Happy happy birthday Fr. Ilde!!!

Some More Thoughts Worth Sharing (On Love for Country)

Attached is a copy of an email sent by a concerned citizen to a journalist (Sometime in August 2005). I do think it is worth sharing, for whatever it is worth:

quote:

Greetings! I have read your thought provoking article at the Philipine Star today and I would like to solicit your kind help in effecting changes in our society. I am not sure in which stratification of the society I fit, whether I am a middle class or a low class person. Nevertheless, I am deeply concerned with the way things have unfolded in our country that I was compelled to send you an email. This will be the first time that I am doing so.

As you may well know, the media plays a huge role in shaping perceptions and mindset among the citizenry. Moreover, perceptions could have very tragic and expensive consequences as what you have related in your article when the stockmarket falls or when investor confidence continously erodes.

I was really hoping that journalists and media practitioners (or perhaps Christians and all religious denominations) would bind forces together and write and talk about issues other than what is sensational or which topic is currently "hot". I am not saying that we turn a blind eye to the anomalies and wrongdoings around us. Fault finding and finger pointing seems to be the favorite past time of people today. Yet, I would prefer that we also consider to write about themes on: 1) love of nation/patriotism 2) bayanihan/working together 3) how even the lowliest filipino can contribute to the country's well being 4) Others topics that will give the message that there is still hope for the filipinos as long as we unite and we do not forget our love for our country. We are facing dark times and only if we unite can we hurdle the challenges.

I am sure that you know the famous Keneddy saying (ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country). I am sure that you will ask why bother if we have all of these things that we should be ashamed about which we Filipinos refer to as: "only in the Philippines". However, lest we forget, GMA is not the Philippines, the corrupt practices of politicans and the corrupt system in the Philippines is not the Philippines, etc. I hope you catch my drift.

I am not sure if you have observed this phenomenon as written in an article I read at the Inquirer but some Filipinos do not want to be Filipinos anymore. They want to be Canadians or Americans, or Australians, etc. It is just so sad because these are the very same Filipinos needed by the Philippines. These are nurses, doctors, entrepreneurs, lawyers, accountants, etc.
If someone will ask me how I will show my love for the country, here are some ways that immediately come to mind (there was an article written by Mr. Farolan about this in the Inquirer). Please feel free to add to the list.

1) Pay my taxes
2) Ask for a receipt on all my purchases
3) Buy Filipino
4) Dispose of my garbage properly
5) On a traffic jam, I will not block the intersections so that the other motorists in the other lanes may still pass through.
6) Obey traffic rules and be considerate to pedestrians
7) Live frugally
8) Find Christ's image in everyone

I am not sure how you will react to this suggestion. I am more uncertain if Filipinos still think of this at the moment when we should be thinking of how we could feed our families thrice a day. One of my bosses advised me that Christ will really bless those who are hungry or are poor in spirit because if they are still able to think of Him notwithstanding the hunger, suffering, persecution, etc., they are really worthy of being blessed.

I was just thinking that since your article provoked some thoughts in me, I would like to do the same to you.

Thank you and I hope that if you will agree with me or if you think this is worthwhile, you will pass this on to your fellow journalists/media practitioners for their appropriate action.

unquote:

Message is too valuable to keep to myself

- Manuel Dy wrote:

The message goes:

As you know, we have plenty of Koreans currently
studying in the Philippines to take advantage of
our cheaper tuition fees and learn English at the
same time. "When I went home to Iloilo last
February, I observed the presence of So. Koreans
everywhere we went.

I asked some of them why study English here.
The response was - Filipinos speak clearly, slowly
and easy for us to understand than any other English
speaking country in the world. " --Vic Evaristo



This is an essay written by a Korean student I want
to share with you. This should be a wake up call
to every Filipino.


(Never mind the grammar; it's the CONTENT that
counts)

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 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
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.