The Koreas

THE division of Korea was a result of the Cold War between the USSR and the United States, with North Korea being supported by Russia and China while South Korea had the United States as ally. When North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, a shooting war ensued that ended in a truce in 1953. This meant that from that time until the present, the two countries remain at war. While South Korea progressed economically, North Korea became a hermit kingdom. South Korea had its share of dictators, but has since become a democracy, whereas North Korea remains to be a military garrison with Kim Jongun as warden. As depicted by the West, North Korea is a Godforsaken country that does not observe human rights, is ruled with an iron hand and is underdeveloped. With Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi eliminated, the United States has put Kim Jongun as the “contrabida numero uno” of the world. He was even made the subject of the comedy film. In real life, the Supreme Leader has taken the villain role seriously, testing missiles directed at the US and exchanging barbs with US President Donald Trump, who has put the US in a war mode. It is, therefore, a welcome news that the interKorea summit will happen on April 27. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are meeting in an atmosphere of cordiality after the warm reception given to Kim Yo Jong, a sister of the North Korean leader, during the recent Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Subsequently, we have come to learn that CIA Director Mike Pompeo secretly met the North Korea strongman and, according to President Trump, the two “got along really well.” The US president has given his “blessing to discuss the end of the war.” If this whole exercise will attain its objective of peace in Korea, the Don will have an ace in his sleeve come next US presidential election. Unlike the conflict in the Middle East that is primarily about religion and territory, the war between the two Koreas is about capitalism vs. communism as it is about autocracy vs. democracy. It is similar to the walls that divided Germany in the past, where families were linked, yet the systems collided. And who would ever have thought that an East German, Angela Merkel, would lead the nation in the new millennium? If Communist China can exist side by side with capitalist United States, it should not be difficult for the two Koreas to co-exist peacefully. The world needs this peace process to succeed, more so the people of Korea divided by the Military Demarcation Line that runs near the 38th parallel.

pagilian. No undesirable alien ti maysa a gangannaet, mabalinda nga i-deport wenno paruaren, impaganetnet ni Digong a ti sammakedna ket ti paglintegan ti pagilian. Reaksiyon ti maysa a senador (Sen. Binay) a kasano kano nga agbalin a “threat” ni sister Fox iti edadna a pitupulo ket maysa! Kuna met ni Sen. Gatchalian a ti napasamak kenni Sis Fox ket mabalin a makaapekto iti turismo ditoy pagilian. Idanagan met ti CBCP ta amangan kano ta rugi daytoyen ti pannakariput dagiti amin a kumonkontra kano iti gobyerno. Haayyy biag…sayang ta addan iti sirok ti daga daydi Lolok. Malagipko ngamin ti laingna nga agtabbaaw no masair ti riknana kadagiti paspasamak iti kagimongan. Ultimo nuang ken bakana…urayda la a mapmapleng iti bugtakna. Ngem ti imasna, no nagriaw daydi lolak, arigna met ti kasla nakukkukan a bisukol santo tumanamitim a pumanaw. Ngem saan a kasta ni Pres. Digong…no immembet iti sao, agtalnakan amangan ta tuluyannaka. Urayem laengen a bumaaw ta umisemto met laeng ni Pilyo a Presidente nangruna no ti adda iti sibayna ket ni bise presidente Leni. He he…makapabaaw met dakayo no umisem ni bise…joke lang.

find lasting significance in our nation.

People try to delineate success through winning over others, having more power over others, thousands of likes on Facebook, gaining popularity, or the ability to dominate others. The lust of power is common and prevalent in human – the power to demand others around, the power to make decisions that will influence other for what is beneficial to them, the power to own when others cannot, and taking advantage on others weaknesses. This form of happiness and influence is ephemeral.

Nobody in this world is closely drawn to selfishness. Nobody seeks the astute counsel of a selfish person. Nobody is eager to give up their built kingdom for others. However, we are distinctively lead to those selflessly give themselves. Those who love and give bigheartedly catch nature of fulfillment that extends beyond position, title, or structure. They find the authority that reaches into our heart and soul. Their example are studied, counsel is sought, their stories are retold in a optimistic means and their happiness is truly lasting.

May we rubbish to overlook the importance of selflessness? Instead, may we choose to pursue selflessness as the precise means to achieve happiness not just for our own sake, but for the sake of those we choose to love – our family, our work, our nation and love for our country.

-o0oIti dayta nga okasyon a nangbasnotan ni Pres. Duterte kenni Sister Fox…adu ti nagkararag a sapay koma ta dina paipusan a sal-iten dagiti nangangato nga opisyal ti gobyerno a nakaramid iti mantsa. Awan kabkabigen ni Digong uray pay nasinged a gayyemna. No naglabsing iti pagayatanna…sibak. Sabagay, kuna…mayat dayta nga ar-aramiden ti presidente. Awan kabkabigenna. Kas koma kenni sigud a DOJ Sec. Aguirre. Nasinged a kabaddungalanna. Ngem dina kinabig no di ketdi, sinuktanna a sigida. Ti laeng ayanna a pagdaksan, kuna met dagiti sutil: apay ngay kenni sigud a BOC Commissioner Faeldon. Sinibakna wenno inikkatna dita..ngem inyakarna met laeng iti sabali a puesto. Apay ngay ni Dinio, inikkatda idiay Subic ngem naiyakar a sigida iti sabali pay nga akmen. Ni ngata Aguirre…sadino ngata ti pakaiyakaranna? Dagita ken adu pay a saludsod ti tumtumpuar iti agdama. Kunada ngarud…no adda kalintegan ni Apo Presidente a bumasnot….adda met karbengan dagiti umili a sumungbat ken agsaludsod. Amen. Adios mi amor, ciao, mabalos!