YOU may have noticed that the Inquirer’s embarked on a series of articles about a growing number of people in our midst: Koreans. For an older generation of Filipinos, of course, Korea and the Philippines was about a shared defiance of communist aggression during the Korean War. For another generation of Filipinos, Korean-Philippine relations revolved around a shared commitment to democracy and People Power: Kim Dae Jung admired Ninoy Aquino and he and Cory Aquino were -are- friends.
Recently I’ve been reading a very entertaining book, “Korea: A Walk Through the Land of Miracles” (Simon Winchester) and there’s a passage that struck me that I’d like to share with you.
In his book, Winchester wrote,
If you see a Korean on a golf course, do not approach him, no matter how dreadful his play might be, and advise him on how he might improve matters; he would be deeply offended, and you would be deeply wrong. “To lose face is bad,” Confucius is supposed to have said. “To make someone lose face is unforgivable.”
The Confucian deal, in a society like Korea’s where Confucianism is still widely followed, is a simple one: if people will agree to forget their individuality and concentrate on their duties, then they can be guaranteed that they will be treated with respect and kindness by all. Self-abnegation is bargained, in other words, for universal respect. Happiness is to be gained through human things, coming to terms with oneself, one’s family, one’s community.
The modern world, which has Korea firmly in its grasp, offers a very different deal. Self-abnegation has been replaced by self-assertion. Human relationships, respect for elders, certainty of place in society -all these things are being overlooked today, and Koreans, like the rest of us, search for happiness through the purchase of goods and services, the quest for material pleasure and success.
The two systems, the material and the Confucian, sit uneasily together. the assaults on Confucian values result in many more frequent tribulations among those who still cling to traditional ways- and deep within themselves most Koreans do, for a myriad of reasons -because of their upbringing, their fondness for the country, and for reasons of sentiment and faith. “He made me lose my face” is heard more often these days because of the disharmonies between the two systems. We hear of cases… of what is called maum sang hada: a state of mental anguish over the loss of face that can make its victim want to give up, to throw in the towel, to retreat from society and hide in shame. You hear tales of people wasting away and dying, so sever is their shame.
Which, then, is the better of the two systems? Is a life of self-abnegation, respect for others, a sense of duty, and correct behavior more worthy than a life of self-assertion, of total freedom, of “looking out for Number One”? Or… do we have a more fulfilled society when all is carefully structured social harmony, where the jen and the yi, the yin and the yang, are in near-perfect equilibrium, where no one raises his voice, and every parent is revered by every child, where the elders are cared for, children are adored, imagination and innovation and invention are feared rather than favored, and the individual is forgotten?
I thought of this passage, or rather, this passage made me think, of other entries I’ve made here, on We Filipinos, and Randy David’s belief that what our country faces today, is a crisis caused by the dying of the old Philippines and our being in a kind of limbo, as we await the birth of a new Philippines.
- October 2009 (4)
- September 2009 (3)
- August 2009 (3)
- July 2009 (1)
- June 2009 (6)
- May 2009 (11)
- April 2009 (6)
- March 2009 (5)
- February 2009 (7)
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27 Feedbacks on "Korea and us"
dantardecilla
bro, sharing some insights.
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reyna elena
Hey MLQ3,
I didn’t know you have this “other” blog. Thanks for the plug! I’ll put this on my blog links!
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hero
a new Philippine re-born?don’t you think that’s far from being a reality?as much as i’d like to believe it, it’s not just happening in the very near future…and let’s just hope that it’s a better Philippines that is re-born…
jc tan
slightly OT, but isnt it “feedback” and not “feedbacks”?
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nugaya
[… what our country faces today, is a crisis caused by the dying of the old Philippines and our being in a kind of limbo.]
if the ‘old philippines’ was that good maybe Bonifacio was not executed by his comrades; there were no ‘makapili’ who betrayed their fellow countrymen during WWII; and perhaps Rizal would not write Noli & Fili. kahit kailan meron talaga mga pasaway.
Tim
Interesting thought, that.
A “New Philippines”.
What would my fellow posters’ vision of a new Philippines be ?
Mine is a Philippines free of foreign domination of any manner. Free of feudalism, with those who till the land owning the land. Not a few bougeouis families. Not the government, but the tillers of the land themselves.
A new Philippines would be one who stands up to the World Bank-IMF demands, rejects the solutions of Harvard-trained economists, employs the solutions of true nationalist economists, unafraid of the tags and labels of communists or socialists that the ruling class usually pin on those who would propose solutions inimical to their interests.
A new Philippines is one with guaranteed jobs for its graduates, one where those working abroad are enticed to come home, and live and die in their country of birth, one where the expat points to with pride to his foreign born and/or foreign raised descendants: “that is my country, that is where I came from”.
A new Philippines is one where the voters do not get dazzled by the glitz and glitter of the circuses that politicians (I spit out that word with utter, absolute contempt) put up for them, where each vote is counted honestly, and the office seeker is ever mindful that he is a public servant, not the public’s boss.
I can think of many more.
What are yours ?
gary
My opinion is we are loosing our own identity as a nation, the youth today prefers the western ways. Just look at our T.V. programs, movies and magazine. We are so eager to copy other cultures. We no longer benefit from our own country, just look around you, the koreans the chinese the japanese foreigners are ripping the rewards in our own country. The time will come where we will be tenants in our own country wake before its to late.
tutubi
old philippines, eh?
the cheating during the election of the malolos convention
the killing of bonifacio and gen luna by the minions of the “revered” general
the lack of concern of Filipinos on the environment
national inferiority complex
will I ever see the birth of a new philippines?
Bert
If the old Philippines died and this is a reborn nation we are living in today, the next question would be that at what age are we now that we are to be subjected and be influence by our present political environment as we grew up? If we are presently an infant Philippines, we are still oblivious to our surroundings and therefore could emerge a better nation and a better people if we could hurdle this one until the new kinds of leaders arrived in the far future that will guide us to a life comparable to other desirable nations like Korea. If we are presently an adolescent Philippine, what could we expect to be like as a people, growing up in a political environment where the president of the nation, supported by a congress that historically served as potential source of future leaders, is being perceive with so much negative values. Add to that is a military, also perceive by the people as being led by somebody appointed to the position by said president for dubious reason. Is there a light at the end of the long tunnel? When can we expect to be like Korea? Are we that optimistic kind of people?
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Alvin Santos
I am a teacher in an international school in Angeles City. Most of my students are Koreans. I find it surprising that there is almost no difference on the manner these students deal with various matters compared with their Filipino counterparts. I also happen to know several adult Koreans (since Angeles City is also highly Korean-populated). I even think that they’re even nicer than some Pinoys I know. I think the still-growing population of Koreans in our country offer friendship, employment, and good-will to us Pinoys. After all, we both belong to the East.
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Bert
That means, Tim, that your ‘New Philippines’ should be a communist Philippines, hehehehe. I’ll drink to that.
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E. Panchang Limcauco
The country and the whole nation as a whole must take an early precautionary measures regarding the alarming rise of Koreans in the country. If they are in the country to study fine, or to invest; but if they are in the country to stay for good, I believe the government and the people in general must be alarmed. If the situation in Korea is better than the Philippines, then why would they opt to migrate to a poor and small country like ours? Notice that most of their “investments” actually only serve their own interests (small stores, Korean restaurants etc.) and not really geared to balance the economy of the country. The Philippines and us the people as a whole must be like our other Asian neighbors (Japan, Malaysia and yes, Korea) who are very protective of their own interests to preserve not just their culture and society but most importantly the interests of their nation and people. Being too hospitable and overly friendly sometimes backfire.
By the way, here in Los Angeles, Koreans have a huge cummunity and yes, they only serve the interests of their own. They don’t even bother to speak and learn the language of their host country (unless they were born and raised in the US) and only employ their own fellow Koreans in their businesses. Talk about self-serving interest.
We need to remind ourselves that the Philippines must first be for the Filipinos, before we offer whatever we have as a poor, small country to foreigners.
Hershey
It’s not yet our time to become a great nation. Wait and you will see until our people learn how to be a discipline and patriotic people. Teach our younger generation to love our country, remember our country’s motto ” ANG PILIPINO- Maka Diyos, Makatao, Maka Bayan at Maka Kalikasan “.
Gusto nyo ng pagbabago, dapat magsimula mula sa atin. ” Evil abounds when good people do nothing.”
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Kabayan
Pro-God, Pro-People and Pro-Nature? Now Hershey I’LL drink to that!
Mabuhay ang Pilipino at nawa ang kagustuhan ng Diyos ang siyang mamamayani.
Kabayan
Hershey check out:
http://www.geocities.com/prophecy_endtimes/
clipmaster
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/dec/29/yehey/top_stories/20051229top1.html
THE MANILA TIMES PERSON OF THE YEAR
A salute to the OFW
By William B. Depasupil, Reporter
THEY are called the country’s “modern-day heroes.” They are the estimated 8.1 million overseas Filipino workers and migrants in 194 countries and territories all over the world.
Of the total, 3.2 million are permanently living abroad and 3.6 million are temporarily working overseas. Illegal migrant workers are estimated at 1.3 million.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i am just wondering……
we are ofw world power……….
what if the president of the philippines called on all of our patriotic ofw not to report for their work for one week, what would happen to their host country economy………
gary
Its only a matter of time until the people will start to resent the koreans being in the Philippines. They are only in our country to benefit themselves, to take advantage of there strong currency against the pesos. One thing I envy about other asian goverments is they look out after their people. The only way the philippines will ever change socially and economically is to prosecute all corruptions within the goverment.This includes past and present administrations but will that ever happen? sadly no everyone knows that the our goverment can be bought they have no shame. The japanese,koreans,chinese and other foreigners who come to our country knows as long as they have money they can do whatever they want.
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