Cybersecurity in the Philippines will be enhanced as further cybersecurity partnerships and agreements between Israel and the Philippines are underway, according to a news report by GMA News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface.
Israel is seeking to expand its cybersecurity presence in the Philippines, saying the latter is one of the most “attacked” countries in Southeast Asia.
“One of the sectors that we identified there as very relevant and important for relationships was definitely the cybersecurity sector. I think that the cybersecurity sector, when we talk about the Israel-Philippine relationship, enjoys both the demand from the Philippine side, because we are well known for very advanced, proven cybersecurity solutions,” Israeli Economic Counsellor Ofek Venecianer said at an event in Bonifacio Global City on Thursday.
She said further cybersecurity partnerships and agreements are now underway between Israel and the Philippines with the shared goal of improving the Philippines’ cybersecurity.
“I think this is a great momentum that we’re trying, of course, to leverage and bring to the table more players from the Philippines side and from the Israeli side as well,” she added.
Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh said there was a need to improve the country’s knowledge, technologies, and capabilities due to technology’s high involvement in the war.
“Cybersecurity is a huge and grave threat because it can impact us easily… It is something that is relevant to this war and we can learn from it and we can exchange best practices to utilize. We can be either defensive or offensive,” she said.
“Cybersecurity is the next war. It’s the war today… I don’t want cyber security or any other innovative tool to be against someone. I want it to be for something. So, we have to find ways to think together and to prepare for not the next future, but the future is now to see how we protect our citizens, both from ballistic missiles and from hackers that want to make harm for us and for the next generation of us,” she added.
In February, the Philippine government said that it had already been making significant moves to further strengthen the country’s cyber landscape through partnerships with other countries like Japan and Canada.
In December, a group of cybersecurity professionals also made a call to the government to bolster the country’s cybersecurity framework.
They noted there were “long overdue” reforms needed to address vulnerabilities caused by “years of underinvestment, lack of coordination, and misplaced priorities.”
In a message to GMA News Online, the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) said that they continue working on strengthening the Philippines’ cybersecurity, which includes cooperation with countries like Israel.
“DICT and CICC continue to partner with the Israeli Government through their embassy to find better and more advanced tools and methods to combat cyber threats. Most specially after the Middle East crisis. No less than the President directed [the] DICT to ensure that the country has a strong cyber defense posture,” said DICT Secretary Henry Aguda.
To all my readers, I encourage you to pray to the Lord for even closer ties between Israel and the Philippines so that people of both nations can benefit greatly with one another. Israel is a world-leader in technology and cybersecurity, and the Philippines can achieve a lot of greatness with the Israelis as the strategic partner. Without enhanced cybersecurity, the Philippines will be vulnerable to hackers, thieves, scammers and terrorists from around the world.
At the same time, I encourage you all to realize 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 11th 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) in 2023. To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. No matter what happens in this unpredictable and chaotic 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 I visited Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem not once but twice. Also referred to as the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall is a very holy site and is one of the most definitive places to be in with regards to worshiping the Lord.
For starters, I share with you the very video I recorded about my first time ever to arrive at the Western Wall Plaza (note: I was with my pilgrimage tour group companions, our pastors and our hard-working local tour guide) as well as my first-ever approach (starts at 2:01 in the video) to the Western Wall itself. It’s a video of more than three minutes and it’s available for public viewing via YouTube. Watch the video below and pay attention to the details closely.
As you can see in the above video, I stopped recording before entering the perimeter to get closer to the Western Wall. What happened after was my personal discovery and my personal sensing of the Lord’s presence.
About The Western Wall
To put things in perspective, the Western Wall is a retaining wall which was part of the Temple Mount expansion that King Herod (Herod the Great) did in around 19 BC. It is one of the four supporting walls of the Temple Mount which remained intact after the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple many decades later. Above it is the Temple Mount already.
Historically, the First Jewish Temple was built on the top of Mount Moriah during the time of King Solomon. The temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. In 19 BC, King Herod started rebuilding a new temple and this includes enlarging the Temple Mount platform a lot which made it 1,575 feet long and 985 feet wide. Herod had ten thousand men working and trained a thousand priests to work on the most sacred parts of the Second Jewish Temple.
The construction was done after several years but the decoration was completed in 64 AD. Six years after the Second Jewish Temple was fully completed, the Romans destroyed it but the western side of the Temple Mount survived. This happened in 70 AD, long after Lord Jesus conquered death and ascended to Heaven.
At the part of the Western Wall near the corner of the Southern Wall is this area that was massively damaged when the Romans destroyed the Second Jewish Temple. Several huge rocks that fell from above during the 70 AD destruction have remained.
The Western Wall faces westward and it is the closest in proximity to the site of the Holy of Holies, the most sacred location in the Temple for the Jewish people. Be aware that Mount Moriah is the same exact mountain where Abraham almost sacrificed his son Isaac before God sent the angel to intervene and provided the ram as the sacrifice.
For centuries, the Western Wall became a great source of influence and inspiration. It became the focus of yearning and prayer for the Jewish people for countless generations. The open-air section of the Western Wall serves as a place of worshipping the Lord and it is officially a synagogue. Apart from worship, the Western Wall keeps the memory of the Jewish Temples alive and it has also been used by the State of Israel for formal ceremonies. For centuries, pilgrims from around world came to the wall to pray and leave written noted in its ancient stones.
Physically, the Western Wall is 488 meters long and the height of the exposed section reaches a height of 40 meters above the bedrock of the eastern hill of Jerusalem (Mount Moriah). The open-air section of the wall (visible to the Prayer Plaza) is comprised of 46 layers of stone and the very large stones (that many are able to touch) were put in place during the time of King Herod (Second Jewish Temple period).
My First Visit – February 13, 2023
The widest shot of the Western Wall I managed to take during my first-ever visit.
After recording the video, I placed my smartphone into my pocket, entered the worship area and gradually made my way to the wall.
With my Holy Bible in my left hand, I touched the Western Wall with my right hand and started spending quality timewith the Lord God, praying to Him. With all my heart, I expressed my thanks and dedication to Lord Jesus there at the wall. I also prayed in support of Israel and the peace of Jerusalem.
Each moment I had there, I truly felt God’s presence and I did not confuse it with the wall’s visual magnificence. As I prayed, I felt the unction from the Lord to open my eyes and look straight up at the blue sky above knowing that He is spiritual, and He is in Heaven. The Lord is not inside the stones of the wall but in His Kingdom. That said, I did not worship the stones (reminder: idolatry is foolish and unholy) as I directed my worship directly to the Lord knowing He is in Heaven.
Many people praying at the wall touching it. There were others who did the same while standing or seating on a chair. In the lower-left corner of the picture is Wilson’s Arch which leads into the indoor synagogue.
Partly seen in the background is the fence that separates the men from the women. Above everyone at the right is the platform leading to Temple Mount.
The men’s side on the left and women’s side on the right. More of the high platform leading to the Temple Mount.
Because we only had fifteen minutes to spend as our tour group had a schedule to follow, I wisely spent time to praising and honoring the Lord. Let me remind you all that Lord Jesus will someday return and He will fulfill His promise. He will return in Israel and Jerusalem will be His destination.
After praying to Him, I spent the remaining minutes looking around and observing. I was surrounded by Ultra-Orthodox Jews, National Religious Jews, rabbis, tourists and Christians. I witnessed the religious rituals and practices of the Jewish people and I know deep inside that the ties between Jews and Christians are biblical.
As I walked out to rejoin my pilgrimage tour group, I took shot of the women’s area of the Western Wall.
The whole area is indeed sacred and that means visitors should be respectful and should practice decency near the Western Wall. People praying to God are to be respected and when there are many others praying while touching the wall, you will really have to wait for your turn. Be mindful that the Lord is always watching you as there is simply no reason to cause disrespect, playing around and causing trouble at the Western Wall.
When my fifteen minutes ran out, I went to the exit to rejoin my tour group.
My Second Visit – February 15, 2023
I took this shot of the Western Wall after making my way through from the Temple Mount.
Two days later, it was our tour group’s one and only rest day. After having a really early breakfast at our hotel, I marched to the Old City of Jerusalem and visited the Temple Mount for the first time ever. After spending time up there, I took the exit and made my way down to return to the Western Wall.
Once again I took time touching the wall and praying to the Lord and expressing my thanks to Him with a lot of heart. After several minutes, I took a seat to pray to Him while resting my legs. Then I noticed a North American man (who looked so much like Hillsong Church’s Phil Dooley) with the Holy Bible at one end of the fence (separating the men and the women) by the wall facing at the other direction (his back on the wall). He preached the Word of God and asked the Lord to save everyone. What he said reminded me that God has a plan for everyone, including the Jews (His chosen people) and there is still time for the lost and unsaved to realize Jesus as the Lord and the Savior of all.
My hand touching the Western Wall. I spent much more time praying to the Lord during my 2nd visit there.
After I was done praying by the wall, I decided to visit Wilson’s Arch as I was so curious why a lot of people had been entering and exiting it. It turned out to be Western Wall tunnel (with an arch area) and inside was a synagogue where there lots of Jews read the Old Testament, the Torah and pray. At the entrance/exit, a Jewish rabbi invited me in and assured me that foreigners and non-Jews were welcome. So I went in and he showed some parts of the indoor synagogue.
As it was a place of worship by the Jews, I was cautious moving inside and spending time observing. Carefully I only took a few photos for this feature article and it was astonishing to see more of the Western Wall indoors. Not only that, it was impressive to see the arches – including those huge stones above our heads – and it turns out they were constructed during Herod’s time and without any cement at all. There were also lots of shelves of books on both sides.
I took this shot during my short visit inside the Western Wall tunnel.
See those huge stones above everyone? Those were put into place during the time of King Herod and no cement was ever used. It is amazing to see as it was constructed without any of the modern construction technologies of today.
The Western Wall tunnel synagogue is one of the holiest synagogues in Israel due to its proximity to where the First Jewish Temple was wherein the Holy of Holies resided.
The indoor synagogue is one of the holiest synagogues in Israel due to its proximity to where the original Jewish Temple was wherein the Holy of Holies resided. Since it was my plan to revisit the Upper Room and visit both King David’s Tomb and Oskar Schindler’s grave, I eventually left the Western Wall tunnel. Before tracing my way back to the Jewish Quarter (where we visited two days prior), I took one last look back at the Western Wall. I intend to revisit it and spend quality time with the Lord there again in the future.
Biblical Significance
While it is a fact that the Western Wall was not explicitly mentioned in the Holy Bible, it has always been part of the Temple Mount since Herod’s time. To put things in perspective, we need to go back to the time when King Solomon dedicated the First Temple asking God to hear the prayers made toward it. Learn from the holy scriptures below.
that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.
1 Kings 8:29-30 (NKJV)
“Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.
1 Kings 8:41-43 (NKJV)
The First Jewish Temple eventually got destroyed by the Babylonians. Centuries later, Herod executed the massive rebuilding of the Temple (Second Jewish Temple) in Jerusalem as well as the expansion of the Temple Mount itself. What was achieved drew reactions from many people who saw it and there were references of such reactions in the New Testament. For insight, read the scriptures below.
Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
Mark 13:1 (NKJV)
Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will You raise it up in three days?
John 2:20 (AMPC)
To be clear, the forty-six years mentioned in John 2:20 refers to the massive renovation and the expansion of the Second Jewish Temple.
Long before the Second Temple got destroyed, Lord Jesus prophesied its destruction. By the time Lord Jesus made the prophesy, He was already rejected by the religious Jews. Those people refused to accept Him as their Messiah and they had disobeyed God as a result. Lord Jesus wept for Jerusalem knowing that suffering and destruction would come and it happened in 70 AD. Learn from the scriptures below.
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Luke 19:41-44 (NKJV)
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them,
“Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:1-2 (NKJV)
As it is very clear that God always has a plan for the faithful and His chosen people, it was prophesied that He would bring the Jews (scattered around the world) back to Israel in the last days. This prophecy was fulfilled in May 1948 when the modern State of Israel was formally established and a lot of Jews returned or settled in since then. Lord Jesus will return to us some time in the future and there is time for the Jews to accept Him as their Messiah, to repent and submit to Him. The other lost and unsaved people of the world still have opportunities to realize Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Very clearly, Lord Jesus is the hope of ALL nations! Learn from the scriptures below.
If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.
Deuteronomy 30:4-5 (NKJV)
Jesus answered him,
“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 (AMP)
Beloved ones, let me repeat emphatically that the gospel entrusted to me was not given to me by any man. No one taught me this revelation, for it was given to me directly by the unveiling of Jesus Christ.
By now you have heard stories of how severely I harassed and persecuted Christians and how systematically I endeavored to destroy God’s church, all because of my radical devotion to the Jewish religion. My zeal and passion for the doctrines of Judaism distinguished me among my people, for I was far more advanced in my religious instruction than others my age.
But then God called me by his grace, and chose me from my birth to be his. He was pleased to unveil his Son in me so that I would proclaim him to the peoples of the world. After I had this encounter, I kept it a secret for some time, sharing it with no one. And I had no desire to run to Jerusalem and try to impress those who had become apostles before me. Instead, I withdrew into the Arabian Desert. Then I returned to Damascus, where I had first encountered Jesus.
Galatians 1:11-17 (TPT)
For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,
By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.
And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.
And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near.
For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him].
Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household.
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.
In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].
In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:14-22 (AMPC)
Conclusion
This was me during my first-ever Western Wall visit on February 13, 2023. I had The Passion Translation (TPT) Holy Bible with me. My thanks to the guy who took this picture for me.
My two visits to the Western Wall were very significant to me personally. As seen above, each visit has been different, new discoveries happened and I spent quality time with Lord. The place is holy and it is a must-visit for anyone going to Israel. If I ever visit Israel again, I would return to the Western Wall to praise, thank and honor the Lord. If you are a person of faith who is about to visit Israel for the first time, I urge you to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Learn from my experiences. I also encourage you all to stand united in support of Israel, learn to love and bless the Jewish people, help the lost and unsaved come to Lord Jesus and always pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!
May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!
For my brethren and companions’ sake, I will now say, Peace be within you!
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek, inquire for, and require your good.
Psalm 122:6-9 (AMPC)
Israel is the holiest place to visit in the whole world! 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! Thank you for reading.
Recently in the province of Pangasinan, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh visited the wake of Mary Ann De Vera to pay respect to her as well as to her family, the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines announced via social media.
Mary Ann De Vera died in Israel as a result of a missile attack committed by the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran. She worked there as a caregiver. De Vera’s family recently met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem and later met with the ambassador here in the Philippines when the remains arrived.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire social media post of the Israeli Embassy. Some parts in boldface.
Amb Dana Kursh paid a visit to Pangasinan to pay her respects and extend condolences to the family of Mary Ann De Vera, the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who passed away in Israel while serving as a caregiver, dedicating her life to caring for others far from her own home.
Ambassador Kursh joined Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Mon-Mon” Guico III, OWWA Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, Department of Migrant Workers Usec. Felicidad Bay, and officials from the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to pay their respects and stand with the bereaved family during this time of mourning.
Mary Ann De Vera was known for her kindness, dedication, and quiet strength. Like many Filipino caregivers in Israel, she left her family in the Philippines to work abroad and support her loved ones, while compassionately caring for those entrusted to her. Her passing is deeply felt both by the people she cared for in Israel and by the many who loved her here at home.
The Government of Israel mourns her loss and extends its heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.We share in the grief of the De Vera family and honor Mary Ann’s life, service, and the compassion she showed every day through her work. May her memory be a blessing.
To all my readers, I encourage you to pray to the Lord for the protection of all civilians in the Middle East while the joint military operation of Israel and the United States versus the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran continues. Pray to Him for the regime of Iran to surrender unconditionally so that the conflict will end and the economic disruptions will stop.
Also I encourage you to realize 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.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface.
Israel’s national carrier El Al Israel Airlines has announced plans to launch a direct route to Hanoi capital of Vietnam as part of a broader expansion of its global network.
The airline said it is entering a new growth phase after nearly three years of focusing on key destinations in Europe, North America and Asia following the outbreak of conflict in October 2023.
Under its upcoming development strategy, El Al plans to introduce nine new routes.
From October 2026, the carrier will operate a long-haul direct service linking Tel Aviv and Hanoi. The route is expected to run three round-trip flights per week.
It should be recalled that the ties between Israel and Vietnam are indeed strong and really cooperative. That said, it makes perfect sense for the two nations to have direct flights with each other. Israelis looking for new destinations for holiday or business can visit Vietnam which is now a major tourist destination of Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese, meanwhile, can discover the Holy Land in Israel and possibly engage in business with the booming Israeli tech sector. There is a lot that Israel and Vietnam can achieve together.
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.
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.
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.
