It's Not the Corruption in the Philippines

[in Tagalog language]


Ngayon, tayong mga Pinoy, lagi nating sinisisi ang ating mga pinuno sa gobyerno, "Corrupt sila!, corrupt!". Oo, totoo ngang  corrupt ang mga pinuno natin pero hindi ba natin naisip na tignan muna ang sarili natin bago sila? Mahal ba natina ng sarili natinng bayan? Bakit lagi nating tinatangkilik ang imported kesa sa gawa ng kapwa natin? Tayo ba nakakatulong sa kapwa natin Pilipino? Bago natin sisihin ang mga Pinuno, tignan muna natin ang sarili natin. Mayroon akong inihandang babasahin na nakita ko sa homeroom reading sheet ng kapatid ko. Tungkol ito sa isang Koryano (Korean) nagsasadula ng kwento ng kanilang bansa at inihahalintulad ito sa korupsyon dito sa Pilipinas. Ito ang nilalaman:



"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. "



Nawa ay maliwanagan tayo sa sarili natin na dapat mahalin natin ang sarili nating bansa. Pagpalain tayo ng Panginoon.

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7 comments (leave a comment):

Anonymous said...

Paano po ba magmahal ng sariling bansa?

-L

Unknown said...

kung mahal mo yung pamilya mo, isipin mo lahat ng pilipino kapamilya mo din :)
tangkilikin natin ang sariling atin, meron tayong natural resources dito sa bansa natin na dpat gamitin natin para sa sarili natin, okay mag export pero dpat tayo mismong mga pilipino ang mga nakikinabang.
Mahalin natin ang ating mga pinuno kahit hndi man sila karapatdapat, ang Diyos minahal tayo kahit lagi tayong nagkakasala sa Kanya at hindi tayo karapatdapat.

Anonymous said...

ang pinaguusapan po dito ay bansa hindi po kapwa filipino. Im asking How to Love your own Country? lahat naman tumatangkilik base on the statistics of many filipino in the philippines pero bakit marami parin nagaabroad? hindi bat maraming oportunidad dito sa pilipinas? Kung hindi karapatdapat ang pinuno bakit hindi mo simulan sa sarili mo mismo ang pagbabago na gusto mo mangyari? ginagawa mo po ba?

puede po nating idiscuss dito kung gusto nyo po. Isa isa lang at bigyan po natin ng solusyon. Ang Diyos nandyan sya para tumulong sa atin ang tanging kailangang gawin ay kumilos ayon sa kalooban nya. Anu okay po ba? gusto nyo po ba?

Nakikita ko po itong site na ito ay gawang pinoy pero bakit kakaunti lang ang bumibisita? bakit hindi natin bigyan ng buhay tama po ba? sa simpleng discussion dito maari nating mapalawak ang pagbisita dito ng mga tao.

Pero kayo na po ang bahala dahil ikaw ang admin ng site na ito at ministry mo na bigyang buhay rin ang site na ito pero if you insist your own understanding and reasoning then so be it.

Thank you

-L Lawliet

Unknown said...

Ang isang bansa ay hndi mabubuo dahil sa mga mamamayan nito. Kung mamahalin natin ang sarili nating mga kbabayan, tulad n lng mga mahihirap nating kapwa. Isa pa, buhayin ntin ult ang kultura. Alam ko din naman na alam mo sa sarili mo kung pano magmahal ng sariling bansa. Kung mahal mo ang kbabayan mo, mahal mo ang bansa mo.

Unknown said...

Maraming nagaabroad dahil hindi din nabibigyan ng oportunidad ang karamihan satin ng mga kapwa natin.

Actually, ito ang pinakapoint ko dito:
Sila moses, nagtagal sa parang dahil sa reklamo ng mga israelita. Binigyan tyo ng pinuno, we should not complain, buti nga tayo may mga pinuno, yung ibang bnsa mas mahirap ang kalagayan, kailngan natin isipin itong blessing na to, mahalin natin kung ano meron tayo, wag yung wla sa atin. It took 40 years para makarating sila moses sa lupang pinako kung pwde namang 11 days lng ang pinakamaikling panahon.

Makakaahon tayo kung hndi tayo magrereklamo sa kung ano ang nandto, pasalamatan natin na ang bansa natin ay may malaking potensyal na maging mayaman dahil sa natural resources at madami pa.

Anonymous said...

Good answer na dapat mahalin mo ang kapwa mo kababayan kasi dun makikita na mahal mo ang bansa mo.. On the other hand kahit na moderno na ang ang ating mundo hindi pa rin naman nawawala ang kultura ng mga pilipino at hindi na kailangan pang buhayin hahaha the main thought of this Loving our own country is to Love your own country men just like Love your neighbor as yourself.. right?

Ang Point mo iba kasi eh hindi naman sa reklamo yan eh.. Ang mga tao dito sa pinas nagrarally dahil pinaglalaban nila ang kanilang karapatan.. Hindi reklamo kasi nakikita mo naman at nababalita sa TV ang nagaganap na corruption sa gobyerno? nagiimpeachment tapos tanong sila ng tanong sa mga may salarin pero ang hindi natin alam na yung mga nagtatanung na yun eh sila rin ay corrupt.. Naghihirap ang pilipinas dahil dun.. So ang tendency na yun ang mga tao nagkakaroon ng hatred sa tao na yun dahil sa ginawang corruption.. nakukuha mo? paglalaban sa karapatan ang ginagawa ng mga kababayan nating pilipino.. nawawalan sila ng gana sa bansa natin dahil dun sa mga namumuno... nakita mo na? ang point ko dito ang pagmamahal sa bansa..

-L Lawliet

Unknown said...

I suggest you read the last 6 paragraphs of the essay.

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