HAPPY NEW YEAR PFAC FAMILY!

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Happy New Year

© Hope Galaxie

Published: February 2014

As the world celebrates
With fireworks and cakes
I'm standing here alone
Far away from home
With nothing but a suitcase and memories

As the stars surround me like water
I raise my hands in full surrender
To God, my Redeemer
Lord, this year is far from ordinary
I've never seen such extraordinary
People, places and things
Amazing human beings
Searching for purpose, just like me.

Looking around, I wonder
Since a year is like clashing thunder
Booming suddenly
Then vanishing instantly
Why waste time uselessly?
The old year came and went
I hope your time was wisely spent
On helping others and working hard
So that many people may regard
Your lifetime as truly great
And not just because of fate
So learn this lesson, but not from me!
Try it yourself and you will see
Making a difference starts with one step
With one foot, then the next

So walk right now into the light
And find yourself shining bright
Don't worry what people think
Because right now you're on the brink
Of showing others what is true
Happy New Year, from me to you.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/make-a-difference-happy-new-year

Happy New Year
Author: Catherine Pulsifer

H appiness depends upon your outlook on life. 
...Find the good in all situations
A ttitude is just as important as ability.
...Keep your attitude positive
P assion find yours this year! 
...Do what you love and you will never work
P ositive thoughts make everything easier.
...Stay focused and stay positive
Y ou are unique, with special gifts, use them. 
...Never forget you have talent

N ew beginnings with a new year.
E nthusiasm a true secret of success.
W ishes may they turn into goals.

Y ears go by to quickly, enjoy them.
...Wisdom from your elders, listen
E nergy may you have lots of it. 
...Take care of yourself
A ppreciation of life, don't take it for granted. 
...Live each day
R elax take the time to relax in this coming year.
...Keep a balance in your life

Happy New Year

© Hope Galaxie

Published: February 2014

As the world celebrates
With fireworks and cakes
I'm standing here alone
Far away from home
With nothing but a suitcase and memories

As the stars surround me like water
I raise my hands in full surrender
To God, my Redeemer
Lord, this year is far from ordinary
I've never seen such extraordinary
People, places and things
Amazing human beings
Searching for purpose, just like me.

Looking around, I wonder
Since a year is like clashing thunder
Booming suddenly
Then vanishing instantly
Why waste time uselessly?
The old year came and went
I hope your time was wisely spent
On helping others and working hard
So that many people may regard
Your lifetime as truly great
And not just because of fate
So learn this lesson, but not from me!
Try it yourself and you will see
Making a difference starts with one step
With one foot, then the next

So walk right now into the light
And find yourself shining bright
Don't worry what people think
Because right now you're on the brink
Of showing others what is true
Happy New Year, from me to you.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/make-a-difference-happy-new-year

Happy New Year

© Hope Galaxie

Published: February 2014

As the world celebrates
With fireworks and cakes
I'm standing here alone
Far away from home
With nothing but a suitcase and memories

As the stars surround me like water
I raise my hands in full surrender
To God, my Redeemer
Lord, this year is far from ordinary
I've never seen such extraordinary
People, places and things
Amazing human beings
Searching for purpose, just like me.

Looking around, I wonder
Since a year is like clashing thunder
Booming suddenly
Then vanishing instantly
Why waste time uselessly?
The old year came and went
I hope your time was wisely spent
On helping others and working hard
So that many people may regard
Your lifetime as truly great
And not just because of fate
So learn this lesson, but not from me!
Try it yourself and you will see
Making a difference starts with one step
With one foot, then the next

So walk right now into the light
And find yourself shining bright
Don't worry what people think
Because right now you're on the brink
Of showing others what is true
Happy New Year, from me to you.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/make-a-difference-happy-new-year

Happy New Year

© Hope Galaxie

Published: February 2014

As the world celebrates
With fireworks and cakes
I'm standing here alone
Far away from home
With nothing but a suitcase and memories

As the stars surround me like water
I raise my hands in full surrender
To God, my Redeemer
Lord, this year is far from ordinary
I've never seen such extraordinary
People, places and things
Amazing human beings
Searching for purpose, just like me.

Looking around, I wonder
Since a year is like clashing thunder
Booming suddenly
Then vanishing instantly
Why waste time uselessly?
The old year came and went
I hope your time was wisely spent
On helping others and working hard
So that many people may regard
Your lifetime as truly great
And not just because of fate
So learn this lesson, but not from me!
Try it yourself and you will see
Making a difference starts with one step
With one foot, then the next

So walk right now into the light
And find yourself shining bright
Don't worry what people think
Because right now you're on the brink
Of showing others what is true
Happy New Year, from me to you.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/make-a-difference-happy-new-year

PFAC Palawan Boy Scouts

OUR LOVING TRIBUTE TO THE 

PFAC PALAWAN BOY SCOUTS

Please help us identify the people in these pictures.

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 Visit this page too. https://pfacasylum.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-pfac-boys-scouts-part-two-with.html

Our Vietnamese Brothers and Sisters

A SLICE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HISTORY
in Palawan, Philippines

When the Vietnamese refugees started arriving in the Philippines in 1977, the Philippine government was caught off handed. Immediately the local governments and the military reported the situation to then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. The first Lady Imelda Marcos and the Roman Catholic Churches in the Philippines immediately came up with the idea of housing the refugees in church properties including church dormitories and vacant rooms and beds in seminaries. This they initially did without any financial help from the outside world.

The religious organizations around the Philippines (especially Palawan, Mindoro, and Manila) decided to collect relief merchandise such as clothing, canned goods, cash donations, pens, paper etc. from the Filipino locals. To the amazement of the charity workers, they were able to collect a lot of donations even from the very poor Filipinos. University and college students all came together hand in hand to contribute. The Filipinos thought of what they could do for the Vietnamese people regardless of their own financial difficulties. For them they found enormous joy in helping the less fortunate. Many of them, including the clergies called the Vietnamese refugees brothers and sisters.

In the mid to late 1978, the UNHCR started sending financial help to the refugees through the Philippine government. The UNHCR in coordination with the Philippine First Lady Mrs. Marcos sat down together and came up with the plan of building refugee camps in Palawan, Bataan, and Manila. Filipino and American engineers and contractors together with the refugees themselves all collaborated in building the refugee camps in the Philippines.

In the year 1979, the refugee camps were established and with the help of the Philippine military, the camp in Palawan elected their own chairman to represent and govern their own  people. 

The creation of schools was perceived by then VRC Chairman Dr. Ky, who coordinated with the Dominican Sisters in Holy Trinity College and CADP.  HTC was in-charge of the children from 3 years old to 15 years old while CADP was in-charge of the 16 years old and above. The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) took care of the daycare program, which provided services for parents who were working as volunteers in different agencies in the camp. Pioneering teachers such as Andrew Taylor, Benny Ong, and Zenny Aguilar all worked on the volunteer capacity. They were completely unpaid but found true satisfaction in serving the refugees.

This is just a slice of the refugee stories in the Philippines. Please continue checking for updates.

Now that it has been 42 years, former Vietnamese refugees still visit Palawan and their former English teachers and still consider the Philippines as their second home. 

I hope that you will protect our history... One way to make sure that our story doesn't perish is the creation of a museum in Palawan that will happen soon.

The Second Home We Cherish

PFAC Palawan stands for Philippine First Asylum Center. Formerly called The Vietnamese Refugees Center (V.R.C.) and used to be located along Rizal Avenue Extension past the Puerto Princesa airport in Bancao-Bancao on Palawan Island. No longer in operation today but used to be a refugee center for the Vietnamese people seeking political asylum. It opened officially in late 1979 and remained in existence up to 1995. It was moved to Santa Lourdes (Viet Ville) and it finally folded in 2005. The PFAC formerly called VRC had a population of 12,000 Vietnamese and Chinese refugees (A.K.A. Boat People) in 1981-82. 

Some of the Volunteer Agencies (A.K.A. Volags) that helped the Vietnamese refugees facilitate their immigration to Western countries are as follows: UNHCR, WESCOM, Holy Trinity University (HTC-PFAC), ARMDEV, PCCS, IOM, ICM, CADP, BRACE, The Roman Catholic Church, The Buddhist Pagoda, The Philippine National Red Cross, The Rotary Club International, British Volunteer Services Organization (BVSO), Escole Sans Francais etc. 

The Philippine First Asylum Center is completely gone today. The Puerto Princesa government turned the area into an airport facility. 

There are no traces of the former PFAC left. However, returning Vietnamese may visit Vietville for nostalgic purposes.