So I’m a member of the Phil Group in Facebook ayt? We are just jolly people and everything and one day decided to discuss about the growing population of Koreans in the Philippines. Aptly titled “Koreans Everywhere”, the posts became quite heated and everything. Here is just my take in it…
“I agree with that point struck with the Topic Name. It really lacks the finesse that calls for a rational discussion given the fact that we Filipinos scream of cultural equality. Personally I think a better title could had been chosen. 
I also agree with the economy boost thing. My girlfriend had been recently employed by them and if it were not for the fact that they had been late in contacting me to say that I could work for them then I could had also taught a young Korean the basics of the English Language myself, something that I am also looking forward to in the near future if this counseling stuff does not work out.
In fact, we must be thankful for the fact that they are “making an aggregate contribution of over $1 billion per year in consumer spending” in our country as determined by wikepedia.org.
Aside from that kashing stuff I think the sharing of culture exceeds the obvious financial reasons. Like the fact that we Filipinos are fond of Korean Movies and Shows (collects a handful of DVDS or saves the digital rips myself). Plus for me I just love the games that they create or produce at one point or another, most notably StarCraft and Ragnarok and technically even the mod map DOTA (my favorite team mates back in the days were some korean dudes, albeit the difficulty synchronizing our game strategies with the inherent language barrier).
But then some issues are needed to be discussed with the Korean Surge. Much as we welcome them to open up businesses and even to some degree purchase lands (which btw is kinda contrary to our constitution but I am not that sure of with the exact legal parameters so let us just say I will research on this again to augment this bwahahaha) I just think that the fact that “in July 2007, the South Korean embassy, under pressure from Korean businessmen in the Philippines complaining of “harassment and extortion” by Philippine immigration officials, stopped issuing visas to Filipinos headed to South Korea for work” (again from wikipedia). I dunno but with almost everyone in this land opening our arms for them when they try to make a living we would also expect them to do the same when it’s our turn to make bones for ourselves in their door steps right?
Aside from that is the blatant fact that they haven’t really embrace our culture. They had just brought their culture with them on our shores. Like this …
“But instead of embracing all that is Filipino, Koreans, it seems, prefer to bring Korea with them. Wherever they settle, Korean establishments soon rise. Mini-Korean communities are now scattered all over the country. Aside from the usual restaurants and groceries, there are Korean internet cafes, salons, spas, and churches. All have prominent Korean-language signs and few offer any English explanation. It is not unusual to find Korea grocers here who even import Korean-made Coke and Lay’s potato chips from back home, even though identical products are available locally.
“They keep to themselves,” says Pamela Samaniego, the head of Team Korea for the Philippine Tourism Department, echoing a familiar sentiment.”
(from Asia Sentinel)
My point is that they could have at least shown the willingness to adjust to our culture and not the other way around again. The basic norms are sometimes thrown to bits here in Baguio especially with the fact that they talk so freaking loud like every time especially when they hassle together. Basically it aint talking na per se but actually shouting with each other. Have any Baguio Citizen to give one basic adjective of them and they would pick out “noisy” by most regards.
And the second adjective? “Cruel”. Yeah, we know from their culture that it is normative for them na maging mabigat ang kanilang mga kamay especially to the way they raise their young. But then that should not really be an excuse for them to just harass waiters, sales ladies, taxi drivers, even their own teachers or whomever people they employ or serves them up. It had been really a phenom in this City that although they are friendly and fun to work for sometimes they forget upon our culture’s indifference to aggressive tendencies especially with the employee – employer relationship stuff.
And also consider the following excerpt,again from Asia Sentinel…
“It is not surprising, therefore, to hear of rifts. Local newspaper reports says that tour operators in Cebu complain that only Korean travel agencies are benefiting from Korean tourists because local operators are shut out by Korean companies. In Baguio, where the cool climate is an attraction, there are complaints about illegal business transactions and practices. Some resorts in Boracay are said to have banned Korean tourists because they leave the rooms in shambles after their stay. In Talisay, home to Taal, the world’s smallest volcano, a huge controversy now surrounds a Korean company’s plans to construct a spa resort on the island volcano despite local environmental restrictions. The issue threatens to become an us-versus-them storm. .
In Davao City the city council launched an investigation in late June into Korean business practices, claiming that Korean businessmen were setting up illegal businesses and dodging visa regulations. Also in June the Bureau of Immigration pointedly warned against foreigners operating retail stores and using Filipinos to front for them. Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said foreigners, most of them Korean, had been violating immigration laws. “A foreigner who engages in the retail trade is liable for deportation as the act is a violation of the conditions of his admission and stay in the country,” Libanan said.”
The fact that hurts to the bone most? The article also said..
“The complaints, however noisy, are so far minor and it seems unlikely that the perpetually cash-strapped Philippines is going to turn away Korean money any time soon, indeed it is just the opposite, with the government aggressively promoting tourism and education to Koreans. “
Focus on the term “perpetually cash-strapped Philippines”. Much as we are currently having a slight difference of opinions (which I think is invigorating given the fact that DB Activity had been mundane over the last while) I just think that economic remunerations must not be the be-all-end-all of every foreign-local issue that we have. I think the rule of our land and customs must still be upheld, if not by the Government (who I think are off to kimchi sponsored vacations [sorry for stealing your own term mahal, love you]), then by us who are the common tao per se.
Yes, Koreans are here to stay. “It seems that generations of Koreans are likely to be a big part of local life for years to come – from students just starting out, to grandparents resting by the seaside.”, said this article. I do not shun away from them, in fact I am looking forward to a Korean neighbor or to a Korean Dota Friend (miss you Outer Haven Guys). It is just that I think there are some issues that must be address or have to thoroughly discuss upon before everything goes out of control.
I just think we Filipinos and Koreans are on each others’ tether already with the pragmatism of our relationship keeping the bond functional at some degree. But all it takes is some serious incident that would really flare up each other’s tempers to the degree that we’d have a line severing our ties. And that is what I am afraid of. That is the main reason why I do hold this personal advocacy to just scream “FOUL” with the land owning stuff and kor business establishments even if I do hold them in high regards.
Peace guys.”
I also followed this thing up with this post..
“The article I referred to could be found on…
http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=575&Itemid=34
I hope you’d also take time reading the 34 comments (as of “press time”) as I think some of them are pretty cool to just digest and everything else.”
I had shared these sentiments like last October 23, 2008 ago. For the complete DB transcripts just PM me or anything.
