Bataan Has a Special Place in Vietnam’s Heart (Here’s Why)

Beyond the coastline of Bataan, there are also untold stories, cultures to explore, and people to feature. Just like how Bataenos sheltered Indo-Chinese Refugees, the coastline of the Philippines, especially Bataan, is always open to individuals excluding their age, race, color, and everything in between.

Ever wonder what it’s like to accompany refugees? The province of Bataan, especially Morong, wasn’t new to welcoming refugees and sheltering them during the war. Every corner of Bataan has a story to tell and a history to look back at. One particular site is the Bataan Technology Park in Morong, Bataan.

Bataan Technology Park houses a museum, archives, and library that tells a lot of experiences during the Vietnam war. The province was able to harbor around 400,000 refugees from 1980 to 1994. If you are going to tour the gallery, you’ll see archived photos and collections of actual boats, shelters, and people who arrived on the shore of Morong.

Monkey House. There are no monkeys inside, only monkey business. Ms. Jane Tena, an admin clerk, showed some facilities called Monkey House that host ‘camp violators’ or those who disobey the rules and regulations at that time. “[Kapag] tinanong sila kung ‘bakit ka kasi nakulong?’ [sagot nila] kasi we are doing monkey business.”

As interesting as the Monkey House, you’ll also find inside the museum the Bunk House where the refugees stayed and different sets of equipment they used. Feeling nostalgic? Well, there are also reimagined dining tables and livelihood set-ups to reminisce about when you visit.

A real-life boat is situated inside the museum to complete the whole throwback experience of the Indo-Chinese Refugees. This serves as a testament that the province of Bataan is diverse in terms of lifestyle, culture, and history. The refugees were seen using the boat to reach the coastline of Bataan.

It’s your time to visit the Bataan Technology Park and see how Bataenos embraced the refugees along the coastline. Just like the boats in the museum, Bataan has something to offer like culture, history, and natural wonders. For the tourists beyond the coastline, we always welcome you with open arms #DitoSaBataan.