Follow SoKor’s lead — Gordon

SEN. Richard Gordon yesterday called on Filipinos to emulate South Korea, which has emerged as one of Asia ’s great nations today despite the devastation wreaked by the Korean War in the 1950’s. Gordon, speaking at the Korean embassy’s celebration of the 60th year of bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea , said the Filipinos, like the Koreans, should learn to choose the right leaders who will bring out the best in the people to achieve the same level of progress and development they are now enjoying. “I’d like to congratulate the Korean people for after having weathered the bitter war in the 50s, it was able to rise to become one of the mighty nations in Asia . It is my hope that we will become even closer through the years and try to make sure that all of us achieve the same level of progress and development that can provide dignity; and certainly pride and satisfaction for both our peoples,” he said. “Dapat ay maging katulad din tayo ng mga kapitbahay natin sa Asya, lalo na sa Korea sapagkat kaya ng Pilipino na gawin ang ginagawa nila. Kailangan lang may disiplina at mahusay na liderato. Kaya dapat matuto tayong pumili ng mahuhusay na lider ng sa gayon ang ating bayan ay magkaroon din ng magandang halimbawa at lumakas tayo,” he added. Gordon also extended his condolences to the Korean government on the death of its former President Kim Dae-Jung last Aug. 18, adding that he and Sen. Benigno Aquino were similar because they both fought an autocratic rule. “The Senate of the Republic of the Philippines expresses its deepest condolences on his passing away last Aug. 18. We consider President Kim Dae-Jung a real leader, and what we might call one of Asia ’s foremost Freedom Fighters not unlike Sen. Benigno Aquino and President Cory Aquino,” he said. The Senate recently adopted Gordon’s Senate Resolution 1326, which expressed the Senate’s sincere condolences on the former Korean leader’s death. Gordon noted that President Kim devoted himself to the task of economic recovery and managed to pull the country back from the brink of bankruptcy. By: Marlon Purificacion - Peoples Journal Online