Philippine ESL & YUHAK TIMES

The measure of great love transcends a person. I honor my husband for his great love for me, my people and my country.

'Yeonge-Yeonsu' is a program that has caught on popularity over the last decade in the field of overseas education in Korea. Yeonge-Yeonsu or otherwise known as  'Bridge Program' is a combination course linking Philippine ESL to the ESL courses in advanced countries. This is the brainchild of my husband, Teddy Nam, the pioneer and the leading Korean expert in Yeonge-Yeonsu.

This idea came into existence as a result of the need to survive amidst the Asian crisis that afflicted the economies in East Asia in 1997. Back then, it was a challenge indeed to market Philippine ESL to Korean clients. People in the business mocked this idea, convinced that it would never sell. People laughed at us when we introduced the idea of receiving language training in the Philippines. I was the living epitome of Philippine ESL, the role I assumed then which I still hold up to this day.

Success came disguised as misfortune for it was the Korean IMF crisis that enabled this novel idea to germinate and take roots; the same force that propelled us to move forward. My husband rose from humble beginnings of an unknown company to a reputable firm known today as YUHAK TIMES.

No one is laughing at us now. The ripples of success that yeonge-yeonsu has created over the years has everyone jumping in on the bandwagon that my husband has created.  Even the big overseas education consulting firms (yuhak company) which used to ignore Philippine ESL are now cashing in on the current trend. Every 'yuhak company' in existence in Korea have yeonge-yeonsu incorporated in their programs. Our successful business ventures in the Philippines then has led to a grand scale triumph. A great number of Korean businessmen are coming into the Philippines to invest in language schools and other study-tour related ventures. This phenomenon has created job opportunities in many parts of the Philippines and has revitalized the tour industry as the influx of student-travelers and Korean settlers continue to increase.

In 1997, Philippines carried no prestige but now I see advertisements about Philippine ESL and Philippine travel all over the peninsula. I hear folks talk about Philippines earnestly.  People look at me, a Filipina, with more respect and understanding. Life is easier now for me than it was 10 years ago because Koreans now hold a different image of the Philippines.

Koreans have small yet significant contribution to Philippine economy. They have created another source of livelihood for our people. For that we, Filipinos, should be grateful. Of course, not many are aware of this so I am alone in this quest.

Every waking moment of my life, I try in every possible way to show my husband how grateful I am for his instrumental effort in creating Philippine Yeonge-Yeonsu. It is a mission statement in itself, one that my husband and I intend to keep for as long as we can.

Indeed, the measure of great love transcends a person. I honor my husband for his great love for me, my people and my country.