PH Embassy in Israel Hosts Screening of Quezon’s Game on Holocaust Memorial Day
Guests who came for the screening of Quezon’s Game learn more about the film’s context through the exhibition. (Tel Aviv PE Photo)
TEL AVIV 13 May 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv held a screening of the film Quezon’s Game in the central Israel city of Kfar Saba on Holocaust Memorial Day. The film moved local Israelis who learned for the first time of President Manuel Quezon’s humane act of giving refuge to Jews fleeing the Holocaust in the 1930s.
Quezon’s Game retells the events that led to Jews’ escape to the Philippines, and the inspiring back story of how President Manuel Quezon battled sickness and the American bureaucracy and politics to fulfill this humanitarian gesture. President Quezon, working with Manila’s Jewish community and a few compassionate US officials, lobbied hard to obtain 10,000 visas for the Jewish refugees, but succeeded in taking in only around 1,300 before the Second World War stopped further immigration. These Jews who were able to leave Europe and settled in Manila were later called Manilaners.
Amb. Pedro Laylo Jr. delivers his remarks. (Tel Aviv PE Photo)
In his remarks, Ambassador Pedro R. Laylo, Jr. paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and lauded Quezon’s moral courage and compassion during this horrific period in history. Noting the resurgence of antisemitism globally, Ambassador Laylo pointed to the story of Quezon and the Manilaners as a source of inspiration in a world still confronting prejudice and hate. "Quezon's compassion for Jewish refugees shines like a beacon during the darkness of the Holocaust. Their legacy binds our two peoples together and gives us hope in these troubled times”, Ambassador Laylo said.
The event was a joint effort by the Embassy, son of the late Manilaner Max Weissler Danny Weissler, the Lions Club of Kfar Saba, and the city government of Kfar Saba. Attendees included the family and friends of the Weisslers, Kfar Saba Deputy Mayor Meme Sheinfeine, Lions Kfar Saba members, guests from the northern Israel community of Kfar Yassin led by Sheikh Raiq Khatib, city residents, and Filipino community members.
The Embassy continues to raise awareness of the legacy of Quezon and the story of the Manilaners– an important emotional and historic link between Filipinos and Israelis. Additional screenings of Quezon’s Game in other Israeli communities are already being finalized and their schedules will be announced in due course. The Embassy hopes the movie would also earn recognition for the Philippines, and give President Quezon his rightful place among the righteous individuals who came to the aid of the Jewish people during the Holocaust. END
Guests during the Philippine National Anthem prior the screening. (Tel Aviv PE Photo)
Ambassador Laylo with a holocaust survivor. (Tel Aviv PE Photo)
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