Bataan Technology Park (BTPI)

BATAAN TECHNOLOGY PARK INC.

The Bataan Technology Park is also situated at Morong, Bataan where the former United Nations Philippine Refugee Processing Center is situated.

The Philippine Refugee Processing Center (PRPC) was established and funded by the United Nations as home to many refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and ethnic minorities (Chinese). The PRPC is like a small city, complete with hospital, school, restaurant, place of worship, and market. Its main purpose is to hold the refugees, teach them English language until such time that they are ready and accepted for resettlement in countries such as Canada, Norway, United States of America and France.

Now, the former PRPC has turned to an eco park, the Bataan Technology Park, Inc or the home of Atmanda Eco park. The BTPI museum, library and archive can be found inside the eco park that features the PRPC.

Here, you can see the original boat that was used by the Refugees who came here in the Philippines. Approximately 60 persons were aboard on the said boat.

In this museum, you can also see some of the refugees’ different paraphernalia that they already left.

You can also see here the replica of their bunk house where they usually live. It can accommodate 5-6 persons.

A replica of the prisoner’s jail is also presented here. They called it monkey house.

In the museum, you can also find the photos that show how the Vietnamese boat was rescued from the Bataan shores.

Inside the premise of the BTPI, you can also find the refugee’s place of worship, their Buddhist Temple. It has a nice view, overlooking the mountains. This is the place where the refugees meditate.

The overlooking view that you will see while at the meditation area of the Buddhist Temple.

 

 

Inside the Buddhist Temple where the refugees pray.

 

This is the meditation area of the refugees. The place is quiet ad has a nice overlooking view.

Also, inside the BTPI, is the shrine commemorating Blessed Pope John Paul II, who came at the PRPC and celebrated mass. The “Lolek Garden”, which named after Pope John Paul II, (nickname of Pope John Paul).

 

The center walk way is believed to be holy because this is where Pope John Paul II walked going to the shrine.

An image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built inside the PRPC. According to the staff of BTPI, the image was built by the Vietnamese Catholics to thank the Blessed Mother for their safe arrival in the Philippines.

 

Our visit to this place gave us information on the time that Vietnamese refugees went here in the Philippines by accident. The Filipinos (maybe most were from Bataan), have become way for them to learn English language and prepare them to what country of destination that they will go to. But now, Vietnam is getting ahead of our country, Philippines. Isn’t ironic? =)

For more information you may visit http://www.bcda.gov.ph/freeport_and_ecozones/show/13