(Photo credits – Rod Cantiveros)
In the Philippines, a province, a major city, a national park, and a major road in Metro Manila were named after the former president Manuel L. Quezon. Across the seas, in Israel, stands a monument honouring Quezon. It is called the Open Doors Monument located at the municipality of Rishon LeZion. Inscribed on one of the pillars are the words of Quezon, “It is my hope and indeed my expectation, that the people of the Philippines will have, in the future, every reason to be glad that when the time of need came, their country was willing to extend a hand of welcome.”
Those prophetic words came to life on the evening of January 25 in Winnipeg. Even though it was a weeknight and the winter temperature had dived to -31, it was a full house at the PCCM hall. The Filipinos and the Jews in Winnipeg gathered for the film screening of Rescue in the Philippines documentary, to commemorate the holocaust in Germany where six million Jews were cruelly killed by the Nazis. In 1939, all nations closed their doors on those fleeing from the mass murder, but one country, the Philippines, kept its door open and was able to rescue 1,300 young and old Jewish people. That part of history formed the warm friendship between the Filipinos and the Jews.
B’nai Brith Canada (the country’s oldest independent Jewish human rights organization), 204 Volunteers Inc. – Caring Manitobans in action (a grassroots organization that advocates for a safer and better Manitoba for all the families, and encourages active involvement from the community through volunteerism to help uplift lives and give hope to the most vulnerable in the community), Bridges for Peace (an organization of Christians supporting Israel and building relationships between Christians and Jews in Israel and around the world), and Pastor Victor Cuarto of Filipino United Community Church collaborated to make the event possible.
Victoria and Don James of Bridges of Peace led the opening prayer song and the national anthems of Canada and Israel. Rodel Olesco of 204 Volunteers Inc. led the singing of the Philippines national anthem. Before showing the documentary film, the MLA for Notre Dame Malaya Marcelino, the WSD Board of Trustee and Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba President Perla Javate, the 204 Volunteers Inc. Founder Leila Castro, the B’nai Brith Regional Director Dr. Ruth Ashrafi gave their words of greetings to the attendees. Denny Nangan of 204 Volunteers Inc. was the emcee. City Councillor for Old Kildonan Devi Sharma, Winnipeg School Division Board of Trustees Ann Evangelista and Dante Aviso, and PCCM President Virgie Gayot graced the event with their presence.
Also in attendance were the representatives of key organizations in the community – Quezon Province Association of Manitoba (QPAM), Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba (PCCM), Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba (PHCM), Filipino Friends of Immigrants in Manitoba (FFIM), Knights of Rizal, Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers Inc. (MAFTI), Pinays Manitoba, Filipino Music and Arts Association of Canada Inc. (FMAACI), Benguet Ifugao Banawe Apayao and Kalinga (BIBAK) Manitoba and Filipino Members Chapter – Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.
