My Short Essay about the Philippines

by: 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 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 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 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 of him. President Park cried off 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 are 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 the 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 man beggars and street kids. When we went to Pagsangjan, 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 by the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had a small frame. Most of the 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 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 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.

Reflections: Parties in a Relationship

On a conventional or better yet technical thought of relationship, the only parties involved is named as "you" and "him". But how about "us"? Would "us" be just left behind because of the fact that there is "you" and there is "him"? Or on the other way around, would "you" and "him" be left behind because of "us"?

Setting up priorities has been one of the most talked about issues in a relationship. It is much easier to juggle three priorities than loosing focus on the fourth. But if you are the fourth of his priorities, would you just end up loosing each other?

Before you entered the relationship, you have been both different individuals. True that you cannot impose change into your partner because you are two 'different' individuals but doesn't it have any considerations for the party called "us"?

Lesson Learned: Do more, dream big, expect less and regret nothing, everything has its own reason

Time Warp

Have you ever imagined how Manila looks like without its slum areas? Why not try to imagine how Manila looks like if we have trains on the roads just like that of any European countries? Or even have you taught of swimming in the beach of Manila Bay?

Why not try to look at this video and see how Manila looks like before the World War II?

Fourteen Faces with one Gavel

As I enter the halls of the court room, I felt a sudden chill that hoarfrost my entire body. I found my eyes looking at how majestic the interior of the place could be, putting into my mind that this is the place where the most brilliant minds interpolate, argue, and decide. But beyond the lavishing interior comes the important elements of the scene: the counsels in their witty smiles, the spectators with their agitated hearts, and the magistrates in their regal persona.

By merely looking at the podium intended for the interpolation of the counsel, I could feel an intense energy as if i am being electrocuted. Who would even dare to face fourteen justices who would even ask you highfalutin words with nerve wrecking statements. Even high caliber lawyers sometimes have to submit to the justices for they do not desire to prolong their agony. But standing before the justices is just like when you stand in front of your professors in law school. The primary rule is that you should expect that your professors are dissatisfied with your answer. The only difference is that in law school you stand in front of your terrorist professors but before the justices, their professors stand before their former students.

Here are the following lessons I have learned in my first exposure to an oral argument in the Supreme Court:

1.Always bring the following materials: handkerchief (prepare for a nose bleeding session!), pen and paper (take down notes 'coz you'll learn tons of new vocabulary - you might as well use it for autographs), candies or refreshments (expect for no break arguments, it would really help you to suit yourself), digital cam (cellphones are prohibit, so why not take pictures by cam), friends (its hard to talk alone)

2. When all people laugh except you, try to laugh also or they will think that you didn't get the joke. But don't laugh when no one laugh or else you'll definitely look awkward.

3. Don't sit at the farthest area or you'll just hear someone snores.. ZZZ...

4. Being bored is understandable but do not SNORE when you get sleepy!

5. If you're bored try to look around and you'll see that you aren't the only one who is hot there! *wink*

6. If you get lucky and had a hottie lawyer beside you, try to start a conversation by asking what he thinks of the argument, it works great!

7. Walk with confidence. Your mom believes that you are the smartest. ^_^

8. Do not follow the rules above mentioned or else you'll get addicted doing it! hehehe.

How Can I Change the World?

There is a point in our life where we ask to ourselves what is our purpose of living. I came to realize later on that the purpose of living is much harder to realize and to live with if we don't know the means of doing such purpose.

As for my purpose, I know I am meant to change this world. It is a big statement but could be started from little actions which hopefully could motivate others. The journey of a thousand miles begins in a single step. No matter how small your actions are but as long as you do the best in everything, all those risks and sacrifices will be made a part of a worth living life.

How Can You Change the World?

My Result: Dedication to Change

While other people sit around and wait for life to come to them, you put yourself out there and make it happen. After all, if you don't like the way things are, how do you expect anything to be different unless you do something about it?


Determined and dedicated, you're not afraid to go out on a limb and do what you can to make an impact. You realize change doesn't happen overnight, and you don't give up easily even when the going gets tough. That's what makes you such an inspiration. And it's also sure to make the world a better place. Bravo!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=changetheworldogt&c=50652

A Foretaste of Hope (envisioning the Philippines' future)

(An essay that I have made way back my junior years in college)

Are we (Filipinos) worth dying for? This question might be the same question that Ninoy would be asking if he still lives in this current time. Yet, the simple question of are we living for the cause of our country and for others, remains a hanging question as the reality consumes the idealism of pagiging makabayan. Nationalism, maybe of an out-of-date ideal in this borderless world, but internationalism presupposes nationalism. If there are nations to be united, there must be nations to unite. The problem of our nation is that we are suffering from a fragmented society caused by a dismantled institutionalized injustice and degraded morality. Even Rizal who earned a mocking name of “Papa” or Pope from his fellow Filipinos in Madrid and Aguinaldo who was harassed by Artacho after the latter being unsatisfied with his reimbursement, experienced the divisiveness of the Filipinos. How can we survive from the malaise of these mentality?

Andres Bonifacio has once asked, “What must we do?”, and as a reply, Jacinto said: “Reason tells us that we must not waste our time waiting in vain for promises of felicity that will never come… Let us consecrate all our strength to the good cause, with unshakeable and absolute faith in its success…” Our ultimate goal of uniting the nation could only be attained in rightful reasons and means, and that is the reason why we, Filipinos, should learn how to love our country, as patriots for their motherland. In the simplest things, we could love our country by respecting and abiding with the laws. Who would suffer traffic and accidents in EDSA or in ordinary streets if none will jaywalk? Just imagine that if patriotism resides in the hearts of our OFWs, people like me would grow up with their parents on their sides. Even if it is at the expense of having low income, the hardworking and productive Filipinos abroad would abet to strengthen our country’s economy. Envision how our engineers in the Middle East would help build first class facilities in the country, or even the 40,000 skilled nurses of UK’s National Health including the doctors, therapists, and specialists of US would construct outstanding medical services that our fellow Asians and Caucasians would dare to visit. After their balikbayans, the best Filipino performers and artists could attract tourists because of their world class performances. Think how Hong Kong, Singaporeans, and Taiwanese would prefer working in the Philippines because they cannot work without their Filipino nannies, housekeepers and caregivers doing the households chores and keeping their children. With all of those efforts and sacrifices by our fellow people, the youth could be inspired to be self-reliant and become agents of change capable of creating a globally competitive, productive and well-informed nation of the Filipinos.

It is not impossible for us to attain the visions above. We must at least live with the principles and values from our national tradition. “Pakikisama: the willingness to share with one another the burdens as well as the rewards of living together. Pagkakaisa: the building up of an articulated national community through forms of social organization…Pagkabayani: the readiness to put the common good of the nation above the private interest… Pakikipagkapwa-tao: …a dedication to the development of one’s own nation.” (de la Costa, Horatio, Challenges for the Filipino, Lenten Lectures, 1971). Living to such ideals would create another Dr. Abelardo Aguilar whose genuine knowledge has invented the Antiobitic Erythromycine, Agapito Flores for his ingenuity of discovering the fluorescent lamp, and Eleanor “Connie” Concepcion Mariano for her dedication as the former US Pres. Bill Clinton’s personal physician. We already have proven it in the first EDSA Revolution, why can we not make another identity to sustain development out of the vast human resources that we have?

These principles will serve as the guide towards attaining my vision for the country. As John Maxwell said, “You can seize what you can see” and in visualizing the promises of it, we can proudly resonate Recto’s words, “We rose from the knees we have bent in beggary and stand beside the other nations of the world not on crutches but on our own feet, thinking and speaking and acting as free men…” and with that, we can stand to our feet saying that “Filipinos are worth living for.”

Tears of A Princess' Soul

Tears of a Princess' Soul is one of the first poems I have made when I was in my early secondary years (i was about 14 years old then). The story is about a princess who longs for her entwined love, rejecting her suitors but ended up in bitter hopes after seeing her expected prince. The story is not just about regrets but seizing the present even if you know that everything is just momentarily.

Tears Of A Princess' Soul

A hex from forth it dwelt to Love

Came forth a knight and curse my gyves

Ignorant soul of the infant spilled

Remedied past echoing in silver sweet

From then I know my heart would beat

From on a blade slipped upon my tip

Reminiscing my past with lawful love

But still the passion resorts in lent

Seasons past, he beg my love

threatening voice burst from my lips

To swift, to slow in nervous I hie

Remembering my prince from long begotten time

Villian of anxiety turned love to lie

From which the truth is meant to be sealed

But fate concludes to reproach thine love

In patience I would wait my long begotten prince

Then suddenly I walk in the garden of Diane

I saw my prince holding another's hand

A begotten tear hide in my fictitious wings

And promise me not to regret again my will