Korean mom reflects on life in Bicol
By Gladys Serafica
DARAGA, Albay --- The moment Jeong-Soon Park, 59, stepped out of the Bicol International Airport on Feb. 3, a wave of nostalgia washed over her.
After all, returning to a place she once called home felt like a step back into the past, transporting her to that moment in 2007 when she made the crucial decision that would change her only child's fate.
Eighteen years ago, this doting Korean mom decided to do the unthinkable: give up her life in South Korea and settle in Albay province in the Bicol region to enable her son to pursue his education.
While the Korean diaspora in the Philippines is nothing new, as the rise of expat communities in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao has become commonplace as early as the 1990s, Park's decision to live in Albay was initially met with heavy criticism for its seeming impracticality.
For one, compared to highly urbanized provinces in the country, Albay had limited international schools and universities back then.
On top of that, in the early 2000s, the province had a relatively small expat population.
In fact, when she decided to settle in Legazpi City, her only acquaintance was the Korean missionary Pastor Young Hee Han, who founded several Christian churches in the province.
Adding another layer of difficulty was the dearth of Korean grocery stores and restaurants at that time, which was a serious concern for expats wanting to still get a taste of their culture in a foreign land.
"My husband was strongly opposed to the idea because he thought it would be extremely difficult for me to live in the Philippines because of my limited English skills."
"He was also certain we would not last long because of the hot and humid weather," she revealed in a mix of English and Filipino.
"But I was able to prove him wrong," she added proudly.
After living in the Philippines for 10 years—enough time to enable her son to finish his primary and secondary education at Legazpi Hope Christian School and obtain a degree in AB English at Divine Word College of Legazpi—the duo finally went back to their hometown in Cheongju City in the North Chungcheong Province in 2017.
As the Philippine News Agency gets up close and personal with this Korean mom, we reveal why Bicol will always have a special place in her heart.
Scenic getaways
Being accustomed to the fast-paced life in Korea, Park said Bicol's laid-back atmosphere was the breath of fresh air she never thought she needed back then.
As a housewife solely relying on the income of her husband, who used to work in a restaurant in Korea, she said relocating to the Philippines in 2007 enabled her to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle and travel to scenic travel getaways given the lower cost of living.
"Whenever I come back for a visit, I always go back to San Benon Hot and Cold Spring Resort in Irosin, Sorsogon. I like soaking in the hot spring because it is very relaxing," she said.
As someone who is naturally drawn to water-related activities, she said Subic Beach in Matnog town in Sorsogon remains close to her heart because of its pinkish sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Rounding up her top three list of water adventure getaways is Ooh La La Paradise Spring Resort, located in Guinobatan, Albay.
"Ooh La La is a perfect place to relax and spend time with family and friends because they offer so many leisure activities," she said.
Sumptuous cuisine
Park can still vividly recall her reaction the first time she tasted sinigang, the popular Filipino soup or stew known for its sour, tangy, and savory taste.
"I thought the food was spoiled because it was very sour," she said in between chuckles.
It did not take long, however, for this Korean mom to acquire a taste for local cuisine.
"Filipino food is full of flavors. I especially like Bicol Express, pancit sotanghon, adobo, and kare-kare," she shared.
Filipino at heart
In her 10-year stay in Albay, Park was able to build meaningful relationships with the locals.
A devout Christian, this Korean mom spent most of her time in the Philippines helping out her fellow Korean, Pastor Han, in her missionary work.
These acts of service and her unwavering faith in God have endeared her to many Filipino church members in Albay up to this day.
Amor Bales, her son's former English tutor, described Park as someone whose heart genuinely beats for the Filipinos.
"When she came here, she really embraced the Filipinos way of life. She's even more comfortable speaking in Filipino than in English," she said.
According to the data released by the Department of Tourism in 2024, one in every four foreign tourists in the country is from South Korea.
But while less expensive English education and tourism remain to be major reasons why they come in droves, Park shared that her decision to be an expat in the country was driven by her love for God and her family.
"Living in the Philippines allowed my son to achieve his dream of getting a degree and enabled me to be used by God for His greater glory," she said. (PNA)
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