Essay About the Philippines
By oinkgiz
@oinkgiz (863)
Singapore
January 7, 2007 7:01pm CST
A Korean's Essay About the Philippines
My Short Essay about the Philippines...
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 the country was destroyed completely 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's brother also 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.
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 economy 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 a 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 so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pagsangjan, 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 boat men, for the boat men 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 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 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.
SOURCE: someone send this to my email
*oink*
8 responses
@chenjun_yao (814)
• China
8 Jan 07
yes, I think so. Corruption will impact the country's image in the international society. Also make the domestic people dissatisfied. But it's a widely problem worldwide. In China, it's also a big problem !
@kengkerochi (40)
• Singapore
9 Jan 07
i usually dont read long messages in mylot like this..Because i feel lazy to read it..but i dont know why i pursue to. my tears is about to fall when i realized the Story of your Country.the president cried, and really care for his country.and u can feel the sincerity on him..i feel touched with your story..how can u possibly think that theres someone concerned about ur country knowing that these people are not Filipinos?.i mean its very rare to have some1 like you Korean..i mean ive learned something from you Girl and also from your Parents..for me ilove my country very much..sometimes i always ask myself why the PI poor?..why our country like this,not organized,always traffic,street children,beggar, what ever..its very depressing right?..ive learned that it has to be start by you..by tour own way..
OIKGiz-lets do it! lets do it for our country!:)
@gigarange (1165)
• United States
8 Jan 07
God bless the people of the Philippines and touch the hearts of every person especially the ones working and leading the government.
@martzkie (110)
• Philippines
8 Jan 07
Corruption is built-in in the system. I think both the people and government official has a problem. I agree that the problem is Lack for the Love of Country. People are blaming the government about the current situation, but the government cannot do it alone. The next question, what the people do to help the government for the improvement of the country. For example, streets are dirty, the residents in the area will complain the official are not doing their job, they did not asign a street sweeper in thier area. What will the government do is to provide and pay a street sweeper to clean the area. But if the the people will unite and have discipline, if no one will litter on the streets there is no need for street sweepers. You will have a clean country plus a savings on the budget because no street sweepers to be paid. This savings can be used to others projects to improve the country. If the government offical has a Love for the Country Philippines, corruption will be avoided. They should set aside their personal interest and perform the task that is expected to them.
@knewelle (127)
• Philippines
8 Jan 07
I was deeply touch when I read your discussion. I am a filipino and its true that our problem is corruption but I realize that every country in this world have the same problem too. Your right that its lack of love to our country is the root problem in Philippines. Their are many intelligent and genuis filipinos that can help in improving our economy but where are those filipinos? Working in other country for bigger salary. Most of the population in Philippines finished college education and excel in their expertise but have they using it for benefits of our country? A big NO! Im not generalizing it, though, their are filipinos who really contributes in our economic growth and I admire them for that. Like OFW (Oversease Filipino Worker), they are consider as heroes but they where the one who are always neglected by our government. If only every filipino learn to love our country, we could still be one of the riches country in Asia. I hope that the our next generation would learn how to appreciate and love our country.
