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
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
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
| | | | |
Korean Essay About Filipinos - Please Read
by robin_force Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:49 pm
