Pres. Arroyo Visits South Korea

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has announced that Pres. Arroyo’s forthcoming visit to South Korea from May 30 to June 2 is an occasion for the two countries to “discuss mutual concerns, especially in the economic field.” It is wise for Mrs. Arroyo and Pres. Lee Myung Bak to tackle security concerns in the region in the aftermath of the recent and successful underground nuclear and atomic tests of North Korea.

Since March 3, 1949, the Philippines and South Korea enjoy diplomatic relations and cooperation. It is interesting to note that during the Korean War the Philippines sent 7,500 Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) under the United Nations Command to help defend the beleaguered country from the threats of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China. At that time, Philippine democracy and way of life were facing the challenge of Communist rebellion but a friend in need is a friend indeed. Filipino soldiers left their home and families and went to battle in a foreign country with a totally different culture, climate and language 1,500 miles away.

Fifteen years later:

The Philippines was second to Japan in Asia in terms of economic growth. That distinction slowly eroded when the sly Ferdinand Marcos became president in 1965; turned fascist dictator in 1972 after declaring Martial Law. Since then till the impoverished Filipino people ousted him from power in 1986, the government coffers were ransacked as if it were a private piggy bank. Today, the Philippines still enjoys some distinctions. It is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It is one of the poorest countries in the Far East although in terms of natural resources, it is the richest in the region. (By all means based from facts, South Korea is now second to Japan in economic prosperity while Singapore is not far behind.)

South Korea on the other hand, despite its internal problems and fears of North's invasion has silently transformed its economy from weak to much stronger. Today, it produces and exports cars and electronic products. And yes, we are recipient of South Korea's magnanimity. They donated to us some of their decommissioned fighter planes and ships. Korea continues to prosper while our economic heartbeat continues to falter.

My point here is not about the healthy relations between South Korea and the Philippines or to compare the two. It is more on what the President brings home from his learning visit. (May the healthy relations of the two countries last and prosper, anyway. Cheers!)

When Pres. Arroyo comes back after all the pomp, glory, spectacular reception and experience in S. Korea, what good do we expect from her visit?

South Korea, like the Philippines had its own dose of student activism in the 70s and 80s protesting unpopular regimes. South Korea has also corruption problems but not as "garapal" as ours. The only difference between the two countries is Korea’s boldness in refusing to spare its former presidents convicted of corruption and treason from jail terms or even death sentence as in the case of Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. Here in the country, despite mounting evidence, government officials accused of graft and corruption are scot-free while whistleblowers are in jail or face grueling legal scrutiny. To cite concrete examples, Lieutenant Senior Grade Mary Nancy P. Gadian of the Philippine Navy has said that the military issued a shoot-to-kill order against her for exposing an alleged misuse of PHP46-million fund intended for the Balikatan exercises of Filipino and American soldiers. Rodolfo Lozada, Jr., another whistleblower of the alleged overprice of the government botched $329-million contract with China’s ZTE Corporation for the national broadband project prefers to live under the protection of the nuns for fear of assassination.

Sometimes, truth is damaging especially when it targets those who are upstairs. Yet, truth cannot be suppressed. Sooner or later, it comes out to set us free.

Hopefully, Pres. Arroyo learns something good from a country devastated by war and constantly under the threat of the neighboring North. Mrs. Arroyo, a Doctor of Economics can decipher how Korea’s economy is transformed into one of the best in the region and how they handle graft and corruption as well. Last but not least, together with her aides, she can concoct a blueprint on how to handle a.k.a. eradicate the protracted Communist insurgency and secessionist movement in the South. Collaterally, we Filipinos are reminded how cohesive our South Korean friends are in standing behind their government against North Korea’s ill-intents. In the home front, we must also be united in fighting the endemic graft and corruption in our Filipino DNA. The truth is; we as a people are more concerned with personal aggrandizement, welfare and interests rather than for the common good. “Kanya-kanya” system --- a house divided cannot stand.

Pres. Arroyo should also learn from the example of former Pres. Roh Moo-hyung who after allegations of corruption surfaced this year against him, his family and aides had a change of heart and soul when he said:

"I have lost my moral cause just with the facts I have so far admitted. The only thing left is the legal procedure . . . what I have to do now is bow to the nation and apologize. From now on, the name Roh cannot be a symbol of the values you pursue. I'm no longer qualified to speak about democracy and justice . . . You should abandon me." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roh_Moo-hyun)

After that inner and sincere conversion and repentance, Roh left a touching message which goes: “I have owed to too many people. The amount of burden I have caused to them is too great. I can't begin to fathom the countless agonies down the road. The rest of my life would only be a burden for others. I am unable to do anything because of poor health. I can't read books, nor can I write. Do not be too sad. Isn't life and death all part of nature? Do not be sorry. Do not feel resentment toward anyone. It is fate. Cremate me. And leave only a small tombstone near home. I've thought this for a while.”

They found that note after jumping to his tragic death from a cliff. Roh believes that it is better to die than to live a debased life --- a philosophy I cannot support.

Instead of jumping into the cliff, Pres. Arroyo should work hard to fill the cliff in her government with sensible insights on how to eradicate massive graft and corruption plaguing her government. A famous activist once said. “Kung walang kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailian pa?”

If it is still possible, before the president leaves office, she must work hard to do house-cleaning and disinfecting assuming that there are elections next year.-30-