Korean missionary gets back lost wallet thru Radyo Inquirer listener
MANILA, Philippines–Korean missionary Park San Jun proclaimed himself a member of the Filipino family when a complete stranger returned a wallet he lost during a rainy weekend in Makati City.
Grateful that his valuables were returned, Park offered dinner to finder Salve Villaflor, a housewife who brought Park’s wallet to Radyo Inquirer during the week.
“I have been here in the Philippine for almost 9 years, I’m almost half-Filipino mentally. But this incident really gave me impression that I am part of a Filipino family,” Park, a missionary with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, said.
Villaflor, 54, a mother of six, found Park’s wallet last Saturday on Kakarong Street near the radio station on Mola corner Pasong Tirad St., Makati City.
She said she examined the contents for a name, a telephone number or address of its owner. But these were mostly written in Korean, she said.
Inside Park’s wallet were some cash and several IDs, ATM cards, credit cards, an Alien Registration Certificate (ACR) and a durable power of attorney which indicated that Park, a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, was not to be given blood transfusion even in cases of emergency.
“I thought that it was very important to the owner,” Villaflor said. Besides, she added, “I was raised never to keep things I don’t own.”
On Monday morning, Aug. 29, Villaflor and a friend, Elizabeth Garcia, went to the Philippine Daily Inquirer to turn over the wallet. Since it was a holiday, the guards told them to bring it to Radyo Inquirer, about three blocks away.
Villaflor said her husband, Danilo, who works as a family driver, “is a regular listener of Radyo Inquirer.”
Program anchors Den Macaranas, Dylan Halili and Susan K then made the public appeal for a Park San Jun to claim his wallet at the station.
A member of the congregation who heard the appeal passed the word around, until it reached Park. On Thursday, Park went to Radyo Inquirer to claim his lost possession.
According to him, he lost the wallet on a Saturday, and reported the incident to the Makati police on Sunday. He said he spent the holidays brooding over the lost valuables.
“I put everything in my wallet, my Korean ID, my Korean credit card, my Filipino credit card, my ACR, everything, so I was totally depressed for 3 to 4 days,” Park said.
“I really didn’t expect my wallet would be returned to me,” he added.
In a telephone conversation with Villaflor, Park effused with gratitude. “You are a great person,” he told Villaflor.
“I’m so happy, you know. We can meet and I can treat you to Korean food,” Park said.
Villaflor said she was just doing what she has been raised to do. “We returned things we found to its rightful owner.”
She said she raised all six children—ages 12 to 31—from her husband’s income as driver for the same family for 32 years.
Villaflor said three of her children have finished college. “We borrowed money for their tuition,” she said with a laugh. The three have gotten married, and given her three grandchildren.
