back to school

I have not faced a class for the last 12 or so years except for the occassional invitation to deliver lectures or talks. Since I've had a background on teaching, as well as the fact that I have been working with Koreans for the last seven and a half years, the Chairman decides that I should be the one to handle the Philippine History & Culture classes as well as the Korean Culture Appreciation classes for our scholars.

The nature of this program si to basically empower Filipinos working for the tourism industry over the past several years and who has been aide to Korean tourist guides to be empowered by learning the Korean language. It is to my conviction a noble venture.

This is our thrid attempt at it but it is my first time to personally participate in the program. The earlier programs were dismal failures maybe because they tried running it on their own.

This program will not directly benefit us but it is what I would call a social experiment wherein Filipinos who are already in direct association or contact with Korean tourists can now be the direct guides assuming that they become proficient in the use of the language.

Armed with this, and a new set of perspective and principle in guiding tourists, the program hopes to breed the first batch of Filipino guides that will better present this country to their guests.

It entails a lot of work but it is a challenge worth taking on.




shown here is Kyo Lee teaching them a stanza of a korean song as i watched on. i am amazingly happy that they have already memorized the korean alphabet on the third day and has now exhibited a lot of confidence in reciting korean phrases. i'm keeping my fingers crossed as to the outcome of this program.