Originally Posted by
vipvip68
come to think of it, naa koy friend from korea who I met in manila while studying in school. He emailed me a letter iyang gi himo sa english class. Akong gi forward sa media at it was published. This is more like an outsiders view into our country.... allow me to post the letter here... pardon the grammatical errors... hes was still learning english at the time.
MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
BY: Jaeyoun Kim
Filipinos always complain about the
corruption in the Philippines.
Do you really think the corruption
is the problem of the Philippines?
I do not think so. I strongly believe that the
problem is the lack of love for the Philippines.
Let me first talk about my country,
Korea. It might help you understand my point.
After the Korean War, South Korea was
one of the poorest countries in the world.
Koreans had to start from scratch because
entire country was destroyed after the Korean War,
and we had no natural resources.
Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for
Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos.
Koreans really wanted to be well off like
Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine.
My father & brother also died because
of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and
is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but
Korea was able to develop dramatically because
Koreans really did their best for the common good
with their heart burning with patriotism.
Koreans did not work just for themselves but also
for their neighborhood and country.
Education inspired young men with the spirit of
patriotism.
40 years ago, President Park took over
the government to reform Korea. He tried
to borrow money from other countries, but it was not
possible to get a loan and attract a foreign investment
because the economic situation of South Korea was
so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President
Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that
they could send money to Korea to build a factory.
They had to go through horrible experience.
In 1964, Pres ident Park visited Germany to borrow
money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the
airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw
the President Park. They asked to him, "President,
when can we be well off?" That was the only question
everyone asked to him. President Park cried with
them and promised them that Korea would be well
off if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President
of Germany got the strong impression on them
and lent money to Korea. So, President
Park was able to build many factories in Korea.
He always asked Koreans to love their country
from their heart.
Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA
came back to Korea to help developing country
because they wanted their country to be well off.
Though they received very small salary, they did their
best for Korea. They always hoped that
their children would live in well off country.
My parents always brought me to the
places where poor and physically handicapped
people live. They wanted me to understand their life and
help them. Have you cried for the
Philippines? I have cried for my country several
times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many
poor people. I have been to the New
Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison
were the prisoners who do not have any love for
their country. They go to mass and work for Church.
They pray everyday.
However, they do not love the Philippines.
I talked to two prisoners at the maximum-
security compound, and both of them said that they would
leave the Philippines right after they are
released from the prison. They said that they would
start a new life in other countries and never come back to the
Philippines.
Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that
we were able to share our wealth with
our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were
distributed their profit to their employees fairly so
that employees could buy what they needed and saved money
for the future and their children.
When I was in Korea, I had a very
strong faith. However, when I came to the Philippines,
I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many
unbelievable situations in the Philippines. Street
kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday. The
Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too
many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to
pray, but nothing has been changed.
My parents came to the Philippines last week and
saw this situation. They told me that
Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when they
were young. They are so sorry that
there are so many beggars and street kids. When we
went to Pagsanjan, I persuaded my parents to take a boat
because it would fun. However, they were not
happy after taking a boat. They said that they
would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the
boatmen, for the boatmen were very
poor and had a small frame. Most of people just took
a boat and enjoyed it.
Faith should come with action. I want
Filipinos to love their neighborhood and country.
I am sure that love is the keyword,
which Filipinos should remember.
It should start from person. Love must
start in everybody, in a s mall scale and have to grow.
Let's put away our prejudices and look at our worries
with our new eyes.
I discover that every person is worthy
to be loved. Trust in love, because it makes
changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes
people, contexts and relationships. It changes the world.
Please love your neighborhood and country.
If you have a child, teach them how to
love the Philippines.
Teach them why they have to love their
neighborhood and country.
That's all I really want to ask you
Filipinos
________________________
end.
Mr. Kim is now in Korea,.. working in an IT related field for the South Korean Govt.
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