The San Juan City local government, together with the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, launched on Tuesday, October 1, its newest learning hub aimed at fostering and nurturing the love for reading among young students.

Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss and Mayor Francis Zamora (photos by Patrick Ely Garcia)

Mayor Francis Zamora, Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss, and other city government and Israel Embassy officials led the inauguration of the Be'eri Learning Center located at the San Juan Elementary School.

According to Fluss, "Be'eri" was derived from a town or kibbutz in Southern Israel. The word also means "well," which symbolizes the flow of knowledge and inspiration, much like how education serves as a wellspring of learning and growth.

"Like a well that continually provides water, education continuously nurtures minds, fostering development and enlightenment," Fluss said.

"The embassy hopes that the relaxed setting of this learning center will encourage the students to develop a greater interest in reading while also enjoying time with their classmates through board games that we have provided. By moving away from the traditional classroom setup of tables and chairs, students will have the opportunity to explore a more flexible learning approach, where they can lounge on bean bags or sit on the floor, fostering a more dynamic and interactive learning experience in an informal setting," he added.

(Photos by Patrick Ely Garcia)

The embassy has established two similar learning centers, one in Bagong Tanyag Elementary School in Taguig (Jerusalem Learning Resource Center) and another in Malaya Elementary School in Quezon City (Ofakim Learning Resource Center). Both are named after different cities in Israel.

For his part, Zamora expressed the city's gratitude to the envoy for their continuous support to its programs and initiatives, particularly with its education and health-centered efforts.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, San Juan's schools division office collaborated with the embassy in celebrating Earth Day. The latter also distributed vegetable kits to various schools in San Juan.

In May of last year, the Embassy of Israel partnered with the local government unit (LGU), Makati Medical Center Foundation, and Operation Blessing for its ISHA Project aimed at improving the health and wellness of Filipino women and promote cervical and breast cancer awareness.

Derived from the word "Isha," which means "woman" in Hebrew, the ISHA Project was launched in 2022 with the primary goal of serving as an efficient and effective tool for responding to the health and wellness needs of Filipinas who have limited access to health services, particularly tests that help detect cervical and breast cancer.

During the event, a total of 70 women-beneficiaries were provided with free PAP Smear, breast exam, and consultation. Those who tested positive were helped by the Makati Medical Center Foundation and Operation Blessing in seeking treatment.

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