Korean Redux. A love letter to Filipinos

My Short Essay About The Philippines

By Jaeyoun Kim

Edited by Frank A Hilario 22 July 2010. I am re-presenting it after all these years this essay has been circulating in the Internet, because it is all so true, frank and honest and simple and doable. And don´t forget that the Philippines is the only Roman Catholic country in Asia.

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 of Filipinos 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 the entire country was destroyed after the Korean War, and we had no natural resources.

Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were among the very rich in Asia. We envied the Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well-off like the Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father & brother also died because of famine. The 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 neighbors 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 foreign investments 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 experiences.

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 President Park. They asked him, "President Park, when can we be well-off?" That was the only question everyone asked him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be well-off if everyone worked hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got a strong impression on Korea from them and lent money to Korea. So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea.

President Park always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart. Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help develop 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 in a 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 neighbors. And, I have loved my neighbors.

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 Prisons. 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 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 prison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines.

Many Koreans had a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighbors. The owners of factories and companies distributed their profits among 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 Roman Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor 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 Pasanjan, I forced my parents to ride a boat because it would be fun. However, they were not happy after riding the boat. They said that they would not take a boat again because they sympathized with the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had small frames. 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 had been working for the Catholic Church since I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholics 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 the same and have received great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their neighbors 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 one 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 have discovered that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love, because it makes change possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people, contexts and relationships. It changes the world.

Please love your neighbors 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 out for love. If you have children, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their neighbors 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.