THE STORY OF A MIRACLE CHILD

Dr. Luis Medrano and Sister Bernadette with Bonbon

 THE STORY OF A MIRACLE CHILD

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The baby in the pictures above and below is Bonbon. Tran Ba Duy is his real name.  His young parents fled their homeland on a small fishing boat with sixteen other refugees hoping to find a safe haven somewhere outside of their country of birth. They sailed across China Sea for weeks. One morning they saw an island from afar. 

Andrew Taylor and Bonbon

Thirty minutes before landing on the island their boat capsized when it hit an underwater rock. Shortly after that, everyone sank into the water and drowned because they couldn't swim; they were too weak due to dehydration and hunger. Bonbon's mom tried to stay afloat while holding her precious child. Her husband was nowhere in sight. She was too weak to swim and hold on to Bonbon but she refused to let him go. Seconds before she was about to give up, she heard her husband calling, "Em oi!" Em oi!!!". She responded to him and they found each other. Moments after she handed the baby to her husband, she sank deep into the water, never to emerge again.

 

Dr. Luis Medrano and Bonbon

Bonbon's mother was forever gone. His father was helpless. He tried to swim to the island in sight, but he was too exhausted. He was about to give up when he saw a Filipino fishing boat coming to the rescue . All the boat people during that trip died except Bonbon and his father. After they were rescued by the kind Filipino villagers, his father cried like a child calling the name of his wife. When he couldn't cry anymore he stopped but fell into a deep shock. When he and Bonbon arrived in the camp he refused to speak to anyone. He stayed speechless for months. He just sat in one corner looking at one direction and sometimes his tears rolling down his cheeks.  

Sister Bernadette Izon, O.P.,  Dr. Luis Medrano and wife Cira, Mona San Luis, and Bonbon

Sister Bernadette then volunteered to take care of Bonbon while his father was recuperating. After seven long months, Bonbon's father started to speak and interact again. He started doing his normal routine.

For the benefit of his miracle child, Bonbon stayed with Sister Bernadette and the Dominican Sisters at the convent downtown Puerto Princesa City. Two years later, Bonbon and his father immigrated to France.

 Everybody loves you, Bonbon! With Benny Ong

If you know Tran Ba Duy's AKA Bonbon's whereabouts, please email us at impeccable37@yahoo.com. He lives in France and is now around 28 years old (2014)

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PFAC Palawan Volunteers Part Four

PFAC Palawan Volunteers

 Vo Anh Tung and Andrew Taylor

 Father Kenneth Jacques OSB and Andrew Taylor

 Nguyen Van Nam and Andrew Taylor

 Sister Bernadette Izon O.P. and Andrew Taylor

 Andrew, Bich Van and Mona San Luis

 Ding Reyes (OIC Office) and Hai

 My friend Hai and IOM Volunteer Tory Sullivan

Another IOM Volunteer (Pls. name her for me.)



 Violy Abella, Mayette Rodis, Sister Bernadette,

Estella Gayapa, and Sammy Taylor

 Benny Ong, Pilariza Soriano and Ramona San Luis

 Benny and Son Nguyen

 Sister Tomasa Rivera O.P

Benny Ong, Sister Lizzie and Sister Bernadette

 
Miss Virgie Rana

 CADP Volunteer English Teacher
TONY MAHON

HTC Volunteers Ruth Meyers and Vo Anh Tung

OOOOOOO

PFAC Palawan Volunteers Part Three

We will never forget you.

PFAC Palawan

 Estella Gayapa (Administrative Assistant to Sis. Tomasa)

 Ruth Meyers (HTC-PFAC Teacher) and

Vo Anh Tung (HTC-PFAC Enterpreter and photographer)

 Ms. Ann (IOM Volunteer Midwife)

 Emma Faeldonia (Childcare Teacher and Caretaker)

 Nils Halvorsen (UNHCR Field Officer PFAC Palawan 1984 - 85)

 Mayette Rodis (Admin. Asst.) and

Marivic Castillo (HTC-PFAC Teacher)

 

 

 Sammy Taylor and Florence Racca

(English Teachers at HTC-PFAC School

 Nguyen Thi Bich Van

(HTC-PFAC Volunteer Asst. Teacher)

Father Robert Crawford and Father Chu Van Chi
 

 Andrew Taylor (English Teacher)

 Tony Mahon (The third one) CADP English Teacher 

 Tony Mahon

Nenita, Gemma, Virgie, Maritess, Sammy and Bonbon

 

 

 

 

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PFAC Palawan Volunteers Part One

IMAGES OF PFAC PALAWAN

The Volunteers

My best friend- Le Tan Do

(HTC-PFAC Enterpreter and Science Teacher, IOM Volunteer) 

Andrew Taylor

(HTC-PFAC School Vounteer, 1980 - 1992)

 Sandra Makosinski (ARMDEV Volunteer Teacher)

 Nida Ermita (ARMDEV Volunteer Teacher)
 

Father Kenneth Jacques, OSB

(PFAC Palawan Catholic Church Parish Priest 1983 to 1985)

 

HTC-PFAC Teachers and Administrators

Rubi, Josie, Gloria, Mona, Connie, Angelie, Sister Tomasa, Salvy,

Tina, Jean, Rose, Andrew, Dr, Lagrada, Adrian, and Sammy

 

Father Robert Crawford (PFAC Palawan Parish Priest 1988 to 1993)

 

Angelie Toral

Kindergarten Teacher VRC School for Children

(PFAC Palawan 1983 to 1985)

 

Sammy, Maritess, Bessie, Virgie, and Andrew

HTC-PFAC School for Children Teachers

 

Lany, Anne, Mila (CADP Volunteers, PFAC Palawan)

 

Ms. Muriel Knox (VRC School for Children English Teacher 1982 to 1984)

Benny Ong (HTC-PFAC Teacher), Sister Lizzie (PFAC Obstetrician),

Sister Bernadette Hizon, OP (HTC-PFAC School Director)

VRC School for Children Volunteers- Angelie Toral,

Muriel Knox, Andrew Taylor, and Purification Gabo

 

Do Duc Hieu and the IOM Volunteers

 

Dr. Luis Medrano (Rotary International Dentist)

IOM Volunteers and Cira Medrano

 

Estella Gayapa (HTC-PFAC Office Administrator)

 

Rose, Sammy, Bessie, Sheila, Andrew,

Angelie, and Benny (HTC-PFAC Volunteers)

 

Dwight Russell and the VRC Usherettes

Dwight Russell

 



Muriel Knox with Lan Dalat's Family

 

Father Robert Crawford

 

Sister Pascale (CADP Volunteer)

 

United Nations High Commission for Refugees logo

 

Nils Halvorsen -UNHCR Field Officer PFAC Palawan (1984 to 1987)

Sister Bernadette, Dr. Luis and wife Cira, and Mona San Luis

Sister Bernadette Hizon, OP, HTC-PFAC Head 1987 to 1991