Open doors, open hearts

MANILA, Philippines - Israeli Ambassador Zvi Vapni and his family leave today after four years in the Philippines, four very fruitful and memorable years not just for him and his embassy but also for the many, many friends he has made and the beneficiaries of the numerous projects and initiatives that he has undertaken in the effort to enhance Israeli-Philippine relations.

Ties between the two countries go as far back as the open door policy implemented by President Manuel Quezon in 1939 that allowed Jews escaping persecution in Europe to avail of a Philippine visa. In 2009, this policy was recognized with the “Open Doors” monument in the Holocaust Memorial Park in Israel, designed by Filipino artist Junyee and rendered in steel set on a base of marble tiles shipped from Romblon. 

Likewise, Vapni notes that in 1947, with the support of President Manuel Roxas, the Philippines voted in favor of the UN Resolution which paved the way for the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.

“You see they are both Manuels,” he points out, adding, “For these we will always be grateful.”

Vapni says that while relations between the two countries – next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties – are robust on many fronts, he acknowledges that there is much room to grow. The $200 million in trade both ways can certainly increase, as he notes that “the numbers are very small (but) the potential is very clear.” This is particularly true in tourism, as he points out that while over 250,000 Israeli tourists visit Thailand every year, only about 3,000 come to the Philippines.

Llanera farmers tap Israeli farm technology (left). The ambassador and his wife with Vice Governor Clara Reyes in Palawan (below).

Vapni points out that many of the technological innovations that have become integral parts of daily 21st century life are Israeli inventions – the ubiquitous USB or computer memory stick, for one, as well as ICQ, the instant messenger that allowed friends to communicate with each other in a network.

Israel is also on the cutting edge of biotechnology with over 700 companies in the industry, and he asserts that “Israel wants to share” what technology and knowledge they have developed.

Some of the most successful sharing comes in the field of agriculture and agrotechnology, which may come as a surprise considering that Israel is a desert country. But it is precisely because of that that they have made tremendous advances, to ensure the ability to feed their people.

Through MASHAV or the Center for International Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine-Israel Center for Agricultural Training (PICAT) was established in June 2006 at the Central Luzon State University in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The center provides training to agriculture workers, with courses tailor-made for specific needs to enable farmers to learn new technologies. Emphasis is also placed on training extension workers so that the knowledge and skills are shared and replicated.

There are farm demonstration areas, field trials where new varieties of crops – tomatoes with longer shelf life, for example, and bigger onions and eggplants – are tested and introduced to farmers. The main partner in this project is the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the project has been duplicated in nine other provinces.

The You performance at RCBC Auditorium featured Israeli artists Ido Tadmor (far left), Ohad Hitman (on piano), Michal Amdurski (in red and black dress).

“If we start something in the laboratory and it ends up in the field, it’s great,” the ambassador says.

Students in their last year in agriculture colleges are also sent to Israel on work-study programs, wherein they get actual farm experience by working four days a week – with pay – and spending two days in the classroom. To date over 100 such scholars have participated in the MASHAV program.   

Another area of Israeli expertise is in the field of water – “we are very good at that,” he says with a smile – with workshops on gathering of water (a cistern project is being implemented in Isabela), capture, monitoring water quality (there are ongoing projects in Cebu and Baguio), leakage prevention (a joint project is studying loss in the distribution systems in Manila) and efficient use of water, particularly in agriculture, including hydroponics and drip irrigation.

Another area of vibrant exchange has been in the arts, with Israeli musicians – from pianist Michale Tsalka to harpist Tal Kravitz – and dancers regaling Philippine audiences with their unique artistry. There have also been film and food festivals, photo exhibits, and artist exchanges.

One project that the ambassador is particularly proud of is the staging of “Apples from the Desert” by Tanghalang Pilipino, the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Based on the short story by Savyon Liebrecht, who came for the opening, the play is about two generations of a Jewish family and the tensions between tradition and modernity, and yet it found great resonance among Filipino audiences. The play was staged in both English and Filipino, to critical and popular acclaim.

The long list of activities in culture and the arts that the Israeli embassy has undertaken in the last four years has done very much to increase awareness and appreciation of Filipinos about Israel and her people, leaving lasting memories of a distant land and a not-too-familiar people in the hearts of Filipinos.

The ambassador and his deputy chief of mission, Undersecretary Madueno, Central Luzon State University president Sevilleja, DAR officials, and TWG members in front of the university greenhouse (middle).

While security is an obvious concern, that has not stopped the amiable ambassador from traveling the length and breadth of the Philippines, both as a diplomat and as a tourist. Aside from visiting the many projects that his embassy as well as agencies and companies from his country are involved in, Vapni and his family are avid tourists, and he is hard-pressed to come up with his favorite place in the country.

“Oh, so many!” he enthuses. “Bohol...Siquijor, where we went diving...Banawe...Sagada...Coron...the landscapes are just so beautiful!”

He also gushes about the many festivals in the country, and even the weather is memorable: “All the drama of the rain...the storm! We don’t have this in Israel, so it’s quite something for us.”

And of course, the food. Top of the list are, not surprisingly, fruits – mangoes, pineapples, señorita bananas are a particular favorite, even durian. Then pancit canton and adobo, but missing from his list is balut, but not for lack of opportunity to try the delicacy. The ambassador shares that about two months after he arrived, he received a gift basket with some innocent-looking eggs. He thought it a strange although – well, nice – gift, and brought it to the embassy, where his staff introduced him to the ultimate Fear-Factor Filipino food.

And although he goes back to Israel without actually engaging in this uniquely Pinoy experience, Vapni has more than enough good memories to make him want to come back. And who knows – maybe balut can be on the menu too.