| 07 February 2012
On 31 October 2009, this website featured an “Essay about the Philippines” written by a South Korean _ Jaeyoun Kim, who said that our problem is not corruption but our lack of love for our country. True enough, the South Koreans in the fifties were very poor due to the Korean War (25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953) between North and South Korea. But look at South Korea now.
At that time, the Philippines was rich partly due to brisk trade with our American colonisers and the reparation money coming from our defeated neighbour _ Japan. We were rich, second only to Japan in Asia, and we were the envy of our South East Asian neighbours! Within six decades, we have squandered what we had. We allowed successive governments to siphon off our country’s wealth into our leaders’ off-shore bank accounts.
I found it hard to believe that the people who introduced “People Power Revolution” to the world do not love their country. Maybe we do but we have an unusual way of showing it. Below is a facebook conversation between friends about love for country.
| Friend 1: | Lol..no. mi amiga, its my comfort friend at the mo as i haven’t meet anyone here yet.(met a few. but, i don’t feel them);-) |
| Friend 2: | Sorry to hear that !!! It takes a while but I'm sure u will start a group there as well. Make sure they look like us though!!! For now, just stick to yr good old FB friend. !!! |
| Friend 3: | Perhaps a couple of invite kumadre, you might get to know them! At the moment stick with us ...we r always here for you,, <3 |
| Friend 4: | I have an idea to occupy your time. Ask your friends to sign the Petition to Protect PNoy and Future Presidents of the Philippines. The LINK is: http://www.change.org/petitions/to-the-filipino-people-and-members-of-congress. Your country will be very grateful and me too. |
| Friend 2: | There u go Amiga , a constructive diversion for u LOL !!! |
| Friend 4: | It goes for you too, and the rest of our friends. Just click the widget above and the Petition opens up. Try it. Clever, isn't it? |
| Friend 1: | Amiga 4 and 2, when it comes to politics i am sorry. Filipino people are not really listening to all this mumbo jumbo. They are only looking out for no#1 themselves!! I do not think we can help them in my opinion. Sorry. |
| Friend 4: | You cannot help them, if you don't start yourself. Do you mean that if "they" don't love their country, you won't either? The issue is _ Do you love the Philippines? |
| Friend 1: | Good luck to the Petitions! |
| Friend 4: | Thanks. But you won't even sign? How disheartening to know! |
| Friend 2: | I agree with Friend 1 though. I love the Philippines as a country & I don't think reading this article will make much difference to the way I feel !!! Best of luck with yr ideology & hope that u can change the attitude & mentality that took decades to develop !!! |
| Friend 2: | Having said that, u know u will always get our support for any ideology u get involved in, ahh we r such loyal friends. |
| Friend 4: | Saying you love your country is just lip service. Why not prove it even with a single signature. Have you even opened it? |
| Friend 2: | Sorry but there are different ways of expressing love, be it a lip service or not !!! Close subject!!! |
| Friend 4; | Again, saying I have your support is lip service. Do something for once. It will not cost you a penny to sign. |
| Friend 1: | Hear, hear well said amiga Friend 2.. |
| Friend 4: | Change takes time and when the time has come for the Philippines to progress and prosper; will you be able to say to yourselves that you helped in that? |
| Friend 2: | I beg to differ. It's not just lip service; we have totally supported u along the way. We have signed, r members & we even pay the yearly subs so I think that over rides the comment of just lip service !!! End of subject !!! |
| Friend 4: | Thank you for supporting me as a loyal friend but that was not the purpose. My aim was to get you, my friends, to get involved in the future of our country and for once show that you really love our country. I have spent 10 times more than whatever contribution each of our friends have given. This can be shown by PJI's Tax Returns. I do not expect you to contribute as much money or time as I have done . All I'm asking is for you to sign the Petition. Is that too much to ask for? What is the real reason why you and Friend 1 won't sign the petition? |
In nearly three years of campaigning for the Adoption of a Jury System, I have very often met people like Friends 1 and 2. I must say that I understand their apprehension about politics and their indifference towards the plight of our people and country. They have lived in a foreign country for so long that they have embraced it, hook, line and sinker. Philippines is just something in their distant past _ just a tourist destination!
Yes, admittedly, Philippine politics is dirty, obscene and unacceptable. However, if people like us who are outside looking in and can see what is wrong with our country, but do not do anything to correct what is wrong even in our own little ways, what hope has the Filipino people and our country got?
How can we say to leave the Filipinos alone, they are doomed any way? You may now have a different nationality, but deep down inside you, YOU ARE STILL A FILIPINO.
Signing the Petition to Protect PNoy and Future Presidents of the Philippines and Keep an Independent Judiciary is just a small gesture of love for your country, but still it is love for your country. This signature might rekindle the flame that is flickering within you. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION.