아래 기사는 제가 1999년부터 참여중인 Mensa Philippines 에 보낸 수필에 대한 기사입니다.

http://malaya.com.ph/oct04/edducky.htm

'"Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos."' Letter from Korea WE have a letter from Korea: "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 the entire country was destroyed completely 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's brother also died because of famine. "Korean government was awfully 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 (He probably means "neighbors." - HP.) 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 economy 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 a 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. PresidentPark 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 so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pagsanjan, 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 with the boat men, for the boat men 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 the 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 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." - Jaeyoun Kim *** For once, I have nothing to add. Email address: duckyparedes@yahoo.com

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2003/October/30/feedback.htm

We must touch the stars

I was touched by a writeup of a young Korean Jaeyoun Kim in this page Monday "Love is the key word."

It's good to be told by foreigners what is wrong with us. And Kim, said that, years ago, the Koreans and other Asians envied how well off the Filipinos were. Now, said Kim, we face these problems because we Filipinos do not love our country.

"Have you cried for your country?" he asked. He said, he cried for his country several times and even cried for the Philippines, too, because of so many poor people. Kim narrated when President Park visited Germany in 1964, all the Koreans working there told him, crying, "President, when can we be well off?" On hearing this and seeing his people crying, Park cried, too, and told them they would be well off if all worked hard for Korea.

The President of Germany, on hearing this, lent Korea the money that Park asked for, and which was used to build factories. Korea has been well off since.

***

We should not cry for our leaders who should be driven out of office if they are not deserving. We should cry for our people.

In the opera "Evita," Eva Peron, wife of Argentina Dictator Juan Peron sings "Don't cry for me Argentina." The Argentinians cried for themselves which made them better. It's good that we cry for ourselves too.

***

We should listen to foreigners telling us what is good in us. We miss these. Our eyes are clouded by narrow-mindedness.

My friend Neil Honeyman wrote me yesterday on our "Politics of Failure." True, we seem to see only what is bad.

He wrote, "Instead of listening to Dubya's exhortation to stand tall, the State of the Nation is becoming more and more attuned to what I call "The politics of Failure' which is a loser's culture, prickly and defensive."

Neil added, "Instead of saying 'We'll do better next time,' we say, 'it's the other guy's fault' or 'it's the rich nations' fault in Cancun ganging up on the poor nations,' or we complain 'there's too much rain' or 'there's too little rain."

***

Neil criticized my other friend, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon who delivered here, according to Neil, a "failing grade criticism on travel advisories" which Neil said, "is a classic 'Politics of Failure.'"

Travel advisories, said Neil, only give factual account of what is happening and advise tourists to be careful and don't take unnecessary risks."

As a potential salesman extraordinaire Gordon should have thought of new ideas, like getting a direct flight, let's say from Los Angeles to Cebu, non-stop with a 12-day package tour of the Visayas for U.S. $2,400.

The trip is a potential seller, Neil said. Everyone must come ahead.

He tells Gordon, "Walk tall, Dick."

***

Talking of loving our country, I'd like to salute my friend, Mike Asignacion who is the apostle of progress and development of Negros.

Mike has it deep in his being, in his thoughts, and deeds to promote progress for Negros. His television programs are all intended to project the good side of Negros. He does not go for negative ideas.

His Progress Channel in television has gained a good listenership these years. We need media people of Mike Asignacion's caliber. Let me promote George Liza too for his own television program. George is an old hand in television. He is an expert at it.

Recently he visited me and asked me to host a program discussing the sugar industry. I was honored by his invitation but begged off, saying, that aside from a 12-year experience, 1974 to 1986 over Channel 10, now GMA 7, I feel I have had enough and it's time to give way to younger people. Besides, a television program, especially interviews, to make it good and rate, must be well prepared. My program was called "Feedback."

You don't go to the station without studying what you will discuss with your guests. You have to do some research.

I had two main co-anchor men, Joe Varela who later became an Assemblyman, and Eduardo "Dading" Ledesma who later became OIC Governor of Negros Occidental. They are now gone but I remember, they studied the questions because I called them up earlier about the guest, or guests, and the topic.

The best thing in interviewing is the ability to follow up a question to squeeze every drop of information from an interviewee. And the thrill is when, on this followup, you corner him and get the information desired but which he was trying to hide.

We have good interviewers in Manila but the best are those in CNN and BBC.

***

At the time of writing this piece, I still did not know whether the impeachment will reach the Senate.

I maintain what I said, if this does not reach the Senate and a compromise is reached but without opening the books on the Judicial Development Fund, the cloud of suspicion will continue to hang over the head of Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide on the question of the irregularity.

I still believe this crisis is good for the Supreme Court and the country. Our next Chief Justice will not go into what Chief Justice Davide went into. There are lawyers who agree that truth must be out. I would like to reiterate what I have always been advocating here, that following what I wrote at the top, we must strive to touch the stars. And we can only do this if we stand up straight.*