I am fascinated by the Philippines in many ways. I have fond memories of the Philippines, as I first encountered a Filipino lady, Cora Swaz, who served as a professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus at the 8th U.S. Army Base in Seoul's Yongsan District in the mid-1960s.

Swaz visited my old house in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, with her American friend and stayed with my family for a week when I was a middle school student. Her visit left a lasting impression on me.

During that time, the Philippines boasted a robust economy in Southeast Asia, but subsequent decades saw a divergence due to various challenges. This resulted in slower economic growth compared to its neighboring countries, which experienced rapid development and industrialization.

Notably, the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, which opened in February 1963, was repurposed for civilian use when Korean architect Kim Jong-su was commissioned to design a multi-purpose, circular, steel-frame facility. It was built by a Philippine engineering firm because Korea did not yet........

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