Teacher Sammy Taylor, A Slice of My Experience

Bancao Bancao Elementary School

After my teaching in the old PFAC Refugee Camp in 1995, the Vietnamese Elementary school children were accepted in Bancao Bancao Elementary School (Mauricio Reynoso Memorial Elementary School) in the following year, until the year 1997.

 

The Department of Education, with the support of Mayor Ed Hagedorn, requested me to teach the Vietnamese children. There, I taught Grade 4, 5, and 6 in one gigantic classroom. I was very happy to teach the Vietnamese children in Bancao Bancao.
 
In Bancao Bancao, I met a very sweet, loving and thoughtful Vietnamese student named Tang T. Nguyen. Unfortunately, I can no longer remember the names of other students or have any idea where they are now. ( or where they have resettled.)

I'm planning to go to that school to look for my old records so I can recall their names again.

In 1997, The Vietnamese in PFAC were relocated in Viet Ville in Santa Lourdes. The school children were then accepted in many different schools in Puerto Princesa City.
 
I was also accepted as a permanent teacher in public school as a result of the good performance I had in teaching the Vietnamese.

These are some of the pictures I'd like to share. People in PFAC knew me as Teacher Sammy Taylor

OOO 

Ballet Dancers - PFAC Palawan

It was a tradition at HTC-PFAC School in PFAC Palawan to perform to the delight of visiting dignitaries and international volunteers during Bon Voyage Parties. This is one of them. Van and Kim Loan perform a ballet dance choreographed by Teacher Benny Ong to say good bye to Father Kenneth Jacques in 1986 in PFAC Palawan.

Here are Van Nguyen and Kim Loan dancing at Father Kenneth's Bon Voyage Celebration in PFAC Palawan way back 1986. 

Below are Van Nguyen (Canada) and Kim Loan (Australia) now.

 

PALAWAN "A Piece of Heaven on Earth"

I was once told by a trusted friend that if I hadn't gone to Palawan, Philippines, I should first go to Cancun, Punta Cana, Varadero, Miami, Santa Marta, Curacao, Thailand etc. I questioned why? He said," Once you've been to Palawan, it will be difficult for you to appreciate any other beach resorts in the world." "Palawan is the epitome of paradise." A piece of heaven on Earth!