The Philippines joins the world on 27 January in remembering the Holocaust. The world remembers this great tragedy so that it never happens again. Yet, many things have been forgotten in this profound historical tragedy.

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines commemorates the Holocaust this year from the Filipino perspective. Recent events suggest that this generation, including Filipinos, has forgotten the lessons of the past. This year we remember how the Philippines plays a major part in history.

Name on a Candle

The United Nations, the Embassy of Germany, and Filipinos came to commemorate the lost lives in the Holocaust at the National Museum of Natural History. Six candles were lit to remember the six million unidentified individuals of the Holocaust. Each Sem Vener candle has a QR that includes the identity and story of an individual lost in the six million unnamed.

Quezon Legacy

Ambassador Dana Kursh and the Israeli Embassy set the Holocaust Day from the Filipino perspective. The guests and the media watched a Filipino film the “Quezon’s Game.” The film highlights how one President and his country changed history. The Philippines was the only country to give home to the 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. However, President Manuel L. Quezon could have saved 9,800 more if the country had not been under the US government and the Japanese invasion.

The “Quezon’s Game” beautifully highlights the endeavors of the Philippines. A time when the country holds a thread to its independence from America. Yet despite this obstacle, President Quezon set out to save lives from the Nazis. A defiance against fascism, discrimination, and the collapse of humanity. Nations turned their backs on these Jews. Doors opened for them in the Philippines.

The film was praised for its unique view on this historical tragedy. The Arnuad Peral of the UN, German Amb. Andreas Michael Pfaffaersnoske and Israeli Amb. Kursh praised the film director Matthew Rosen for an amazing job. The film still moves the heart of Ben Avancena, Pres. Quezon’s grandson. Though he watched it multiple times. Actor Raymond Bagatsing taps his political lineage to embodies Pres. Quezon in such a critical moment.

Learn from History

The Israeli and German embassies feel that this film is a great tool for education. Both the Ambassadors are open to working with Secretary Sonny Angara and the Department of Education (DepEd) in preserving this part of Philippine history. Pres. Quezon is proud to be a Filipino.

The delegates agreed that Gen Z and Gen Alpha needs learn this kind of history. With the AI, disinformation and misinformation are slowly forgotten.

Amb. Pfaffaersnoske said, “People might tend to forget. But again I think this film is for everyone in the Philippines. For every school in the Philippines. Every teacher in the Philippines is a wonderful instrument… Because this is an important part of Philippine history but also to teach about. What happened in other parts of the world in the last century, and how the Filipino people and the government acted to save lives. So I think this is really the way to go. I’m not here to teach DepEd what to do. We can only share experiences. We can share what we have done. That means keeping this issue alive. Not letting it forget. Not letting us fall asleep. But always remember what has been done. That is also what the UN Remembrance Day today is here for. This is not just a German thing this is something celebrated around the world because the Holocaust is global. We have to remember that we globally have to take care that this never happens again. I think the Philippine government is taking care of that issue.”

Amb. Kursh adds, “I have met Secretary Angara and then both of us basically asked him together to be a partner. He had shared with us the challenges and the opportunities that he faces in his office (DepEd). The fact that he had allocated the biggest budget ever. I heard him. I heard my education minister. I’m sure that it’s a similar way to my German colleagues. The challenge of how to touch the hearts and minds of the next generations is very very hard. It’s a very important task. How do we instill in their mind the same values that President Quezon represents? And I think that movies like this can do that.”

The commemoration ends up where both cultures of Israeli and Filipino share that is food. Chef Ivory Catering prepares a feast of Israeli cuisine with a Filipino touch. Both cultures love social gatherings with food.