My response to Jaeyoun Kim's Essay

I am posting my email response regarding Jaeyoun Kim's essay on Filipinos and the Philippines. You may received it on your mail. I find it alarming that Filipinos actually find it inspiring and amusing and forward it to fellow Filipinos and the recipients forward it to more Filipinos. I personally want to stop the cycle. I don't find Jaeyoun Kim's essay amusing and much less, inspiring. Although, If you happen to be Filipino and find his essay otherwise, do enlighten me. I may be missing something. But for now, since you are reading already, I lay my thoughts. Comments are welcome. I just would like to know how Filipinos take Jaeyoun's "Philippines My Philippines" essay. If you haven't read it, well you are lucky (or not) because that's what the previous entry was all about.

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.

Jaeyoun Kim's Essay About the Philippines

Before I say my opinion about this Korean's essay about Filipinos and the Philippines. I think I should keep a copy of it so everyone who reads my response on Jaeyoun Kim's essay would know the story.  

My response BTW
--Lifted from a forwarded email
(AND PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF PHILIPPINES, DO NOT FORWARD IT ANYMORE)

...and the email goes ...

"Please pass it to all Filipinos you know.

As you know, we have plenty of Koreans currently studying in the Philippines to take advantage of our cheap tuition fees and learn English at the same time. This is an essay written by a Korean student, (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 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 after the Korean War, and we had nonatural 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 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 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 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 every day. 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 their 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 every day. 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.

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 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 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. "

a

6.8 Earthquake in the Philippines Hoax

"U.S. Geological Society predicts a 6.8 magnitude earthquake will hit Philippine plates tonight. Please be Calm and alert"

Late this afternoon, I received a SMS message from a concerned friend about this horrifying to-be-disaster. But before we panic, let's get the matters straight and check the reliability of this information.

Good thing there is internet! It is easy to counter check fraud.

First of, there is no U.S. Geological Soceity, only U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program or better known as USG or Hawaii State Emergency Preparedness Office.

Second, it is so impossible that the entire Philippine plate would experience earth quake all at the same time. Just imagine.

Third, there is no accurate / reliable earthquake predictions anywhere in the world.

The Major Problem in the Philippines

The major problem of my country, Philippines,is not poverty, not malnutrition,not poor education,and not even terrorism. These are simply the long-term consequences resulting from the incessant poor judgement of individuals having state authority on matters of priority and importance.

The problem in my country is graft and corruption. Philippines ranked third (next to Vietnam and Indonesia) as the most corrupt country in Asia based on PERC. What does it indicate? Many things. Perhaps, we elect our leaders inefficiently; But granting that the elected leaders possess great desire to serve and contribute to our nation building, can that individual dare not be swayed into temptation of filling their pockets with public funds? Or perhaps our leaders do not realize the magnitude of their power to free majority of Filipinos of oppression and poverty. It takes discipline, I guess, to see greater happiness beyond self-gratification (that always leads to the state of dissatisfaction because one's pocket is never full of peso, so you put in another..then another...really, it is never enough). The Dalai Lama of Tibet speaks of a potent antidote to our country's problem. It is contentment. May our corrupt leaders wish to seek contentment and find it, ASAP.

National Politics is not a dirty game, although, I think it has become that. But by definition, it is the science of governing a country -- I assume that it is for the best interest of the country and not the deterioration of one. I hope politicians keep this in mind or write a note and carry it in their pockets always to remind them of their sworn pledge.

Then, when everything is in perspective, we can find a way to elevate family economics, allocate and distribute food and nutrition services, endorse quality education, and appease terrorists whom I believe are fighting for their basic needs that were neglected by the government for a very discouraging and depressing long time.

It is not sacrifice that I am expecting from politicians, it is just their full use of their intelligence and conscience for the stimulation of national growth.