You may or may not agree; this is but my humble opinion regarding the matter. What brought about this realization was the following letter I read on FB:
MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
By Jaeyoun KimFilipinos 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 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 & 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 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 are so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would be 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 s mall 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.
You may have read that somewhere already. I believe I have read this too before but did not give it much thought, only when I read it again this weekend.
I admit, I am not nationalistic, patriotic or what-have-you. Truth be told, I cannot say that I am a Proud Filipino (and actually mean it) with a straight face. I can more easily say that I am a Proud Batangueña any time, even though Batangas is but a part of the Philippines as a whole. Make what you will out of that, but that is the sad truth.
Now that I really think about it, I feel a rush of pity for the Philippines as a country. Unlike the Koreans, we as a people do not particularly love our motherland. Rare and few are those who actually give a shit about the country, its people, its resources, its dignity. Most are just heartless users who take but don’t give back, at least not willingly. I mean, who’s happy to hand over their hard-earned money to the government in the form of taxes? I know I am not. Especially since I do not really see what use comes out of that. And a lot of people I know share the sentiment.
So yes, the government is a major part of the reason why we don’t love the country. I mean, it is made up of elected officials supposedly representing the people, giving the masses voice for their concerns. But they are either mute or incapacitated in some form, since precious little gets done for those they are representing.
Still, the country is more than its governing body. You may lose faith in your elected officials, but think: the country has resources, it has people just like you. Consider it an act of love for the country when you choose not to throw that bag of chips on the roadside canal, or when you give an elderly person your seat on the public transport. Do it not to be a hero, but for the love of the country. The Philippines deserves as much.
That is a personal epiphany right there. I am starting it right here on my blog. I may not be able to change the country, but I can most definitely change myself and my outlook regarding the matter. One step in front of the other, I can nurture this budding love for my country in my own small ways. So help me God.
I also believe that we should learn first to love our country, who else will right? With love we will have discipline, integrity and the willingness to help our Filipino brothers and sisters, and then we will all prosper. We can’t change overnight, but I believe with baby steps we can recover.
I hope more Filipinos would realize this too, so that change can take effect faster.
Very well said. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” By the way, thank you for sharing the Korean’s letter. I head this from an office mate, but I wasn’t able to see one in FB.
No prob sis, it was really worth sharing. 🙂
Very true… when I read that post on FB I realized that as a mother I need to start teaching my son how to love his country. I know that it will not be easy but I will try my best and hope that our children will have a better Philippines.
Yes, now that you mention it, we parents have the responsibility as Filipinos to instill love of the country in our kids. Our kids are still young, we should have an easier time of it than if they’re already grown and biased from the media and their own learnings.