A HEARTFELT TRIBUTE BY TWEE WHITE

"I owe the Filipino people my life!"

A personal account by Twee White (IT Project Manager/Business Analyst at JNJ)

I lived in PFAC Palawan Refugee Camp from 1988 to 1991. How did the native Filipinos treat the Vietnamese refugees? 

I can tell you that we were the luckiest refugees in the entire history of refugees. We were treated very well by the locals. Filipinos didn’t look down on us. Many of them considered us as friends. Many also volunteered to teach us English. The Catholic nuns were angels, always ready to help us with anything we needed.

Before being transferred to PFAC Palawan Refugee Camp, we landed on this island called Mamburao. A Philippine fishing boat rescued us from many days floating at sea with no food nor water. They rescued us when many other big international boats just went by. International boats looked at us via binoculars but never stopped to even drop us some water or food. Anyways, the Philippine fishing boat saw us and they pulled us to a nearby island called Mamburao, where they fed us, nursed us back to health.

As you can imagine we had all sorts of physical problems after many days of drifting at sea under the hot burning sun with no food or water. The people on Mamburao Island were so kind to us. I even made a friend in a short time there. I am so sad that I didn’t keep in touch with her. I remember telling this girl (with sign language, number, and very broken English), that I would be back to Mamburao in 10 years to visit her, that I would never forget her. But when it was time to leave the island, I had no way of keeping in touch with her. I never asked for her address. I think we stayed there for ten days, and then they put us on the plane to PFAC Palawan, the refugee camp where I spent the next three years. 

Many of the Filipinos in Palawan were so poor, but they had such an amazing attitude. They were always upbeat and happy, and they never made me feel less of a human because of my situation. In some twisted way I even felt luckier than them because at least eventually (I hope anyway), that I would get to go to the United States or other first world country to resettle. The Filipinos weren’t the refugees, they wouldn’t have the opportunity that I had.

Yes, of course life in the refugee camp was very, very difficult, I endured many hardships that I am not ready to share with many people IRL. I was just fifteen years old and alone. However, I can tell you that I owe the people of the Philippines a great gratitude. I owe them my life!

Feedback

Of all the nations that lent their hands to us back during the dark days of boat people, no other nation could do better than the Philippines. I was in Thailand, unfortunately, which I can’t say they treated us the same as the Filipino did. However, my wife’s family stayed in the Philippine and until this day they still talk about how nice and caring the Filipinos treated them. In fact, a year or so ago when the Philippines had a huge disaster from a hurricane, a lot of former Vietnamese refugees who had stayed there came to the rescue. They raised an insane amount of $$$ as a payback to who were the nicest people on the Earth.

LOUIS NGUYEN 

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I've never seen such a strong and heartfelt validation focusing on the Philippines and its people until today. My hugs to you, Twee. Very well said and sincerely uttered.

ANDREW TAYLOR

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What a wonderful tribute to Palawan and my country, the Philippines. Yes, I have seen firsthand how the refugee camp was during those days.

MARILOU REYES

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I am in awe with this tribute. I am still moved by what the Filipino people do to help others. I was so proud to work with them during 1982 and 1983.

DWIGHT P. RUSSELL

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The Vietnamese boat people in the Philippines only ended in 2006, thirty years after the fall of Saigon. The Filipinos have shown us their unconditional hospitality towards the Vietnamese, their uninvited guests, with love and generosity. We all owe them a big thank you but wish we would have chances to do something for the Filipino in time of hardship as in 2013 when the Haiyan storm hit the Philippines.

SANG NGUYEN

  

MY LIFE WAS CHANGED FOREVER.

 

I am forever grateful for my life experience in PFAC Palawan, Palawan, Philippines, especially during the time I was studying under the guidance of my English teachers- Mr. Sammy Taylor and Mr. Boy (Benny Ong).
 
Some said that your teenager years could be your hardest, but for me they were the best and the most memorable. 

 

Being in the Drum and Lyre Corps was so much fun; I got to dress up in the beautiful red and white uniform. I got to go downtown to perform. 

All of these wonderful experiences were made possible by these selfless, gentle, giving teachers and volunteers. They have changed our lives forever. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank, especially my dear teacher Mr. Sammy Taylor. God bless you!

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PEOPLE'S REACTIONS

Sammy Taylor:  I'm so proud of you, Nathalie Nuong Nguyen! You're such a wonderful person. Thank you so much for that teary-eyed, heartfelt appreciation. Being a part of your life is such an amazing and indelible one. May you continue to soar high as you go on. God bless you and your family.

Pfac Palawan:  Nathalie, personally, I am profoundly touched by your sincere message. I'll make sure Teacher Sammy sees this. I will post this message to our PFAC Palawan Blog.

Andrew Taylor:  Hello, Nathalie.  Thank you for this great validation. I am truly mesmerized.  You are so brave, kind, and impeccably true to yourself and the people who have touched your life in the past.  God loves you and so do I.  Keep shining.

😍

 

HTC-PFAC DRUM and LYRE CORPS

PFAC Palawan Interviews

Teacher Sammy Taylor.

PFAC Palawan:  So... Sammy, I stumbled upon one of the many  pictures of the HTC-PFAC Drum and Lyre Corps while visiting the PFAC Palawan Facebook page, and for some reason I felt kind-a sentimental seeing you, Jan Top Christensen and Sister Bernandette.

Sammy:  That group was my baby. I love every minute of my interactions and bonding with the refugee youths as we practiced every afternoon after classes.

PFAC Palawan:  I feel you, but please tell me.  What inspired you to train those students?

Sammy:  The idea was actually conceptualized by our dearest HTC-PFAC Executive Director, Sister Bernadette. She called me one day to her office to tell me that she was thinking of buying those musical instruments and starting a drum and lyre group and that she wanted me to train the students. I immediately fell in love with the idea and assured Sister Bernadette that I would do it in a heartbeat.

PFAC Palawan:  You said yes, just like that? And knowing that it would entail an enormous amount of work? 

Sammy:  Well, substantial amount of work was definitely a requirement, but I didn't mind that at all because when you love what you do, it's not work but a hobby.  I am a professional singer and I love every form of entertainment, especially music.  But the point is, the refugees, especially the youths, needed to do something productive to fill their precious times in the camp while awaiting resettlement.  Teaching them how to play the xylophone and the drum was a great way to help them take away their boredom and distance themselves from smoking, alcohol, and stuff like that. 

PFAC Palawan:  Wow!  Impressive and truly amazing.  How often did you practice?

Sammy:  We rehearsed five days a week every afternoon after their English classes.  Everyday brought energy to everybody.  To me... to them... to the students and the school, and to the whole camp in general.                

PFAC Palawan:  I can imagine.  Was participation in the band extended to everyone or just to HTC-PFAC students?

Sammy:  Everyone, but I'd say, ninety-nine percent of the participants were HTC-PFAC students. 

PFAC Palawan:  Awesome.  Was there any age limit ... requirement?  I mean... 

Sammy:  Quite honestly, I can no longer recall, but the participants were between the ages of eight and fifteen. 

PFAC Palawan:  Where did the band play?  I mean on what occasions?

Sammy:  They played in parades, school graduations, PFAC sporting events, Bon Voyage parties, Christmas parties, Tet and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. 

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PFAC Palawan:  Fascinating!  Do you have any message to your former HTC-PFAC Drum and Lyre Corps members who might see this interview on line?

Sammy:  Yes!  My service to the Vietnamese refugees, United Nations, and PFAC Palawan was one of the best and probably the most significant highlights of my life not just as a teacher but as a person in general. I appeal to you my dear Vietnamese refugees to not ever forget your foundation which played a big part of who you are today.  Your membership and participation in the band was not accidental.  God brought us all together for a purpose... to entertain, to educate, and to inspire others. And we all succeeded, didn't we?  Thank you for supporting our beautiful music together.  If in the future we have the opportunity to reconnect or reunite, I will definitely be here with open arms and warm heart.  You can find me on Facebook under Sam Taylor.  God bless you all.

PFAC Palawan:  Thank you, Mr. Taylor, I mean, Sammy, for this splendid interview.  I feel that I have grown emotionally and intellectually from this.

Sammy:  So have I, PFAC Palawan.  Let's keep the fire of PFAC Palawan burning.

Minh Chuong, Alexander Cao, Linh, Thuan, and Minh Dang

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