Teacher BENNY ONG and BAO THUY NGUYEN 2010

Bao Thuy Nguyen: Like what so many former refugees say,  I am also indebted to so many people in the camp.  If I have a chance to go back, I will definitely see them all again. I miss HTC-PFAC School. I miss Sister Tomasa Rivera, O.P., Kuya Romy, Teacher Boy and Babes, many Filipino friends, and many Vietnamese friends. Somehow, I think that I miss the Philippines more than I miss Vietnam. Why?  I guess Philippines is the place where I started to grow up, mature and understand real life. The Philippines and the Filipino people have taught me love, caring, hard work, compassion and self-confidence.

June 21, 2010 at 1:15am

Bao Thuy and his Beautiful Family

Benny Ong: I got so emotional reading your message here, Bao Thuy.  I'm sure a lot of people have touched your lives at one time in your life but it's so sweet of you to mention especially us. We thank you for that.  You don't need to repay things that we've done for you.  If you could remember us in your prayers, that would be fantastic. What you are now as a human being and your success in life are the greatest things you've done to make us extremely happy and proud. Keep up the good work and remember to celebrate life always. We love you and your family.

June 21, 2010 at 6:11pm

Bao Thuy Nguyen:  Thank you, Teacher Boy.  Time has gone by, but not a moment that I don't remember the time I spent at HTC School and with the teachers, Teacher Boy. I guess I have grown up and lived with HTC School Family during my childhood and teenage life. HTC and the camp will forever be in my heart. Never forget it for a moment of time. I will be back sometime in the future and would like to see you all. You take care now.

June 23, 2010 at 3:57pm

Teacher Benny Ong and his Beautiful Family

Benny Ong: We will be waiting for that time, Bao Thuy... the time when we will be together again to savor the great moments we all shared before.  I hope it will be soon, so Sister Tomasa and Sister Bernadette will still be with us.  My best regards to your family. You make us so proud.  Please keep in touch, Bao Thuy.

PFAC Palawan Main Stage 
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Notes from Admin.  This conversation has been edited.  If you have any concern, please contact us directly.

PFAC Palawan GRAND REUNION

PFAC Palawan GRAND REUNION 

July 2nd to July 10, 2015

We've never had the opportunity to return to our second home.  We just keep on looking back!  We sometimes think of the people we encountered while we're there waiting to be resettled. 

We often think of our good friends, our beloved teachers that educated us and touched our lives.  We treasure the international volunteers from various agencies who gave up their precious times to contribute, to make a difference, to make a lasting impression on other people's lives. Thank you!!!  

It's been over thirty years.  We have all aged. Many have gotten married and had children.  Some have passed on.  And inside our hearts there's PFAC Palawan burning. 

We've never really had a chance to go back to see PFAC Palawan again... the second home we cherish. 

We miss the gorgeous Buddhist Temple, the ethereal Roman Catholic Church, the beautiful UNHCR Field Office, the towering Caodaist Temple, the endearing HTC School for Children, brings smiles to my face... the lovely CADP and ARMDEV, the Mailing Section, the Stage and the Plaza where we used to watch movies on Friday nights.  The sandbar and the crystal-clear beaches and the coconut garden.  And sadly, they're all gone. 

Yes, they're now all gone, but you know what?  We still have each other... Yes, we still have each other.  We can and should hold on to these memories.  Share them with our children... with our grand children, with our great, great grand children.  

Yes, we have each other. And together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, and with great enthusiasm, we will continue to keep the fire burning.  

Mark your calendar- July 2 to July 10, 2015. Join us in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the city and province that gave us a safe haven,

Andrew Taylor