SHARING JOY. Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss (seated, center), his wife Gila (seated, extreme right), and drummers band Rhythmania watch the performance of the foster children housed at the Laura Vicuña Foundation, Inc. in Quezon City on Wednesday (May 3, 2023). The Israeli envoy’s orphanage visit was part of Israel's 75th Independence Day celebration in the Philippines. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA— Having decades-old ties with the Philippines, Israel is heavily invested in further strengthening bonds with Manila through innovation, disaster preparedness, defense, agriculture, and trade and investment.
For the past years, interactions between the two nations included sending Filipino farmers to Israel, technical cooperation, and even sharing of medical expertise, among others.
READ: Enhancing 65 years of friendship through innovation
As the two nations mark 65 years of friendship, the Israeli Embassy sought to engage with more segments of the society in the Philippines and staged an outreach program in San Juan and Quezon City to meet with orphaned children and victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
“The approach of the embassy and my approach here is to engage as much as possible with a broader society,” Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss told reporters during the 75th Israel Independence Day reception on Thursday night.
“You can see that I also travel a lot out of Metro Manila in order to engage to see to support where we can after typhoons, after disasters, and to understand also better the country and the challenges of the country.”
Fluss and his wife, Gila, graced the mini-concert of Rhythmania at the Laura Vicuña Foundation, Inc. (LVF), an orphanage for girls who are mostly victims of human trafficking, on Wednesday.
The Israeli Embassy flew the drummer band to the Philippines where they performed before the orphans using upcycled materials as percussion instruments.
The band entertained the children with striking beats and synchronized movements and allowed them to take part in their performance through short skits and dance move showdown.
LVF managing director Sister Maria Victoria Palomo Sta. Ana said the mini-concert brightened the day of the orphans after the humdrum of their examination week.
The orphans are enrolled in nearby schools, such as the University of Santo Tomas - Angelicum, and are taking modular classes.
“They are quite unfortunate in a way that they are confined in the building, so, this will enhance their imaginations that they can do so many things like drumming,” she said.
“Nakita nila the instruments used very simple pala pwede pala yung mga cans, ‘yung water jars, sabi nila, pwede rin pala naming gawin (They saw the instruments used were very simple, they said, 'We can make use of cans and water jars').”
Fluss said the performance of the three female drummers also speaks about women empowerment and could be a source of inspiration of the orphans.
“This part of Israel’s way to really connect with you and help you with your life’s journey, and help you find a way for success in your life to be easy. You’re getting all the tools and maybe we can contribute, so you can forget the traumas of the past,” he said.
The LVF was established in 1990 and has been a home for the healing and recovery of girls who are victims of trafficking and sexual abuse.
Apart from academic support, the foundation also ensures that every orphan is seen by a psychiatrist for their emotional and mental health.
It also conducts preventive activities, such as a child protection clinic on wheels where Sta. Ana and her co-social workers advocate against child abuse, trafficking, and violence. (PNA)
