THE DAY ANDREW LEFT PFAC PALAWAN

                                       BON VOYAGE ANDY!

Your invaluable services to the Vietnamese Refugees is highly appreciated.

June 20, 1992

Our dearest Andy,

Our simple but profound way of saying thank you for the compassion and the dedication you've shown towards your students and also to those who have come to you for advice.  As a teacher, you're "one in a million".  Above all we'll remember you not only as our co-teacher but as a brother working in the vineyard of our Lord for the benefit of our Vietnamese brethren.  We wish you all the best.  God speed and good luck.

HTC-PFAC Teachers and Staff

Dearest Andy,

Salamat.  I can't say anything except thank you for all the things you've shared.  This space is not enough if I will enumerate everything.  You're always the "BEST".

With prayers,
Marivic

Dear Andrew,

Remember that we love you in all your ways.  I shall always bear in mind and heart your total dedication and exemplary services you have always given the HTC-PFAC School for Children that gained so much fame, respect and love for all who have worked with and for it - in the accomplishment of its mission to our beloved brothers - the Vietnamese people.  God will surely bless you and shower you with His loving mercy, so does a sister who will always pray for you.

In Christ
Sister Tomasa, O.P.

Dearest Andrew,

Your most awaited time has come.  I wish you all the happiness, good health, success and prosperity inn all your future endeavors.  Keep PMA always.  Be gracious as you work through your goals.  Keep your love for Van growing.  I will miss you around here.  God bless you and Van always.

Love,
Babes

Dearest Andy,

Wherever you go you're always be remembered.  Stay friendly, sweet and charming always.  Take care.

Love,
Mayette Rodis

Andy,

Wherever you'll go you'll be thought of as one of my real friends.  God bless you and Van.
Missing you lots!


Ate Mona

Dear Andy,

Thanks a lot for your unselfish support and love.  May God bless you always "Big Brother".

Love,
Marissa

Dear Kuya Andy,

God bless you and I love you so much!

Emma

Dear Andy,

I wish you the best of luck.  God bless you and Van.  I'll miss you.

Virgie

Andy,

No words can ever express my sadness of your departure.  I will surely miss you.  Rest assured that our prayers will always be with you and Van.

Lots of love,
Boy

Dearest Andy,

I thank the Lord for having you as a friend.  You've done so much for me.  I will certainly miss you.  You're such a real friend and compadre.  Rest assured of my prayers


Love,
Bessie

Andy,

In a short time that I've worked with you, I have learned to treat you like I do my children. 
I admire your innovative spirit and candid approach to things.  May the Lord bless you and Van.

Ate Linda

Dear Andrew,

Peace!  Pray continually.  Be joyful always.  Give thanks in every circumstances for this is the will of God to you in Jesus Christ.  Always remember, God oppresses the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Take care of Van.  take care of yourself.  God bless you.

Love,
Violet

 

____________________________________________

                                                             ***

Teacher Marissa Ladica

TEACHER MARISSA

with her HTC-PFAC Students

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Marissa Ladica. 

Please do not reproduce without

permission from Marissa Ladica

or impeccable37@yahoo.com.

000

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

 

 

 

 

**********



Vietnamese Refugee Center PFAC School for Children 1986

These were my opening remarks when I emceed the 22nd Graduation Ceremony of our school in PFAC, in 1986. My friend Nam, who typed a copy of the original, kept this for over two decades and gave me back when I visited him in Saigon in 2009.

"Distinguished guests, Sister Leonor Pagorogon, O.P., President of the Holy Trinity College; Sister Concepta Roque, O.P., Superior of the Dominican Sisters; Mr. Greg Wangerin, UNHCR Field Officer for Palawan; Captain Oscar Calingasan, our PFAC Officer-in-Charge; Sister Tomasa Rivera, O.P., Our School Coordinator; Heads of various Volunteer Agencies working in Philippine First Asylum Center; my dear co-teachers, assistant teachers and interpreters, students, parents, and all of you who are gathered here. Good afternoon.

Welcome to the twenty-second culminating activities of the Holy Trinity College, PFAC School for Children. Another highly successful term has passed and we are here, once again, celebrating the achievements of our beloved Vietnamese brothers and sisters. Although our students are in the most difficult times of their lives, being away from their homeland and families, they continue to strive and look forward to the future with optimism and courage. Their positivity inspires me and the many volunteers who came all the way from different countries to unselfishly offer their services in order to make a difference in other people's lives. Thank you very much, volunteer agencies on behalf of the Vietnamese Refugees. I am truly inspired by your generosity.

Our program is divided into two parts. The first part will be the awarding of ribbons to the honor students from the different levels and the awarding of certificates to those who have successfully completed the three-month module of the Advanced Level. The second part of the program will be a short musical entitled "A CHILD'S DREAM". This musical presentation is comprised of seven different dances skillfully choreographed by the teachers.

Our main objective in our school is to prepare our students for lives in the Western Countries by teaching them survival English to arm them with the necessary communication skills that they may need as they embark in their new lives in the United States, Canada, Australia, England, New Zealand etc. We all know that language alone is not enough to survive in their third countries so we teachers try our best to expose our students to performing arts to help them develop their self confidence. Making them stand in front of you today is already a great achievement. We hope that through these activities we may be able to give them courage and to overcome their fear.

On behalf of our school coordinator, I would like to extend my profound gratitude to Greg Wangerin and to the heads of all volunteer agencies and most especially to my co-teachers, who are working very hard for the benefit of our Vietnamese brothers and sisters. Without your cooperation and support, we will not be able to accomplish our goals here in the camp.

Once again, thank you very much, sit back, relax and enjoy the program."

ANDREW TAYLOR
HTC-PFAC School Graduation Ceremony
Summer 1986