The message goes:
As you know, we have plenty of Koreans currently
studying in the
Philippines
to take advantage of
our cheaper tuition fees and learn English at the
same time.
This is an essay written by a Korean student i
want to share with you. (Never mind the
grammar;
it's the CONTENT that counts) Maybe it is timely to
think about this in the midst of all the confusion
at present.
MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE
PHILIPPINES
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, President
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..
I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army..
The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that we
have to love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my
neighborhood. 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 and
wanted to be a priest. 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 Pasangjan,
I forced 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.
But, my parents did not enjoy it because of love
for them.
My mother who has been working for Catholic Church
since I was very young told me that if we just go to
mass without changing ourselves, we are not
Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action.
She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things
for them because all of us are same and have received a great
love from God. I want Filipinos to love their
neighborhood and country as much as they love God
so that the
Philippines
will be well off.
I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinos
should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once.
It should start from person. Love must start in everybody,
in a s mall scale and have to grow. A lot of
things happen if we open up to love. 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.
Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others we
do to Him. In the
Philippines
, there is God for people who
are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love.
If you have a child, teach them how to love the
Philippines
.
Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country.
You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others.
That's all I really want to ask you Filipinos.
(FOR THE LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY PLEASE PASS
THIS MESSAGE)
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lalaine1 posted on Nov 27, 2007
| views: 254
Comment on "Love is all that matters"
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