Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Holy Land in Israel as well as the many other nice places which welcome tourists from around the world? EL AL Airlines, the national airline of Israel, announced its plans to introduce direct flights between Israel and the Philippines starting some time in 2027, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The plans are subject to regulatory approvals as of this writing. The Israel-Philippines route is just one of several new routes EL AL is pushing for.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface.
Israel’s national carrier, EL AL Airlines, announced plans to introduce nonstop flights between Israel and the Philippines, following a series of talks.
In a social media post on Monday, EL AL said it is rolling out the broadest route network in its history, with nine new destinations set to launch in 2027.
The expansion includes new long-haul nonstop flights to Hanoi in Vietnam, Seoul in South Korea and Manila, with three weekly flights to each destination to be operated using the airline’s Dreamliner aircraft, offering economy, premium and business classes.
The planned nonstop flight between Israel and Manila comes after discussions on the feasibility of a direct air link, seen as a boost to tourism, business travel and people-to-people exchanges.
EL AL said ticket sales for Hanoi flights are now open, while sales for Seoul will begin in May.
Further details on the Manila route, including the start of sales and flight schedules, will be announced at a later date.
For its part, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the Philippines supports the plan citing President Bongbong Marcos’ directive to expand international air connectivity and the strengthening the bilateral ties between nations. High-level talks happened between the DOTr and the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippine Dana Kursh.
Having been to Israel myself, I am delighted with the planned Israel-Philippine direct flights planned by EL AL. Direct flights will help not only Filipinos but also foreign travelers to visit Israel for business, pilgrimage and leisure.
When I first traveled to Israel in 2023, it was on an EL AL flight using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Then our Israel pilgrimage tour took place afterwards and I personally witnessed God’s Word come to life whenever we visited the many sites of the Holy Land. I encourage you all to read my feature articles about the Pool of Siloam, the Southern Steps in Jerusalem, Nazareth Village, the grave of Oskar Schindler, the Dead Sea Beach, and some nice commercial joints (click here, here, here and here).
Having direct flights between the Jewish state and the Philippines will also help my native country attract more foreign tourists as well as Israeli investors and technology developers. The Philippines right now is experiencing slower economic growth, having trouble attracting foreign investors and it remains a weakcompared with its Southeast Asian neighbors when it comes to attracting foreign tourists.
As such, I encourage all of you to pray to God for the planned Israel-Philippines direct flights of EL AL Airlines to be fulfilled, and for improvements in the ties between Israel and the Philippines. As I mentioned many times online, Israel-Philippines ties are essential!
To all my readers, 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.
The ties between Israel and Vietnam are only getting stronger which is crucial for the Jewish state as anti-Israel hatred remains intense in many parts of the world. Vietnam did not allow itself to be influenced by those who hate Israel as it boosted its ties with the Jewish state and already a lot of related developments have happened, according to a news article by The Jerusalem Post.
Recently Vietnam joined the Board of Peace which US President Donald Trump welcomed. If you connect the dots, Vietnam has blossoming ties with America which itself is Israel’s strongest ally in the world. This shows that stronger Israel-Vietnam ties make a lot of sense. The Southeast Asian nation is also a major destination for international travelers.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news article of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface.
While Israeli diplomacy undoubtedly has become more complex since the October 7 massacre, the relationship between Jerusalem and Hanoi has flourished, according to Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Yaron Mayer.
“The conflict has naturally raised concerns but did not dominate bilateral engagement,” he told The Jerusalem Post in a recent interview. “Diplomatic dialogue remained professional, respectful, and focused on cooperation. Long-term partnerships were not disrupted.”
“Vietnam maintains a balanced stance, supporting a two-state solution while continuing to value Israel as a top-tier technological partner,” he added.
Mayer, who is also Israel’s ambassador to Laos, has worked for more than a decade in Israeli diplomacy. He previously served as ambassador to Myanmar and Nepal.
Mayer said he has devoted much of his time to developing bonds on a local level. Celebrating his first Vietnamese New Year, which fell on his seventh month in the country, he joined a kindergarten class to learn how to make traditional Vietnamese Trung, a square cake made of sticky rice, green beans, and meat.
Mayer, whose mother was a famed artist born in London, also reflected on both the challenge and the beauty of learning to write a traditional word under the guidance of a calligrapher in Hanoi. The Chinese script, commonly hung on the walls of Vietnamese homes to bring good luck, was demonstrated by a local man who taught him how to write the word “AN,” meaning peace.
Vietnam boosts Israel ties with tech cooperation, tourism push – The relationship between the two countries is at an all-time high, he said, citing recent accomplishments, such as the signing of the free-trade agreement in 2023. Trade is projected to exceed $4 billion by the end of 2026, he added.
Israelis might be able to travel to Vietnam without a visa in the not-too-distant future, Mayer hinted, adding that it would be a natural next step following Hanoi’s 2023 decision to extend e-visas to 90 days.
The new direct Arkia flight from Tel Aviv to Vietnam indicates that Hanoi is investing heavily in attracting Israeli tourists, he said. Last year, at least 50,000 visitors entered Vietnam with their Israeli passports, and the Vietnamese Tourism Ministry hopes to attract 300,000 Israeli travelers by 2030, he added.
Mayer said a plan was in place to increase cooperation in technology transfer, smart agriculture, climate resilience, and digital innovation within the next five years.
Much of Israel’s environmental and agricultural technology is already being employed by Vietnam, he said. The gold standard of Israeli drip irrigation is now being scaled to address water shortages and efficient irrigation in various regions, he added, and it was being used successfully in many rural parts of the country.
Perhaps because Vietnam only recognized Israel in 1993, Mayer said he was pleasantly surprised by the depth of interest in Israeli innovation across Vietnamese institutions. There is strong demand not only from the private sector, he said, but also from provincial governments and universities.
Vietnam is eager for the opportunity to benefit from Israeli technology, and there are many opportunities for Israelis, Mayer said.
He cited strong interest from Israeli start-ups and said the embassy has begun hosting “matchmaker” events, such as the Israel Technology Connection, to link Israeli start-ups with Vietnamese provincial leaders.
FPT, one of Vietnam’s largest hi-tech and pharmaceutical companies, was one of several to benefit from the work of the embassy and opened the doors to its first Israel office a few weeks ago, Yoram Noar, the head of FPT’s Israel branch, told the Post.
The new office will focus on furthering the company’s interests in the fields of artificial intelligence, cyber, and education, he said.
“I urged the ambassador to focus on the hi-tech industry to see if we could bring the Israeli companies from the hi-tech industry into Vietnam to see if we could do joint ventures,” Noar said. “We focused on hi-tech because Vietnam has great potential, and Vietnam wants to show a growth of about 10% a year, so [Hanoi] thought Israel could be a good model of how to promote [economic and hi-tech] activities.”
As you can see, the strong ties between Vietnam and Israel resulted in a whole lot of developments that are economic, social and technological in nature. Soon enough, more Israelis will visit Vietnam while the opportunities for Vietnamese travelers to visit Israel and discover the Holy Land will multiply. Praise and thank the Lord for the stronger ties between Israel and Vietnam.
To all my readers, 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.
Israel and Japan formally engaged with each other diplomatically as Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and their Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar separately in Jerusalem, according to reports by The Jerusalem Post and NHK World.
The meetings are significant not just because it marks the first time a delegation representing Japan under the administration of new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in Israel for diplomacy and cooperation, but also because Japan supports the American-led Gaza peace plan of US President Donald J. Trump (click here and here) and will be proactive in recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. The Japanese, however, expressed disagreement over Israel’s West Bank (biblical Judea and Samaria) settlement activities and insisted on a two-state solution. On the bright side, Japan will still NOT recognize a Palestinian state.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Jerusalem on Sunday to discuss continued cooperation between Israel and Japan, the Prime Minister’s Office stated.
Netanyahu congratulated Motegi and the delegation members on their visit to Israel and thanked them for their support, the PMO noted. During the meeting, Netanyahu and Motegi also discussed different ways to address regional challenges.
Earlier, Motegi met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.
This is Motegi’s first bilateral diplomatic visit since taking office.
Motegi is also expected to meet with President Isaac Herzog on Monday morning during his visit to Israel, the PMO added.
Japan won’t recognize a Palestinian state given US ties – Israel and Japan align on some regional issues critical to the Jewish State.
The Asahi newspaper, citing unidentified government sources, reported in September 2025 that Japan will not recognize a Palestinian state for now, probably to maintain relations with the United States and to avoid a hardening of Israel’s attitude.
With regards to the meeting with Israel’s Foreign Minister, posted below is an excerpt from NHK World. Some parts in boldface…
Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has visited Israel and held talks with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar. Motegi called for the steady implementation of a US-led peace plan for the Gaza Strip, while pledging a proactive role by Japan in the strip’s reconstruction.
At the opening of their meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Motegi said that to improve the situations surrounding Israel and the Palestinians it is important to steadily implement the peace plan.
He also said both sides should take concrete action toward the elimination of mutual distrust that has persisted over many years in order to ease regional tension and bring peace to the area.
Motegi also urged Israel to take appropriate responses to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian assistance in Gaza offered by international organizations, NGOs and others. He added that Japan will play a proactive role in engaging in the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.
Motegi told Sa’ar that Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank are in violation of international law, and that Japan is concerned that the increase in settler violence may further destabilize the situation in the region.
Motegi urged Israel to immediately cease what he described as any unilateral actions that run counter to a two-state solution.
Motegi later met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first face-to-face meeting with him by a Japanese senior government figure since then-Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in 2018.
There are indeed imperfections as revealed by the two news reports regarding the latest Israel-Japan meetings. In my opinion, Japan has yet to realize that the two-state solution is both pointless and worthless. They have yet to realize the truth that the Palestinians have a tradition of violence against the Jewish people, and they often followed terrorist leaders (fact: Palestinians expressed support for Hamas terrorists with regards to the October 7 attacks against Israel in 2023). Japan should realize that the West Bank is not rightfully owned by the global community and international law covering the said region is just an illusion. As such, we who support Israel should pray to the Lord that the Japan’s diplomats will get enlightened as they cooperate more with Israel in the years to come.
Praise and thank the Lord for the high-level meetings between the governments of Israel and Japan. Pray to Him to bless Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and the people of Japan. Pray also for the potential future visit of Prime Minister Takaichi to Israel.
To all my readers, 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.
In 2025, so much has happened here in my native Philippines and around the world. Here in the Philippines, there is this growing economic uncertainty in relation to the flood control corruption scandals which angered many Filipinos and made foreign investors doubtful about the state of the nation. The most recent quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) report showed a clear slowdown while the Philippines has fallen behind its Southeast Asian neighbors when it comes to attracting foreign tourists.
Overseas, US President Donald Trump made his presence felt a lot. In 2025 alone, his administration prevented new wars from happening, helped Israel defeat Iran during the 12-Day War, helped end the war in Gaza and saw the release of surviving hostages who went home to Israel, and America struck Islamic terrorists hard in Syria and Nigeria. Along the way, America grew stronger economically in 2025 and that was backed by high tariff revenues. Now on his 2nd term, Trump keeps on proving he is a President of action with expertise on making deals. His movement of Make America Great Again (MAGA) continues to make waves with the American people and even with those in other parts of the world. We are clearly living in the age of Trump and there are still a few years left in his 2nd term.
Over in Japan, the new Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and her administration are implementing reforms to protect the Japanese, reviving their national economy and securing the nation not only from Communist China but also from the international mob of illegal immigration, human traffickers, Islamists and arrogant globalists.
With regards to what was achieved with my website and blog www.CarloCarrasco.com, I am thankful to our Lord and also delighted to share with you the numbers for the year 2025. About 113,000 hits (page views) worldwide were counted with roughly 80,000 visitors worldwide recorded, plus almost 1,000 likes worldwide counted within the WordPress network.
The top nations of hits and visitors for 2025 are the Philippines, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong and Sweden. With regards to lifetime hits of my website and blog, it is roughly 1,130,000 hits worldwide since January 4, 2019. The page views and number of visitors of 2025 are huge improvements over the 2024 blog numbers. I thank you readers for visiting my website and reading my blog posts.
When it comes to social media, I am thankful to the Lord for the surge of new members in my South Metro Manila Facebook group. From the 3rd week of October until December 31 of 2025, the FB group’s members jumped from a little over 6,000 to over 9,200! That’s a surge of more than fifty percent in less than a quarter’s time. In relation to what South Metro Manila is about geographically, members based in the southern Metro Manila cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa combined for more than 3,800 members. A great majority of the FB group’s overall membership are based in the Philippines. Many times, I shared my blog posts in the South Metro Manila Facebook group and I encourage you to visit it by clicking https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673.
There will be no slowdown with blogging about local community developments, magnifying the news that mattered, making special features, preaching the Word of God, publishing entertainment stuff and more in 2026. That said, I thank the businesses, the community organizations, the local authorities, the local churches, the YouTubers, and others who trusted me and my long-term online publishing. My thanks to the Lord God for these growing achievements and the lively connections.
I also thank the Lord that I am now a businessman and a certified professional. I now have my own enterprise and achieving growth and establishing new connections are my goals now. I can make contributions to the Philippine economy.
For 2026, I encourage you all to live on with uncompromising faith in Lord Jesus and in the Word of God. The world we live in is twisted and worldliness will only lead you to evil.
That being said, I prepared the following scriptures from the Holy Bible for your enlightenment below…
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.
Acts 10:34-36 (NKJV)
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 (NKJV)
Lord Jesus is the Savior and the Hope of ALL nations! There is no doubt about that. As for the people living with evil reading this, I encourage you to come to Lord Jesus for repentance and submission so that the evil within your heart will go away. The many forms of evil in this world – Islamist beliefs, Communism, socialism, Marxism, antisemitism, idolatry, LGBTQ ideology, secularism, rabid feminism and much more – have led many away from the Lord. Still, there is time for the people consumed by evil to change themselves for the better by turning away from darkness and surrendering to Lord Jesus.
Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and spread the Word of God to others 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 Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh recently met with Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., the national police force vowed to strengthen its cooperation with the Jewish state as it seeks improvements over several important matters of law enforcement, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday vowed to strengthen its cooperation with the Israeli government to improve intelligence sharing, modernize police training programs, and adopt best practices in public safety and community policing.
This was after acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. received Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, Dana Kursh, during a courtesy call at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday.
He said the meeting highlighted the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Israel as they explored ways to expand cooperation in key areas, such as security, capacity building, and information sharing.
“International cooperation provides us access to advanced technologies, training, and operational strategies in order for the Philippine National Police to strengthen its capabilities in crime prevention, emergency response, and overall community safety,” Nartatez said in a statement.
During the discussions, both sides identified practical initiatives for intelligence sharing, personnel exchanges, and joint training programs.
Through these collaborations, Nartatez said, the PNP aims to strengthen its capabilities in crime prevention, emergency response, and overall community safety.
For the newcomers reading this, this is not the first time that the PNP interacted and cooperated with Israel. In 2020, the PNP signed a security equipment deal with Israel. The recent meeting is about strengthening the ties between them with law enforcement in mind as the PNP wants to achieve safer communities and be able to respond faster in public safety matters in line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., to modernize the national police and promote international partnerships.
Knowing how sophisticated Israel really is on economics, cyber security, military technology and achieving peace, I believe that the PNP can benefit a lot from the Jewish state to achieve its goals with the long-term in mind.
One notable crisis that should be solved is cybercrime which is so rampant here in the Philippines and the number of Filipinos getting victimized keeps on rising. The PNP has its own teams focused on cybercrime and they have been busy searching for the criminals online to capture and prosecute them. Israel has the resources, the advanced technologies and the skills that will help the PNP a lot on its campaign against cybercrime. That said, having renewed Israel-PNP cooperation is crucial and I personally support it!
Praise and thank the Lord for this new development. Praise and thank Him for better ties between Israel and the Philippines.
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.
In the island province of Cebu, Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh met with officials of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and things are looking bright for a potential partnership between the Jewish State (including its investors and capitalists) and the business chamber, according to news reports by Sun.Star Cebu (click here and here).
In the November 20 report, Ambassador Kursh confirmed that Israel is pursuing long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships, and sees potential in Cebu as it is already a crucial part of the economy of the Philippines. For insight, posted below is an excerpt from the report. Some parts in boldface.
ISRAEL sees “tremendous” potential for deeper economic, tourism and innovation partnerships with Cebu, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh said during a courtesy visit to the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
Kursh, who arrived in the Philippines three and a half months ago, said she chose Cebu for her first business trip outside Manila because of its strategic role in the economy.
“Cebu is a crucial part of the economy of this amazing nation,” she said. “After an hour and a half of discussions with the chamber, I am even more certain that investing in the paradise of Cebu is a must.”
During the engagement, CCCI Jay Yuvallos presented the chamber’s L.E.A.D Agenda. Kursh’s visit was facilitated by the Honorary Consul of Israel to Cebu, Emily Benedicto-Chioson.
Kursh said Israel is pursuing long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships and sees Cebu as well-positioned for collaboration in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, medical and tourism-related technologies and sustainable solutions.
With nearly 70 percent of Cebu’s economy driven by services, she said Israeli firms are looking closely at the province’s innovation potential. Kursh said one area where Israel can immediately contribute is talent and teacher training.
“We can bring experts to work with your teachers on artificial intelligence, innovation and future skills. This is something we can easily do together,” she said.
Trade, investment prospects – Kursh said Israel aims to revive bilateral trade and investment flows, which had slowed due to global uncertainties. She said trade reached about US$500 million before declining because of the war and other external factors.
“My goal is to raise that again — not alone, but in partnership with the Philippine business community,” she said.
She noted that even at the height of the conflict, Israel’s Economic Minister Nir Barkat visited Manila in July this year and met with Trade Secretary Cristina Roque to advance discussions on a Philippines–Israel Free Trade Agreement.
“Even with war, we must look to the future. And the future is the partnership between our nations,” she said.
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan earlier said any deal that enhances trade would benefit the Philippines, citing potential gains from Israel’s technology and innovation transfer.
In Sun.Star Cebu’s November 23 report, the CCCI showcased to Israel Cebu’s growing tech and startup ecosystem and potential for global partnerships. For insight, posted below is an excerpt from the report. Some parts in boldface.
THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has invited the Israeli Embassy and Israeli tech firms to partner in developing its planned innovation hub, saying Israel’s strength in research and development could accelerate Cebu’s push to build a stronger innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at a dialogue with Israel’s Ambassador Dana Kursh on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, CCCI president Jay Yuvallos said the chamber is converting the second floor of its building into an innovation hub aimed at supporting startups, strengthening industry–academe links and positioning Cebu as a center for technology-driven growth.
“Across all industries, Israel is a leader in innovation. That is one of our main thrusts — developing an ecosystem for innovation,” Yuvallos said.
He cited Singapore’s rise as an R&D hub, noting how a single foreign research center eventually “overflowed to the whole community and ecosystem.”
Yuvallos said CCCI is pursuing the project aggressively and is “dreaming big,” stressing that a partnership with Israeli companies or the embassy would provide a “big boost” to Cebu’s innovation agenda.
“This is an invitation for the embassy or Israeli companies to be a partner of this innovation hub. Your comments actually make us more confident that we are on the right track,” he said. “We’d love to welcome whatever you want to bring, and we hope to reciprocate the energy and passion you’ve shown.”
He added that the chamber is ready to support Israel’s initiatives in Cebu and ensure that collaboration between Cebu and Israel “works on the ground.”
CCCI is set to open a P20-million Innovation and Startup Hub to accelerate local entrepreneurship and link Cebu’s innovators with global markets.
For the newcomers reading this, I used to work and live in Cebu long before I even visited Israel. I have witnessed the Cebu business community’s determination to modernize and innovate, and their efforts on attracting foreign investors (including direct foreign investment) have been consistently strong. A partnership with Israel and its business community could be realized in the near future benefitting both Cebu and the Philippines as well. Pray to the Lord in support of Israel-Cebu partnership!
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.
NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief – the Israeli-based, all-volunteer, non-profit NGO dedicated to helping people worldwide rebuild their lives with dignity after natural and human-made disasters – provided much needed assistance to people living in northern Cebu in tandem with local partner Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, the Israeli Embassy announced on social media.
For the newcomers reading this, the entire island province of Cebu was struck hard by an earthquake on September 30, 2025, and the epicenter was off the coast (east) of northern Cebu. The massive earthquake was felt all over the Central Visayas region and in other parts of the Visayas as a whole. That being said, a lot of people living in the northern part of Cebu were affected the most as they were near the epicenter.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the content from the social media post of the Israeli Embassy. Some parts in boldface…
In the aftermath of a 6.9 earthquake that struck Northern Cebu, NATAN-Worldwide Disaster Relief deployed a volunteer team in partnership with Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, Inc. to support affected communities. The Embassy of Israel in Manila commends their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to humanitarian service.
Led by Head of Delegation Roni Diamant Avnon, alongside Ofira Ben Shlomo and other dedicated professionals, the team included two medical doctors and three social workers. They opened a free clinic, offering medical checkups and distributing Israeli medications to local residents.
The psychosocial team facilitated mental health support sessions, sharing practical techniques to help individuals and communities cope with trauma, stress, and emotional challenges. These sessions empowered local psychology students, teachers, and health workers to provide care and comfort amid ongoing aftershocks.
The Embassy of Israel in Manila is deeply moved by the resilience and solidarity of the people of Cebu. This mission reflects the enduring friendship between Israel and the Philippines, rooted in compassion, shared humanity, and mutual support.
This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties. Many times has Israel provided humanitarian aid and special assistance to victims of disasters here in the Philippines. If your local community badly needs assistance from NATAN, visit them online at https://natanrelief.org/
Long before I visited Israel in 2023, there was a time when I worked and lived in Cebu. While it has been thirteen years since that last time I set food in Cebu, I was disturbed by the news of the September 30 earthquake as I have lots of friends there. As such, to see Israelis (and its local partner) helping Cebuanos affected by the earthquake is deeply inspiring. As some of you already know, I love Israel and the Jewish people in accordance to my uncompromising faith in Lord Jesus.
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.
During an important discussion with the Manila Bulletin, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippine Dana Kursh stated that the Jewish state and the Philippines are exploring opportunities of cooperation over important topics such as tourism, cybersecurity, trade and direct flights, the newspaper reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines and Israel are exploring “more avenues of cooperation”—including a possible free trade agreement, direct flights between the two countries, and cybersecurity agreements—that will improve the “bond” that has been going strong since World War II, Israel Ambassador to Manila Dana Kursh said on Monday, Oct. 27.
In an exclusive roundtable discussion with The Manila Bulletin, the envoy underscored the importance that Israel puts in the Philippines, citing high-level visits of its ministers for foreign relations, economy, and tourism, as well as its deputy foreign minister.
“That shows that the Israeli government thinks very highly of the Philippines because it is working top down—our Prime Minister said look east and he specifically said also the Philippines and our ministers are coming here to explore more avenues of cooperation,” she said.
“So, this is one time that it relies on the past and it looks at the present and if we are looking at the future there are two things that are important,” she added.
The first, Kursh shared, is the possible free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, of which discussions on building the mechanisms have already started in July.
“So, hopefully, there will be a free trade agreement. We are now just finalizing things so, we initially started in July and when it’s done, the potential of bond between the two nations will become even more,” she pointed out.
PH, Israel eye revival of direct flights – Another important component of this relationship is the establishment of direct flights.
Noting the big potential of tourism between the two countries, the ambassador lamented the travel advisory currently raised in Israel by the Philippine government.
“We have to move aside is a travel advisory. I know that tourists are still coming despite the travel advisory, but we need to overcome this challenge and God willing, now with the voices, with the wind of peace from our region, I do hope that the DFA will decide, together with other ministries, will decide to lift this,” she said.
Travel Alert Level 2 is currently raised in Israel, which reminds Filipinos to avoid non-essential travel to the country. This includes, among others, tourism visits, pilgrimages, temporary stays with relatives and friends, volunteer work, sports events, entertainment, and similar activities.
After going past that hurdle, Kursh said the two countries can start discussion two possible options for direct flights, with one options having only direct flights on a certain amount of days a week.
The envoy added they have already met with the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines on how the direct flights will benefit the company.
“I do hope that more and more Filipinos will come to Israel and vice versa more and more Israelis will come to more than 7,000 mini paradise that we have in the Philippines.”
“So if I’m trying to answer, I think that God willing, within the next year and a half, we’ll be able to reach some progress, or even, but I cannot commit, we cannot commit to what’s going on in Israel, and at the end of the day, because it’s a decision of the airlines, we need to find ways to create the best formula that will be a win-win,” she added.
According to Kursh, there are some 30,000 or 40,000 tourists on both sides, but the “potential is tremendous.”
Cybersecurity partnership – Pointing out Israel’s expertise in technology, Kursh also said that her country has “added value” when it comes to exchanging best practices on innovation and technology, including cybersecurity.
“So, it’s both business and both tourism, we need to provide in our nations, to other next generation, we need to provide them food security and we need to provide cybersecurity and we need to provide them with health, with mental health and physical health and in all those realms and more Israelis and Filipinos can work together to have a better future for everyone,” she added.
This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties and Ambassador Kush pointed out the high-level visits of ministers from the Jewish state. In my view, the Philippines and Israel can become greater partners than they are today. Apart from travel, Israelis and Filipinos can help each other out in business, cybersecurity, and trade. We all have to pray that the Philippines and Israel will work together more closely sooner than later.
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.
For the newcomers reading this, I myself had visited Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church in 2023. You can read some of my blog posts by clicking here, here, here, here, here and here. My faith in Lord Jesus is uncompromising and I will always stand in support of Israel and its people.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Israel sees the Philippines as a “priority” market in its efforts to revitalize its tourism sector, its tourism ministry said.
Intense promotions and trade engagement are underway in Asia following the “renewed travel optimism” seen after the Gaza ceasefire deal was signed this October, according to the Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT).
The agency, during its participation at the recent Internationale Tourismus Borse (ITB) Asia 2025 travel event in Singapore, underscored Israel’s intent to deepen ties across Asia’s high-growth travel markets and highlighted the destination’s “evolving identity that unites its heritage and modern leisure offerings.”
“The enthusiasm we’ve seen from Filipino travelers and partners at ITB Asia truly reflects how Israel remains a top bucket-list destination for many Filipinos,” Anna Oraiza Aban, marketing manager at IMOT’s Philippine office, said on Friday.
“With visa-free access for Philippine passport holders, we’re confident that more Filipinos will soon turn their dream trips into reality. The strong interest from the market and travel trade inspires us to continue developing experiences that connect deeply with Filipino travelers, whether through faith, culture, or adventure.“
In a briefer, IMOT said insights from ITB Asia 2025 will guide its regional strategy through 2026, with emphasis on joint marketing campaigns, airline collaborations, and education programs to build awareness and drive sustainable visitor growth in Asia.
Israel received 118,200 tourists in August, a 39 percent increase from July. Between January and August, it recorded 814,000 tourist arrivals, up from 672,400 in the same period last year.
“Asia has been a key market for Israel with India, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and South Korea leading,” IMOT said.
“This steady rise shows Asia’s growing confidence and curiosity in Israel’s mix of culture, culinary, eco-conscious, wellness, and adventure travel experiences,” it added.
This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties and I am confident that new travel breakthroughs between Israel and the Philippines plus other nations in Asia will happen. That means better commercial and investment opportunities, and more people in Asia will be able to visit the Holy Land in Israel and witness the Holy Bible come to life during their visit. This also means more Asian travelers – the faithful and those who are still spiritually lost – will have golden opportunities to realize that Lord Jesus is the hope of all nations!
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.
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 10th 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, here and here. No matter what happens in this twisted world we live in, 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 what I experienced when our pilgrimage tour group visited the Southern Steps (also referred to as the Southern Stairs and Rabbi Stairs) located at the lower part of the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Thanks to our dedicated local tourist guide, our tour group had a meaningful visit there and we spent several minutes observing the place. Our time at the steps concluded with a bible teaching led by New Life Philippines Pastor Edwin Tugano. In my personal experience, I felt something from the Lord there as I realized the biblical relevance of the holy site as well as insight regarding what the place was like thousands of years ago.
This is me at the Southern Steps in Jerusalem, Israel.
The site is very significant as it is the place that served as one of the main entrances from the south to the Temple Mount during the time of Lord Jesus. In fact, people coming from the City of David going north to the Temple Mount used the Southern Steps very long ago. Also, the Southern Steps became a useful place where rabbis and their disciples gathered for faith lessons and this explains why the said steps are also called the Rabbi Stairs. Physically, the steps were hundreds of feet wide which provided abundant space for congregating and teaching.
As many centuries had passed since Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven, there were physical changes that happened at the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount and this is evident as visitors today cannot access the mentioned sacred site above (where the Jewish temples used to be) using the Southern Steps. This is because there is noticeable expansion of the Southern Wall blocking the steps’ upward access to the Temple Mount. I myself had touched that wall and noticed how its stone quality and colors differed from the rest of the Southern Wall.
I brought the Passion Translation Holy Bible with me at the Southern Steps. After taking this image, I climbed up the steps, reached the Southern Wall and touched it.
Regardless, the step themselves – composed of the original stones from Jesus’ time (those steps with the rougher stones) plus newer ones (added to fill the gaps) leading to the Southern Wall – are still there and climbing them required methodical walking. The Southern Steps today are widely visited by faithful Christians from around the world as it is a holy site and it is very likely that Lord Jesus Himself climbed the steps going to the Temple Mount. There is no doubt that Lord Jesus and His disciples also gathered at the steps for teachings. The holy site should remind you about the significance of Lord Jesus’ presence in Jerusalem.
In my experience there at the Southern Steps with my tour companions, I felt the holiness of the place and that became more evident as I opened the Holy Bible during the bible teaching led by our pastor right there. During our time there, I noticed another pilgrimage tour group was present with us several feet away.
Did Pentecost happen at the Southern Steps?
Our pilgrimage tour group in the foreground, and another group in the background. The Southern Steps is an essential place for Christians to visit in Israel.
By reading the biblical reference of Pentecost and connecting it with my observations of the holy site, I can say that the Southern Steps is a possible place where Pentecost may have happened. I can even say that it is a more suitable place – where about three thousand Jews got baptized after the apostle Peter preached the good news – than the Upper Room (itself a popular location in many paintings and artworks dramatizing Pentecost).
Take a close look at the biblical record of Pentecost below…
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Acts 2:1-41 (NKJV)
Take note that verse 2 of Chapter 2 in the Book of Acts specifically mentioned “house” which is not limited to houses. In fact, in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Jewish temple is referred to as the house – as in the house of the Lord. The place of worship of the Lord!
Still within biblical context, “house” – as seen in verse 36 with “house of Israel” – also symbolizes family and lineage in the Holy Bible. “House of Israel” refers to the entire nation descended from Abraham through Jacob and Isaac and that includes the Jewish people (descendants) who were present in Jerusalem during Pentecost. For relevance of the house of Israel, read 2 Kings 7:1-16 in the Holy Bible – God’s words for King David passed through the prophet Nathan.
In the foreground are the Southern Steps and the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount. In the background is more of Jerusalem. (source – screenshot taken from the Instagram video of Hananya Naftali)
As it was an essential form of access into the Temple Mount, the Southern Steps also served as a natural place of gathering, spacious enough to accommodate thousands of Jews. As mentioned earlier, these wide and spacious holy stairs are a more suitable place than the Upper Room for Pentecost to happen.
Also take note that verse 41 of Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts mentions that there were around three thousand Jews who got baptized and helped the church of Lord Jesus grow a lot on the day of Pentecost itself (for relevance, read John 3:3 in the Holy Bible). This also means that there were between fifteen thousand to thirty thousand people in Jerusalem who witnessed Pentecost happen. Having been at the Southern Steps myself, I can easily visualize the whole place – from the steps themselves and the space between them and the City of David in the south, plus the whole stretch of the Southern Wall – being filled with lots of people on that very day. Having attended the bible teaching led by our pastor who stood at the steps facing us south, I can visualize the apostle Peter preaching to thousands of Jewish people there long ago.
Our pastor Edwin Tugano (standing on the ancient steps facing us) led the bible teaching for me and my pilgrimage group companions.
There is absolutely no way that the 3,000 people who received Christ and got baptized would fit inside the Upper Room at the time of Pentecost. When the apostle Peter preached, he was not surrounded by only a tiny group of people but by a huge crowd who listened. The other apostles were with Peter back then. This should remind you that the artists responsible for the paintings and artworks portraying Pentecost happening inside the Upper Room or within an indoor place with walls and a roof did not fully understand the biblical record of Pentecost. In other words, those artists got it wrong and the Bible proves they are wrong. This should remind you to maintain faith in God’s Word, not in man-made artworks.
Once again, the Southern Steps is a possible site of Pentecost. It may not be definitive but it definitely is more suitable than the Upper Room for congregating and preaching in front of thousands. The other possible places where Pentecost may have happened include the Royal Stoa (which was intact at the Southern Wall covering its length and was located high above the Southern Steps) and at the Jewish Temple itself.
While the exact location of Pentecost remains unresolved, I encourage you all to always keep faith in the Lord and His Word knowing that Pentecost truly happened as it was an anointed by the Lord to happen. Location is one thing, but the Holy Bible and the Holy Spirit are always essential to our faith in Lord Jesus.
Conclusion
It was destiny from the Lord for me and my pilgrimage tour group to visit the Southern Steps. I felt the unction from the Holy Spirit to capture this very moment upon arrival there.
I can say that me and my pilgrimage tour group companions were blessed by the Lord during our time at the Southern Steps. Simply thinking about Lord Jesus teaching His followers at the steps is uplifting There clearly is a lot to learn and discover by being at the holy site and having the Bible for reference. I thank Lord Jesus for blessing us, for our pastors and our local tour guide, and for the anointed experience at the Southern Steps. I definitely will revisit those steps when I return to Israel.
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, learn to love and bless the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come!
Author Carlo Carrasco 