Pearl of the Orient

Pearl is one of the precious stones being used as jewelry of many people. Because it is precious, thus, everybody loves it. In my place, the word pearl is used as figure of speech. It is a symbol of beauty. It also means, beloved, important, someone, some place or something that is worth dying for. The one has it scares to lose it and will fight even until the last drop of his blood just to protect it. When I was young, I used to hear these words "Pearl of the Orient" from the mass songs being taught in school. Though I knew what pearl was, but never did I know what they really meant for the word orient. I was confused. As I grew up, it made clearer to me that the writer of the songs tried to shorten the word oriental into orient. Apparently I understand now. "Pearl of the Orient" means pearl of the oriental. It answered my question. No wonder why our heroes shed their blood and gave up their lives. It is because our country is the pearl of oriental that is worth dying for.