President Quezon’s Rescue of Jews Honored during Online Holocaust Commemoration in Tel Aviv

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola speaks at the online forum held in commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Tel Aviv PE photo)

TEL AVIV 05 May 2025 — The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, in meaningful partnership with Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center – and Mr. Danny Weissler, son of the late Manilaner Max Weissler, successfully held an online forum commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The event highlighted a proud chapter in the shared history of the Philippines and Israel through President Manuel L. Quezon’s rescue of 1,300 Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. The late Max Weissler was one of those refugees who found safe refuge in the Philippines, thanks to President Quezon’s Open Door Policy.

Ambassador Aileen Mendiola described the legacy of President Quezon and the Manilaners as the foundation of the strong friendship between the Philippines and Israel. “May their story give us strength, inspiration, and hope as we continue to confront prejudice and hate in these troubled times”, Ambassador Mendiola said.

In his discussion, Dr. David Silberklang, Senior Historian at Yad Vashem, explored the efforts for Jewish migration during the Holocaust and the global responses to the refugee crisis as the Nazi persecutions began. Dr. Silberklang noted that only a few opened their doors to these fleeing refugees – the Philippines, Shanghai, and the Dominican Republic.

Adding a personal perspective, Mr. Danny Weissler recounted his father Max Weissler’s escape from Nazi Germany and journey to the Philippines in 1939. Danny highlighted that 10 of Max’s descendants are alive today because of President Quezon.

Manolo Quezon, writer and grandson of President Quezon, shared insights on how his grandfather’s personal convictions and travels abroad influenced his fateful decision to accept Jewish refugees in the Philippines. He shared that President Quezon’s compassion for the Jews laid the groundwork for the Philippines long-standing pro-refugee stance and accession to international conventions that protect displaced populations. This in turn led to the country’s acceptance of refugees over the decades.

The event was made more meaningful by the participation of two living Manilaners – Ralph Preiss and George Loewenstein – their descendants, and scholars who have pioneered the research on President Quezon and the Jews he rescued. Around 130 diplomats, government officials, academics, and students attended the virtual forum. The forum served not only to remember Holocaust victims and survivors but also to honor righteous individuals who helped and saved them, such as President Quezon. It also reaffirmed the Philippines’ historical commitment to protecting human dignity, assisting refugees, and standing against antisemitism and other forms of intolerance. END

Mr. Manolo Quezon shared how President Manuel Quezon’s personal convictions and travels abroad influenced the late president’s fateful decision to accept Jewish refugees in the Philippines. (Tel Aviv PE photo)

Ambassador Aileen Mendiola described the legacy of President Quezon and the Manilaners as the foundation of the strong friendship between the Philippines and Israel. (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.