Posted by Administrator
Wednesday, 15 February 2006 08:24
Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were very rich in
Asia. We envied Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father's brother died because of famine. Korean government was awfully 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.
Forty 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 or attract a foreign investment because the economy of South
Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent
many mine workers and nurses to Germany so they could send money to Korea
to build a factory. They had to go through a horrible experience.
In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundreds of
Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as
they saw the President Park. They asked 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
worked hard for Korea. 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.
{mospagebreak}Many Korean scientists and engineers in the US came back to Korea to help
in developing the country because they wanted their country to be well off.
Though they received very small salaries, they did their best for Korea.
They always hoped that their children would live well off country.
My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically
handicapped people lived. They wanted me to understand their life and help
them. I also worked for the Catholic Church when I was in the army. The
only thing I learned from the 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 have 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 the church. They pray every day. However, they do not love the
Philippines. I talked to two prisoners in the maximum-security compound,
and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines right after
they were released from the prison. They said 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 we can share our wealth with
our neighborhood. The owners of factories and corporations distributed
their profits to their employees fairly so that the 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 saw them every day in the
Philippines.
{mospagebreak}The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too
many people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has
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 forced my parents to take a boat because it
would fun. However, they were not happy after taking the boat. They said
they would take the boat again because they sympathized with the boatmen,
who 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 the
boatmen.
My mother who has been working for Catholic Church since I was very young
told me that if we just went to Mass without changing ourselves, we are not
Catholic in deed. 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 great love from God.
{mospagebreak}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 that Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful
structure at once; it should start from the person. Love must start in
everybody on a small 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 children, teach them to love the Philippines. Teach them why
they have to love their neighborhood and country. You know that God also
will be very happy if you love others. That's all I really want to ask you
Filipinos.
(Editor's note: This essay was e-mailed to INQ7.net as a "Koreans letter
for all Filipinos," with a note that it was posted on the La Salle
Greenhills website. The note says: "My Short Essay about the Philippines"
was written in simple, imperfect English, and understandably so, for it was
penned by a young Korean student named Jaeyon Kim. Professor Marlon Aves
Diloy, a Filipino professor of Information Technology as well as English at
the Yeungjin College in Daegu, Korea, shares with all Filipinos this essay,
which sparked a renewed sense of nationalism and love for country for the
thousands of Filipinos in South Korea. Diloy hopes that it will also touch
your heart, the way it has deeply touched them.)
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