President Benigno Aquino III accepts the credentials of State of Israel Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Ephraim Ben Matityau during the Presentation of Credentials at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on October 7, 2014.
After the presentation of credentials, President Aquino and Ambassador Ben Matityau exchanged views on how to further strengthen Israeli-Philippine relations, particularly in the areas of high-tech innovation, excellence in research and development, emergency preparedness and agro-technology, as basis for strong future cooperation.
“Israel has 1,301 good reasons to thank the Philippines and you Mr. President. Your nation has 1,301 good reasons to stand proud before the family of nations as a role model,” Ambassador Ben Matityau told President Aquino.
The Israeli envoy noted that 1,300 Jewish people were graciously saved by the Philippine government under President Manuel Quezon during the Holocaust. He added that the Philippines gave one vote for the United Nations resolution for the creation of the state of Israel.
“Next year, we are going to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of Manila. On that occasion, we hope to dedicate a friendship monument in Manila presented by the people of Israel in appreciation to the Filipino people,” Ambassador Ben Matityau said.
The envoy also expressed appreciation to the thousands of Filipino professionals who participate in development and capacity-building programs in Israel and in the Philippines.
“We hope to see 540 Filipino students coming over to Israel in a unique 11-month internship in agriculture. The door is open to so many more opportunities to the benefit of our nations,” Ambassador Ben Matityau said.
“Israel is thankful to many thousands of Filipinos who, with great hearts, are working so hard as caregivers to many Israelis in need. Those Filipinos and the Israelis they care for are Ambassadors of goodwill and another pillar of friendship,” he added.
Ambassador Ben Matityau further expressed optimism for the implementation of a joint committee for science and technology proposed by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario. “With this kind of initiative, we can reach a new chapter in our developing relations. Israel’s position as a HiTech Nation and the Philippines aspirations are a perfect match – from new challenges of the CyberTech to BioTech, NanoTech or AgriTech – the future is full of opportunities,” he said.
Ambassador Ben Matityau arrived in Manila on August 1. He is a veteran of Israel's Foreign Service and a graduate of its Diplomatic School in 1981. He had served as a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Peace and Normalization team with Egypt.In 1983, he served as Israel’s Deputy Consul General in Toronto, Canada. He also served as Deputy Ambassador in Nicosia-Cyprus (1985-88), Consul-Director of Israel's Academic Affairs Office to the US based in New York (1991-96), Consul General to East Australia based in Sydney (1999-2002), Acting Ambassador in Copenhagen (2004), and Ambassador to Vietnam and Laos (2005-2009), and Acting Ambassador to Ethiopia (Summer 2013).
In Jerusalem’s home office, Matityau served as Head of the Canadian Affairs and Israel's North American missions for Public Diplomacy (1988-1991), Spokesman and Deputy Director of the Press Division (1996-1999), and Head of the Overseas Development Projects and Public Private Partnership Bureau for MASHAV-Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation (2009-2014).