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  The 116th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of the Philippines was celebrated on June 12 in the Tel Aviv Carlton Hotel. The invitees included many Distinguished Ambassadors, Consuls and other Diplomatic personalities, military and medical people who participated in the rescue operations following the nature disaster that happened in the Philippine.

 

The Philippine national government declared June 12, 2014 as one of the Regular National Holiday in the entire Philippines in celebration of the country’s Independence Day celebration.

The June 12, 2014 Independence Day Celebration is considered as the 116th anniversary celebration of the Philippine declaration of Independence from the Spanish colonial regime that governed the country for more than 377 years of occupation.

 

The Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippine, His Excellency Generoso D. G. Calonege, welcomed the participants and said:

 

Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs Meir Cohen, Excellencies and other members of the diplomatic corps, friends and fellow Filipinos, good evening and welcome.

 

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, I wish to thank you for joining us this evening as we commemorate the 116tb Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.

 

As I recall events of the last year, I cannot help but note some difficulties that the Philippines encountered. Many of you have beard about the tragic and devastating effects of Typhoon Haiyan in the Central Visayas region. The storm and its aftermath affected thousands of families, but the outpouring of support and assistance from the international community has been overwhelming as well.

 

We would like to take this opportunity to once again express the Philippines' deep appreciation to the Government of the State of Israel for sending a humanitarian delegation from the IDF Home Front Command. The state-of-the-art field hospital they established served almost three thousand local residents of Bogo, Cebu during the crucial first few days after the typhoon .

 

I would also like to thank other organizations that took the initiative to send their own teams to the Philippines, such as ZAKA, IsraAID, the Israel Relief Coalition, and the American Jewish Committee, as well private Israeli citizens who sent donations to the affected areas. Your actions are a testament to the deep friendship between our countries and our peoples.

 

As I speak, rehabilitation  and reconstruction  efforts are still ongoing,  but we Filipinos are a resilient and enduring people.

Despite the setbacks suffered in 2013 the Philippine economy has maintained its growth, with an even more positive outlook for the future. During the same year the Philippines achieved investment grade status from all three major global credit-rating agencies: Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings, and Moody's.

 

These were achieved through fiscal discipline, a stable political climate, and good governance through the leadership of President Benigno S.Aquino III.

 

Furthermore, the World Bank's 2014 Global Economic Prospects Report forecasts growth of 6.5% this year, 7.1% in 2015, and 6.5% in 2016, while the World Economic Forum raised the Philippines' rank to 59 out of 148 countries in its Global Competitiveness Index.

 

Inflation is also at a four-year low, and with the planned increase in infrastructure

building , prospects for the Philippine economy are very positive indeed. and  as  our  economy  grows,  scvtfo;s  our  number  of  visitors.  In 2013 the Philippines hosted a total of 4.7 million tourists, up by  10% from 2012. Israeli visitors alone posted a 30% increase last year, maintaining the steady double digit increase since 2010.

 

The Philippines' geographic location historically made it the crossroads between the East and the West, and a melting pot of diverse cultures and beliefs.

 

Some may say that our country is an archipelago divided by the waters of the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. We say, however, that the Philippines' seven thousand one hundred and seven different islands are bound together by these bodies of water which, since time immemorial, have served as our source of livelihood, means of transportation, trade and cultural exchanges.

 

Many of you are familiar with  the Filipino culture of warmth, hospitality and openness borne out of this history. For those who are not familiar, I have good news for you.

 

The signing of the Philippines -Israel Air Service Agreement last month will pave the way for direct flights between the Philippines and Israel, bringing the Philippines closer and more accessible to you. Soon enough, those who may wish to escape the heat of an Israeli summer will find it easier to seek refuge in the cool rains and forests of the Philippines . Filipinos who yearn to visit the birthplace of Christianity will also find it easier to travel to Israel.

 

Philippine - Israel relations have always been warm. Our common commitment to the values of freedom and democracy has been a springboard for collaborative efforts in various fields for decades.

 

I am pleased to inform you that agricultural cooperation is going well and strong as demonstrated by the second phase of the Philippines - Israel Center for Agricultural Training, also known as PICAT, and by the Granot Agrostudies Program, both under the Ministry of Foreign Affair's MASHAV.

Originally began with one pilot project in Nueva Ecija in 2006, PICAT provided a venue for Israeli experts to provide on-site training and capacity building for the cultivation of high-value crops to Filipino farmers. The program is now on its eighth year and has expanded to seven other provinces in Central Luzon, namely Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Zambales.

 

Granot Agrostudies provides agricultural training  for Filipino students in Israel. To date, more than one thousand Filipino students have trained under this program and returned to the Philippines where they can put the agricultural techniques they have learned into action.

 

Defense and logistics cooperation between Israel and the Philippines is also well underway, highlighted by the visit of our Secretary of National Defense Voltaire T. Gazmin earlier this year and the recent re-opening of the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache. We welcome this new dimension in Philippines - Israel relations and look forward to working with the Israeli government in this field.

 

The Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to peace and security in the Middle East. Since 2009, it has maintained peacekeepers at the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force stationed in the Golan. Together with other troop contributing countries, the mission plays a pivotal role in ensuring stability in the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria.

 

The most visible indication of the good relations between our countries, however, is in the relationship between our peoples. Filipinos have become part of everyday life in Israel as they care for the most vulnerable members of society: the elderly and the  differently-abled. Their hard work allow Israelis to carry on with their daily lives, confident that their loved ones are in good hands.

 

The Philippines appreciates this important role that has been entrusted to Filipino workers, as well as the policies enacted by the Israeli government to ensure that their rights and welfare are protected.

 

The year 2014 marks the 116th year since our forefathers sowed the seeds of the Republic of the Philippines. It also marks the 57th year since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Israel. As we celebrate both auspicious events this evening, we also invite you to join us as we continue our journey as a country, and as partners in the international community.

 

Thank you very much, toda raba, maraming salamat.

After the Ambassador's speech, addressed the participants the Minister of Welfare and Social Services, Mr. Meir Cohen, and said the following:

I am greatly pleased and honored to represent the Government and the People of Israel in congratulating the government and people of the Philippines as they celebrate the 116th anniversary of their independence.

 

Israel and the Philippines have always enjoyed friendly relations with one another. One can trace the origins of these warm relations all the way back to World War II when the President of the Philippines made a concerted effort to welcome the Jews of Europe into his country during and immediately after the horrors of the Holocaust. Moreover, in 1947, the Philippines was the only country in all of Asia which supported the UN partition plan to give the Jews a state of their own. And even today, the Philippines takes an active role in supporting the wellbeing of Israel’s citizens: it is an active member of UNDOF, the peace keeping  force in the Golan Heights, which is essential to our security.

 

Yet the people of the Philippines do not only care for Israelis through government action. Today there are tens of thousands of Pilipino caregivers working in Israel. Thanks to these caregivers, citizens of the Philippines have earned a reputation in Israel for their dedication, patience, and compassion.   

 

For our part, Israel is glad to be able to reciprocate this dedication and sense of service to the Philippines through MASHAV. Since the establishment of this government agency, thousands of Pilipino students have studied in MASHAV courses. The “PICAT Project” has been particularly successful and we are pleased that it has spread to eight Pilipino provinces since its initial implementation.

 

Moreover, after the destruction caused by  Typhoon Yolanda last year, Israel sent a humanitarian delegation from the IDF Homefront Command and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist the Philippines. Beyond the medical care which Israelis administered to over three thousand Pilipino typhoon victims in a field hoapital built by the Israelis, we also rebuilt two schools and drilled many new water wells. Israelis also offered on the spot courses in numerous subjects to help Pilipino citizens be better prepared for natural disasters.

 

We are also satisfied with the continuation of the “Agrostudies Project” in the Philippines, which enables hundreds of students to come to Israel and receive training in advanced agriculture. Next August, a new generation of 550 students will arrive in Israel for training and we wish them best of luck in their studies here.

 

In terms of economics, many Israeli companies are beginning to turn their attention to the Philippines. They see the vast untapped potential and as we speak, are investing in a variety of sectors in the Pilipino economy, particularly the defense industry which can be helpful to its national security.

 

In the international arena, Israel is also pleased with the Philippines’ actions over the past month. We appreciate that the Philippines took Israel’s position in UNESCO and WHO votes. We hope to see this pattern continue.

 

On June 22, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr. Albert Del Rosario, is scheduled to visit Israel. Our own Minister of Foreign Affairs, Avignor Lieberman, is looking forward to this visit and hopes to have a robust dialog with his Pilipino counterpart on variety of topics. More generally, the government of Israel views these high level visits as a powerful demonstration of the strong ties which bind our two nations together.  

 

To conclude, Mr. Ambassador, please convey our congratulations to your Government and to the Pilipino People on the anniversary of your independence. May the Philippines enjoy growing prosperity and success, and may the ties of friendship between our two countries continue to flourish.

 

The national anthems of both countries were sung by a popular Philippine singer - Kathlyn Elegado. Also performed Rose Osang Fostanes - a Philippine singer who works in Israel and won the first place in the Israeli X-Factor contest.

 

I want to add:  I have attended many events commemorating Independence Day of various countries, and heard many speeches. In this particularly event, I  felt deeply the strong friendship between the people of both countries – Philippines and Israel – which was evident in the speeches and atmosphere ( Sima Lahat).

 

Photos Silvia Golan