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The Tale of Pax Thien Jolie

cbbauthor — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 04:19:04 +0000

TIME Magazine recently published an article telling the tale of the young boy who the world now knows as Pax Thien Jolie. According to TIME, Pax was abandoned as a newborn, "His mother gave birth and left immediately," Nguyen Van Trung, director of the orphanage. Signs were posted for 30 days trying to find the woman but no one turned up, so Pax was sent to the orphanage and a police report was made (standard practice in Vietnam). When Angelina Jolie applied to Vietnam through an agency asking for a healthy boy between ages 3 and 5, Pax happened to be the only one at Tam Binh orphanage who met the criteria. There were 31 other boys the same age, but all of them had relatives or were not healthy. Nguyen said,

Only Sang (Pax’s name in the orphanage) met the set criteria for adoption in general and her request, [Angelina] was lucky at the time she applied that there was this boy who met the request and criteria.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s national adoption director says that he prepared 10 other boys, including those at other orphanages, in response to Angelina’s original application and criteria. Pax will definitely be missed at the orphanage, most by his caretaker Ms. Tuyen. She commented on how Pax will be thought about, remembered and missed:

He was here, and now he’s gone, I’m very happy for him. I miss him and so I am sad — but we have other children to take care of. Everyone is sad since he’s left. We have mixed feelings — happy, proud of him, missing him. He’s very clever and I hope he has a good life. We just hope he will return to visit us. But we don’t know.

For now, Tuyen, and everyone else at the orphanage will be getting regular updates on the boy they grew to love and his new high profile life. The orphanage director said:

She is required to send a report every six months updating us about his health, mental development, hobbies — and a photo. It’s required for the first three years. After three years, it’s not required because we can see if the kids are being taken care of for the first three years so we can be assured they are in the good home.

After Angelina’s original visit to the orphanage in Novemeber and her visit most recently to pick up Pax, orphanage workers agree she will make a good mother for Pax and he will have a good future in America: "I think she’ll be a good mother to him, she already has the experience," said Ho Thi Kim Thoa.

Source: TIME

Thanks to CBB reader Maya.

PaxWatch: Angelina Jolie expresses regret over media frenzy over her new son Pax

Natalie — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:23:21 +0000

After an emotional introduction to his new mother, Angelina Jolie‘s new son, Pax Thien Jolie, broke down in tears. Angelina feels very bad for subjecting Pax to the media frenzy and told Ho Chi Ming City Law newspaper that she’ll be dedicating herself to all of her children as a stay-at-home mom.

In a statement that may not be exactly what she said because it was translated from English into Vietnamese and back into English for the US’s Associated Press, Angelina said,

I will stay at home to help Pax adjust to his new life. I have four children and caringfor them is the most important thing for me at the moment. I am veryproud and happy to be their mother.

Photographs and press coverage will make him upset. I’mvery worried about that. I would like to say I’m sorry for bringingthis into Pax’s life.

Everyone would agree that children need to have a family.I have the ability to help children fulfill that desire. Why should Isay no?

Source: People

Thanks to CBB Reader Mary Beth.

Angelina Jolie's first moments with her new son Pax

cbbauthor — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:07:51 +0000

When Angelina Jolie was introduced to her new son (whom she re-named Pax Thien) for the first time, things didn’t exactly go smoothly. The 3-year-old Vietnamese boy started crying when Angelina knelt down to speak to him at Thursday morning’s welcoming ceremony at Tam Binh Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh, according to the orphanage director, Mr. Nguyen Van Trung.Angelina understood completely. "She told me she understands – that it’s normal for all young children to be scared," Trung said. Angelina took the little Pax aside, in a separate room from the ceremony for the him to calm down and feel comfortable. Trung insisted everything was fine from there on out:

Later he was okay, very cheerful and happy, he even played with his new brother Maddox.

In addition to meeting his new mother, Pax also had to overcome an initial sense of shock. He was not told by the people at the orphanage that he was going to be adopted that day. His caregiver Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Tuyen said,

We did not say anything to him, afraid we might put pressure on him and more frightened, we just told him that we are taking him out. You are going to play outside – play with a mother and father.

Still, the orphanage staff prepared him as best they could: They packed a small box with two sets of clothes for him to take, and his favorite toys, especially a little plastic piano. They also taught him a few phrases of English: "How are you?" and "What’s your name?"Tuyen said she’ll miss the boy but adds that any day a child is adopted is a special day at the orphanage:

We are glad that he’s adopted. He’s very clever and I hope he has a good life, we just hope he will return to visit us one day.

Source: people.com