By LIWAY C. MANANTAN YPARRAGUIRRE

Utang na loob or debt of gratitude. One of the good virtues of both Filipinos and Koreans.

One thing I’ve learned from the people whom I look up to and consider my role models is - giving back the good things done or extended to you need not be to the giver himself. Do good deeds to other people. The magnitude is immaterial. What matters is that you’re doing it wholeheartedly, and without any expectation.

We met Mr. Dukshin Park during the VictoRey Gen. ReynaldoVelasco Cycling Classic last October 29 Sta. Barbara. He’s in the country to pay his father’s debt of gratitude to a Filipino farmer who shielded the late Park Sung Suk during World War II.

Park Sung Suk, a member of the Korean Military with a rank of 2nd Lieutenant, deserted the Japanese Imperial Army while they were in Bataan as he did not want to kill Filipinos.
Making it big back in South Korea after the war, the elder Park made a self-imposed mission which he passed on to his son Dukshin Park, and that is, to look for the Filipino farmer and help him.
Unable to find said farmer as his father failed to mention the name nor the exact place the farmer lived, Dukshin Park took it upon himself to help the Filipinos in general.
He arrived in the country in 2001 to start his mission. He established businesses and employed Filipinos.
Indeed, helping comes in different forms.
Simply, have a heart. You’ll be surprised of the joy you’d feel just looking at the happy faces of the beneficiaries. And mind you, you need not be financially rich to be able to reach out.

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Basang-basa na ang papel ng PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) because of the shenanigans of its agents.
Last week, four members of PDEA-Cordillera were arrested in Sta. Maria town through a dragnet operation conducted by police operatives in Pangasinan.
The four and two others who escaped allegedly abducted two suspected drug pushers from San Quintin town.
Showing the two residents of Barangay Alac four sachets of shabu and allegedly threatening to charge them for possession of illegal drugs, they demanded a P400,000 pay-off and later settled for P150,000. They collected P110,000, but held on to the woman until the balance is paid.
Gen. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Region I police director, said during the press conference held last Friday at the police headquarters in Lingayen.
“I want to dispel the impression that our boys might be affected, or might be low-“moralled.” On the contrary, it’s even a rallying point because there are so many out there, more dedicated and committed policemen who are sacrificing and doing their jobs without hoping for any material reward in return. And majority of my boys believe in the crusade of cleansing their ranks from people who opt to follow the different way.”

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