Memorable Images of PFAC Palawan

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

THE SECOND HOME WE CHERISH

There's no such thing as perfection; however, PFAC Palawan is known to be the BEST refugee camp ever existed in the world. Our sincerest congratulations to the Republic of the Philippines and its people, to the Western Command and to the UNHCR and all the dedicated INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS. PFAC Palawan will forever linger in the hearts of the Vietnamese refugees. Long live PFAC Palawan, our second home.

We will forever cherish our English Teachers, the nuns, the priests and pastors and the monks who gave up their precious times in order to facilitate our integration into the Western society before we even resettled.  We will always be grateful to Wescom and UNHCR for making sure we are safe and secure in our second home.  We will always be thankful to the Philippines and her people for making us feel welcome and loved.  We are eternally grateful to the dentists, doctors, nurses, midwives, social workers and our own Vietnamese teachers.  PFAC Palawan is indeed the best refugee camp in the world ever.

UNHCR Field Officer Robert (Bob) Gruelsema viewing the aerial view of the VRC Palawan

PFAC (VRC) Roman Catholic Church while it was being renovated in 1981 or 82.

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Puerto Princesa City

The Cleanest City in the Philippines

Puerto Princesa City, the second largest city in the Philippines and the capital of Palawan has been the face of the last ecological frontier in the Philippines. Lying along the midsection of the long island of Palawan province, the capital city of Palawan is considered to be a first class city among the cities of the Philippines.

Puerto Princesa City is also known as the cleanest city in the Philippines and one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.

The Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Built by the Spaniards)

The best time to visit Puerto Princesa would be the summer months from April to June, when seas are usually calm. Humidity is high but annual average temperatures are comfortable at 27 degrees Celsius. Nights may be chilly during rainy days, especially in forested areas, so it is advisable for visitors to bring warm clothing at all times.

One of Puerto Princesa’s main tour attractions and a source of pride for the locals is the Subterranean River National Park one of the world’s new 7 wonders of nature. The site features a very spectacular limestone landscape display in its navigable underground river, which flows directly to the sea. The underground river represents a habitat for conservation biodiversity.

Puerto Princesa City Baywalk Park

(place where families and cultures gather)

Galloping dolphins are a common site on Honday Bay, Puerto Princesa, an additional treat to the locals and tourists while they go island hopping.

Puerto Princesa is also the jump off point for Honda Bay which is rich in pristine white beaches with fine white sand. You can find them anywhere in the island. These water sceneries provide quite a contrast to the island’s green canopies. The clear emerald-green waters are truly a fascinating sight to behold. The islands in Honda Bay give the beach lovers a much sought-after uncrowded and unspoiled haven that one can never find anywhere else in the Philippines.

Puerto Princesa Philippines climate consists of pronounced wet and dry seasons equally divided throughout the year. The wettest month is September while the driest month is February. From October to April, the northeast monsoon whips up waves on the coast facing the South China Sea. The southwest monsoon blows from April to August.

    This is the aerial view of Puerto Princesa.

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A TALK WITH ANDREW TAYLOR

TESL ONTARIO INTERVIEWS

ANDREW TAYLOR, November 2012

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TESL stands for Teachers of English as a Second Language. TESL Ontario is tasked by the provincial government to certify the ESL and LINC Teachers before they are eligible to teach in the classroom.

1.  What motivates you, Andrew?

For me, teaching is not a job; it is a vocation.  Teaching gives me a great opportunity to serve people and make a positive contribution to their lives.  I have impeccable compassion for the immigrants especially the newcomers to Canada.  My mother was from the Philippines and my wife is originally from the former Republic of South Vietnam.  With my background and experience, I believe that I basically understand the challenges that the immigrants are facing in Canada, and I am committed to doing everything in my power to make things easy for them.   

 

My students embrace who I am and they understand that what I am doing is for their own benefits.  Every time I walk into the classroom and see the glow in the eyes of my students, I am truly energized.  Every time my students say good bye to me after class with the smiles on their faces, it gives me a reason to serve them better the following day.  I am truly inspired knowing that, we, people are more similar than we are different, and I focus on our similarities and embrace our differences.  I love my vocation as a teacher.  It is a joy and privilege to serve and make a difference in the lives of the immigrants.

2.  What is your educational philosophy?
I strongly believe that each student deserves a safe, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which they can grow and advance intellectually, emotionally, and socially.  To help my students achieve their fullest potential is my ultimate goal.  I will make sure that I can provide an environment that is secure, respectful and positive.  That is an environment that supports risk-taking, and promotes a sense of cooperation, but at the same time fun and family-like.

 

3.  Are there any best teaching tips you want to share?
I don’t know if these are best teaching tips but I will share them anyway.  (1.) Do not hesitate to regularly inject humor into your teaching.  (2.) Always affirm and validate your students and treat them with respect and compassion.  (3.) When the students make mistakes, offer them suggestions not criticism.  (4.)  Show them that you trust them, that you believe in their potentials.  (5.) And finally, outside of the classroom, do what makes you happy.  If you’re happy outside of the classroom, you will bring that energy back into the classroom.  In other words, if you want your students to be motivated, you have to take time to motivate yourself first.

4.  Describe the first five minutes in your class.
I start by greeting the students.  I make sure that I have a sincere smile on my face.  I always make eye contact with every one and I move around the classroom while asking “How are you?”  “How are you doing?”  “Did you have a good weekend?”  “How was your weekend?”  “How was your day yesterday?”  “What did you eat for breakfast?”  “How did you get to school this morning?”  “How was the traffic on your way to school?”  Then I’ll tell them a short story about my night, my morning commute, what I ate for breakfast, and some good news about current events that I feel are important for them to know.  Then I will proceed with a short pronunciation drill, a jazz chant or tongue twisters to warm up or energize the students.   Then the review of the old lessons will immediately follow.

5.  What else would you share about yourself?

I am not just an English teacher.  I’m also a singer, an actor, a stage director, a poet, and a dancer.  I use the classroom as a venue or a stage to educate, inspire, and entertain other people, and my students are my satisfied audience.  I believe in putting other people first.  I wake up everyday, knowing that I am privileged to have the opportunity to make a lasting impression on other people’s lives.

Andrew Aaron Taylor
Orange County, California

(January 2, 2012)

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