My email response goes...
Good day everyone!
I have read the Korean's Essay and I find it inconsistent and maybe I don't share the same opinion with you.
I don't agree that Filipinos do not love their homeland and that being "the problem" of our country. I don't agree also that judging one's national patriotism on one's desire to live and work in another country other than your homeland as a sign of lack of love of the country. In this case, Filipino OFWs are questioned on their lack of love for the Philippines. It just doesn't ring true to my ears.
In the essay it was also mentioned that during a very hard time (40 years ago) in Korea, Koreans left their country to Germany to work and that they came back to Korea years after. We also have sent teachers, nurses, care givers, domestic helpers, foremen, security guards, miners, cooks, cruise workers, name it, we've sent them all over the world and after some time, OFW come back to the Philippines -balikbayans. Even if they left the country, I do believe that in every Filipino OFW's heart is a yearning to go home and a burning love of the country. I don't doubt that. (Of course a visiting Korean student wouldn’t know about that in his short visit to our country)
Who is this Korean dare judge Filipinos that way? Make conclusions based on an afflicted Filipino prisoner. Of course these prisoners would want to be off their burden thus wanting to leave and never come back. It isn't a secret to the world that our prison's state is so bad. I think the writer should have sought another Filipino like the ones who are OFW or just not in prison.I am a teacher, I wished the writer asked me and maybe he would think differently. I wished the writer met my student to prove that Filipinos are patriotic. Although at the moment I am not affiliated in any school but I consider myself still a teacher. The same logic applies to any OFW even if they are not in the Philippine Islands, they are still Filipinos and proud at that. But anyway, going back to being a teacher, I taught in Island Home International Primary School (A British International School) in Boracay Island. My students are foreign in nationality and some are of Filipino descent having one Filipino parent. Although they have difficulty in speaking Filipino, they are proud of their Pinoy heritage. They know their flags and some were taught by their parents to sing Pinoy nursery rhymes. You will be surprised, they have bright plans only a loving Pinoy child citizen would dream for their neighborhood, city, and the Philippines. So what is this Korean talking about?
Ask athletes maybe. Ask them how it feels to carry and wave the Philippine flag on a foreign country and represent Philippines. Their victory is not a selfish one, they shout "Pilipinas" with all their heart; “Ginto Para sa Pilipinas” with pride. They cry too, and their tears roots from this well of Filipino pride. We all have this well in our hearts and I hope we take good care of it, let’s not think so badly of our own countrymen. (Let the Koreans do that –I’m kidding).
My point is, his claim isn’t valid. Why of all people would you ask a prisoner deprived of freedom and then generalize his desire to fly out of the country never come back be true to all Filipinos. I think any prisoner would say that even a Korean.
Regards,
Maria Jasmin Maramag
PROUD FILIPINO TEACHER
To all Filipino bloggers out there, I wish you would write your insights too on your blog about this.
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11 comments:
Very well said, Maam Jasmin...hehe...
I think I have read that essay too, could have sent it to friends... But I think your response is far better opener than the korean essay...
Thanks for the visit and good to know you are back blogging...
Dops
opa, the members of your family died in famine as you had written :( at the other side of your story you said that you came to Phil. together w/ your parents who felt pity on that boat men.... how many parentz u had? no offense sir i am just asking po! tnx. for the reason i cant fin the authors biography.. i am curios if he was been adopted and he's living as a christian.
I have to say that a lot of Filipinos have been going abroad to get their family out of poverty for many years now. I am offended that someone who has no idea of how he Filipinos work as a family. I myself,even though I came here at a very young age. When I married, My wife's family was poor as well as well. She had been helping them Since she came and I continued to help as my wife stayed home to raise our kids. By 1990 I was able to bring her mother and 2 sisters. The 2 sisters in turn took over helping the rest. I am only one. There are thousands of Filipinos whom to this day from all over the world who sacrifice going to different countries, some take on 2 jobs to support their family in the Philippines and to this day continue to bring them abroad. The Person who wrote this Jaeyoun Kim, has no right to judge us for "Lack of love" She went to the Philippines and saw Beggars and street kids. That is one person's perception. They know nothing about the many people whose lives have already change because of love. Frankly I urge everyone "THAT WE NOT SHARE THIS MESSAGE" as this is an insult to those who have taken their family out of poverty and the ones who continue to do so. Corruption is the main problem as well as over population. Don't judge Us . I have no respect at all for the person who wrote this. You didn't envy the Philippines, you wanted to tell the world that out of love you got your country into a better place and say that we lack love that's why there is poverty in our country. You should be ashamed of yourself. I will find out how I can contact you and expect you to write an apology to the "Filipino Community around the world. I grew up here , I was 11 when I came. I am now 53. But I am still Proud of who I am "FILIPINO". You Boast about your country at the expense of ours.
How do you define "Love" for your country? A country is made up of people in it. So, the only way you can "Love" your country is by helping the people in it. The Author of this article need more lesson in expressing herself. and having decency of what will be the result of what she writes.
Well, the truth hurts...
Well, the truth hurts...
this is unbelieveable... I am a filipino but i think what the korean guy was right... I'm a student i really love other country so much than philippines and i always nagging my mom to sendme off to other country because philippines is so poor... But after i read his message for us... I loved my country sincerely and i thought we were poor because filipinos just wanted to have a good life not thinking as a community they were just thinking of themselves or with their family not as a whole filipino. It is true once my teacher asked abroad or philippines all my classmate and none of them chose philippines it was so sad so basically the message of kim jae youn was right we lack love for our country
yes mam what you have said was right one of philippines problem was corruption. But what country doesnt have this problem all country have corruption but why are they still well off? So corruption was out problem but not the main problem. Korean guy was right it is lack of love for our country.... You said he was judging us but you yourself mam is judging his intention to help and making misunderstanding yourself.. Maybe you mam loves philippines but this is a new generation teen ang young people dont feel the same way as you. This message open my heart and actually opened my mind too. So i think his message for us should spread more
by family. He was saying korean community and ancestors
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