Presently, there are many Koreans studying in the Philippines to take advantage of its cheap tuition fees. The following is an essay written by a Korean student.

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 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 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 mineworkers 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 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 develop the 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 a 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 a Catholic church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from the Catholic Church was that we have to love our neighbor. And I have loved my neighbor. 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 the 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 neighbor. The owners of factories and companies distributed their profits to their employees fairly so that employees could buy what they needed and save 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 the boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they sympathized with 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 a 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 the same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their neighbor 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 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 neighbor 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 neighbor 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.

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." -Anatole France


reactions pls?

tagal na nito ah!

Very good read. May the Philippines prosper, our ASEAN ally!!!

Hmm.. this is very old ( I mean that thing about the essay)... I hope no one will bring up the topic about Art Bell here coz it's a hoax. Seriously, things like this should stop circulating. Passing tht around will do nothing, unless people will really act on it, but it seems not.

People flame and complain

well let's take it positively, the author was right, we need to love our country as we love our selves and God. there's nothing bad in his write-up, he/she just want us to open our eyes in the reality of the current situation...

Way to go for that dude who made this essay. I really felt the emotion, at the same time the point he was trying to emphasize. BUT! I also felt the bias and that his patriotism blinded the political facts. Also the was the essay was structured was wrong.

I know how patriotic Koreans can be. A lot of Koreans from Url Ban forums are so patriotic that they end up being a racial supremacist.

There's no limit in being patriotic and that can be proved by our heroes but I don't think being unpatriotic is the reason. The United States is one of the richest country in the world but as I see my classmates, they're so unpatriotic that they even disagree in doing the Pledge of Allegiance we recite every morning.

In fairness, that's what progressive countries really need. The early colonists in the United States were very patriotic as what they taught us in U.S. History and that agrees to this dude's essay. It is true that we need patriotism for our country's progress but the main reason why we are poor is because we don't have proper centralization (checks and balances) in our government.

I don't think it's the love of country that we don't have, i think it's easy to say people don't love their country. i'm filipino through and through and i've seen what filipino do. to say that PI don't love their country is farce. i mean if you look at history there's not one, like in Lupang Hinirang, na "sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil".

there are lots of liberal hippies that come out UP every single day. i think the difference with what the korean guy society that he grew up with and the society that is filipino is that koreans are very similar to japanese in that it's like an anthill, where society work as a whole. the weird part about is that interaction wise it's not that hospitable. the pi is opposite of taht, interaction wise filipinos are warm, but working as society as a whole it's individualists.

the problem is how do you bring the society to work, where like in Korea and Japan as it's building post 1950 and 1940 consecutively, where there would be lots of sacrifice to see the end result. i think a strong govt. would help as well, both have had some sort of martial law (as well as Taiwan and Singapore pretty much even today). marcos had that opportunity and the right timing (nowadays economists suggest that the way to be like the Asian Tiger success is not to build industry, rather to open markets for it), but he blew it. i think today what we need is a stronger state (no surprise because ever single govt. that replace a dictatorship is alwasy weak), that'd make society to follow suit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries...interview.shtml

Religion is no good for any country.
Why????
Because religion is based on lies.

please stop posting the same thing over and over again.

we should take examples from other countries that are very successful!! i am a filipino american. Born in the philippines and raised in the USA, i learned how america got to its superpower status and i can see why china is heading in the same direction!! its national pride, not the pride of thinking we are better than everyone but the pride of whatever you do you know its helping everyone by raising the quality of life for everyone!!

The great US president John F. Kennedy once said "ITS NOT WHAT THE COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT IT IS WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY!!!!"

i think many filipinos in the philippines should add that to our values and accept anyone who would like to help our economy grow (chinese & Korean immigrants) because thats one of the secrets of why the US is so powerful, diversity because DIVERSITY = MIXTURE OF IDEAS!

That made me kind of teary... XD
He's right there are a lot of Filipinos who have loss faith in the country to be able to rise of poverty & corruption in the government... Philippines is really a beautiful country there are places that are just beyond dirty and that is where you can see, feel, hear, smell the hard life of poverty...
It's sad really... To think poeple just throwing trash wherever they feel like... Take a piss where ever they feel like... I was living in t he U.S all through out high school & decided to move here, because I really want to see Philippines itself and to evolve. Another problem is the religion... They get too much in the way of the government in which making people more idealist then realistic... And people just waiting for a miracle to happen and just blaming each other... The fact that most people based their hard work or doings because of their prayers or luck... It's as if no one believes in themself... It's even more funny that when Pinoys go to a different country they tend to follow the rules more... #$!#% drivers

wow, how interesting, I thought it's gona be another Korean-flip e-war! lol

anyway, I have to agree that Korean dude's essay. Patriotism can made any country welloff. I also hope Phillipine can be welloff as the people show thier love to thier country like the KRNs

that's one good essay..hope marami pinoy makabasa!!!! Good points and comparison.... SAN NA KAYO MGA PINOY>>>>>>

I read this a long time ago. This made me want to be more into Filipino culture (I was previously a Japanophile).

so it's really matagal nah ? sad i just read it a while ago

yes old more then a couple years.

owww..so i'm freakin late

nope, it's never too late to change for the better...

true

please dont group me with the rest of you "god loving ignorants"

Ive read the essay a million times, and i really dont think that love for country is what we miss, but rather to guide our love in the right direction! Many Filipinos seem to miss that a country is the people! They love the country and family, but the rest of the people, we just dont give a $hit about them..

Second of all, if Pinas was ever to get those extremist nationals, is the day we are doomed..

Hey thanks! I've been looking for that!

There is something I don’t understand. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
The Philippines have millions of OFWs. 90% of them live and work in developed countries and some make also good money. They know the life, the rules and the behaviour of the country of their stay.
And now - - every year so many OFWs come back to the Philippines or just come over for a visit. They see the miserable situation of the country and this OFWs know this problems better than anybody else. They do nothing. They don’t adopt anything from the country where they work.
They are worse because they fall back to their old life and continue littering the streets, pissing at every corner, burning garbage on the streets . . .
This OFWs have the chance to teach people at home and change some bad situations. They don’t.

It seems that nobody wants to change the situation of the Philippines – and it is so easy. The first steps have to be done in the family – school - community - barangay – village – city – government. Don’t rely that your government will help you. Forget it, they use you. And as long as they can use you there will be no change for better. You the people of the Philippines should wake up and make the first step. AND DO IT NOW!!!

So many of you write that they are proud to be a Filipino. Sometimes I really doubt it.


nosy

You have just insulted all ofw including yourself if you're one, by writing that statement. You seem to point your finger to each and and everyone of them as if their contributions to the Philippines is not enough already and not counting the sacrifices they have done by being away from their families and loved ones.

Granted that this OFW's have the chance to teach people the way of life where they have came from, but I ask you this, if you're an OFW and you take your annual leave which usually is only for a month, will you do your civic duty of teaching those "pasaway" people in the PI or would you rather take a rest and enjoy the short span of time that you have with your family and friends?

Although you have already imparted the way on how to do this, which i'm sure every one already knows, mind if I ask if you're practicing what you're preaching?

This is what I have bee observing ever since I was still in my pre-teens. WE know what ails us and we know how to treat it but nope, we don''t want to do it by ourself. We want others to do it for us, we like to point fingers and blame others of corruption when in fact and in deed we are all corrupt to a varying degree.

I can see it in every family happening, but we don't even notice or maybe simply ignoring it. We are teaching our children how to be corrupt and to become apathetic towards those that is not inside our group. We even have this selfishness that we can't perceive in our own self.

Just let's look at the current events happening now. Did you see anything different? It seems we have been through this before and it's only the faces or their situations and positions that has been changed.

So why can't you blame yourself too?

I insulted nobody. If you can not take any criticism you shouldn't start any discussion. This is my few and these are my experiences. You don’t have to answer me in such a sarcastic manner.

I’m not an OFW. I’m only a German who is married with a Filipina since almost 25 years. I also resided more than one year in Metro Manila. Almost every year I visit the Philippines for about 4-6 weeks. Your statement just showed me, that you’re not interested to change the present situation of your country.

And now I’ll answer your question. Sure it’s not easy to leave the trail you have gone for many generations. But there is still hope and I have partly good experiences with these things what I have done. In the street where we live you will see no more garbage in plastic-bags. I bought metal-containers where everybody put his garbage inside. Unfortunately the first containers were stolen by scrap collectors. I caught them and told them the reason why these containers are there.

In the street where I live there are no brake-stones no more. The people just have to know how to park their vehicles in a proper manner.

I painted the wall around the house with white paint. It looks clean now. A few days later the neighbourhood follows. Now the street looks much better.

Those are only little things which nobody will do for you. If somebody will start, I’m sure many people will follow.

I don’t want to change the Filipinos. Not at all. But with a little bit of own engagement you can make your life easier and your surroundings nicer. But somebody has to start. It works. Believe me this. Specially educated people should start this way.

^
so you're not filipino...
that's why the comment.... actually i have to agree to promo, you did sound condescending...
first and foremost, maybe, you do not the know the filipinos... not because you're married to a filipina, you know what the rest of us are like.... she might not even be well-informed adequately about the true filipino culture and ethos...
i'm not saying she's uneducated,ok? 'cause personally i've been trying to understand the filipino character, the language, culture, etc.... i've managed to get bits and pieces of information but sadly, not enough....

in your example, you have made apparent the set of beliefs and values you uphold.. you have put yourself in a certain position and the people around you in their own positions, according to your myth though... however, you cannot always expect that people will behave in he same way with the same stimuli....

If you haven't insulted nobody then why single out the OFW's?
Just because you have a filipina wife for 25 years and visiting the Phils for 4-6 weeks almost every year still does not justify of affronting a group who's been helping the economy of the Phils.


...would love to say more but don't have enough time now.

...had i known you're not a filipino, I would have bashed you more.

oh jeez, now you're calling me promo...are you in love with him?

lol

churi...
your names start with P..

stfu

i was still referring to you

I dont see anywhere in nosy's post that is insulting. He is right to a certain extent, OFW are exposed to an order that filipinos are not generally exposed to. Filipinos are used to doing things that would be considered breaking the law in other places. Although I dont agree with what he said about it being easy, if it was easy it would have been done by now.

Here's an exceprt from the nosy one:

And now - - every year so many OFWs come back to the Philippines or just come over for a visit. They see the miserable situation of the country and this OFWs know this problems better than anybody else. They do nothing. They don’t adopt anything from the country where they work.
They are worse because they fall back to their old life and continue littering the streets, pissing at every corner, burning garbage on the streets . . .
This OFWs have the chance to teach people at home and change some bad situations. They don’t.

How did he know those people he sees peeing on corners, littering, or whatever was or is an OFW? Didn''t he say they are WORSE? But let's say he does know some, does that mean all OFW's are like that? Why not just say all Filpinos are STUPID.

EDIT:

sorry mr. nosy, but just to make you understand even for just a little bit of what makes a filipino tick or why and what we are, i'm supplying you the link below which is a discussion of some western expats living in the Phils. It is run by an american who's currently living in Davao City. Feel free to read all the comment there and the other expats contributors of that web magazine as it might help you a lot if you intend on retiring in the Phils.

I Know Better Than They Do!

one more thing, MANILA IS NOT THE PHILIPPINES.

This is the only truth. I made my experiences mostly in Manila and the surroundings. But I also went to other places and I think I can say I know Luzon from the north to the south. I didn’t go so often to Visayas and I only went once to Mindanao.

I have to say, that I had the best experiences in Palawan. This island and also the cities over there are clean. Tourists are welcome and feel save over there.
In some provinces of Luzon I also felt ok. I paid the same price like a Filipino for the same items. It seems that the people at countryside are more honest and pure than in the big cities or in Manila. But on many tourist-spots the foreigner still gets cheated. Only because we are foreigners. And this is not ok.

If I need something to buy in Manila mostly I send my wife or one of my children to buy it for me because they pay the Filipino-price. In case of technical equipment I always take my son with me. He helps me to get the parts for a normal price. When I buy it only by myself I pay more than triple. The same happens when I put my car to the repair shop. They all try to cheat me. WHY?
In Manila a foreigner or an expat can trust nobody. And this is too bad. Slowly I’m known in the shops where I usually go and I get the regular price. This is something which makes your country unattractive.

But when I talk about this to Filipinos they feel immediately insulted. They are like kids. The most Filipinos can not coop with criticism. It’s useless to discuss with them about the situation of their country. They most are ignorant and they don’t accept a different opinion esp. when this comes from a foreigner. They feel attacked because the most are very short minded. But this is a matter of education. This is the reason why the Philippines are in a poor position in SE-Asia. I’m only happy that my family thinks different.

I don’t want to insult, but now I’m provoking you and I hope you think a bit more about your country. And you can believe me. A foreigner who walk around with open eyes and open mind sees more than you.

Btw. OFW! In our near neighbourhood in Germany we know many Filipinos. Some are working here and some are married. Around x-mas time most of them go home to the Philippines and visit their families. We often were invited and we saw their behaviour. We were so disappointed because we thought they were educated. But when we saw them going around the corner peeing in the garden of the neighbour we changed our mind. And the funniest thing is that two of this “OFW” are working here in Germany in a company who cleans the city and they make good money.

nosy

I would love to answer you point by point but since this has been discussed on the link I provided you, I would be just wasting my time discussing this all over again.

I know you want a better Philippines and I commend you for that but the way you're doing it will not get you anywhere and will just make your mood miserable.

Have a nice day.

Nosy, forget it. A long time I follow up your comments but now I want to say something. The most Filipinos are just happy when they can drink their SM and when they can spend the money overseas working family members send to them. They don’t care about their future. Important is only the moment. It looks like they don’t like to change their fate.
I was as stupid as you are. I lived in Quezon City for almost two years and I tried the same what you tried to do. It really seems they don’t like a better life. They really like to live like they live right now. They really like to be victims. Those people are an easy prey for the government.
Nosy – believe me. This country never will change his attitude. That’s why I left it and now I live in Thailand. This people are smarter and willing to learn. The people here are more friendly and not cheaters like in Manila.

Your only problem is that you have a family. Otherwise you should also escape. Let this ignorant people alone.

^^^ IF ANYBODY YOU AND NOSY

should STFU and leave it to poeple that care. DO NOT GIVE WRONG ADVICE.

I wouldnt say thats insulting, but it is pretty ignorant in assuming that every OFW will go back to their old ways. But there is SOME truth to what he is saying.

Did I say every OFW or did I say many OFW??? But toblerone is right. It's useless to discuss with narrow minded people. ( I didn't say that every Filipino is narrow minded !!! )

nosy

Nosy you have the right intentions and i can only respect that, but you are going about it in the wrong manner!
Pinas is NOT America! Not only that but you are preaching to a generally poor population in the American manner of just trowing it in the faces of the people! I do understand them, we might love America, but we will never be like America!

Arent there other ways to "teach" them to clean up, not peeing on corners and etc?

Yes, it's indeed useless discussing to people who has this myopic view that they're the only one who knows how to do it right.

This is EXACTLY whats wrong with our people, we are quick to point the fingers back instead of pointing the fingers at ourselves. Its obvious that what he was saying is right, wrong way to go at it but still why cant you just accept that?.

Everything you said was agreeable until you shot yourself in the foot with your last comment. If you had issues with peeing on the corner, why not take a walk around your country and see the same thing happening every night.
Don't mistake yourself as the representative of foreigners in the Philippines. Not all foreigners are as anal as you about issues like the one you mentioned and most are pretty considerate when criticizing others by not throwing general insults like yourself.


Good example of generalizations.
There are varying characteristics of people within the Philippines just like anywhere else yet you choose to group Filipinos as such.

What about the ones who do move ahead in life?

What about the ones who take advantage of opportunities?

You fail to see the positives and group Filipinos as one group of underachievers. If that's all you saw, then i can safely assume that you don't know anything. Anyone would agree with me that Filipinos do not want to be OFWs, it's just the means to an end. Who do you know that wants to be in a position where they are at the mercy of a foreign government?
Like anyone else, OFWs just want to provide, to be stable when the contract runs out, to be able to have a financial nest or to even use it as a gateway out of the Philippines. Everyone wants to be in the position that you're in, Filipinos want the status that people like yourselves display, to be able to move to any country, afford what you can buy and have choices in life without having to sacrifice family.

There are Filipinos that do save their earnings, send their children to good schools, start businesses, lead a fulfilling life, achieve their goals, yet you want to insult by throwing insults. The problem with people like you and nosy is that you choose not to see the root of the cause but to only see the surface which makes you the shortsighted ones.
People like you can literally afford to criticize and walk around thinking that you're right because you have the financial means to do so. Not only that, but you have the choice to move out of the country at your convenience while the rest of the population have to do with what they can scrape together and are very limited on opportunities.
Try changing your life when there aren't any opportunities or financial means. Have you ever talked to anyone over 25 that's been trying to get a job? Do you know what companies require out of their job applicants? Do you know what "official documents" and the bureaucracy of obtaining them actually costs? FYI, their is age discrimination in employment, it's not what you know but who you know, people have to provide passport photos even for a menial job.
People like yourself should take these into consideration before blindly criticizing Filipinos with your generalities.

If you want to express your "constructive criticism" then do so, but there are ways to express your views without sounding like your intention was to insult.

Try again, crocodile nest.

Oh my, you're indeed stupider than I had thought...

When did I say he was wrong? In fact, if you had bothered to read what I had posted since I joined AF, it has been always of self-critiscm towards ourselves.

Need I have to repeat myself all over again?


@toblerone:
Good riddance... and stay away.




*why do I have to reply to stupid people.

You are the one who is dumb.... i never said that you told him he was wrong, I wrote that you were POINTING fingers at him like he shouldnt talk and getting insulted like a little girl instead of just agreeing with him since he is part right.

I simply pointed back at him these wrong notions mostly by foreigners who has stayed for just a moment in the Phils. that they know much better than us.
He's justifying himself just because he's married to filipina and visit almost yearly the country, he's now an expert in the Philippines?

Yes he was right most Filipinos are undisciplined which I've been pointing out eversince. What he's driving at we already know and it is up to ourselves to make it right. There's no need for this kind of people to rub it in our faces and be condescending as if they're perfect themselves.

But since you want to kiss this guys @$$, I'm not holding you back, you can even lick it if you like.

Problema kasi ng Pinas ang mga lider nito! may kultura ang pinas sa corruption kaya alm ng mga poltiko na kapag nakaupo sila e klangn may makuha sila khit knti!

sayng lahat ng masisipag, professionals at mga mgagaling ng pinas ay nag aalisan... at halos lahat ng pinoy ganyan ang mentality na klangan nilang mag abroad para guminhawa... estdynte pa lang nagplaplano na..

hindi nsa tao ang problema! nasa lider kahit gano pa makabayan ang mga pinoy kung ang mga lider nman e mali ang pamamalakad, puro corrupt, puro bahala na... lahat ng projects tinitipid, may lagayan! mawawaln talaga mga tao ng tiwala.. hindi ba sila nkokonsensya nyan ang dming nghihirap tapos lahat sila pasarap! puro pa mga mandadaya... ang laki pang kumickback.. opinyon k lng ito

kailangan ntin ng lider na malinis ang konsensya, ang pagkatao.. strikto, may malaskit sa mga mahirap.. may plano para sa pilipinas.. e nangyayari puro awayan sa politika! lagi n lmang batikusan... puro mga papogi sa mga mamamayan...

sa 2010 sana nmn iba na mamuno hindi na mga taga adm.

sa lahat ng tatakbo si MAR ROXAS lang ang nkkta kng may kakayahan, pede din si loren...

npaka sryoso nmn ng sinabi ko jeje

wag kang mag alala pare , ngayun palang nagpa plano na ako , lahat ng dumaan sa tabi ng bahay namin at malaman ko lang na pulitikero , susumpitin ko sa mukha !!! puno na ako sa kanila ah !! nag babayad naman ako ng tax ! sumusunod naman ako sa alituntunin ng bayan !! pero ano ang napapala ko !! puking ina pare Tiradurin ko na kaya sa mukha !! a hindi Barilin ko na !! o kaya putrages sakalin ko ng harapan !! AAARRRRRGGGGG !!!!!!

can I go back to the entry posting of the korean student?

it seems completely ignorant of the population and culture in korea being significantly more homogenous than that of the philippines. though it does not mention the big hurtful divide into two states.

then, it says, love god and love your neighbour, and everything will be ok. more patriotism and everything will become better..

when social skill, street smartness, mental capacity, love and humor in the minds of the filipino people is very high already, seen in global comparison, it is interesting that such a probably cooked scripture is given such a high symbolic value.
why would someone want to see it that way and ever continue complaining?

"give god what you owe god and give the emperor what you owe to the emperor".

the biggest question to me is how can asians make anything useful of the christian or generally monotheist belief when it was enforced onto them as a vehicle of colonialism and culturalism, and is the very center of that notion "we know better than you, barbarians"....?
the strength of the chinese, thai and indians was that they did not buy into that belief system but continued their own philosphies willfully, to stay in a spiritually independent position. their beliefs already were supporting class society with a ruling elite, and from the inside they can start to question it. the vietnamese have done so with some success. the communist elite is not the same as in china. the capitalist elite was defeated. in spite of the anti-religious doctrine of marxism, buddhism is quite active. these are serious facts to consider.

but eventually the churches seem to support the corrupt elites in the philippines. the new pope himself condemned once again all "liberation theology", and has obviously no problem with neoliberal leaders destroying the world. name dropping "tibet" and "darfour" just does not do anything.
bishops should name corrupt officials openly and deny them entry into the churches unless they confess and resign. THAT would be some sign of integrity by a church.
I am that blunt because we have a similar problem in the west. in history the archbishop was always the brother of the king, and together they looted the common people and kept them small. most progress was caused by the french and russian revolutions, in their different ways. the third huge but almost apocalyptic leap was the defeat of the nazi realm and in the same run that of the japanese nationalist tenno empire. nationalism in the traditional way is pure poison to the development of our now global sociopolitic networks.

the filipinos probably know all that, but in my limited perception it seems that to some of them style, polite langage and ego are more important than fast progress and justice (when I see corruption as a lack of justice also).
we westerners are quite primitive in human matters and many seem negligent of that very fact, but this way we got our economies working.
only in recent years we are hitting a really hard wall, by erraneous ways of globalization and leaving that up to antidemocratic elites. the bad deeds of the colonial past are biting our own asses now, and the circle is closing, while dubai - beijing are on the way to become the financial axis of the planet. they will finance the wars only so far as the west is "contained", but never towards any "victory".


but history has happened and we have to accept it and should be wise to take advantage of the positive issues.
eventually, contrary to all the patronizing, I would like to ask the filipinos to help us on a more delicate level than just medical personnel, technicians and entertainers. I would like to ask them to take part in european economy and politics, on an active level, and a level of the citizens. many major problems are very similar, though we are giving them different names.
on both sides, we must create a strong and optimistic competition to the old elites and centralistic belief systems.
I see a big parallel between the filipino skepticism of manila centralism and european fear of brussels undemocratic bureaucracy.
not nationalism, never a supreme leader can cure that!

OMFG!

Thanks goodness for God! Punish the Filipinos God, punish them! So they can learn their lesson God! Whoo hoo go go God!

I think if an African wrote the same exact thing, Filipinos wouldn't go go gaga over it. It's Korean so its different...