Thursday, June 11, 2009

korean essay worth reading..

// FORWARDED EMAIL //

all filipinos... . please read this.......  

SUBJECT: KOREAN ESSAY WORTH READING  
Please pass it to all Filipinos you know. 
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 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)

8 comments:

Unknown said...

wow..swakto nga!

ganda namang pang kalayaan post ito..

Anonymous said...

This is a mind opener for all Filipinos,. Naipost ko na rin ito sa dating blog ko.

Totoo ang lahat ng sinabi ng Korean student nayun. Kahit ang mga Japanese talagang evident ang pagkamakabayan nila, ang totoong pagmamahal nila sa bayan.

Sana ganun din lahat ng Pilipino, na kahit samunting paraan eh maipakita natin ang pagmamahal natin sa bayan.. Our church always cry and pray for or country. Wala namang imposible sa Diyos kahit na 3rd world country tyo kabilang. May pag-asa naman lahat ng bansa para bumangon ulit.

Dhianz said...

... i love d' post... can i repost this on my blog.... thanks for sharing this... wow... if someone like her who's not even filipino can show love for our country like that...how about more us who were born and raised in the country... so yeah... i'll borrow the post and repost it to my blog so i can spread the message to others as well.... take care..Godbless! -di

-NiK- said...

This is a very meaningful post. I mean, what they've said is true. I haven't realized it, and i think our fello filipinos too doesn't realized it. As far as i know, koreans really have high respect for their country, that even they are living well on other country, they choose to help in their country. I hope other bloggers also realize this thing. Maybe i should post this next time.

Yodi Insigne said...

This is really true.
Nice post.

chelie-san said...

yee. i agree.
very nice essay :)
thanks for sharing! ^__^

Traveliztera said...

very true...

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