‘Before I came to the Philippines, I didn’t really know what Kpop was. I also learned a Korean song because of a Filipino singer in Jeju island.’
Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Hyuk Lee likes the Filipino word nayon (village). It’s smooth to say. It brings back memories of distant past, of his hometown, where he spent his carefree days as a young boy. But more than these, he says he likes nayon because it means neighborhood.
In Hyuk’s abode, there’s a sense of nayon in the air. Upon entering his sprawling home, which he has lived in for more than two years, we were welcomed with a peck on the cheek, not with the Koreans’ customary bow. We were a sight: A Filipino bowing to greet a Korean who was more comfortable with a handshake, a smile, and a hug. He immediately served us a glass of water and sweet treats. “I have the impression that Filipinos like sweets,” he says, “but sometimes, your desserts are too sweet. It’s bad for my health!”
YOU’VE BEEN IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. DID YOU HAVE A HARD TIME ADJUSTING?
The adjustment was very easy. Everybody is hospitable and so sociable and polite. Immediately after I set foot here, I felt the love. The weather is good, there’s no winter, which is good for someone my age. (Laughs) I am 56 years old. Korean winter provokes such emotion or sentiment. I also easily made friends with those surrounding me—three gardeners, two helpers, four guards, and seven cats and two dogs and one puppy I adopted.
YOU ARE AN ANIMAL LOVER!
Yes, I am. I adopted two stray baby cats, which included a stray kitten my Korean chef picked up while she was taking a walk. (He now has about 10 cats in his garden.)
WHAT DO YOU MISS?
I miss Korean restaurants. Fortunately you have Korean restaurants and groceries here. I also miss my hometown, which is in a rural area. Most of all, I miss my friends. I don’t particularly miss the winter. Spring is my favorite season because all the things that have been dormant like trees and flowers start to bloom.
CAN YOU SAY IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES?
I think I will live here for the rest of my life. (Laughs) I think this is my favorite country. I am not saying this because we are in the Philippines, no, no, I think everything is natural. It’s natural for Koreans to like it here because of the people—and you have everything: Good food, Korean groceries and restaurants, and beautiful islands.
WHAT BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS HAVE YOU VISITED?
I’ve been to Boracay. I spent two nights there. I think it has the best beach in Southeast Asia. I’ve been to Bali, Indonesia but I think when it comes to beaches I think Boracay is the best. I’ve also been to Cebu, Bohol, and in Mindanao—Davao, Cagayan de Oro—and in Iloilo where I saw the Dinagyang Festival. It’s very colorful.
YOU HAVE A KOREAN CHEF WITH YOU, BUT HAVE YOU TRIED PINOY FOOD?
Yes, yes, I’ve tried bulalo and sinigang, and Filipino-style deep fried chicken. I sometimes go to Romulo Café. When a guest from Korea comes here, to give them a taste of Filipino food, I bring them to Romulo Café. I’ve also been to Abe and Max’s Fried Chicken.
DO YOU KNOW ANY FILIPINO WORDS?
I am not good in Filipino, but I think the most beautiful word in Filipino is nayon (village). It sounds very beautiful. I like the word because all the human beings live in a global village. There’s a small village called Nayong Pilipino in Angeles, Pampanga. It’s a traditional village, which attracts tourists. There’s an old church, there are traditional dance troupes, as well as some shops selling snacks and artifacts. I also know kaibigan (friend). I think nayon and kaibigan are enough. (Laughs) We are all kaibigan, right?
YES, WE’RE ALL KAIBIGAN.
The relationship of Korea and Philippines has been growing in a steady manner. Of course, there’s a Korean wave here, which is very popular and well established in the life of Filipinos. We have many Korean goods loved by Filipinos. I think this trend will continue. Geographically, we are very close. The flight time is only three hours and a half. The Philippines is geographically the third closest next to Japan and China. In that sense, we can be more optimistic about our relationship. If we try harder to nurture our relationship, we will be successful.
WERE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW IMMENSELY POPULAR KPOP IS HERE?
I see so many shows, so many telenovelas. Actually, before I came here in the Philippines, I didn’t know much about KPop. I have little knowledge because of the generation gap. I was quite biased against the Korean performers though. I thought they just have pretty faces. But since I came here, I went to several KPop concerts at Mall of Asia Arena and at the Araneta Coliseum and I was impressed by the performers. Do you know 2PM and Big Bang? (Laughs) I’ve been to a Big Bang concert. That was my first concert. I also attended Psy’s concert. Before seeing them, I had prejudice against them because I felt they were just dancing not singing.
HOW ABOUT PINOY PERSONALITIES, DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THEM?
I saw Richard Gomez—he went to my office with his wife Rep. Lucy Torres. There are many beautiful actors here and singers, of course. I like Lea Salonga, whom I saw perform at the Palace. Freddie Aguilar is popular in Korea because of his song “Anak.” It was translated in Korean. You know, Korea has so many Filipino lounge singers. You probably have heard about Jeju Island? When I was at the Hyatt Hotel, there was this man who sang the Korean song “I Believe.” It was the first time I heard the song, and I remember being overwhelmed because he was so good. I tried to learn the song myself. (Laughs) It’s a theme song for a Korean movie. That’s how I learned the song, because of the Filipino singer.
MANY FILIPINOS WOULD LOVE TO GO TO JEJU ISLAND AND SEOUL. BUT HOW WILL YOU CONVINCE KOREANS, ON THE OTHER HAND, TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES?
Many Koreans already know what the Philippines is all about. Koreans take up the bulk of foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines. I think more than one million Koreans have visited the Philippines. They go to Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, or Manila. There are also many Korean students studying English here, taking advantage of the summer or winter vacation. My niece is studying English at Enderun. I think more than 10,000 students are studying here in Metro Manila and Davao and Baguio.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN KOREAN AND FILIPINO CULTURE?
I think we share the same values. In the Philippines, families take care of each other. Koreans used to do that, we used to take of each other. Nowadays, we have a small family because our birth rate is very low. On average, Korean parents don’t have more than two children. Because of the industrialization and economic growth, they just want to enjoy by themselves. That’s what we have lost, I think, over the last decade. But we still have a tradition of taking care of each other. I was overwhelmed that Filipino families are big! My driver has as many as 12 brothers and sisters. I haven’t heard of any family who has fewer than four brothers and sisters. I think a big family is both good and bad. It’s bad in the sense that they have fewer opportunities. If you have so many siblings your parents can’t take care of all them. But it’s good that you have good families for reunions, you help each other, sometimes you love each other, sometimes you hate each other (laughs), but it’s normal.
WHAT ABOUT OUR DIFFERENCES?
Koreans are very hot tempered. We are very impatient and we want things done very quickly. Here in the Philippines, time moves very, very slowly. That’s the difference. There is misunderstanding that can arise. Koreans always say to the Filipinos “dali, dali” (quick quick). (Laughs)But I think Filipinos aren’t used to “dali, dali.” I think it’s not desirable to be late all the time.
No comments:
Post a Comment