Friday, January 27, 2012

People : The Korean "Invasion"

Literally, the Koreans have "invaded" the Philippines. Anywhere you go there are Korean communities and stores-retaurants : Quezon City, Manila, Baguio and even as far as the southern parts of the country. If you have been to the vicinity P. Burgos St and Kalayaan Ave. near Rockwell in Makati,  almost the whole block is resided by Koreans. Some people call it "Korea town". They are migrating here in throngs. Ideally, the Philippines is not exactly the most livable country (we're the friendliest though) in Asia for expats according to surveys. Why their preference for the Philippines?

I just read in the newspaper today that our President P-noy is dating GMA 7 Korean TV host Grace  Lee. There's a possibility that the Philippines will have its first foreigner First Lady, rather a Korean First Lady. I think there would not be any problem in accepting her among the Filipinos, since she is already a popular TVjournalist here. Also, we are a very open minded  nation when it comes to mix-marriages and very tolerant of foreigners. I guess it has something to do with our colonial past, and  also due to the fact that a lot of Pinoys have foreign bloods running in their veins in varying dilution.              ( specifically Spanish and Chinese ). Anyway, Ms. Lee is a very gracious lady and very popular to the Filipinos.

Speaking of the Koreans as a nation, I personally admire them a lot. From their rise from poverty and war devastation in the 1950's to their present status as one of the riches and most developed country in the world, they are admirable in their unity and discipline as a nation. Another admirable character of the Korean people is adaptability. I am awed with how Korea changed from a generally Buddhist country to a Christian country. In fact it is considered the biggest Christian nation now in Asia. ( Do I hear Filipino Catholics protesting?)

Korea has invaded a lot of fields and is triumphant globally : car manufacturing, electronics and communications, ship building, entertainment and music, etc, name it. I think the Koreans had learned a lot from its neighbor country Japan. They seem to have the same pattern of success and development. But I wish  the Koreans learn more of the humility of the Japanese people. Somehow success has gone up the head of some Koreans. Despite of this, still I admire them and I wouldn't  mind having Ms. Grace Lee as our First lady if ever.

GMA 7 Host Grace Lee

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