AN OPEN LETTER FROM LUAN HUYNH

An Open Letter from LUAN HUYNH

March 4, 2012

Dear Andrew,

I have read your blog at http://pfacasylum.blogspot.com/ and found your volunteer work in the refugee camp truly amazing and inspirational.

Reading the blog make me feel so nostalgic of that “once upon a time”….

I am a former Vietnamese refugee who stayed at the Palawan refugee camp as an unaccompanied minor between 1988 and 1990. Even though I was not your student I still feel a connection with people like you who volunteered your time and money to help refugees like us back then.

Until this day when I have resettled in America and have integrated rather well into a new country I find what you and others gave up back then to come to the Philippines to help us even more meaningful and selfless. I have often asked myself if I can now be like those volunteers and put my life “on hold” for a stretch of time and go to some corners of the world and help some less fortunate people. I might not be able to do so honestly (I need to keep working to pay the bills. The best so far I can do is to participate in a few charity programs so it is no comparison to your work.

Please accept my sincere admiration and appreciation.

Sincerely,

Luan Huynh

 

Luan, I admire your sincerity and modesty. Thank you so much for this beautiful letter. I will treasure this forever. With your permission, I would like to post this letter on my blog. Please forward your picture to me if you want it included with the posting. thank you and God bless you.

Please keep in touch.

Andrew Taylor

GEMMA LEDESMA, A True PFAC Palawan Gem!

TEACHER GEMMA LEDESMA,

A Passionate Teacher and a

True PFAC Palawan Gem!

Interviewed by Andrew Taylor on Sept. 26, 2013 for PFAC Palawan Blog.

 1.  What kind of person are you?

Let me start by telling you that I am a real friend who will stand up for you and by you in good times and in bad times.  I am a woman of impeccable courage, a true survivor, a highly dedicated person in her craft, who works with passion.  I’m also a loving mother, who is always considerate of others, a true professional, who is amazingly hardworking.  I’m very independent and I love taking up the challenge.  And more importantly, I know there’s a Supreme Being up there and I’m grateful to Him for my family, friends, and for all the things that I have and every little things and big things that have made who I am today.

2.  What inspired you to be a teacher?

I grew up in a family that values service.  For us, a part of being truly happy is by serving other people, especially the less fortunate.  I’m inspired to teach because this profession has always allowed me to serve and at the same time show the real me.   

3.  How long did you work in PFAC?

I worked in PFAC for a little over a couple of years.  Those times were fantastic.  I woke up every morning feeling so inspired to go to work.  I got up with a lot of energy… full of enthusiasm.  I miss those times.  My colleagues and especially my students (the Vietnamese children) filled my life with pure joy and constant laughter during those splendid times.

4.  What are some of your best memories of the refugee camp?

Oh my gosh! That was my first ever teaching experience, right? Immediately after I graduated from college, I landed a teaching job in PFAC.  I was so young then.  I was 20 years old and really fortunate to be in the congregation of dedicated teachers and volunteers and professionals from all walks of life and all parts of the world.  You could say that I was kind-a innocent, ha-ha-ha!  I can and will never forget the love, the caring and the generosity of my Vietnamese students and interpreters. 

 

5.  What are you grateful for in life?

I'm so blessed to be a part of these beautiful people in their journey in life.  I'm so thankful to HTC-PFAC for playing an enormous part in molding the person that I am today.  I’m eternally grateful to my Vietnamese students and beloved interpreters, who opened my eyes and taught me to see the true essence of life. They’ve been through a lot of struggles in their journey to freedom, but have always remained positive and have lived their lives in an honorable way and have always been grateful to the country that gave them a second chance.  Last but not least, I am so grateful to you Andy for inspiring me to be a  good language teacher.  The Vietnamese refugees’ stories will always be my inspiration in my journey to where I am teaching now and to where I am going to be in the future. However, and I say it from the bottom of my heart, if I could bring back those times, I’d rather serve the refugees... the less fortunate.

Gemma Ledesma (Picture taken in PFAC Palawan 1989) 

***

SISTER TOMASA RIVERA, O.P.

SISTER TOMASA RIVERA, O.P.

HTC-PFAC School for Children Executive Director

1979-1986 and 1990-1995

A SLICE OF THE HTC-PFAC SCHOOL BEGINNING



The night was balmy at the Holy Trinity College. The students were quietly sitting in their accounting class. Everyone's attention was caught by the sudden entrance of Sister Tomasa Rivera, O.P. She was carrying a box that contained some pens, pencils, rulers, slightly used notebooks and sheets of writing paper, which had been donated by college students from other classes. She greeted everyone "Good evening!" with a timid smile on her face. "Are those chocolates and candies for us, Sister?" one of the students jokingly said. Sister Tomasa threw the students a humble smile. Then she took a deep breath and announced that the Holy Trinity College (HTC) was doing some volunteer teaching to the Vietnamese refugees in the camp and that she was there to ask the students if they could spare some of their pens, pencils, and sheets of paper for the less fortunate people in the refugee camp. 

Quite a few students donated their pencils and extra pens not because they didn't need them anymore but because the majority of them gave theirs away without hesitation. Moments later, Sister Tomasa asked if any one would be willing to work as volunteer English teachers in the camp. One student raised his hand.  The following week, Sister Tomasa headed to The Vietnamese Refugees Center with three volunteer students/teachers and started teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to the Vietnamese refugees ages four to fifteen.

The VRC School for Children was established in the refugee camp and the rest is history.  For the record, Sister Tomasa worked as the school for children head from 1979 to 1986 and then replaced by Sister Bernadette Izon, O.P. (1986 to 1990).  In the early 1990, Sister Tomasa re-instated.  HTC-PFAC remained in operation until it folded in 1995.

888

PFAC PALAWAN REUNION 2013

Andrew Taylor's PFAC Palawan Reunion

Greetings to the Participants

August 17 to August 22, 2013

(Transcribed by Stephen Taylor on September 8, 2013)

KEEP THE FIRE BURNING!

A big hello and hug to our Vietnamese brothers and sisters who have made it to the reunion.  I love you all and miss you.  I really wish I could come.  It's been ages since I last saw all of you but you're always in my thoughts and in my heart.  I'm glad we are all connected on Facebook and I'm sincerely grateful to the organizers of this reunion, PFAC Palawan 2013.  WE SHOULD KEEP THE FIRE BURNING!

My work in PFAC has so far been the greatest accomplishment that I've ever had in my life. It helped shape the person that I am today... strong, confident, positive, generous and kind.

For me, my service in PFAC Palawan was not a job.  It was a joy and privilege to serve the Vietnamese people and I will do it again in a heartbeat.

I came to the camp as a young teacher and I also became a brother, a father, an uncle, a friend, a family member, a councilor... and more importantly, as an inspiration to the people that I served.

I will always be a teacher, but not just a teacher.  I'm also a singer, an actor, a stage director, a poet, and a dancer.  I use the classroom as a venue or a stage to educate, inspire, and entertain other people... and my students are my satisfied audience.

I believe in putting other people first.  I wake up every morning with a smile on my face knowing that I am privileged to have the opportunity to make a lasting impression on other people's lives.

As a teacher, I never hesitate to regularly inject humor into my teaching. I always affirm and validate my students and treat them with respect and compassion.  When the students make mistakes I offer them suggestions not criticism.  Everyday, I show them that I trust them, that I believe in their potentials. 

To the teachers!  Please do what makes you happy outside of your work hours.  If you're happy outside of the classroom you will bring that energy back on the job.

To the Vietnamese (former) refugees, especially those from PFAC Palawan!   Let's be reminded of our humble beginning, our simple but strong foundation and how it has helped us shape who we are today.  PFAC Palawan, we will never ever forget you.

Enjoy the reunion everybody!  God bless you all... and God bless PFAC Palawan.  As I said, "Keep the fire burning!" 

Hugs and kisses from Van, Stephen, and Sarah.  Bye!

Recorded in Toronto, Canada on August 15, 2013

 

Images courtesy of Gemma Ledesma (HTC-PFAC PalawanTeacher)