Following the tragedy caused by typhoon 'Ondoy,' the State of Israel has donated a shipment of medicine to support the needs of the typhoon victims. The shipment of medicine was turned over on October 7, 2009 (Wednesday) to the Office of Senator Richard Gordon, Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), at the Philippine Senate, Pasay City.

"Needless to say, the tragedy that followed 'Ondoy' touched the hearts of many people in Israel, thus making the need to offer assistance more urgent," according to Ambassador Zvi Vapni. This is in part of the ongoing good relations between the State of Israel and the Republic of the Philippines.

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Israel donates medicine for Ondoy victims

In addition to the medicine donation of the State of Israel, an Israeli organization called Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid (IsraAID) sent a team of medical experts to help affected families of typhoons ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng.’ The Israeli experts, six volunteer doctor, nurses and paramedics from IsraAID, arrived in the Philippines last October 10, 2009. They will stay in the country for two weeks to offer medical assistance and medications to the typhoon victims. 

To date, they have already started their free medical assistance to victims in the Laguna area in coordination with “Operation Blessing,” a Filipino Christian organization. In the next two weeks, the Israeli experts are set to visit affected communities within Metro Manila and Northern Luzon.

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Israeli experts offer free medical assistance for typhoon victims

In an attempt to contribute to the water problem in the Philippines, the Embassy of Israel and the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ICCP) spearheaded a seminar on the latest Water Technology in Israel on September 15, 2009 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Makati City.

The seminar was attended by various guests from the various local water districts throughout Luzon, water-related and agricultural companies, members of the media as well as concerned government and private institutions. Among the notable speakers during the event are Ambassador Zvi Vapni of the Embassy of Israel, Atty. Mai Flor of MIYA, and Professor Avner Adin from the Department of Soil and Water Sciences of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

According to Professor Adin, although there is enough water for everyone and for future generations, the inadequacy of the existing water quality prevents us from using its full potential. This is where technology plays a very important role. Notably, Israel led the way in implementing superior water technology through its water reuse projects, seawater desalination plants, water conservation, rain enhancement and storm water utilization projects.

This seminar was in line with the recently held WATEC 2009: The 5th International Water Technologies, Renewable Energy & Environmental Control Exhibition & the 2nd International Conference on November 14 to 17, 2009 which was conducted in Israel.

(In the above photo are ICCP Executive Director Ferdinand Sarfati, Ambassador Zvi Vapni, Professor Avner Adin and Atty. Mai Flor.)

The gala opening of the highly acclaimed Israeli play “Apples from the Desert” was successfully staged on September 3, 2009 at the CCP Little Theater, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. Hosted by the Embassy of Israel, the event was attended by invited guests from the academe, media, diplomatic circle, business and Jewish community.  The play was also graced by the internationally renowned and multi-awarded playwright herself, Savyon Liebrecht. 

Apples from the Desert is a comedy-romantic play which depicts the story of a young religious teener Rivka who fell in love with Dooby who happens to be a kibbutznik. The complexity of their love affair turned into chaos after their relationship was found out by her traditional and religious father, fearful yet loving mother and her hilarious unmarried aunt, whose timely antics are remarkable.

The play is collaborative project of the Embassy of Israel in Manila and Tanghalang Pilipino. Directed by Tess Jamias and translated by Liza Magtoto, the play has already gained applause and recognition after it has been staged in Tagalog last August 2009. Apples from the Desert was first performed at Beit Lessin in Israel in September 2006. After the play won various awards in the Israeli Theater Award, it has been staged for almost 500 times already, the latest of which is in the Philippines.

The Embassy of Israel proudly brought to the Philippines one of Israel’s “Eight Young Chefs of the Next Generation” named by a prestigious Israeli food magazine. The innovative Chef Zion Barnes presented the new Israeli cuisine to Filipinos as he came up with new recipes but with the traditional influences of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Spanish, German and European styles of cooking.

Chef Zion Barnes was featured during the Israeli Food Festival at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City on August 10 to 16, 2009 and at the Cebu City Mariott Hotel in Cebu on August 19 to 28, 2009.

Israeli musician Tal Kravitz once again impressed the Filipino audience in his July 20 to 23, 2009 perfomance. He performed at several unversities like Lyceum University of the Philippines (Manila), Far Eastern University and University of San Carlos (Talamban Campus), Cebu. He also performed at Casino Español in Cebu. 

Tal Kravitz is an Israeli musician who travels around the world and collect ethnic and rare musical instruments.  In his previous visit to the country, Tal did not just learn how to play local bamboo instruments. He also managed to learn two Filipino songs, “Dahil Sa Iyo” and “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan.”  Naturally, this endears him to the hearts of the Filipinos.