There are still many hostages held by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. For each hostage released under the current ceasefire (a very fragile one), Israel releases a lot of Palestinian prisoners. No matter what deception Hamas pulls off that gets magnified by the corrupted mainstream news media, Hamas cannot be trusted. Hamas can always harm the hostages secretly before deciding to release them. Remember that Hamas (which is supported by terrorist state Iran and Qatar) is guilty of murder and genocide when they committed the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel.
That being said, I encourage you all to keep praying the Lord Jesus to support Israel (which now has Trump-led America as its main ally) and to support the remaining hostages still under captivity. As for the hostages who released already, pray for them as they are struggling to recover and reconstruct their respective private lives.
Don’t let Hamas’ propaganda and the mainstream news media distract you! Keep having unwavering faith in the Lord and rely on His Word (the Holy Bible). Be uncompromising with your faith in the Lord.
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals, nobody from the political correctness extremists, and nobody from evil societies would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
Now, on with the news…
During the joint conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, US President Donald Trump unveiled the ambitious plan of America taking over the Gaza Strip to redevelop it, according to a CBN News report. For insight, watch the YouTube videos below.
For the newcomers reading this, the Gaza Strip is coastal land that is physically part of Israel and shares a border with Egypt at the southwest. A lot of Palestinians (note: Arabs who identified themselves as Palestinians specifically) live there and in their presence, terrorists multiplied and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas made it their headquarters long before they attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
Gaza today has been ruined tremendously as a result of the subsequent war that started in late-2023. The massive destruction will take so much resources, time and effort to be realized, the Palestinians themselves are clearly uncapable of rebuilding Gaza themselves. Not even their terrorist sponsors Iran and Qatar could afford to cover the costs of reconstruction. That being said, America under Trump is capable of redeveloping Gaza and the takeover should happen after Israel concludes the war against the terrorists.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the CBN News report.. Some parts in boldface…
On a historic day at the White House, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States would take over the Gaza Strip. The impact of the presidential announcement is already changing the face of the Middle East.
Trump greeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House during a stunning day of changes for Israel and the region. At a joint conference with the prime minister, Trump dropped the bombshell:
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out – create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job. Do something different. Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years,” he declared.
A Hamas spokesman slammed the “American racist stance,” saying its aim is “displacing our people and eliminating our cause.”
However, one Israeli leader called the idea a “miracle,” and opposition leader Benny Gantz called Trump’s initiative creative and original thinking.
The president claimed the situation presents a rare moment for action.
“We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal,” he said, “and I don’t want to be cute. I don’t want to be a wise guy. But the Riviera of the Middle East – this could be something that could be so be so magnificent. But more importantly than that is (that) the people that have been absolutely destroyed that live there now can live in peace in a much better situation because they are living in hell. And those people will now be able to live in peace. We’ll make sure that it’s done world-class. It’ll be wonderful for the people, Palestinians – Palestinians, mostly, we’re talking about.”
Netanyahu maintained that Israel’s war goals remain the same.
“As we discussed, Mr. President, to secure our future and bring peace to our region, we have to finish the job. In Gaza, Israel has three goals: destroying Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, secure the release of all of our hostages, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.”
Trump also says he’ll announce his stand on a potential Israeli annexation of Judea and Samaria, known by some as the West Bank, in four weeks. Declaring sovereignty over Israel’s biblical heartland is a move many Israelis would welcome.
In their talks, the U.S. and Israeli leaders discussed a normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia. The Saudis put out a statement saying there would be no normalizations without a Palestinian state.
The announced plan from President Trump is already changing public perception about not only the Gaza Strip but the entire Middle East as a whole. Make no mistake about it – the Palestinians, Hamas, Iran and Qatar cannot really join forces nor put their resources together to redevelop Gaza on their own. All the diplomatic decisions made through the previous decades never improved the standard of living in the Gaza Strip and the 2005 physical pullout of Israeli presence only led to Gaza becoming a hot spot for terrorists who not only heavily armed themselves to launch many attacks against Israel but also profited from the humanitarian donations they received. Hamas is not just a violent group of Palestinian terrorists…they are also greedy and covetous.
With Trump leading America, it is clear its partnership with Israel will grow stronger tremendously. With the right moves and the right timing, America and Israel can change the Middle East as we know it and that includes bringing down the evil forces starting with terrorist state Iran. The Palestinian terrorists can keep causing trouble but they can only delay their ultimate defeat and the loss of lives on their end.
That being said, I urge you all to pray to the Lord in support of Israel and in support of the reinvigorated US-Israel alliance with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu as leaders to execute the plans and achieve the goals to change the Middle East for the better. Pray also that the terrorists, the Islamists, radicalized Islamo-Leftist mobs will stop being evil and submit to Lord Jesus for repentance. Pray to the Lord for the American takeover of the Gaza Strip and is redevelopment to happen.
I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals, nobody from the political correctness extremists, and nobody from evil societies would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
Now, on with the news…
A few weeks ago, Israel and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) started a strategic partnership that will benefit the Philippines by means of agricultural development, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
For the newcomers reading this, the Jewish state is one of the world’s leaders in agriculture and the Philippines can really use Israeli expertise to make tremendous improvements.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article.. Some parts in boldface…
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has entered into a strategic partnership with Israel to advance agricultural development and innovation in the Philippines.
In a news release on Thursday, DAR said Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss have discussed the possibility of a strong collaboration on cutting-edge farming technologies, rural development, and sustainable agricultural practices.
During their meeting, Estrella recognized the longstanding relationship between the Philippines and Israel and highlighted the successful implementation of the Philippines’ agrarian reform program under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
He also noted the positive impact of DAR programs on the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries while emphasizing the need for further growth in rural areas.
Fluss, meanwhile, acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by Israel due to the ongoing war in the Middle East and shared the resilience of their agricultural sector. He also noted the importance of international partnerships from allies such as the United States in securing food and medical aid for its citizens.
Meanwhile, a key focus of the meeting between Estella and Fluss was the adoption of Israeli agricultural technologies, particularly in irrigation methods and Precision Agriculture (PA).
Israel’s expertise in water-efficient irrigation systems, particularly suited for arid regions, was identified as a critical solution for Filipino farmers facing water crisis concerns.
Both officials expressed enthusiasm about the potential of PA, which uses data and technology to optimize crop yields, water use, and resource management, while Fluss affirmed Israel’s willingness to share expertise in this area.
As part of knowledge exchange initiatives, Fluss also invited DAR officials to visit Israel for training by experts on farming, rural development, and climate change adaptation.
This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties through agriculture as well as the opportunities for Filipinos to innovate on agriculture, improve farming methods and ensuring food security for the entire nation. Watch and learn from the videos below…
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray to Him so that Israel-Philippines ties and cooperation will keep growing stronger in the many years ahead.
If you are traveling to Israel very soon and if you love unique, tasty and high-quality meals, I encourage you to read this blog post by Debbest Israel. I would love to visit some of the restaurants (listed in the blog post) upon returning to Israel in the near future.
Having been to Israel myself, I can say that you will find a lot of great or dynamic places to eat in. There is always something for the food enthusiast or tourist with different tastes or preferences.
Happy New Year to all my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1 You, Me and the Movies react to The Tower (2012) –The Tower (2012) is a South Korean disaster film that drew huge audiences in its country and found some success overseas. Its concept will remind long-time movie buffs about 1974’s The Towering Inferno which itself was an inspiration for director Kim Ji-hoon. If you want to discover The Tower but you are not willing to spend time and money to see it, I encourage to watch You, Me and the Movies’ reaction video.
#2Alien versus Predator games history examined by Slope’s Game Room – I really enjoy watching the retro gaming videos of YouTuber Slope’s Game Room. This time around, Slope examines the history of video games featuring one of the most memorable sci-fi crossovers ever: Alien versus Predator. For the newcomers reading this, there was a time when Alien and Predator were separate sci-fi film franchises. How a crossover between them happened and what video games were made are explained in detail in the video below.
#3 The rise of cold coffee in America – Do you like drinking coffee that is actually cold? Over the past several years in America, spending on cold coffee skyrocketed and outpaced hot coffee. To be clear, cold coffee includes iced coffee, cold brew and frozen coffee drinks. Already, cold coffee sales really grew for certain businesses that sell coffee. To find out why Americans are buying more cold coffee and what possibly started the trend, watch the video below.
#4 Changing the Middle East – There is no denying the fact that Israel will be remembered for significant gains against Iran-sponsored terrorists in 2024. They did not have much support from Biden-led America but Israel still succeeded in eliminating Yahya Sinwar (Hamas) and Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah). Israel also succeeded in hitting military targets in terrorist state Iran which crippled them significantly. Also the collapse of the wicked Assad regime in Syria proved to be a huge loss for Iran which had a sinister alliance with Bashar al-Assad (who abandoned Syria).
With Donald Trump set to return as United States President on January 20, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed confidence of changing the Middle East. Netanyahu talked with Trump recently and you can learn more by watching CBN News’ video.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to Him in support of Israel and the new Trump administration to change the Middle East in 2025. Pray to Him for the Christians in Syria who will soon be affected negatively by the new regime’s plan to impose Sharia Law. Pray to Him for the rescue or release of the hostages of the October 7, 2023 attacks.
#5 Lefties losing it – In case you did not notice, the Democrats in America don’t just have wicked and dishonest leaders. They also have Hollywood celebrities as Democrat activists who are actually phony intellectuals who love to fool their fellow Americans. A lot of Democrat leaders and activists are actually out of touch with the people and reality in general, which is what this Lefties Losing It video from Sky News Australia emphasized clearly. Watch and learn from start to finish.
#6 PatmanQC examines Gun.Smoke – Developed by Capcom, Gun.Smoke debuted in the arcades in 1985 and eventually got ported to different platforms. I never played the arcade version but I had fun with Gun.Smoke on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) Disk System. It was a run-and-gun shooter with an Old West setting and its designer was Yoshiki Okamoto (1942, Street Fighter II and Resident Evil). The production history of the game is quite interesting and you can find out more in PatmanQC’s video.
#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear – I love watching Ashleigh Burton’s movie reaction videos, especially the ones that has her laughing a lot. She’s a jolly YouTuber and often entertaining. That being said, you have to watch her reaction to 1991’s The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.
#8 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Star Trek: Nemesis – Were you able to watch the entire Star Trek: The Next Generation (Star Trek: TNG) series from 1987 to 1994? I never had the privilege to watch all seven seasons but I managed to watch several random episodes of it and got to know the characters enough before proceeding to watch all four Star Trek: TNG movies from 1994 to 2002. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) was released in American theaters right in the middle of intense box office competition with a Harry Potter movie, a James Bond movie and a Lord of the Rings movie. Apart from its box office failure, there was something wrong that happened behind the scenes during Star Trek: Nemesis’ production which explains its disappointing quality. If you want to discover the movie but you don’t want to spend too much time nor money on it, I encourage you to watch Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video.
2025 is finally here. So much has happened in 2024, particularly in the Middle East and in America. Israel clearly led the war against Islamic terrorists who were led by the terrorist state of Iran. The good news is that Israel made tremendous gains against the terrorists (example: the elimination of Yahyah Sinwar) which tremendously weakened the axis of evil of Iran.
Over there in America, Donald Trump got re-elected as US President and his second non-consecutive term will officially start on January 20, 2025. Trump’s victory over Commie Kamala Harris is easily the greatest American comeback of all time and also a major push back against American Communism and Satanic Leftists.
Thank the Lord for the two major developments overseas. Israel and the Trump-led America will become a huge force together to reshape the Middle East for the better. God’s moves should remind you all that He is always around, He is watching everyone and He will help the faithful overcome the forces of evil. Be thankful to Him for blessing you, guiding you and loving you.
I am thankful to the Lord for the special features I published (related to events I personally attended), the continued trust with my business clients, the continued donations from the readers and the tremendous milestone of registering over one million lifetime hits (page views) worldwide with my official website and blog at www.CarloCarrasco.com
With regards to what was achieved with my website and blog, I am thankful to our Lord and also happy to share with you the numbers for the year 2024. Over 73,000 hits (page views) worldwide were achieved in the past year with over 50,000 visitors worldwide recorded, plus the tremendous surge of likes counted within the WordPress network reaching over1,400 likes worldwide (almost 1,700% higher than the previous year).
The top nations of hits and visitors are the Philippines, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, Spain and Australia. As mentioned earlier, the lifetime hits count of my website has exceeded 1,000,000 worldwide.
As before, the blogging of local community developments, magnified news articles, special features, Christian teachings, entertainment pieces and other forms of content will continue. There is no slowing down for me as I am dedicated to not only keep on publishing relevant updates but also maintain the good connections (and the trust) of varied communities, organizations, businesses, local churches and many other people. My thanks to the Lord God for these growing achievements and connections, and I am also grateful to you readers and other stakeholders for your continued trust in my website and blog.
For 2025, I encourage you all to never lose faith in the Lord and keep moving forward with unwavering faith in Lord Jesus who is our Savior, our Way Maker, our Redeemer and the Hope of ALL nations! Keep moving forward with faith in Him and the Word of God.
Lord Jesus is the light who overcomes darkness. God our Heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus to us so we can be saved. That being said, I prepared the following scriptures from the Holy Bible for your enlightenment below…
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:1-4 (NKJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1-5 (NKJV)
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NKJV)
Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:1-7 (NKJV)
For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One.
1 Timothy 2:5 (TPT)
Jesus said to him,
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
John 14:6 (AMPC)
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
John 3:16-18 (MSG)
To have strong faith in Lord Jesus in this new year and in the years ahead, let me tell you that challenges will always come not just in the form of circumstances but also in the presence of people around you. There are still a lot of woke zealots, religious zealots, idolaters, secularists, atheists, overbearing people, political correctness believers, the Satanic Left, the Islamists, the climate change extremists, diversity believers, inclusion believers, the political troublemakers and others who will just keep on spreading chaos because they believe so much in their wicked agendas and their self-centered beliefs. Many of them oppose God and disregard both decency and common sense as we know it. They want darkness to spread over others.
That being said, I urge you to reject their ways and stand with the Word of God to keep moving forward knowing that Lord Jesus is the Light, the Savior and the Hope of ALL nations. Learn from the holy scripture below.
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
3 John 1:11 (NKJV)
Reject the evil ways of the world and keep moving forward with the path of the Lord. Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and preach His Word so that the lost and the unsaved around you will stop being wicked and realize Lord Jesus is the Savior of all! Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals, nobody from the political correctness extremists, and nobody from evil societies would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
Now, on with the news…
A few weeks ago, a special event showcasing Israeli wine was held here in the Philippines, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. This development signified Israel’s focus on the Philippines as a new wine market.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article.. Some parts in boldface…
Israel is pouring its wine into the Philippine market, confident that its products can rival the best in the world.
With a deep legacy of winemaking dating back thousands of years, Israel is now eager to share its fine bottles with Filipino wine lovers and travelers.
At the “L’Chaim! Discover Israeli Wine” event on Dec. 4, the Israeli Embassy in Manila treated wine enthusiasts, hoteliers and distributors to a curated tasting of wines from 15 of Israel’s top wineries.
“The Philippine market has matured, in my opinion. So it’s time,” Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said.
“It’s obvious that we have competition here but what Israel can offer is really the higher end of wines — and we have so much to share.”
In addition to reintroducing Israeli wines to Filipino consumers, the embassy is also aiming to inspire Filipinos to explore Israel’s wineries as part of their travel plans.
Israel, often called the Holy Land, has a winemaking tradition that stretches back over 5,000 years, with wine from Judea being traded around the ancient world during the time of Jesus.
“Israel is a country of different cultures, and so is its cuisine,” visiting Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz said.
“Tourists can enjoy Mediterranean delicacies, dishes from Arab cuisine, Jewish food, colorful markets, and wine tastings that offer an unforgettable culinary experience.”
L’Chaim, which means “to life” in Hebrew, was the first of its kind hosted by the Israeli mission in the Philippines.
“L’Chaim is more than just a toast. It’s a celebration of life, friendship, and the bright future we are building together,” Fluss said.
Renowned Israeli wine expert and international wine judge Haim Gan was also present to provide insights into Israel’s innovative wine industry, noting its growing recognition and numerous international awards.
This latest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties through the business of wine as well as the opportunities for Filipinos to explore the wine industry of Israel when they travel there. Indeed, Israel-Philippines ties are essential!
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray to Him so that Israel-Philippines ties and cooperation will keep growing stronger in the years to come.
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals, nobody from the political correctness extremists, and nobody from evil societies would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
Now, on with the news…
In recent times, Israel and the Philippines officially signed a major agreement in relation to tourism developments and cooperation between them according to the announcement of the Israeli Embassy via social media. No less than the Minister of Tourism of Israel Haim Katz personally visited the Philippines and signed the agreement opposite Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Christina Frasco.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire social media post of the Israeli Embassy. Some parts in boldface…
Israel Tourism Minister Katz Visits the Philippines, Signs Joint Declaration with DOT
Signing of the joint declaration between Israel’s Minister of Tourism Haim Katz and Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary, Christina Garcia Frasco.
Israel’s Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz, is currently visiting the Philippines from 2-5 December 2024 as part of a strategic effort to enhance tourism relations between the two countries. Highlight of the visit is the signing of a joint declaration with the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary, Christina Garcia Frasco.
On December 3, Tourism Minister Katz and DOT Sec. Frasco signed the joint declaration to foster cooperation in the field of tourism between Israel and the Philippines.
“We are excited to see such strong interest from Filipino travelers to Israel,” said Minister Katz. “With the upcoming Jubilee Year, we anticipate even more Filipinos will be eager to experience the holy land and the rich history, culture, and hospitality Israel offers. We hope to see direct flights between Israel and the Philippines very soon, this will boost tourism and people to people exchange,” he shared.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Ilan Fluss shared that the official visit of Minister Katz is proof of the strong, historically friendly bilateral relations between Israel and the Philippines, especially in the field of tourism. “I hope that this will encourage tourism exchanges between our nations, particularly with the visa-free travel for Filipinos to Israel and vice versa. I invite Filipinos to experience Israel not just as the Holy Land but to enjoy culinary and experience the Land of Innovation and Start-Up Nation,” he explained.
Minister Katz’s visit highlights Israel’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Philippine market, especially for divers and nature lovers. “Israelis find the Philippines an attractive destination for diving and water activities,” Ambassador Fluss said.
Since opening its tourism office in the Philippines in 2017, Israel has witnessed a remarkable 65% rise in Filipino visitors in its first year alone. In 2023, a record-breaking 33,000 Filipinos traveled to Israel.
During his stay, Minister Katz will promote Israel as a premier destination for wine enthusiasts and engage with Filipino distributors of Israeli wine. He will also meet with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), connect with religious leaders in Manila, and hold discussions with the President of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to advance the goal for establishing direct flights between Israel and the Philippines. This initiative aims to enhance tourism and people to people exchange by making travel between the two countries more convenient and accessible.
This latest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties through travel and cooperation. This opens more opportunities for my fellow Filipinos to visit the Holy Land in Israel while doing the same for Israelis to visit the Philippines for leisure and business opportunities (which will be helpful in building up the economy of the Philippines). As I said before, Israel-Philippines ties are essential!
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray to Him so that Israel-Philippines ties and cooperation will keep growing stronger in the years to come.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined and what happened during my free time. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 9th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. No matter what happens in this world, I will always stand with Israel and my faith in the Lord remains uncompromising!
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you one of the things I did during the one and only day-off (February 15, 2023) of our pilgrimage tour. This was the day I visited the Temple Mount, revisited the Western Wall and the Upper Room, and visited the grave of Oskar Schindler. After Schindler, I marched all the way from the Old City to the modern parts of Jerusalem. I had a stopover at Tmol Shilshom to recover before proceeding to Mahana Yehuda Market where I had lunch at Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda.
During my time at Mahane Yehuda, the cold weather intensified (cloudy and slightly raining). I knew that the heat I got from consuming my lunch would not last long. Suddenly, I remembered what I had been planning to do…visit Power Coffeeworks.
I first learned about Power Coffeeworks on social media while preparing for the trip to Israel some months prior. I checked out what drinks they offered and I knew I had to visit them and enjoy something.
So there I was walking through the crowd at the roofed section of Mahane Yehuda. Remembering what I studied from Google Maps, I went on until I reached a certain road, crossed it and made my way to the commercial building where Power Coffeeworks was located at.
I remember smiling upon arrival outside of Power Coffeeworks as it was my intention to visit and try their coffee.
For the first several moments upon arrival, I examined Power Coffeeworks’ physical set-up, the menu and the local vibe as there were customers who arrived ahead of me. I also noticed that inside are lots of products for sale such as coffee beans, Pumpking Spice, tea and more.
After reading the menu, I went on to order a hot Macchiato as I really needed heat and energy to endure the cold weather. Then I noticed a vacant table and chairs located close to the heater. So I went there to take a seat, enjoyed my hot Macchiato and used the free WiFi (password shared to me at the counter moments earlier) with the comforting heat from the heater. I even had a short chat with one of the coffee joint’s employees as he cleaned the table.
From my early moments at Power Coffeeworks. I like the vibe of the place.
For more than half an hour, I sat there enjoying my coffee, the place, checking updates online and re-energized myself because I planned to return to Mahana Yehuda one last time for treats before marching all the way back to our Jerusalem hotel. My feet were a bit sore by the time I arrived at the coffee joint.
Some of you reading this might be wondering what Power Coffeeworks is and why was I so interested with it. Personally, I really pursued buying (and enjoying) goods of local businesses in Israel. When it comes to coffee, I never thought about the international brands during my time in Israel as I went for Israeli enterprise.
That’s a nice display of products at Power Coffeeworks!
As for Power Coffeeworks, it describes itself as follows:
Power was inspired by the lack of excellent roasted coffee within Jerusalem. With its awesome steampunk vibe and amazing aroma, it is the perfect location for working, reading a book, spending time with friends or chatting with our amazing baristas.
Our coffee is roasted fresh daily, ground per cup and served with a huge amount of love. We are all about the taste, flavor, vibe and not to forget – the music.
Stephanie and Brandon, the owners made aliyah from Cape Town, South Africa in 2016 with their four children to Efrat, Gush Etzion. With their extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry, they decided to open Power Coffeeworks, an anglo orientated coffee roastery in Machane Yehuda Shuk.
Five years later, Power is exactly what they wanted it to be. Despite the struggles of starting a new business in a new country, Stephanie and Brandon took the coffee culture of Jerusalem to a whole new level. After three more children, Covid19 and a whole load of drama. Power coffeeworks has grown to be the number one location in Jerusalem for the best cup of coffee and an unbelievable section of coffee beans.
After spending time at Power Coffeeworks, I left as a satisfied and a happy customer. I would not hesitate to revisit the coffee joint once I return to Israel someday. I am deeply thankful to the Lord for the enterprise of Power Coffeeworks and everything else about the entire Israel pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church.
This leads to my next point: always be thankful to the Lord for the blessings you enjoyed as He is our source and the definitive provider. All the praise and glory is to Him. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20 (NKJV)
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).
Romans 11:36 (AMPC)
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV)
Never forget that Israel is the land that God the Heavenly Father designated to the Jewish people and He always has great plans for them. As people of faith, we should do our part to love and bless the Jewish people. Also remember that the ties between Jews and Christians are biblical. Read the scriptures below…
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)
Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].
And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;
The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.
Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)
Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.
Exodus 19:5-6 (AMPC)
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.”
Genesis 17:5-9 (ESV)
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”
Exodus 6:6-8 (ESV)
“Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
Thus says the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.’
One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel.
Isaiah 44:1-5 (NKJV)
“Now, show the people the pieces of wood you have written on, and tell them, ‘Lord Yahweh says this: I will gather the Israelites from the nations where they have gone. I will gather them together from everywhere and bring them to their homeland. And I will make them into a single nation in the mountainous land of Israel and give them one king to be king over them all. They will never again be divided into two nations nor split into two separate kingdoms.
Ezekiel 37:20-22 (TPT)
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:16 (AMPC)
Jesus said to him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:6-7 (NKJV)
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
“This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
Luke 22:19-20 (NKJV)
Conclusion
The view from my table.
I would love to return to Power Coffeeworks once I return to Jerusalem in the years to come. Only the Lord know when that time will be. No matter what happens, my faith in the Lord will never be compromised. To those of you who are interested to discover Power Coffeeworks and find out what products they offer, I encourage you to visit their official website at https://www.powercoffeeworksjerusalem.com/. Remember that once you make it to the Mahane Yehuda market, this nice coffee joint is just a short walk away.
Israel is a great and holy place to visit! Visit Israel with the Holy Bible! Pray to the Lord wholeheartedly and reveal to Him your heart’s desire to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Him. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Follow the light of Lord Jesus, keep on praying to support Israel and for the peace of Jerusalem. Live on with uncompromising faith in Him!
Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come!
Author Carlo Carrasco 