An Essay about the Philippines
Here's something from a Korean about the Philippines that I got from my email. The Rich Dad Poor Dad review will have to wait. I have been busy these past few days....

My Short Essay about the Philippines (You can forward my essay to your
friends.)
By: 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 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 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 envied Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like
Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father's brother also died
because of famine.

The 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 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 President Park. They asked 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 worked hard for Korea, and the President of
Germany got a strong impression about them and loaned 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
the 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 in the
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 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 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 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 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 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 changes.

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 Pangsangjan, I took my parents on a boat
because it would fun. However, they were not happy after taking the
boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they
sympathized with the boat men who were very poor and had a small frame.
Most of people just took the boat ride and enjoyed it. But my parents
did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has 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 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
the same and have received 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 each 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 new eyes. I
discovered 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 is abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you
have children, 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.

Jaeyoun Kim
September, 2003