Nostalgic Moments - A Visit To The Refugee Camp

Early this year, I've visited the Refugee Camp once again after more than a decade and to my surprise, the place was fully abondoned, no trace of dorms where staff were housed and bunkhouses where refugees were billeted. But there's one thing that struck me most, a former building was converted into a museum.




Most memorabilias about refugee experiences were kept intact especially the boat that was used by Viet refugees that once sailed the rough waves in the ocean from Vietnam to Philippines. What a sight!! It was a very touching moment when most of us saw that "small boat" again and it's fully preserved after long years.



The PRPC- Philippine Refugee Processing Camp had closed several years ago after operating for many years. But on 20th January 2005, it was opened for the Grand Reunion. It was arranged to be a Reunion for all those who had dedicated their time and effort for the refugees, all VOLAGS (Voluntary Agencies like Caritas Manila, Salvation Army, Embassies etc.) and former refugees as well.



It marked the 25th Anniversary when the Philippine Government and UNHCR-United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees signed an agreement that refugees will be transported to the island for processing purposes. Thus, refugees stayed in Bataan for temporary assylum prior to their resettlement to other countries. While Refugees were billeted there, they were given intensive ESL for survival and Cultural Orientation about Western lifestyles.



Fortunately, I've managed to join the Reunion and I've met former colleagues who came from all over the world who continuously dedicate themselves serving the refugees all over the globe. There were former refugees who went back to Bataan for that purpose to join the events and to pick up the pieces to where they've left.


January 2005

There were around 20,000 Indo-Chinese Refugees from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam when I was still in the Refugee Camp in Morong Bataan. Most of these refugees came from other camps in Thailand, Malaysia and Hongkong. The camps in the Philippines were not as bad as other areas, but it isn't as good as living in your own home as well.
The picture below is where refugees used to live and they are known as billets and bunkhouses.



It was really a remarkable event last January, inspite of my hectic schedule and considering that only 4 days in PI and it's the last leg of our trip. It's worth visiting the place after more than a decade. A place where I've learned to value the real meaning of life through the experiences with the refugees. A place where I came to realise the real essence of global issues based on humanitarian ground.



An event to remember indeed! It's really worth a cause!