If anything could be learned from Israel, it is their seemingly natural inclination to the central role of science in their people’s lives, which they happily adopted in their daily activities.
This is not lost to invited guests during the country’s 69th Independence Day Celebration at a mall in Taguig City. Here, displayed on one side of the cavernous hall, is a gallery of the many men and women—mostly Nobel Prize winners—which described their contributions to make the world a better place to live in.
Israel’s influence extends to mathematics, robotics, chemistry, optics, medicine, economics, biotechnology, computer software and hardware (it introduced the flash drive to the world), laser keyboard, arms and ammunition (the iron dome, a mobile all-weather defense system, and the Uzi submachine gun), agriculture (it made its desert arable), energy, consumer goods and appliances, computer games, food, beauty (think of epilators) and many more.
Standing shoulder to shoulder among these giants of science is Dr. Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952), a scientist and statesman, who served as Israel’s first president.
One of his photo captions put it well: “He understood the importance of integrating science with industry and advanced the establishment of science-based industry”.
Regarding the connection between science and the land of Israel: “I trust and feel sure in my heart that science will bring to this land both peace and a renewal of its youth, creating here the springs of a new spiritual and material life. I speak of both science for its own sake and science as a means to an end.”
Having reaped science’s benefits, which made Israel into one of the world’s leaders in scientific invention, this tiny sliver of real estate, which measures only 20,770 square kilometers and with a population of 8.3 million (in contrast, the island of Luzon is 104,688 square kilometers, while the Philippines’s population is more than 100 million), stands at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Israelis are only too happy to share their knowledge with Filipinos; in fact, currently training in Tel Aviv are 500 of our students who are learning the best in agriculture and animal husbandry.
With their adoption and improvement of the drip irrigation system, first used in their kibbutz farms in the 1950s, Israel was able to make “the dessert bloom”. They are the leading supplier of fruits and vegetables when Europe is in the grip of winter, according to Matityau.
History of friendship
MEANWHILE, over the years, there have been various agreements signed between Manila and Tel-Aviv. Among them are the “Treaty of Friendship”, technical cooperation in agriculture, cooperation on the peaceful use of atomic energy, abolition of transit and visitor’s visa, tourism, cultural, educational and academic research, and memoranda of understanding on scientific and technological cooperation, among others.
Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau did not dwell so much on this scientific side of their wonderful country, but instead highlighted the special relations between the Philippines and Israel.
“That is why we are here…it is really [about] the celebration of many jubilees. We decided to do something unusual, which is not the typical celebration and traditional reception. Our cultural fusion is going to show…the unique relationship between our two countries.”
He was referring to Israel’s milestones this year, one of which is the 60th year of Philippine-Israel Diplomatic Relationship, the 50th year of Jerusalem Day, the 69th Israel National Day and the 80th year when then-President Manuel L. Quezon opened our doors to European Jews escaping Hitler’s pogrom in World War 2.
He said the state of Israel was created 100 years ago when Lord Balfour, then Great Britain’s foreign secretary, sent a letter to the head of the Jewish community in London, Baron Rothschild, “where he promised him that actually, His Majesty looks favorably to the idea of establishing a national home for the Jewish people. That was the Balfour declaration.”
Matityau then turned toward British Ambassador Asif Ahmad, one of the event’s distinguished guests, and said: “So that started it all…. I can thank [your country] for that, ambassador…you definitely had a fingerprint in the Middle East.”
“And that led to the creation of a momentum: That 30 years after, and 70 years ago, the Philippines was very much involved, when it was under then-President Manuel A. Roxas.”
He said Roxas and Elpidio Quirino, as vice president and secretary of foreign affairs, decided to vote—a deciding one—in favor of granting statehood to Israel.
“Actually, the vote of the Philippines was the defining moment from which Israel was actually born. When Philippines said ‘yes’, that was the time we knew we had a state. That is something to remember”, declared Matityau, as the crowd erupted in applause and nodded their heads in agreement.
He said this year, to honor the two Philippine leaders, Israel will be planting trees in their memory in Tel Aviv—a longtime tradition.
The envoy thereafter thanked the representatives of both the Quirino (including granddaughter Cory) and Roxas families.
“This, by the way, is the second-most important pillar in our relationship, which is beyond the politics of the time, and beyond [any other] interest.”
‘Grateful Jewish nation’
HE said there was another event, which really made a difference in the lives of their forefathers. In 1937 the president of the Philippine Commonwealth Manuel L. Quezon “decided to open the gates of the Philippines to Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. This was a very courageous and great moral stand that earned the Filipinos a grateful Jewish nation to them.”
“What is more interesting—and many of you may not know—is that many of those Jewish refugees stayed in the Philippines, and they are now Filipinos with some great stories,” he added, and singled-out musical genius Herbert Zipper, who led the Manila Symphony Orchestra before the second World War.
Zipper was a fresh refugee who came to the Philippines during the war. After it, Matityau said the Jewish conductor actually came back to the Philippines quite often.
“But there were also some others, such as Franz Zimmerman, who is the grandfather of Elizabeth Zimmerman, whose last name used to be ‘Duterte’.”
He said the Hahn family was also among those who stayed and made great contributions to the Philippine society.
Matityau said 60 years ago, both countries started their formal diplomatic relations under former president Carlos P. Garcia. “This is basically the moment where we moved together as two independent states. Over the years, our close ties have indeed been very remarkable.”
He noted there are more than 6,000 Filipinos who studied in Israel over the years, and noted the fact that 550 students go to Israel every year to train in agriculture for 11 months.
“But in general, it was really [about] the people-to-people connection, and our unique bond. Israel was one of the first countries to support the [survivors of Supertyphoon] Yolanda in 2013. This is another chapter that I call, ‘friends in need, are friends indeed’.”
The Israeli ambassador said nowadays, a new chapter between the two country’s relationship will be seen: Israel as a high-tech economy, which is a “natural partner” for the Philippines.
“Many of your countrymen are traveling for business. And we also see the opportunities in tourism. As we say, we are a country that we call ‘the Holy Land’, ‘the Promised Land’, and ‘the land of many promises’,” and furthered, “the connection is the Holy Land and the paradise of the Philippines: Its beautiful beaches and natural wonders.”
“There has never been a dull moment between [our country and yours, and since it is] ‘more fun in the Philippines’, that is the bridge between us”, proclaimed the ambassador.