" PRPC, located in the mountains of Bataan, was about a 3-hour bus ride from Manila. The PRPC opened in 1980 and closed around 1995. I worked there from 1984 to 1988. More than 400,000 Indochinese refugees (Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao, ethnic Chinese, and some other minority groups) passed through its gates. Almost all of them had already been accepted for resettlement in the U.S., and almost all of them had already spent months and years in first asylum camps in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. During their stay in the PRPC, the refugees underwent final processing, health screenings, and studied English and U.S. culture. Most of the photos in this album were taken on one day...the day before I left. They're not the most beautiful, and they don't include ceremonies or friends' faces. I took the photos to remember the look of the camp. What the photos can't express is what the PRPC felt like...the amazing mix of languages, backgrounds, and cultures, the old hatreds and loyalties, the night sounds from the forest, the steam rising from the earth after a sudden downpour, the sound of students repeating an English phrase, the sound of prayers from a temple at sunset..."
~Gaylord Barr~
WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE ALL OF THE PHOTOS PRESENTED HERE. HOWEVER, IF YOU DO RE-POST ANY OF THEM, PLEASE GIVE US CREDIT.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Pictures of Bataan PRPC by Gaylord Barr (2)

 
 



The water tank for each barrack was filled and turned on at a specific time each day. People went here to wash or carry water to the shower/toilet room. Men and children would bathe right next to the tank. Since a tank could empty quickly, some people would buy their own containers of water for use during the day



Two Filipino men in camp to trade with the refugees.
The refugees would trade extra rice, metal, plastic, clothing...



Just out of class


One of several temples built by the refugees


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6 comments:

  1. tomNovember 21, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    I lived here from April to Sept 1987.
    Thx for the photo and the memories

    ReplyDelete
  2. jo-annFebruary 19, 2012 at 9:38 PM

    i miss this place i spend my childhood here since when i was born till 1993....thanks for the photos...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tung NghiemFebruary 28, 2012 at 7:36 PM

    Gaylor,
    I just came across your blog today from the link to the Vietnamese Boat People website. Not sure if you remember me but I stayed at Bataan early part of 1987. I played classical guitar and performed at various events during that stay. My brother Bach played violin and one of my friend, Truong K To played the piano. It so great to find this site. It back alot of fond memories.... you canfind me on Facebook by searching for my name.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 26, 2013 at 11:03 AM

    I was 10yo in 1988, cycle 112. We live in village #2. If God listen, than thank for this blog and hopefully my friends in good hand too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownAugust 11, 2017 at 1:25 PM

      Wow, insane! I was in Cycle 112 as well. I was 12 then.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousMarch 4, 2014 at 4:53 PM

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    ReplyDelete

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