dream and make

her dreams come true. At a time when the teacher’s salary needed to be stretched to the breaking print to make both ends meet, going abroad was an option… the best choice. Which she took with her husband Ric. Even before they left they already knew what was in store for them, but they decided it was worth all the risks. It was a decision both has never regreted up to their day.

      With Ric Borja also an active leader among Tagbilaranons in Esatern USA, Nita, forever the workaholic, cannot be at rest even if she and her husband are already retired. Involvement has always been their way of life. Even when they were in Tagbilaran, both were active in socio-civic associations, like the Bohol Jaycess. Abroad, this zeal for community service is still very much a part of their well-being. They indeed are true Boholanos to the core. 

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=21563.0
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inday_bulilit

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Re: Interview with Anita Taghap Borja: Leading the Boholanos of Eastern USA
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2009, 07:52:26 PM »
i thought akong mother kay parehas man ug name..hehe!

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