It was painful for me, as Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, to hear negative narratives about Israeli tourists in Siargao. What saddened me most was the impression being created that the people of Siargao themselves had turned against Israelis. This is exactly why I decided to visit Siargao personally.

I came to the island because we care. We listened carefully, and spoke directly with local leaders, tourism stakeholders, business owners, police officials, and residents. We also held a town hall discussion to listen directly to concerns and perspectives and ensure they were being heard seriously and respectfully.

I encountered warmth and openness of the people of Siargao, as I have across the Philippines, grounded in a deep culture of hospitality and compassion. What I encountered was not hatred. I encountered concern, honesty, and a sincere desire to preserve the peaceful spirit of the island. Most people wanted dialogue and solutions, not conflict.

Some told me they were afraid of Israelis because “all Israelis were in the military.”

Yes, I served in the military myself. In fact, I stayed beyond the mandatory service period and eventually reached the rank of captain. But does that mean Filipinos should be afraid of me? Hearing such statements was painful and deeply saddening. Military service in Israel is mandatory because of our security reality, but it does not define a person’s character or intentions.

It is also very different from the reactions I usually receive across the Philippines. When I tell Filipinos I am from Israel, I often hear: “Wow, I dream of visiting the Holy Land,” or “I have already been there and hope to return.”

Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during our meeting when I presented my credentials, shared memories of his own visit to Israel, where he was impressed by Israeli agriculture and drip irrigation. When we met again earlier this year in Bacolod during the inauguration of a water purification facility, based on Israeli technology and serving half a million people, he once again praised Israeli water innovation and the cooperation between our countries.

So let us speak honestly about concerns surrounding some Israeli tourists in Siargao, especially around General Luna.

Yes, there are Israeli tourists whose behavior is unacceptable. To this I say clearly, this behavior is wrong, disrespectful, and unacceptable. I condemn it completely and call anyone harmed by illegal or abusive behavior to report it to the relevant Philippine authorities. The Embassy of Israel fully supports fair and firm enforcement of the law.

At the same time, I ask people not to paint all Israelis with the same brush.

During my visit, I met Israeli tourists who deeply love Siargao, respect its people, support local businesses, and genuinely appreciate Filipino hospitality. Many are young backpackers searching for surfing, nature, peace, adventure, and healing. They are diverse individuals, not a single stereotype.

I also ask that broader international political narratives should not overshadow the reality of Siargao as a peaceful and welcoming tourism destination.

Unfortunately, a second planned gathering could not proceed due to protocol and coordination constraints, but I immediately apologized and organized a Zoom dialogue the following day with more than 70 participants from the local business community, because continuing the conversation was important to us.

We also launched an Embassy awareness campaign directed at Israeli travellers visiting the Philippines, encouraging respectful tourism and reminding visitors that when they travel abroad, they become ambassadors of their country.

Our message is simple: respect the local culture, respect the law, and respect the community that welcomes you.

Beyond the discussions and headlines, I also fell in love with Siargao myself.

I experienced the beauty of Cloud 9, and I also learned about some of Siargao’s famous surf breaks around General Luna, from the powerful waves of Cloud 9 and Quicksilver to the more beginner-friendly Jacking Horse. I understood why so many travellers from around the world fall in love with this special place. But beyond the waves and natural beauty, what stayed with me most was the warmth of the people and the openness of the local leadership.

In the end, dialogue is always stronger than fear and stereotypes.

As discussed with the local leadership, I will definitely return to continue partnerships on water solutions and other areas of cooperation.

Because we came to Siargao not only because we care about tourism or Israeli visitors.

We came because we care about the friendship between Filipinos and Israelis.