PH Embassy in Israel Honors Filipinos at Independence Day Gala
Philippine Ambassador to Israel Macairog S. Alberto (left) shares a toast with Israeli Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern (right). (Tel Aviv PE photo)
TEL AVIV 12 June 2022 – Philippine Ambassador to Israel Macairog S. Alberto hosted an evening reception at Sheraton Tel Aviv to celebrate the 124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
In his remarks, Ambassador Alberto honored Filipino heroes who sacrificed for our country’s freedom. The Ambassador also paid tribute to modern day heroes: medical frontliners who battled the pandemic, soldiers defending national sovereignty, civil servants in the forefront of good governance and leadership, and the business and labor sector who worked for the Philippine economy’s recovery and resilience. He also expressed deep appreciation for Israel’s friendship and support, and assured the continuity of bilateral cooperation under the incoming Marcos administration.
Israeli Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern recalled President Manuel L. Quezon’s “Open Door” policy, which provided refuge for Jews fleeing the Holocaust in Europe, as well as the Philippines’ vote in favor of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1947, noting that it was the lone Asian country to do so. He credited the visit of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in 2018 for reinvigorating Philippines-Israel ties, now flourishing in various fields such as economy and trade, tourism, labor, energy, agriculture, and security.
The Intelligence Minister also congratulated the Philippines on the successful and orderly conduct of its national elections in May 2022, and conveyed Israel’s readiness to work closely with the incoming government in furthering Philippine-Israel relations, particularly in innovation, agriculture, food security, and poverty reduction.
During the reception, guests were treated to videos of breathtaking tourism destinations and colorful traditions in the Philippines. Cultural items such as terno dresses, barong Filipino, purses made of native textiles, hand-made accessories, and Philippine tobacco, as well as Hebrew-language brochures on the Philippines were also displayed. END
For more information, visit https://www.telavivpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.org.il, https://www.facebook.com/PHinIsrael/, or https://twitter.com/PHinIsrael