Another forward from the emailing world. I hope lots of Filipinos will get to read it, and may it make a very huge impression on them, on us.

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 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 is all I really want to ask you Filipinos.

Jaeyoun Kim
September, 2003