Once a upon time in the world history, the Philippines became hero of the Jewish. The former President Manuel L. Quezon in 1939 opened the doors of the Philippines to 1,300 Jews escaping the Holocaust in Europe before the war erupted. This started the close friendship of Jews and Filipinos, which is commemorated through the Open Doors Monument in Tel Aviv.
In 2013, a documentary entitled Rescue in the Philippines shared the untold story of this Jewish rescue in Manila. It was heartwarming to hear the stories of Holocaust survivors who were based in Manila and how Filipinos warmly accepted them like their own family.
In November 2013, Danny Pins, who is the son of a Holocaust Survivor in Manila, Margot Casell Pins, joined the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to be the first ones on the ground in Tacloban and help the Typhoon Haiyan Victims.
Thank you, Philippines!
On 2015, this close Jewish-Filipino friendship is the inspiration behind the Embassy of Israel’s “Thank You, Philippines!” campaign. It started with the launch of the commemorative Philippine-Israel stamp featuring the Open Doors monument.
On February 26 at 7pm, Rose Fostanes is leading the Thank You, Philippines Jazz Fest at the Music Museum to celebrate the historical friendship between Israel and the Philippines.
This year’s Jazz Festival coincides with the commemoration of the 70th year of the end of World War II, as well as the liberation of Manila. It will highlight the Philippines’ role in the rescue of 1,300 Jewish people from the Holocaust.
Watch the video of heroism of the Filipinos, An Open Door: Jewish Rescue in the Philippines (Movie)
An Open Door is a feature-length documentary on the uplifting story of how a small Asian nation was able to save over 1,300 Jews as they fled the pogroms of Nazi Germany. It is written, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Noel M. Izon and co-produced by author Sharon Delmendo. This is the third film in his World War II trilogy Forgotten Stories.
This unique film will explore the rare confluence of the Pacific and European theaters. It juxtaposes momentous events in history such as the passage of the Nuremberg Laws on September 15, 1935and, exactly two months later, the inauguration of the Philippines as a Commonwealth of the United States. One door closes and another opens.
An Open Door is the story of a deep and improbable, international friendship borne of common adversity and intense love for freedom. Together, Filipinos and Jews struggled, endured and ultimately prevailed against overwhelming odds.
Noel M. Izon is an independent filmmaker based in the Washington, DC area. He was born in Manila in the first year of the Philippine independence after World War II and is now an American citizen.
HEROISM OF THE FILIPINO, RECOGNIZED BY ISRAEL
The Jewish testify how the Filipino became their hero
WATCH THE VIDEO: How The Philippines Saved Jews During The Holocaust
In the early days of World War II, Israel faced unprecedented persecution and terror, leading to the diaspora of around 70,000 Jewish people from Europe. In response, then-President Manuel Quezon issued 30,000 visas to the victims of war.
Ambassador Imperial said, “It was a time when our moral compass pointed in the right direction when human compassion and hope prevailed over hate and prejudice.”
Although the Philippines were only able to welcome 1,300 Jews to the country before the Japanese invasion, the Filipino people showed that legendary warmth and hospitality they are known for.
In 1947, UN Resolution 181 sought to create the State of Israel, a move that was wholly supported by the Philippines. At the ceremony, Risho LeZion Mayor Dov Zur cited the Philippines’ historic vote in favor of the establishment of the state of Israel; and the mutual humanitarian commitment both countries continue to this day.
Also present at the ceremony was Margot Pins Kestenbaum, a Holocaust survivor who fled to the Philippines from Germany in 1938 with her family. Margot is one of the proponents of recognizing the Philippines’ “life-saving actions” during the war.
The Israel will be forever thankful to the Filipinos.
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