A landmark summit
IJUST got discharged from the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital where I had a laparoscopy for gall bladder and gallstones. This was two days before the historic summit between North Korea’s president, Kim Jong-Un and South Korea’s president Moon Jae=in. Back at home, I continued to follow the TV coverage of a groundbreaking event that will have significant implications all over the world. As well as provide us with valuable lessons on peace-making.
On my laparoscopy, the procedure is non-invasive but nonetheless a major surgery that could be life-threatening especially to an elderly senior like me. My doctor, cardiologist Dr. Dennis Sulit, recommended it, saying that I was reasonably healthy, and congratulated me after the operation, which meant that indeed, we took some risks. But thanks to the skillful hands of surgeon Dr. Richard Olalia and anesthesiologist Dr. John Andrew Rabago and their teams of doctors and nurses, it turned out to be quite tolerable, even with the one and a half hours operation and five hours of recovery. My deep gratitude to the team of three, their assistants, and nurses, JM, Francis, Chrissy, Froida, Add, and the other medical personnel. As this was my first surgery, I was a bit anxious but realizing how God has been good to me all these years, I finally accepted the inevitable. And now, with this second life, to let the Wise Father above guide me so that the rest of the bonus years be spent in the pursuit of worthy causes.
My earlier plan before this unexpected turn, was to retire in Tagaytay where I would become an herbal gardener. That has to be put on hold for an alternative which is to move into a condominium after 44 years in our old house in New Manila.
Back to the Korean summit. I agree with President Duterte that indeed North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un is a hero to be emulated. But I would also like to credit his counterpart, South Korea’s Moon Jae-in who had spent several years, and even before he became president, in peace efforts. Both, by the way, are among Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
Says Hyeonseo Lee, a North Korean defector, of Kim: “The new year may have stirred hopes that Kim Jong-Un may not be so bad after all: he did reach out to South Korea in the Winter Olympics, offer to meet Pres. Trump, and meanwhile suspend missile and nuclear tests. I had faint hopes of my own when he came to power in 2011, knowing that he had encountered democracy and capitalism studying in Switzerland.” But, he also describes Kim as “the most dangerous person on the planet,” knowing how the latter had ordered the torture and death of thousands of people.
Kim is said to have broken decades of hostility to become the first North Korean leader to cross into South Korean territory since 1953. Shaking hands while standing near the DMZ (demilitarized zone) dividing the two Koreas, he told the South Korean leader that he felt the weight of the meeting.
“It was very courageous of you to come all the way,” Moon replied. The handshake, embraces, and handholding were the result of months of diplomatic talks between the two leaders and every moment was laden with symbolism and history.
Then, Kim urged Moon to do the same – enter North Korea, which Moon did.
Kim admitted that it was at first difficult to get to that stage which is why it had taken 11 years, but he wanted to write a new chapter in Korean relations.
A red carpet welcome awaited Pres. Kim Jong-Un and his entourage while Arirang, a common folk song in both Koreas, was played. This was followed by the planting of a tree at the DMZ site with soil and water coming from both North and South Korea. And the beginning of the talks on denuclearization and the conduct of subsequent peace talks.