A Letter from South Korea
Features
This was written years ago from a Korean who has a heart, ripped to shreds for our country. Here is an excerpt from his letter.
Seoul, Photo By d’n'c
My Short Essay About The Philippines.
by Jaeyoun Kim. (김재연)
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 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 Chung-hee 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. 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.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 05:12 AM
I couldn’t agree more. I couldn’t agree more.
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 AM
tsk… tsk.. it’s so depressing to hear this especially because it didn’t come out from a Filipino.
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 AM
“They go to mass and work for church. 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.”
Ito ay isang malakas na sipa mula sa isang Koreano. Ibang bansa na naman ang nagsasabi na tanga tayo. Tapos tayo kahit masakit na tiyan dahil nasisipa ng nasisipa ay patuloy pa rin sa pag-iisip ng okay lang tayo, basta may pera, basta may kita, basta-basta.Tapos ang iba tingin sa mga nakakita ng pag-asa idealistic. Di na nga makatayo sa sakit ng mga sipa ng banyaga, kusa pang lumalapit para magpasipa ulit. Pambihira ang PIlipino!
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:25 PM
It’s so sad that this was not written by a Filipino. What’s even worse, it’s not a Filipino who sympathizes for the Philippines.
They see OUR REAL problem, but all we see is our government’s fault.
Sa Pilipinas, hindi lang ang gobyerno ang nakatira. Whatever is happening to the Philippines, it’s our fault.
“love is the keyword”, we don’t even realize it until somebody slaps it in our face.
April 4th, 2009 at 12:04 AM
It’s so heartbreaking for me to read this article.. no.1 Hindi ito naggaling satin sa ibang nationality pa.
nakakhiya naman
kung sya naaawa sa country ntin what more pa tyo? walang CARE.. we really need to work this out.. sana somehow GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS know what’s happening and leave all those GREEDINESS among themselves
April 4th, 2009 at 12:42 AM
I say amen to this. And I don’t have to play like I knew this all along. Before visiting this site, I only took the slightest interest in learning about the roots of the ills in the Philippines. Posts like this, not only kick Filipinos like me who are guilty of shallow philosophies and colonial mentality but breaks (at least as a personal feeling) our hearts which have been existing in the most cushioned comfort zones.
April 4th, 2009 at 01:01 AM
sana naman mailathala ito sa publiko…
April 4th, 2009 at 04:29 AM
I agree, I am a Filipino-Portuguese. This just means that the other poor countries who “used” to look up to the Philippines doesn’t believe in us anymore. I consider myself as a Filipino and I am proud of being one even if I am only half pinoy.
We should set our MINDSET STRAIGHT. Think of the FUTURE,not for the present. the present mindset makes us look like crabs that doesn’t know what to do next.
We should learn how to kill the corrupted spirits of our government officials. We should know how to give value of our money and learn how to LOVE our country and LOVE our neighbors and selves as well, we should NOT think selflessly. Being the only and BIGGEST catholic country in Asia we should IMPLY christian values. We should not just blab about being a christian we should ACT and BE ONE.
We SHOULD NOT go to the CHURCH only if we have problems. We should LEARN to go to church even if we don’t have burdens and give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful gifts that he has given. Remember. Waking up is a GIFT and every little things that happen to our lives happen for a very special reason.
This is all.
thanks for reading my opinion
April 4th, 2009 at 09:11 AM
what the writer said is a very sad truth on what’s happening.
April 4th, 2009 at 06:22 PM
The Middle class, who can make a difference for the Philippine nation leaves. What is left is the big gap between the rich and the poor. Bottom line is the love for our country is missing. It has been replaced by apathy and survival instinct. How sad. Now what can we do about it? As a mother, I tell my kids that once they have made a future of themselves here in Canada one day, to go back to the Philippines and use their education to help in whatever way they can. I pray to God to have mercy on our land.
April 5th, 2009 at 05:27 AM
Ang artikulong ginawa ng Koreanong ito’y tungkol sa pagmamahal sa ating bansa. Dumaan na nga ba sa isipan ng bawat Pilipino na maiyak para sa ating bansa? Baka. Naalala ko yung huling tanong sa screening namin na sagitna ng bawat bansag na ginagamit na magpapatungkol sa ating bansa, ano ang iyong gagawing hakbang para muling maibalik ang nawawalang dangal ng ating bansa.
Kung babalikan ko ang aking naging sagot, ang mga tanging lunas lamang para sa ating bansa’y MAGSAKRIPISYO, MAHALIN, AT TUMAYO TAYO BILANG PILIPINO kahit pa sabihin nilang walang direksyon ito bagkus ipakita rin natin sa kanilang MAY PAG-ASA pa ang Pilipinas. Hindi natin dapat ikahiyang kabilang tayo sa bansang ito at may magagawa pa tayo para mabago pa at maituwid ito tungo sa mas maayos na direksyong tatahakin natin.
April 5th, 2009 at 05:33 AM
a heart breaking article…
ibang lahi pa ang nagkomento nito pero tayo patuloy parin tayong nagbubulagbulagan dahil iniisip lng ng iba ang knilang sarili… tama nga hindi natin problema ang kahirapan o kurapsyon kundi ang pagmamahal sa ating bansa.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:33 AM
EXACTLY…well said.. well explained.. and i too agree..
Although everything was thoroughly discussed… Still there are points which we consider… if we dig deeper, Filipino’s or majority of us don’t love country since everything including problems, useless solutions, broken promises, and worthless efforts happens again and again and again and again. True to say that if you know that no matter how hard you try to straighten something but it always go back to the problem it was; we get tired then we go to the easiest possible way to end desperation. That’s applicable to the present. You see; no matter how loud you shout in rallies, no matter how hard you do your work, no matter how you discipline yourself, no matter how follow what you believe if whatever you do seemed to be have no effect, you get tired too and then just go with the flow. You go with the flow where the wrong current is in to. We started wrong then the rest follow the WRONG way.
So going back, how will Filipino’s love their country IF first: we are not one? Yes we have our own world and own minds that think and act but are we not the same on simply loving our own country in any simple way we can think of. Second: we’re actually lost. Lost in whom to follow and what to do, lost in what to believe and whom to trust, and lost in what to prioritize and what is to be left behinds, lost in WHO WE ARE. Third: we often think of solutions to what we only see and what we gain advantage from. In short we complain if we lost benefit from something we benefit from but never mind the ones who are badly in need. Fourth: majority don’t have cooperation, unity, self- esteem, discipline, and most especially SELF CONFIDENCE. Literary we Filipino’s are full of potentials. But frankly speaking, we forget who we are. Fifth: many more^^
Still it’s better to act accordingly. It’s good to have the Brown raise movement, All those who are part of it, and all of the few who are really into changing this country into one that it should be. the movemement somehow aims to change the country through us. by instilling within the youth the real Filipino.
The point is not shouting all over again and again to the government whom we EXPECT to be the first to involuntarily and to somehow feel that’s something is wrong. The point is not on the suggestions we have. It’s not on the PROBLEM. Why? Because no matter how big a problem is it will always have a SOLUTION. It’s on how we approach a problem. It’s on how we ACT towards it rather that everyone suggesting. It’s on how calm we deal with it no matter the damage it had done.
Now, are we ready to change? Are we WILLING? The question is not if we can or not because all this time we can. We are equipped. The questions are… HOW…and WHEN…
(well that’s for me, we have allot more Filipino’s. As for me it’s what i see and what i feel. It’s not enough to consider something a fact or truth without the majority agreeing to it. And i much as well consider that there are still many points of views towards this topic. And YES, i too agree.)GOOD dAY^^
April 5th, 2009 at 05:36 PM
another slap in the face.
it just hurts knowing that at least other countries see what is wrong with our nation, and hindi ko ineexclude yung sarili ko na may pagkakakulang rin.
sana naman diba yung iba kahit through their own way, at least love Philippines be proud of our motherland, like the late, francis M. I really admired his patriotism for our country.
April 5th, 2009 at 06:39 PM
I’m very thankful that we have this brownraise.org.Malaki ang tulong nito for us Filipinos to open our eyes kung ano na ang nangyayari sa ating bansa ngayon, the sad thing is, marami parin ang nagbulagbulagan.And I believe, Its not yet too late..Bangon tayo Pilinas. Mahalin natin ang bansa natin I think dyan tayo magsisimula. Let us discover the roots of our country, discover the beauty of our country, for us to know how fortunate we are living in this country, THE PHILIPPINES.
April 5th, 2009 at 07:00 PM
forgive me for using the word FORTUNATE,nagkamali ako dyan. pls. change it into BLESSED, that’s the right word..Yes, how BLESSED we are living in this country.
April 6th, 2009 at 01:47 AM
Gumising na po tayo… para sa ating bayan!
April 6th, 2009 at 02:15 AM
not only LOVE, let that LOVE work now.
April 6th, 2009 at 08:36 AM
TWO THUMBS UP for the 1 who wrote this article…
it really is a hard slap to our faces but we have to accept this sad fact about us (Filipinos)…
and by accepting, we have to work this out by acting what is for the good of us and of others…
act fair to everyone by not being judgmental…
a religious country indeed but what is happening??? it’s because we always use the Filipino value >> “Bahala na” ~ “Bathala na” = “Diyos na ang bahala sa lahat…”
We lift up everything to GOD but we are not taking any steps to achieve what we want…
April 6th, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Grabe talaga at nakakalungkot! Lagi na lang ibang lahi ang nakakita ng ating mga kamalian bilang mga pilipino. Masyado na ba tayong nabulag ng ating pagiging makasarili? Wala na tayo kasing inisip kundi ang ating mga sarili. Wala na tayong pagmamalasakit sa ating kapwa pilipino na mahihirap. Hindi talaga ang solusyon sa problema ng ating bansa ay baguhin ang ating gobyerno o politika, kundi ang ating mga sarili. Kahit sino pa ang ilagay natin sa ating pamahalaan, kung tayo mga pilipino ay walang pagmamalasakit at pagmamahal sa ating bansa wala ring mangyayari, at wala na talaga tayong pag-asa pa kung ang pagbabago ay hindi magsimula sa atin. Nawa’y kawaan tayo ng Diyos at abutin n’ya ang ating mga puso upang mahalin natin ang ating bansa at ang ating sariling lahi. Sana ay handa natin ibigay ang ating buhay para sa ating bansa, at handang mamatay para dito. Handang mamatay sa ating mga sarili, upang unahin natin ang kapakanan ng ating bayan.
April 6th, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Thank you Jaeyoun Kim. This is the first time I’ve read something positive in the last few months about our country.
I’ve always ask myself what can I do for my country. Having no good career going on for me, not much friends, and obviously not enough money to do something. I could guess most of the guys here at brown raise could do more better than I can by myself.
I had found a better perspective for the Philippines yet I still feel helpless in doing something since I couldn’t do something better for myself either.
People leaving the country for greener pastures, some being disgusted with the Tagalog language, cursing the country because It didn’t do them better, I could list a lot of issues here that I’m currently exposed too yet what could I do?
April 7th, 2009 at 01:43 AM
this is very true. in fact, i have stopped blaming the government. i have stopped fingerpointing and blaming others for the sad situations that we are in right now. we need to put our faith in action. if only one of us would help/love just one of our countrymen, it will make an exponential effect to others. forget about those who continue to disregard others. let us start with ourselves by helping the poor even without ‘blowing our trumpets’, and i am sure, one day we will have a truly great nation!
April 7th, 2009 at 02:10 AM
nakikita ng mga foreigners ang ating sakit..at tayo ay bulag pa rin
April 7th, 2009 at 04:53 AM
The easy aspect for the Koreans to grasp is that they are homogenous. They speak one language and they live on one piece of land – the Korean Peninsula.
The Philippines has over 70 recognised languages and more than a hundred sub dialects. These elements create barriers for nationalism and a spread of love of country, love of self, love of region. This is not a problem that the Koreans face, so it’s easy for a Korean to talk about their success from a Korean stand point.
I remember in the 1980′s after Marcos was deposed there was so much hope for the future, dreams to be dreamed, and people to be helped, but as we moved into the 90′s all these fell by the wayside. Why? Did we lose our concept of ‘bayanihan’? What’s ever happened to ‘kapitbisig’? Should ABS-CBN be the only ones who are pushing people to clean the Pasig River when at first we need to move out the people who are making the messand that just doesn’t mean the squatters. We should not ever lose sight of the goal and keep our fingers on the pulse, the heart beat of our nation, for when that stops we disappear into history.
April 7th, 2009 at 07:43 AM
Bryan my dear Kababayan,
Indonesia is also an archipelago. It has 17,508 islands.
Singapore is composed of three major ethnic tribes: Malay, Chinese, and Indian.
India is the home to large number of different and various indigenous people.
No excuses for now. Let’s swallow everything to the point of indigestion so we could feel the pain thoroughly.
As you said, “We should not ever lose sight of the goal and keep our fingers on the pulse, the heart beat of our nation, for when that stops we disappear into history.” Listen to what you are saying. Listen carefully. Close your eyes; open your mind and heart. Mabuhay ka!
April 7th, 2009 at 07:56 AM
Ang mamatay ng dahil sa’yo..we must drill it our hearts…The revolution for our country must not start in the streets but on the inside..tattoo it in our hearts and start changing ourselves..me myself is not an excuse to this article..i’ve been serving other people just to build a name..not in the name of our motherland..I believe there is a reason why i’m an eagle scout..once i have overcome myself to be patriotic..i will start to help and build better young scouts..To do my duty, To God and my country, the Republic of the Philippines..
April 7th, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Kababayan 110th,
When we look at Indonesia, although it is an archipelago, it has a diverse linguistic and religious heritage, like the Philippines. Even though Indonesia has their “pancaselat”, there is no real unity apart from those who have sworn allegiance to the Javanese power brokers.
If it were possible, I believe that many of the islands [particularly the Christian islands in the east] would leave the Javanese umbrella and start themselves off on a new course.
The Javanese took East Timor and West Irian, now East Timor stands on its own and I hope that the time will come when West Irian will be able to do so as well.
In some ways, the Filipino is the one who is holding the Filipino and the Philippines back. With so much potential, and an ability to bring foreign companies to the country because of a large english speaking workforce, it seems that corruption keeps shooting the country in the foot. The large foreign corporations won’t invest because they don’t want to have to “grease the palms” in the process. So now they are making profits either in Viet Nam, Thailand or Indonesia.
Kahit hindi naman ako’y Pilipino, may pusong Pinoy ako. I cringe each time I am there at the missed opportunities which had the chance to lift people up. This is where the problem lays. Which groups or politicians are agents for maintaining the status quo?
Except for the population size, nothing will grow if the status quo is maintained. No boundaries will be pushed, no investment in research and development, and the gates will always be open to the OFW and the interest-free cash injection that the Philippine economy receives each year.
I truly hope and pray that soon the Philippines will pick itself up and show the world that “Yes! The Filipino can!”
Pagpalain kayong lahat sa itong pasko ng bagong buhay!
April 7th, 2009 at 11:54 PM
I don’t know if you know that the Philippines was named the St. Lazarus Islands (Islas de San Lázaro) by Magellan?
In his account, Pigafetta, the chronicler aboard Magellan’s ship, describes the island of Humumu, now Homonhon, as so: “We found two fountains of very clear water, we called it the `Waters of Good Signs,’ having found the first sign of gold in the said island. There also can be found much white coral and tall trees that bear fruits smaller than an almond and look like pines. There were also many palm trees, some of the good kind, some of the bad. Thereabouts are many neighboring islands. Hence, we called them the St. Lazarus Archipelago because we stayed there on the day and feast of St. Lazarus.”
Also, I believe that we, as a nation will again rise up like the Bible character Lazarus through Jesus Christ…..
April 8th, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Dear Bryan, what I’m saying is we should NOT make excuses. That’s all. More power to you.
April 8th, 2009 at 03:08 AM
Maybe it’s not always “our lack of love for the Philippines” that keeps us from gaining progress. I beg to disagree. I love our country-however, there are some certain forces that act upon MY idea of patriotism. (Hey, I can only speak for myself.
) Say for example, the government. I have lived in this country for fifteen years, and I have not observed much change in its system. Rich moguls get richer and the poor becomes poorer. Life only gets convenient to those who can afford it. That makes me pretty much unenthusiastic to serve my country. Couldn’t blame me there.
Eto pa. The undeserving are still thriving from our nation’s riches! How cool is that? Here’s a great example. Watch the news. Imelda’s topping the list of, you-know-what-kind-of-people.
(Sana isang araw, ibenta na lang niya yung iba niyang sapatos at i-donate ang proceeds sa charity since di naman niya magagamit yun lahat.)
Kidding aside, I just wanna share something to everyone.
After finishing high school, I plan to study abroad. There are many opportunities waiting for me, so many places to go and so much more to learn. Hopefully in time, I could learn to love my country despite its flaws and imperfections.
I will always return, for the Philippines is my home. She raised and nurtured me as a child so I feel that it is my obligation to come back since I am forever indebted to her.
***
April 8th, 2009 at 08:29 PM
Filipinos is like an Eye who cannot see herself but only that which is in front of her unless she looks in the mirror. The mirror in this case is the Korean who wrote this comment among the other outsiders who have had the same view.. to make matters worse, the Eye is BLIND! kaya kahit na nasa mukha na natin ang mga ganitong komento, di pa rin natin makita ang tunay na sarili natin. This is the reason why the true color of us Filipinos is not revealed to us by our fellow men but from outsiders.
We have been blind for so long. It’s time to remove the the scale from the Eye to cure the blindness by being treated by Doctors like Jose Rizal..at ang pagbabahagi ng isang puso ang pagmamalasakit at pagmamahal sa ating Lupang Hinirang.
April 8th, 2009 at 09:38 PM
Hi SAE!
YOU CAN LOVE the country even when corrupt government rules our land. Look at China for example. People there who hold on to Christianity are persecuted left and right by the government. But those same people love China intensely. Actually I have met many people who say that the real problem of the Philippines is corruption.
But one thing to take not is that, till now CHINA is corrupt (communists took over the economy). INDIA is corrupt. MALAYSIA, with their Kampung mentality, is corrupt. I won’t even mention Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
But here’s the thing: all of these corrupt people in their country CAN’T BEAR NOT TO CONTRIBUTE to their country because their nations are part of their IDENTITY. That is why, in spite of their corruption, these nations are rising, even in the midst of the economic crisis. I will always remember what Lipad-Lawin said when she quoted Seneca, “We love our country not because it is great, but because it’s our own.”
Corruption? Nah. We just don’t love our country intensely as much as Indians love India, as much as the Chinese love China, or as Singaporeans love Singapore.
The secret to the rise of a nation is, love for country to the point of feeling the pain when the nation is being humiliated. Not anger, mind you, because anger is temporary and too shallow–just an emotional outburst that quickly fades away. But pain rooted in a conviction that our present situation shouldn’t be so, because we are better than this.
SAE, you will be one of the few among many who would leave the country and would will eventually decide to go back. Your fellow Filipinos may mock you and say you are ‘tanga’ in your decision. But remember the Philippines. You’re right when you said this country is the one that nurtured us. But more than that, it’s the one who gave us our identity. Remember, we love our country because of one word and one word only: “malasakit.” So here we are in the Brown Raise, wishing you the best.
April 8th, 2009 at 09:49 PM
if only we filipinos see these things, if only we care for our country, if only we love our motherland.
April 9th, 2009 at 04:05 AM
…mmm, sandali nalang po yung aantayin!
wala nang mag sisimba, mababawasan na yuong ipang lalaet sa atin.. mmm joke lang yuon! hehe…
by the way, hindi ako nag sisimba! makabayan naman ako!parang ganito..”I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual”..
hindi lang kasi sa pasimba-simba yan eh..(mejo tama sya)Nasa gawa yan! diba nga action speaks lauder than voice!!
By the way, sa lahat ng nai-istres na sa pagka-Pilipino, panuorin nyo nalang si vice-ganda, baka mawala pagod nyo!hehe…
tapos pag ayus na! harapin nyo na ulet kasi tayo-tayo lang din yan, walang makakatakas… hehe,horror… joke..
April 9th, 2009 at 11:06 AM
the first time i went at asian museum is a big twist of my life.it strengthen my patriotism and nationality.i feel envy to other country who show love and respect to their nationhood..those koreans who stands firm despite horrible times of burdens and depressions, but still kept on fighting to love their country back..i pray to every Pilipino for a change right now.to show love and care in every little things we do.because we are sealed and identified by our nationality in the eyes of all people in the world.WE MUST BE PROUD TO BE A PILIPINO AND SERVE OUR COUNTRY JUST LIKE SERVING GOD.
April 10th, 2009 at 04:14 AM
The loss of Filipino identity and nationalism?
Start with the americans for forcing Aguinaldo to kiss the american flag and accept forced american colonialism on the Philippines after thousands of Filipino deaths in the Philippine-American war…….anyone remember that?
That’s how much the Americans wanted to help their “little brown brothers”. They would never have had to liberate the Philippines from the japanese if they had done the right thing militarily in the 1930′s.
They maninpulated “utang na loob” after WW2 to win political points in the global political game…the americans played the music and the people danced to the tune. Where did all the money from the bases go? There are still too many unanswered questions from recent history.
I wish there was more public accountability in the Philippine political world. That way, the government should be concerned about the public’s perception because of public accountability for the policies, or lack thereof.
Oh, the potential for the Philippines to rise up and become a regional powerhouse!
Don’t let the past hold you back from a better future.
Don’t just leave it up to the Lopez family.
April 10th, 2009 at 12:24 PM
well… honestly, we should learn from Koreans and Singaporeans!!!
April 12th, 2009 at 12:04 AM
my heart goes out to the author of this letter.
i couldn’t agree more.. when will ever learn as citizens? when will we ever lean from our mistakes?
we are a rich country pretending to be poor because of sick government beuaracracy. i understand that we have to start NOW act now for tomorrow may be too late for us to turn things around.
April 12th, 2009 at 01:30 AM
salamat sa letter at sa lahat ng turo nyo. I will not believe all the things i believe today if I were not under your wings. You taught me to love my country,that this is my home here on earth ( the other is H…..). Ang paniniwala ko ngayon I need to go out of my country for a while para magpakatutong lalo. Tapos uuwi ako. Alam ko yun, uuwi ako. Marami akong dapat ibahagi sa mag kakilala(kapuso) na nagsisipag-aral at madalian dapat. Kaya aalis muna ako. Sayang ang buhay ko kung wala akong gagawin para sa pagaaral nila. Madalian na talaga ito at ngayon na ang oras. Ang ibabahagi kosa kanila bahagi ko sa Pilipinas dahil lahat tayo tagarito sa Pilipinas. Filipino ang mag-aangat ng Pilipinas at hindi ibang lahi. Kasama ako sa mag-aangat. Aalis lang ako,sandali lang naman limang taon lang. Tapos babalik at mas marami na akong maibabahagi sa tahanan ko, ang Pilipinas.
April 13th, 2009 at 01:53 AM
reading this excerpt is truly heartbreaking. nevertheless, it sends this ripple effect that makes me want to be more passionate in raising the Filipino race.
we can be this generation who builds the young to love & respect our country. the time to start is now.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:35 AM
It’s my first time here in brown raise and it’s nice to read all the comments coming from all “kababayans”.
For me the issue now is HOW… How do we show our love for our country? coz I think this is the only solution for us to grow as a nation and maybe WE, here in brown raise, suggest some ideas to contribute the cause.
My suggestion would be to enrich our National Museum and show our cultural heritage, writings, paintings and traditions to the youth of today. Maybe… just maybe they will have an idea how great Filipnos are and not emulate on western cultures.
Also we have our SK to have at least every fiesta organize our traditional palaro like, palo sebo, agawang buko, sipa, etc.
It’s not that hard to start little and then maybe… again maybe the youth of today will start on their own and show their love for our country.
April 14th, 2009 at 09:27 PM
Nationalism, love for country and so on and so forth. I never have thought about all these until this time where I read and have been here grasping all your words and thougths about us Filipinos. I always love my country and I love being a Filipino. I am so proud raising my hands reciting the Panunumpa sa Watawat and with my head high singing the lupang hinirang. I submit myself to the authorities and obey the rules. But it’s just by now that I’ve realized that what I’ve been doing is not enough . . . because I’ve been doing all those for me, for myself and not actually for my country.
May be i’m not enough to say i’m a true filipino because i haven’t shed blood for my country – i did not do well with my work, I failed to excel on the tasks given to me and haven’t so serious with my assignments, I didn’t study hard enough in my college days and sometimes I just settled with mediocity.
I will and I will … change my ways, my thoughts, my aspirations for my country even how small am I in this native land. May be an UNKNOWN ME can make a little difference for my country if I will start it today.
April 15th, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Nalulungkot talaga ako nung binabasa ko ang article na to!!! Nakakahiyang aminin pero yun ang totoo. Mga Pinoy gumising na tayo sa katotohanan. Hindi ang namumuno sa atin ang problema kundi tayo ring taong naninirahan sa bansang ito. Tignan nating mabuti, hindi lang naman ang pinuno ang nakatira dito sa Pilipinas kundi lahat tayong mamamayan. Anong ginagawa ng mga iba? Nagwewelga para matanggal ang pangulo. Sinong ipapalit niyo? Anong ginagawa niyo sa oras na dapat kayo ay nagtratrabaho? Pagkatapos nito sinisisi niyo ang pangulo kung bakit tayo mahirap. Dahil ba ito sa coruption ng mga pulitiko? Hindi dahil sa ating kagagawan. Hindi naman ako makaadministrasyon, ngunit sinasabi ko lang naman ang nakikita ko. Hindi rin naman ako perpectong tao, katunayan naguiguilty rin naman ako dahil wala rin akong ginawa para sa ating bansa. Nalulugmok tayo sa kahirapan dahil sa ating katamaran at pagiging makitid ng ating mga utak(materialistic). Dapat mawala sa ating bokabyularyo ang kasabihang “Bahala Na”. “BUMANGON TAYO PILIPINAS”. Alam niyo ang tuwag sa atin ng ibang bansa? “BAYARAN”. Kase naman ginagawa nating ang ating mga trabaho para sa ating pansariling kapakanan hindi para sa ating bayan. Kahit ano ginagawa magkapera lang tayo. Tama ang sinasabi nila na dapat nating mahalin ang Pilipinas para rin lang naman sa atin, at para rin sa ating mga future generations. Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa kanila kung ganito parin ang Pilipinas. May iba’t ibang paraan kung pano mahalin ang ating bansa at paano ito mapapaunlad. Nagpapasalamat ako sa sumulat ng liham na to dahil ipinakita niya ang nangyayari sa ating bansa. Nakakalungkot kase ibang lahi pa ang nakahalata sa bagay na ito at hindi Pinoy. Sana mabasa lahat ng Pilipino ang liham na ito, hindi lang ang mga taong nagbubukas sa site na ito.
April 15th, 2009 at 07:46 AM
This link is shared by my professor in our University.
true eye opening letter. i wish this would be read by all FILIPINOS.
April 16th, 2009 at 06:19 AM
..i think, one of the reasons that contributed to the success of korea today is they have a “good” leader..yes, the main reaction of the progress is in the hands of people; but the gov’t can be the inhibitor or the catalyst of it.
..we should pray..for a our next leaders..
April 16th, 2009 at 12:27 PM
honestly this whole letter is all confirme and true.,
look around, you can see extraordinary places., some of it are known inside and outside of the country, (like Banawe Rice Terraces, and Underground River.,)
this country has a lot of pearl but now where is it?? as far as i know we are known as the “PEARL OF THE ORIENT SEA”.,
right now, we dont have the rich in coins but soon we will be., even though, we dont have loads of paper many and coins, but.. i should still say we are rich., we are rich in culture, tradition and spiritual., it is not to late,. we can bring back the past, do better than today, and change the future of the PHILIPPINES.,
April 17th, 2009 at 12:48 AM
additional to my last comment.,
There are 12,000 or so species of seashells in the Philippines. The Conus Gloriamaris or “Glory of the Sea” is the rarest and ,ost expensive in the world”
from “WHAT’S ON the Philippine Guide edition 2005-2006″
April 20th, 2009 at 04:02 PM
woahhhhh!!! Truly a mind blowing article. While i was reading this master piece. I was bursting into tears because knowing for the fact that is really true and it’s really painful hearing this from a complete stranger to our country. He throughly made a big effort to know our country and he was able to see the reality.
Sobrang masakit isipin na buti pa sila na tinatama ung mga mali sa sa lahat ng mga bagay-bagay and lahat para sa basa.
For us, hindi lang pwede na ang goberno na ang bahala dito or nya. or we say the maniana habit.
i love our country but as a individual, i always think makakaya ko kaya to? ako ng mag-isa., nasaan na ung iba?
misan minamaya-maya ko na rin.
i admit that i was one of those thousands of Filipino who said that over political official are corrupt and thats the reason why we are not getting progress. My apology to the country.
sana magka-isa tayong lahat na gawin ung tama at hindi at iwala na ung mamayana habit natin para ma para masimulan na xa.
God Bless Philippines!!!
April 20th, 2009 at 11:04 PM
… when are we going to have a leader that will weep for this country… when are we going to be desperate enough to do all that we can in order to alleviate the present condition of our country.. all we can do fo the moment is to pray.. let’s just pray for our country.. the scripture says that, “if my people will humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land..”
the 2010 election is coming.. let’s pray for a leade that’s willing to die for this country.. this is a beautiful country and its worth dying for (jose rizal)…..
April 20th, 2009 at 11:17 PM
LOVE THE PHILIPPINES DESPITE OF ALL ITS SHORTCOMINGS…
==>> its the same as saying… hate the SIN but LOVE THE SINNER..
Let’s hate corruption in our country but lets keep on loving it.. Our country is sick.. It just needs healing..
April 22nd, 2009 at 07:01 PM
We should put these articles in the newspaper. Doesn’t seemed helpful if it’s just in here and not where most Pilipinos can read them.
April 25th, 2009 at 04:06 AM
sana lahat ng tao na nag comment sa letter na ito at nag agree ay makita ang katotohanan sa loob nila at gumawa ng paraan para solusyunan ang ating problema
April 26th, 2009 at 03:57 AM
this article really is a journey.I love our history, our heroes, our culture, our race.Years have past and the people forget to fight.Fight for dignity.Fight for who we are and WHERE we are.This is our land and many leave our country.Those who leave got lost and those who stayed got lost as well.Where will they see the way. The way to go back, to own this land.This is ours, our country.OUR HOME.I WANNA KNOW.WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY?YOUR HOME.I WANNA KNOW…
April 29th, 2009 at 12:30 PM
From a country respected by other countries to a nation looked down on. Our history trail is from positive to negative.
But the truth is, what’s done is done. So what can we do as Filipinos? Make a difference in our own area of expertise/ influence – whether in school, at work or wherever. Study hard. Strive for excellence. Know your history. Be the ambassador that shares that idea that the Philippines is a beautiful country, that this is just one of those points in our history. Time will come, we not be the tail anymore but the head.
Pray for our leaders and would be leader! Pray for our youths, from who our next leaders leaders will come! Pray for the parents to be intruments in instilling nationhood to their kids! Pray of the business men and rich Filipinos share their wealth for the good of the many and the the Philippines as a whole! Pray for ourselves that we may learn to do our parts in building the country again.
Sabi nga ni Bayani ‘” kahit malilit na effort yan, makakatagpo tagpo din yan’.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:22 PM
tama.!. hindi nga ang gobyerno ang may kasalanan tayo mga pilipino. lagi nga tayo nag sisimba. pero wala namang nangyari. nakakahiya tayo.!
May 10th, 2009 at 09:47 PM
I’ve read this on my KOREAN school mate’s friendster profile. I immediately asked her why does she have to put that on her profile. She responded back saying, “It’s for my Filipino visitors to read. Filipinos are so hopeless! You Filipinos must read this!” Guess what, it’s still on her profile until now. I was like shocked because this Korean school mate of mine isn’t even that active and committed in school but she’s got the guts to tell it to us, Filipinos how hopeless we are. I was amazed and stunned ~ and of course, awakened and thankful.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:14 AM
grabe po to. nakakaiyak po when you come to think that our fellow filipinos love westerners more than our countrymen.
even our leaders just use us for their own selfish benefits. sana po isang araw magkaroon tayo ng mga leader na katulad nila Mahathir bin Moahamad, Park Chung Hee, Lee Kuan Yew na umiiyak po talaga para sa kanilang bansa. makikita nyo po talaga yung sincerity sa puso ng isang leader sa mga achievements nila para sa kanilang bansa e.
May 11th, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Salamat sa sulat na ito.
Salamat sa inyo na naglagay nito dito, lahat tayo nalungkot at nadurog ang puso sa ordinaryong ‘pagmamalasakit’ ng isang nilalang na nagmamalasakit sa atin.
Salamat sa apoy.
Salamat sa liwanag.
Salamat sa pagbukas ng mata ng puso.
Salamat sa kirot ng dulot nito sa atin.
Salamat at may bukas, may bagong lakad, may bukang liwayway.
Salamat sa inyo ipagpatuloy nyo ang ganitong laban para sa bayan natin at para sa mga taong nagmamalasakit sa bansang Pilipnas.
May 23rd, 2009 at 09:42 AM
this is one of the great stories i’ve heard from a foreigner about our country though i have some classmates who are korean like you, i’ve never heard each one them saying this kind of words.. i’m quite speechless.
very inspirational..
i just hope one day our country would realize what’s wrong in the picture..
May 25th, 2009 at 06:55 PM
someday matatauhan din tau……… someday…….
June 2nd, 2009 at 03:38 AM
Ang pinakamalungkot na bahagi ng liham ay ang mga dayuhan pa ang natutong magmahal sa ating bayan. Sila na hindi naman kinakailangan na magmalasakit sa atin, sila pa itong durog ang puso para sa Pilipinas.
June 5th, 2009 at 03:57 PM
its so sad to read this article..
i cant imagine how filipinos rejected their country
the korean guy is right, “”LOVE IS THE KEYWORD”" its the only thing we need so that our country will be well off,
so FILIPINO PEOPLE.!! lets change ourselves.! and help each other.!! forget all the pain we’ve been through.. LETS MAKE PHILIPPINES A BETTER PLACE.!
IANGAT ANG PILIPINAS!
August 19th, 2009 at 06:09 PM
ARK 1 ark per day leads to love eventually. 1 act of random kindess per daw can lead to something bigger. This is borrowed from the movie evan almoghty. Makes sense and can make a difference. Stop feeling the pity and don’t wallow in the present state. Start acting. Start caring. Start making acts of random kindness. Who knows maybe after a while this can really become the movement that we need to make the country better.
October 8th, 2009 at 08:29 PM
this is why i love koreans very much
December 9th, 2009 at 12:06 AM
heart breaking…..God help us…Personally it illuminates me of how a real loving, patriotic Filipinos we should be. Salamat po kapatid na koreano!
December 10th, 2009 at 06:06 PM
i couldn’t agree more. We Filipinos cant see the true problem of our country. We always see the fault of the government and other people but we cant even see our own faults. If we want to have a true change, we should start in our own heart and soul.
The Korean who wrote the letter was write. Love is the answer and if we want to be well off we must start now and do the best for our country even if we have to sacrifice.
December 21st, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Kung ang isang Koreano punit para sa Pilipinas, bakit ang isang Pilipino hindi punit para kay LuzViMinda? Kung nakikita ng isang Koreano ang problema ng Pilipinas na kulang ito sa pagmamahal, bakit hindi ito nakikita ng isang Pilipino? Kung ang sinisisi ng Koreano sa pagbagsak ng Pilipinas ay ang pagkukulang sa pagmamahal sa bansa, bakit ang sinisisi ng Pilipino ay ang pamahalaan? Kung kinaya ng Korea, bakit hindi rin natin kayanin? Simple lamang ang sagot sa mga tanong na ito, kasi mali ang “priority” ng mga Pilipino. Makasarili tayo. Habang ang iniisip ng isang Koreano ay ang pag-angat ng kaniyang bansa, ang iniisip ng isang Pilipino ay ang pag-angat niya sa kahirapan.
December 29th, 2009 at 01:40 PM
This is so sad. We need leaders who love and care for the country! Viva!
December 30th, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Nag papasalamat ako dahil meron ganitong website.. ngaun ko nalaman na ganito na pala kalala ang Pilipinas, sana po makasama ako sa gawain na ito at makita ang pagbabago sa Pilipinas.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:25 AM
“A change in one’s self is merely the solution o our country.” Before we can change our whole country, we, of course, should change first our selves as Filipino people.
February 1st, 2010 at 02:34 AM
When can we see the Philippines be well off again? Let’s start it today. Let’s stop complaining and blaming others for our moral degeneration. Let’s do our part in the national transformation individually. Let’s respect ourselves and think right. Let’s bury the past but do not repeat the sin of vote buying. We’ve been used and abused, but not this time. Corporately, let’s make the Philippines great again. Do not stop believing that we can’t but rather let’s keep on believing that we can, we can be great again because we are destined for greatness. Let us love our country and its people truthfully!
April 22nd, 2010 at 08:35 PM
I feel so sad for our country the Philippines. Mr. Kim’s points are so true. It’s only our action with patriotism that will put us in better places.
Please vote for the one with integrity and love for the Philippines!
April 23rd, 2010 at 09:45 AM
I feel so ashame of this Korean!
he cares for us but we? we filipinos? where’s the love for our country.. the care for our country?
May 3rd, 2010 at 03:36 PM
So true. It’s so bad that we don’t love our country as much as we ought to. I grew in a generation where kids are taught to study hard and work in a foreign country when you grow up. And it’s a shame, really. We love foreign products better than we love ours. We love foreign shows better than our own. Shouldn’t we all work to improve what we have? Shouldn’t we teach children to love this country and be good stewards of the land God has entrusted to us?
May 12th, 2010 at 02:27 PM
This is so true.
It’s not all about the government, it’s how we are… If we grow up and realize that becoming a better person will result to a better place and nation, mawawala ang problema. Nagtuturuan kasi tayo, un ang sakit natin, all we need to do is take responsibility.
Bawat isa imbes na magkaisa ay naghihintay ng mapupuna. HIndi masama ang mamuna kung sa maayos na paraan ginagawa, tayong lahat na nag comment dito…may nagawa na ba tayo para makatulong sa problemang ito?
May 12th, 2010 at 05:57 PM
LOVE IS the keyword..tumpak..sana ung nanalo sa election ay may ganito din keyword..
May 13th, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Kaya hindi tyo naunlad, hindi na napapalitan ang namumuno sa atin, magmula sa lolo hanggang sa apo sya na lang lage ang binoboto.. Kaya lhat ng pilipino lahat gusto na umalis ng bansa, dahil sa bulok na sistema ng gobyerno ng pilipinas..
May 13th, 2010 at 04:56 PM
hoy di ako taga cebu….
May 16th, 2010 at 10:28 PM
it’s no time to point a finger to one another… we don’t have to blame anybody that won’t help us to move even an inch further from where we are right now. Thanks to our neighboring country who showed us what is our real problem. That”s why i suggest lest us “LOVE THE PHILIPPINES AND MAKE THE FILIPINOS PROUD!” Ibalik natin ang nawalang Dangal ng ating Bansa at Lahi. May pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas… kaya natin to kapatid!!
May 17th, 2010 at 08:00 PM
SO TRUE!!!! At nakakahiya dahil isang dayuhan ang nagsasabi kung ano ang problema natin sa ating bansa. Tayo mismong mga Pilipino walang tapat na pagmamahal sa ating bansa at ang masaklap magaling tayong manisi at magturo ng mali ng iba pero di natin nakikita na tayo din ang may sala. Sana maging eye-opener ito para sa ating mga Pilipino. At kung totoong mga kristiano tayo – sa atin dapat magsimula ang pagbabago.
July 2nd, 2010 at 07:43 PM
For more of us Filipinos only think of our selves. We always argue of why we are poor.We don’t even see our selves fighting for what is right.only talk of our selfish act and yet we complain.I always pray that change takes place in every Filipinos hearts and learn how to become a real Filipino.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:08 PM
grabe po…….sana ang pilipinas din po ay my tulad na kwentong ganito para maging inspirasyon ng bawat pilipino.
July 22nd, 2010 at 08:56 AM
Our leaders are not the entire picture of the problem… We are… Even if we change our defective leaders if we on our selves fail to change for the good and for the upliftment of our lives, the story will pretty much be the same… “Every man for himself”, that’s what’s going on here always… We have to change… It begins if we realize that we are the problem, not someone else…
August 26th, 2010 at 11:16 PM
I believe in a saying that “The Best way to make your dreams come true is to “WAKE UP”.We are dreaming of good things and improve the economy of our country. Before we can make our dreams come true, we have to do something about it and that is to WAKE UP.