My friend forwarded me this email and I was skeptical to open it, I was thinking another spam emails etc.
But I was intrigued and have found that the email is about me!
Here it goes guys!
> This is an essay written by a Korean student. (subject of the email)
>
> MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
> Jaeyoun Kim
>
> Filipinos always complain about the corruption in
> the Philippines . Do you really think that corruption is the big problem
> in
> the Philippines ? I don't 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 country 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 investor
> 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 neighborh ood. 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
> Pagsanjan Falls , 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 unto 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.
>
> (FOR THE LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY PLEASE PASS
> THIS MESSAGE TO OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS)
>
>