By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
The Quezon City Local Government is set to build a Philippine-Israel Friendship Park within the Quezon Memorial Circle to honor the part of the Philippines in saving the lives of some Jewish refugees during the Second World War.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ephraim Ben Matityau (via Twitter / MANILA BULLETIN)
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista led the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ephraim Ben Matityau for the construction of a Friendship Park within the QMC.
Based on the memorandum, the Philippine-Israel Friendship Park will feature a special marker in honor of President Manuel Quezon for saving the lives of over 1,000 Jewish refugees during the Second World War, and also to commemorate the Philippines’ vote in favor of the partition of Palestine and the recreation of the state of Israel.
"This signing ceremony is about the establishment of a marker, special monument in Quezon Memorial Circle which is going to honor the unique friendship between Israel and the Philippines," Matityau said after the MOU signing held at the QC Hall over the week.
According to the Israeli Ambassador, the monument will be dedicated to Manuel Quezon, Manuel Roxas, and Elpidio Quirino as the president and vice president in 1947 for saving Jewish refugees to enter the Philippines during Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s reign.
The Quezon City government together with the Embassy of Israel and President Elpidio Quirino Foundation, Inc. already broke ground for the Friendship Park last December 2017.
Matityau said that the park will be a great sign of friendship and it demonstrates the unique relationship of Israel and the Philippines.