Korean Park in Palo, Leyte

We better call it the "Republic of Korea Memorial Park" since that is what they wrote...

But it is easier to say "Korean Park" or "K-Park" as many locals refer to it - especially the younger set. As for the seniors or even the not so very old working class adults, they do not even know this exists!

Alright, for those who don't know (yet), or to refresh the meory of those who knew, the R.O.K. - that is the Republic of Korea - deployed more than 500 soldiers to the Yolanda-hit areas of Region VIII. They were asked ot make their own barracks at a vacant lot in the Government Center in Palo, Leyte. That's sandwiched between "DOH 8" and "DepEd 8" Regional Headquarters. They lived there for about a year.

They helped here and there... they were called the "K-Pop Soldiers"... and the rest is history, right?

Nang walang anu-ano... when they were about to leave, the country (well, even the world) just came to know that there was a ceremony where these K-Pop Soldiers were finally saying 'Goodbye Philippines', and that they made a park for us to remember them by. I am one of those surprised by this park that seemed to have just suddenly appeared! I have been passing by the area about 4x a week since 2014!

Actually, compared to other parks in the country, this is "nothing much" in terms of area and what we might call "attractions" of the place. But on closer look, as I did today, the few that you can see in this park, is full of symbolism, memorable historical events and friendly relations between our countries!

Just that boulder pictured above has interesting facts. Example: what is "Araw" - the name they chose for the whole deployment - the "Araw Contingent". Why the sun? Because it's a symbol of hope (may bukas pa, sisikat din ang araw, and so on). How did they know the Tagalog word "araw" instead of just using "taeyang" (태양)? Well, there is google translate hehe! But some of them have studied English (and Tagalog) in the Philippines. Plus, their commander attended a course in Camp Crame long ago!

What's the significance of Isaiah 60:1? I think that's where they got the "sun", then translated to "araw". But did you know, more than half of Koreans have no religion? Of those that have religions, majority are Protestants, followed by Buddhists, then Catholics. So, ang pinaka-madaming religion sa Korea are Christians! How did I know? I asked my K-friends in Cebu and those who are now back in Korea!

One thing that fascinated me looking around this park is how technologically advanced they are...

Look closely, all letters and anything else (like the sun and the heart) on those boulders are engraved - meaning "carved" on the stone, before they were painted. Parang computer print-out! Sige maghanap ka ng ganyan ka-pulidong lettering on hard and uneven surfaces sa Pilipinas na gawa ng Pinoy. Wala!

Look at the words "Arise" and "Shine" again. You will even easily recognize what font they used! But, naka-ukit at malalaki yan! Grabe ha! Mahusay! My driver said "baka naka-laser yan", I said "baka nga"!

Here are some of the other monuments I took pictures of...

I'm sure every lapida-maker will salivate to grab and own whatever it is they used to write those small characters on black marble! Obviously, these things are not just "tinitiktik"! I am curious to see those!

On the other hand, there are other artworks in this park, aside from the basketbolan!

Like this cute "Ribbon Cutting Ceremony"! They look real from a distance...

Well, the first person at left is the only real breathing human being. All others are semento hehe! This whole tableau was really made to be for photo-ops. That left-most space was really made "blank" by the creators. You the visitor to this park stand there to have your picture taken, like so! Creative! Aliw!

And they also made "angel wings" where you sit or stand for a cute photo-op!

Aliw factor enough, right? But I tell you, hindi sya for selfie purposes. Dapat me photographer talaga!


Anyway, on my way out of the park, I saw the barracks again...

This is just across the road. This is where they lived for about a year. They left everything they made when they went back to Korea. This is now occupied (owned?) by the Philippine military (army yata) - well at least they are who I see every time I pass by. Yes, including those equipment and many others!

And this is just a close-up of the message they painted on that wall of one of those buildings...

They cleared roads of debris, repaired them, reconstructed schools, municipal halls and other public buildings. Repaired or made water supply lines. Even re-made houses of veterans who live in this area that fought with their ancestors in the Korean War. And almost all of them (men and women soldiers) - naka-eyeglass hehe!

Kung maka-bayad ng utang na loob 'no?! Sagad at wagas!
You will never know what comes back even years after your good deed!

So, let's all do good deeds everyday!