Filipinos in Israel
By Ignacio R. Bunye
July 26, 2010
A career diplomat, Ambassador Petronila Garcia served for a long time as Consul General in Israel. She moved to Cairo in 2004 where she served a four-year stint as Ambassador to Egypt and concurrent non-resident Envoy to Sudan.
Returning to Israel on March 19, 2009 as the current Ambasssador, her immediate priority was the completion and inauguration of the Open Doors monument initiated by her predecessor, the late Ambassador Antonio Modena.
Through her kindness, we were accompanied to the “Open Doors” monument by our Embassy’s Cultural Attaché, Chester Omaga Diaz. Chester explained that the “Open Doors” monument consists of three doors of increasing heights opening inward to form a triangle, a common feature in both the Philippine and Israeli flags.
Each door represents an important phase in RP-Israel friendship, Chester said. The first door symbolizes the Open Door Policy of President Quezon who declared in 1939: “…it is my hope and indeed my expectation, that the people of the Philippines will have in the future every reason to be glad that when the time of need came, their country was willing to extend a hand of welcome…”
The second door represents the Philippines’ act in the United Nations in 1947 when it cast what is generally regarded as the “swing vote” which led to the United Nations’ recognition of the fledgling State of Israel.
The third door represents the continuing friendly ties between the two countries. This is exemplified by the assistance extended to Israel’s elderly and disabled through the more than 30,000 Filipino caregivers now based in Israel.
In front of each door are etched footprints of three individuals representing three generations of “Manilaners” or Jews who sought refuge in the Philippines: George Lowenstein, who arrived in 1939. Max Weissler who arrived in 1941 at the age of 11. And Dorlyliz Goffer, a granddaughter of a holocaust survivor. Goffer was born in the Philippines of Filipino-Israeli parents.
During the inauguration of the Open Doors Monument, Weissler, Ruth Ephraim, widow of author Frank Ephraim, as well as several descendants of “Manilaners” attended.
So did Mayor Dov Zur, at that time the Mayor of Rishon Lezion, Israel Knesset Member Michael Eitan and special guest, then Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.
We later had the honor and pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Max Weissler at the dinner hosted by Ambassador Garcia at her official residence that same evening. Max spoke fluent Filipino. He told us that he learned to speak Tagalog before he even learned English. He profusely thanked the Filipinos who welcomed the “Manilaners.”
The dinner was a warm gathering of Filipinos who have established themselves in Israel as well as Israelis who have contributed much to deepening Filipino-Israel friendship and understanding.
Former Ambassador Yitza Orin, Simi Salpeter and Jerusalem Post's Dr. Carl Hoffman also graced the occasion.
As Director of the Rishon LeZion Foundation, Orin also greatly helped facilitate the erection of the Open Doors memorial.
(Concluded next week)
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