My husband reminded me this morning that it is our wedding anniversary today. We were married in June 2003 in the Philippines in a civil ceremony but we had a Korean wedding ceremony in May 2004. It wasn’t our idea, we didn’t want to have a wedding party but the parents-in-law were worried of what the people might say if we didn’t have one. Anyway, it wasn’t a lot of trouble. They planned everything and we just had to be there. One thing I regret though, I was at my fattest self on my wedding day. I didn’t know about Phentermine that time.
On our wedding day, my then four-year old niece Isabel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an extracranial solid cancer according to Wikipedia. She had undergone several surgeries, chemotheraphy, radiation therapy and even stem cell transplantation. She is eight years old now and so full of life. She sings well and when you talk to her, you would think she’s older than her biological age — not sure if that’s really a good thing.
As mentioned earlier, May 5th is a national non-working holiday here in Korea for the Children’s Day celebration. Today, May 8th is celebrated as Parents’ Day or 어버이 날 (eo-beo-i nal). However, today is not a red-marked day on the calendar.
Filial piety is an important virtue in Korea. This is one of the things we (as Pinoys) have in common with Koreans. Love and respect for parents and ancestors is cultivated from youth. I remember reading that during the Choseon dynasty (1392-1910), being disrespectful of parents or ancestors is punishable by law.
In today’s tradition, carnation (the flower) is offered to parents. Gifts also show how much they are appreciated. It doesn’t matter how cheap or expensive it is because it’s the thought that counts (really?). I might just give my parents-in-law custom pens, but I think they might appreciate our time more than anything else. We visited them last weekend, and my husband is hinting that we visit them again this weekend.
Two Sundays ago (April 27) we took an hour and a half drive to Asan, a city in the province of south Chuncheong. We went there for the birthday festival of one of Korea’s national heroes, Yi Sun Shin (or Lee Sun Shin/Yi Soon Shin). It was I who suggested to go there as I haven’t been to the place and I’d seen the drama The Immortal Yi Sun Shin.
Yi Sun Shin has a god-like status in the country. If you could read the novel or watch the drama on his life, you would understand why. His statue dominates over one of Seoul’s busiest streets, Gwanghamun. There is also one street in Seoul, Chungmu-ro, named after his title of Chungmugong or Martial Lord of Loyalty. Sadly, he’s not well known outside East Asia (or I never knew him until I saw The Immortal Yi Sun Shin). I admit, I admired the man too after watching all those films and reading more about him. I bought my son a shirt with the number 23 at the back. It isn’t for Michael Jordan, but for the 23 battles the Admiral fought and won.
Yi Sun Shin was loyal to his country till the end, no matter how many times he was “betrayed” by the ruling class during his lifetime. He believed in social justice yet he also dedicated his life to the king. In the end, he got what he wished for… He died in a battle like a dignified soldier and spared his king the guilt and shame of putting a loyal warrior to death. The king, at that time, mistakenly believed that Yi Sun Shin was a threat to his existence.
In Asan, we went to Hyeonchungsa, a shrine built in the 1700s and dedicated to the war hero. Entrance fee is 500 won. The walk from the main gate to the main shrine is more than 400 meters. You’ll see two ponds to the left at about 50 meters from the gate.
At about 300 meters from the gate is Yi Sun Shin’s house. My husband said it is simple and small considering the Admiral’s status. He came from a Yangban (noble) family and his grandfather was a member of the King’s court. There’s the archery range at the right side of the house and further is Yi Myeon’s grave, the Admiral’s son who was killed fighting off the Japanese. I met two old men under the gingko trees at the archery range. They were Korean war veterans and told me that they lived in the Philippines for more than a decade, training at Clark Air Base. They spoke English well and were very nice.
We celebrated Children’s Day here in Korea yesterday, May 5th. It’s a yearly celebration that started in 1923. I believe ALL parks were busy yesterday. We tried to go to Uirimji (a lake) in my husband’s hometown but we couldn’t find a parking spot so we just had lunch at a Korean restaurant and then traveled back to Seoul. What usually is a three-hour drive turned to a six-hour slow ride!
As a mother, I think that everyday should be Children’s Day. (And like Oprah) I advocate safety for our kids. I’m a stay-at-home mom now but I’ll be going back to work early next year. One of my worries is finding someone to take care of my son. However, hiring a private a nanny is almost impossible. I’d rather have a relative stay with him while we’re away (or else buy a nanny camera). I have a nephew who had a not-so-pleasant experience with three nannies! I just don’t want my son to experience the same.
At our place there are a few daycare centers, also called “children’s house”. Most, if not all, of them have a nanny camera installed. Parents can log-on to the internet and see what’s going on at the center. If I were working in one of those places, I wouldn’t feel at ease knowing that my every move would be subject to scrutiny by the kids’ parents. Though as a mother, it will give me a peace of mind to see how things are going on with my child while I’m away. If you’re using a nanny camera, should you tell your nanny that you have one?
On April 20, my husband will join hundreds at the 18K long Inwangsan Marathon. It will be held on the mystical mountain of Inwang, famous for its Buddhist and Shaman temples. This is his first marathon ever. This early, I’m thinking of joining the 10K race alone or the 5K race with my son next year. The registration fee is 30,000 won but Jongro-gu residents get a 50% discount, so he only paid 15,000 won (around US$15). The marathon package was delivered last Monday and I was so excited I opened it without my husband’s consent! Inside is a t-shirt, an electronic chip, his number and a magazine.
The race is only 18K but it is on a mountain - or tall hill - that peaks at 390 meters (according to the magazine). My husband is used to climbing mountains. He would even go on a 3-day trek at Jiri Mountain in Jeolla province. However, a mountain marathon is different from mountain climbing. Since this is his first marathon, he’s afraid that it might take him the maximum alloted time to finish the race which is three hours. I told him that it really doesn’t matter if he wins or not. Just charge it to experience, but I chided that I’ll buy him a Rolex Daytona if he finishes the race first placed. I know he can’t win first so I had the guts to tell that to him.
Today is not only Oh Ji Ho’s birthday, it is also a special day for those who are unattached. If February 14 is the date when women give chocolates to their men, and March 14 is the men’s turn to give candies to their women, April 14 is when those who didn’t get anything on the dates mentioned before go out to eat black bean sauce noodles or “jja jang myeon”. If you’ve been watching Korean dramas (specially Gung S with Seven), you’ll know what this is. This is not really a significant event. It is one of those occasions promoted for consumption. If I were unattached, I’m not sure whether I’ll feel flattered or insulted by this “occasion”. One thing is for sure, I’ll need Orovo after eating jjajangmyeon.
April 9 is (supposed to be) a holiday here because of the congressional elections. Korean citizens and F5 visa holders (permanent residents who are qualified to vote) will cast their ballots for a local district representative and a political party (partylist). I guess if Creative Korea Party gets enough votes, Judith Alegre Fernandez could get a seat (as far as my understanding goes, she’s number seven on the list). I’ll be voting in the election later (when my son wakes up). I have yet to decide which party to vote for.
Elections here is not as chaotic as in the Philippines. Instead of posters littering every wall (public or private), you see banners strung in conspicuous places. Public theatres/halls/gyms are not used to hold campaign meetings. Candidates hire bongo trucks (like in the photo above) that they park in prominent places to campaign. You’ll also see ajummas (kinda old ladies) wearing their campaign uniforms bowing to every citizen who they think can vote. The election commission also sends an “election packet” to every household containing brochures of every candidate with his background information and platform. There’s also a sheet with a map on where to vote and a list of eligible voters in the household (the flipside has a picture of the Wonder Girls!).
In the Philippines, election period is either like a fiesta (where campaign goers are treated to a Jollibee lunchpack plus 50 pesos) or funeral-like (where hired goons with guns goes on a shooting rampage), but both of them are like TV shows, where the candidate either dances or sings with their hired entertainer (singer, actor/actress, boldstar!). Here, you’ll barely notice it (again, compared to my home country). Candidates are just given two weeks to campaign and most rely on their background and plans when elected. I’d think no wife wore designer jewelry this time. President Lee Myung Bak’s wife was heavily criticized last year for wearing imported designer watch on one of their campaigns.
I miss the election season in the Philippines… chaotic, neurotic, exciting!
