There is HOPE, Philippines

I am sharing you an e-mail I recieved from my mailbox. This is an essay by a Korean.

OMG, I was teary-eyed while reading the essay. I love my roots. I love you, Philippines. I hope we will gain back our lost glory as the second biggest economy in Asia. My mother told me that at the end of 1970's, Philippines is very rich. One peso is equal to one dollar. And we were helping our Asian neighbors to improve their economy. There is still hope, my dear Filipinos. Please, let us do it.

Then, I felt tears running down my cheeks as I concluded the messages.

Read this with your heart and pass this to all the Filipinos.

THE E-MAIL

"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
thi! nk 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 sp! irit 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 w! as 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 t hey 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 f or 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.< BR style="FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-FAMILY: Bookman Old Style">
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)"

awwwwwwwww.... this is so touching...

Love is all that we needed. :|

people just need to realize why these things are happening...
we need to focus on the solutions.... and not to the problems....

spread love....

kailangan nating magkaisa mga pinoy

naniniwala ako dyan(tinagalog ko na for whatever purpose it may serve, haha)... may iba na gustong umangat para sa sarili habang inaapakan ang pagktao ng iba... buti kung healthy competition yun... but i dont see anything right about it....
i do believe that it is not only the filipinos who do that...
it is regardless of what nation people came from...(for my own opinion)
i am sad about it.... gossipmongers are not new to us... poor they...
i just hope that we learn how to reach goals and dreams without taking advantage of somebody's name or power....:)

I agree, Aladiah, that there are more nationalities who have such traits but if we keep on dwelling on the fact that we are not alone, we are just hindering ourselves from positive changes.

What we should do is to mind ourselves and let's do our best to change for the better. Do not think that there are other countries who are also doing it. That is definitely a lame excuse.

(,)

I agree Jon and Aladiah and i think the most important and first thing we should do to help solve this
problem is to evaluate ourselves (all of us Filipinos) and if it happen that we
fall on this mental attitude, we should admit and carry off that bad attitude.

i do agree..yan yong parati kung sinasabi,may topic palang ganito dito
na i send ko tuloy yong isa don sa topic na onli in the phils.yong
reaction ko bagay dito i post.

sa totoo lang kung bibigyan ako ng wish ni God sana hindi nalang ako
pinanganak dito sa pinas..is not bad of being pinoy kaya lang parang
wala na talagang pag asa dito sa pinas ang daming street children and
beggars naaawa ako sa kanila,sa nakikita ko kasi in the future mas lalo
pang lulubog ang pilipinas. I want to maintained my attitude being a
filipino, ang gusto ko lang yong maninirahan ako sa ibang bansa hindi
dito.

i didn't mean that as an excuse. what I am sayin is that it aso happens to others. I am just sighthing a fact. I agree that if we focuse on to such fact and just like what you have said dwell into such mentality, we will never definitely move on..... but try to think on this... people learn from mistakes done by their selves or by others.... We simply learn from each other..... Anyhow, point taken, Jon.
And i will stick into what I have said earlier in this topic.... We need to focus on solutions not on problems.... :)

You are right, Aladiah, that we should be part of the solution and not to the problem. But what I am trying to tell is to be a part of the solution without thinking that there are other nationalities who have the same mentality. It would be better if we think that we are the only nationality who does that so that we force ourselves to change for the better. It is all in the mind.

(,)

yeah, a stete-of-mind after all.

Yes, Jon. I do believe too that it could help... :)

aladiah wrote:Yes, Jon. I do believe too that it could help... :)

Aladiah, it SHOULD be not COULD be

(,)

i_have_no_name wrote:yeah, a stete-of-mind after all.

state of mind

JonLover wrote:

aladiah wrote:Yes, Jon. I do believe too that it could help... :)

Aladiah, it SHOULD be not COULD be

(,)

haha okay, jon..

Oh, I don't have any idea.

because???

wow, politics....
i don't know what to say....

you mean why is she still remaining in her office or why should she remain?!

she's powerful i guess

Ngek! i thought we should speak tagalog in this topic.

kalimutan na nga natin yan ayaw ko rin sa pulitika

ur right benj..we should stop this because i hate also politics.

kailan kaya aasenso ang pilipinas

Sabi nga ng topic title, there is HOPE, benj...

hahaha kung sana lang maunlad ang pilipinas hindi na sana nangingibang bansa ang ating mga kababayan

benjbuddy wrote:kailan kaya aasenso ang pilipinas

umaasenso na, di lang ramdam

there is
biro lang to hahahaha syempre naman umaasa talaga akong umunlad ng tuluyan ang pilipinas

talagang humanap ka pa ng ganyan benj, huh... hehehe

walang magawa eh ang corny ko noh?

...start within ourselves....

I agree troll_guard.

i've read the article before. it was posted in our university bulletin board. sad to say but it's kinda true...

follow the rules......

respect one another.......

I'm touched...

Of course there is. Hehe.. Umuunlad na nga eh. Pero kasi ang paniniwala ko di talaga para sa atin ang "Presidential" type ng pamumuno. Siguro Authoritarian, pwede.

Naniniwala naman ako dun sa 7.3% GDP growth last year. Pero, kasi dapat tulungan din natin sarili natin. Makikita natin sa lugar ng mga iskwater, bakit ba sila naghihirap? Pag tinanong, kasi di daw mapakain yung mga anak. Eh kasi naman ang daming anak --> parang minimum nila 10 anak .. and counting..

Tapos sa halip na tulugan, etong lintik na oposisyon sobrang mangulo. Yang mga uri ng lintik na si Erap, Jun Lozada, Chiz Escudero.. ay shees.. Kakainis.. hehe..

Naniniwala naman ako na kahit saang bansa may korapsyon di lang sa Pilipinas. Hehe.. Sana nga matupad yung pangarap ni Gloria at nating lahat na target, na first-world title sa 2020.

Tapos sana matuto din ang Pilipino na mahalin ang sarili. Bakit pag nagpupunta sa ibang bansa sumusunod sa batas? Pero dito ayaw.. Tsk tsk.. Ay naku.. Basta eto sa ngayon ang paniniwala ko dito sa pulitika natin.

"IF ERAP RUNS AGAIN IN 2010, WE'RE SCREWED. IF HE WINS AGAIN, WE'RE DOOMED. THIS IS MUCH, MUCH MORE WORSE THAN HOW WE SHAPED THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY WAY BACK YEARS AGO. PATHETIC."

LeChatelier wrote:Of course there is. Hehe.. Umuunlad na nga eh. Pero kasi ang paniniwala ko di talaga para sa atin ang "Presidential" type ng pamumuno. Siguro Authoritarian, pwede.

Naniniwala naman ako dun sa 7.3% GDP growth last year. Pero, kasi dapat tulungan din natin sarili natin. Makikita natin sa lugar ng mga iskwater, bakit ba sila naghihirap? Pag tinanong, kasi di daw mapakain yung mga anak. Eh kasi naman ang daming anak --> parang minimum nila 10 anak .. and counting..

Tapos sa halip na tulugan, etong lintik na oposisyon sobrang mangulo. Yang mga uri ng lintik na si Erap, Jun Lozada, Chiz Escudero.. ay shees.. Kakainis.. hehe..

Naniniwala naman ako na kahit saang bansa may korapsyon di lang sa Pilipinas. Hehe.. Sana nga matupad yung pangarap ni Gloria at nating lahat na target, na first-world title sa 2020.

Tapos sana matuto din ang Pilipino na mahalin ang sarili. Bakit pag nagpupunta sa ibang bansa sumusunod sa batas? Pero dito ayaw.. Tsk tsk.. Ay naku.. Basta eto sa ngayon ang paniniwala ko dito sa pulitika natin.

"IF ERAP RUNS AGAIN IN 2010, WE'RE SCREWED. IF HE WINS AGAIN, WE'RE DOOMED. THIS IS MUCH, MUCH MORE WORSE THAN HOW WE SHAPED THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY WAY BACK YEARS AGO. PATHETIC."

Nice point of view LC.

definitely no to erap

para sa akin ang isang pangulo ay dapat talagang may pinag-aralan o may sapat na kaalaman sa pagpapatakbo ng isang bansa

hindi popularity contest lamang

I realized....
When I came to Japan, I was so happy to leave the Philippines( btw, I should be reviewing by now, but since it's about the Philippines)... Why? Cause I thought we were a poor country. But I realized we are not. Cause we still have other resources in the Philippines to help improve our economy. 5 months ago, I started appreciating my country. I still believe there's hope if we all work together in building up the Filipino spirit, in helping building up the nation. Leaving your country will make you realize how it means so much to you. Philippines has a lot of beautiful things.. such as places, festival, etc.. we must be proud of that.. and conserve it.
I think..
The problem isn't the people in the politics. It's the person itself and the people. They must change their attitude. People should really know what is right for the country. They should think logically and critically. Each decision they make can cause change. It's the love and passion for our country that we lack.
I believed...
that Marcos was a great leader. He made the Philippines a developed country.. but in a bad way... But still he had great ideas.
I hope...
that Filipino people will realize what's going on. They should wake and start working as one. We shouldn't always selfish, we should cooperate.
I conclude...
That Philippines will one day be a developed country.. all we need... is change.

Wow, Yamagato.

What you have said is actually true. One who has seen the Philippines and compared it to many countries in the world sees the difference. Philippines is actually so rich in beautiful places that can be tapped as tourist hub in the world. We have the resources but the people is not utilizing these.

The real problem is with the people. We are hyping that we are united but in fact we are not. We lack unity. Filipinos bash Filipinos. We lack discipline. We just love to complain but we aren't doing anything to help our country.

We should also act while complaining. A certain dissatisfaction in the government, we tend to hostility. This thing is not giving us good reputation. We are just tarnishing the image of our country and this is not helpful in attracting investors.

I also agree the Philippines is so powerful in Asia during the Marcos regime. We were the second biggest economy that time in Asia next to Japan. We have been helping our neighbors during that time. We extended assistance and teaching the Thais, Malaysians, Indonesians, Vietnamese, Koreans, Singaporeans and many others at that time. We helped them build their nations.

I am not glorifying the mistakes Marcos had done but we tend to sensationalize about it. We should have moved on and learned something from it. But this is not what's happening. Instead,we are making this our scapegoat.

I can attest that many Europeans appreciate Philippines during the Marcos time. We feel safer at that time. Philippines was so powerful.

To close this, the problem is with the people. We should unite and do our part in making our homeland better.

WeLL said Jon..

very well said yama and jon!

I just need some clarifications.
In what way the Philippines during Marcos regime assists part of Asean like Singapores and Malaysia?
What kind of assistance is that? and on which year?

I need to brush up my history lah...

You know when I learned history during my school days didnt mentioned anything about this.
All I know all resources we get are from Malaysia

I suck at history Cam, but see it this way. US assists poorer nations in some way..so as the Philippines assisted ASEAN nations before.

Well I have to adore not only Marcos but the rest of the presidents in the Philippines because it's really a helluva hard to manage a country. Yamagato is right, it is the people who have to change. Filipinos have also to be responsible voter. He must be critical and all.

But then, how can we be critical if it's like a no-brainer choosing the right people to manage the population. I don't wanna raise this issue but I want a total change in the constitution. And that change will be brought about by NEW responsible people. my two scents.

That's a brilliant explanation, Kyle_Trager. Camomile, look at that way. More established sovereignty usually helps budding democracy. This is the case of East Timor as it's receiving help from her neighbors.

All countries underwent this process. No countries stand alone in the world.

Now, going back to your point. Malaysia and Singapore sovereignties were established in the 1960's.

Just try to answer this, what is the purpose of ASEAN and MAPHILINDO? These two treaties were first proposed by the Philippines during its prime time in the region. Another angle you may consider is the fact that ASEAN is an agricultural region. Today, this region is one of the leading exporters of rice in the world. Now, you have to know the role of Philippine Rice Institute to its neighboring countries in the 60's and 70's

This is just a tip of the iceberg to show you no countries is successful without it's neighboring nations

gosh, jon, you don't suck at history...here's your A+++++

That's the only thing I knew. LOL.

It should be role not rule (checked)