PFAC Palawan Volunteers Reminisce Part 2

Former PFAC Palawan International Volunteers Reminisce their Time in the Refugee Camp.

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I love my job in PFAC Palawan. I worked with the wonderful Vietnamese friends I made and the fabulous IOM Staff that still feel like family.

Remember the great spring rolls at the VRC Coffee Shop? What about the swimming at the sandbar on Sundays? And what about the PFAC Swimming Team when we got caught on the boat to Manila saying good bye to dear friends and had to jump overboard and swim back to the dock? I miss everyone from PFAC.

HELEN MURPHY

Former IOM Medical Coordinator, 
PFAC Palawan

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Well, substantial amount of work was definitely a requirement, but I didn't mind at all because when you love what you do, it's not work but a hobby.  I am a professional singer and I love every form of music.  But the point is, the refugees, especially the youths, needed to do something to fill their precious times in the camp while awaiting resettlement.  Teaching them how to play the xylophone and the drum was a great way to help them take away their boredom and distance themselves from smoking, alcohol, and stuff like that.

Yes!  My service to the Vietnamese refugees, United Nations, and PFAC Palawan was one of the best and probably the most significant highlights of my life not just as a teacher but as a person in general. I appeal to you Vietnamese refugees to not ever forget your foundation which played a big part of who you are today.  Your membership in the band was not accidental.  God brought us all together for a purpose... to entertain, to educate, and to inspire others. And we all succeeded, didn't we?  Thank you for supporting our beautiful music together.  If in the future we have the opportunity to reconnect, I will definitely be here with open arms and warm heart.  You can find me on Facebook under Sam Taylor.  God bless you all.

SAMMY TAYLOR 
Former HTC-PFAC English Teacher 
and Drum and Lyre Vietnamese Youth Trainer 

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"A SECOND HOME AWAY FROM HOME"

"A SECOND HOME AWAY FROM HOME"

The bus started spinning its wheels

And gently left the PFAC Palawan
I tried so hard to keep my tears from falling,
But soon I found myself crying

I realized it was the final day
For me to view the lovely place
Where I spent the best years of my life
Close to my heart and yet away from home

I kept on looking back... and back again
Trying to catch a glimpse, a glimpse
Of the place I learned to love sincerely
One that I held so dearly, a second home

All the lovely, picturesque sceneries
The pearly-white beaches along the sea
The old cathedral and the Buddhist temple
The simple but neat billets gradually perished   

My friends with misty eyes bade me adieu

So calmly and speechlessly they stared at me

And then gradually they went blurry and gone

The thorn that pierced my heart 
I couldn't withstand

I covered my face and bowed down 

To conceal my tears from the people around
I closed my eyes and said a prayer and then
I looked around and found that I was alone

The shrill sound of the roaring plane was deafening
With broken heart
I found myself sitting on the plane
I knew, for sure, I was getting farther away
From the place I learned to love, my second home

The golden memories of that modest
but beautiful city, Puerto Princesa,
Still linger in my mind and deep inside my heart
Both sad and happy, and then I hope and pray
That I can visit her again SOMEDAY!

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MISS MURIEL KNOX, Where are you?

Our Ever Dearest Muriel,

It's been a long time since you left the VRC but your memory is still very fresh in our minds and in our hearts.  Your service to the Vietnamese refugees was exceptional.  You treated us with love, respect, compassion and a lot of patience.  You are one in a million.  You gave up your precious times in order to contribute to the world. 

 

You left Scotland and headed to Palawan to make a difference in the Vietnamese refugees' lives.  When you left, you didn't expect anything in return.  All you had was pure love for the Vietnamese people.  We want to see you again. 

We want to thank you for all the sacrifices that you did for our people.  Miss Muriel Knox, please contact us.  We miss you.  Please.........

VRC School for Children
impeccable37@yahoo.com

 
RESPONSES/UPDATE ON MURIEL KNOX'S WHEREABOUTS
(June 16, 2013)

June 5, 2013

Hello Andrew,

I came across your blog http://pfacasylum.blogspot.com today while searching for my old English teacher Muriel Knox in Palawan, Philippines.  I was 10 years old when I arrived with my father and brother in this refugee camp in April 1980.

Muriel Knox and Leslie Lynch from London were my English teachers in the camp.  The Vietnamese translator was Co Linh.  If you must know, Linh was the niece of Nguyen Van Khon, the first to officially author the Vietnamese-English dictionary.

I still have some photographs of them in the classroom if you want to see them.

At any rate, Muriel and my father who just passed away in 2008 got along well.  Muriel even came to San Jose, California to visit us a few years after we landed here.  Muriel told my father that she is originally from Scotland.  I heard about 20 years ago that Muriel was driving a taxi in London.

If you are interested, I do know of a Scottish friend here in San Francisco who often goes back home for visits that can probably help us both in locating Muriel.  I still remember her as a kind and compassionate human being just like my father.  It is hard for me not to get emotional when I think about these nice teachers who came from half way around the world to help us refugees.

Leslie Doan

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Jun 5, 2013

Leslie,

Thank you very much for your email.  Yes, I would like to be reunited with Muriel.  She was a very good friend and a former co-teacher in the camp.  The other teacher you were talking about is Marian Lynch not Lesley.  Lesley taught with CADP not our school.  I have Marian's phone number and address.  She now lives in Washington DC and is married to a Vietnamese named Diep.  I live in Canada.  Are you in California?  We'll talk more.

Andrew

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June 5, 2013

Andy, 

Thanks for getting back with me. 

Yes, I've lived in San Jose, CA since we arrived from Palawan in 1981.  I visited Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal about 10 years ago.  I still remember Canada as peaceful and green.  You must have a sizeable Vietnamese community there?

Oh, if I remember correctly, Marian Lynch did marry the man named Diep from the refugee camp.  Is that right? So, doesn't Marian have any idea where Muriel is?  If you like to talk more, I am usually around on the weekend.

Leslie Doan_____________________________________________

Jun 5, 2013

Leslie,

Marian has also lost Muriel's contact information.  She and I are in contact frequently.  Yes, she is married to Diep and they have two children.  I was there during your time. 

I will call you when I can.  I have families in Orange County and we spend Christmas in California every year.  Take care.

Andy 
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June 12, 2013

Andy, 

I did a little digging and tracked down Muriel Knox's brother.  I finally got a reply from him about her this week which I feel obligated to share with you and perhaps Marian.  From her brother Garth's email below, it seems to me that Muriel does not want to re-visit her past.  So, given that, I think I will leave her alone for now.

Whatever Muriel's reasons are, I still think of her as a compassionate and wonderful individual for what she did to help the refugees.  Needless to say, the same goes for you for all the work you did to help us refugees.

Just so you know, I am putting together a book about my personal voyage to America and the Vietnamese boat refugees in general.  It is not for personal gain, fame or profit but simply an effort to remind the future generations of Vietnamese children and adults not to forget the exodus and experiences of what people like myself and family have gone thru.  In my opinion, it is a very different kind of story telling in terms of immigration narratives.

Let's talk whenever you find the time !

Leslie Doan

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June 12, 2013

Dear Leslie,

Yes, I'm Muriel's brother. I forwarded your message to her, and I leave it up to her to reply to you. But Muriel has changed a lot, and I think she doesn't specially want to keep contact with what she calls her former self, so don't be too surprised if she doesn't get in touch with you. She has had requests like this before, and didn't follow them up, so don't take it personally, I think she wants to look forwards and not backwards.

Best wishes,

Garth

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