Ex-Vietnam War refugees donate over P19M to 'Yolanda' relief

MANILA, Philippines - More than 30 years after the Philippines gave them refuge, the so-called "boat people" of Vietnam returned the favor by donating over P19 million to the relief efforts for victims of Super Typhoon "Yolanda."

The Philippine Embassy in the US said representatives of the Ben Em Dang Co Ta Foundation, the Saigon Broadcasting Television Network (SBTN), and the Vietnamese Refugees for Philippines (VR4P) have extended their sympathies to the Filipinos and have given an initial amount of $440,554 or about P19.2 million.

Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said the Embassy received a check worth $240,554 for the Philippine Red Cross while another check worth $200,000 was turned over to the US-Philippines Society, which is directly supporting the relief efforts in the Visayas.

Cuisia said the donations were raised from those among the 400,000 Vietnam war refugees or those who had relatives who were accommodated at either the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Bataan or the Philippine First Asylum Center in Palawan.

Cuisa said the Vietnam war refugees who were welcomed in the Philippines, also referred to as the "boat people," were among the one to two million Vietnamese who fled their country, mostly by boat, at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

Dieu Quyen Nguyen, Executive Director of the Ben Em Dang Co Ta Foundation, recalled this "very dark time" in their history when they were forced to risk their lives to escape a war-torn Vietnam and seek shelter in other countries, including the Philippines.

“[W]e were able to conquer this battle because we were not alone. We had the help, the protection and the sponsorship from different people, especially the people of the Philippines,” she said. “You had once shown us the meaning of love when we were just foreigners in your country. Now it is our opportunity to thank you for what you had done for us unconditionally.”

Cuisa thanked the representatives of the Vietnamese community for their gesture, which he said was one of "kinship and solidarity" with Filipinos.

“This is a very touching gesture from a people who said they never forgot how they were treated kindly by Filipinos who instead of pushing them back to sea, even pulled their boats ashore to help them,” Cuisa said.

“I am also grateful that our government in the past opened our doors to you,” he added. “We face huge challenges in reconstruction in the months and years ahead, but we are grateful to have you behind us.”

The Philippine Embassy in the US also received posters and a plaque of appreciation from SBTN Vice President Phu Do and VR4P Project Leader Bach Mai Nguyen.

“We faced fears, had hopes and dreams. So are you now. We continue to be on your side for what can be done as relief efforts,” said Pho Do.

“Please remember that you are not alone. The Vietnamese people are behind you,” added Dinh Doan, Chairman of the Vietnamese Community in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.