3 July 2010, Ramat Gan – Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia hosted a dinner at the official residence in Ramat Gan in honor of Monetary Board Member and former Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and his family.

Invited guests were former Ambassador Yitzak Oren, currently the director of Rishon Lezion Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Max Weisler, holocaust survivor who was given refuge in the Philippines during the second World War, Dr. & Mrs. Carl Hoffman of the Jerusalem Post, Mr. Simi Salpeter, a long-time friend / supporter of the Embassy, Maj. Gen. Natalio Ecarma III, the Force Commander of UNDOF, including Col. Alexis Gopico, the current commanding officer of the Philippine Batallion in UNDOF, Mr. Jon Escudero and Ms. Neta Shermister, arnis experts, and members of the Filipino Community.

In her brief remarks, Ambassador Garcia welcomed Mr. Ignacio Bunye and his family to Israel.  The Ambassador also highlighted the growing friendship between the Philippines and Israel and touched upon the Open Doors Monument in Rishon Lezion which symbolizes Israel’s acknowledgement of the role played by the Philippines in saving the Jews who were escaping the holocaust during the second World War.  She added that the presence of many distinguished Israelis and Filipios during the dinner is a testimony of the deepening friendship between the Philippines and Israel.

For his part, Monetary Board Member Ignacio Bunye thanked the Ambassador for organizing the dinner in his honor and for having the opportunity to meet with the Filipino Community and Israeli friends who are supporters of the Embassy and the Philippine government as a whole.  He particularly noted that the Philippine government pays tribute to the overseas Filipino workers all over the world for their contribution to the Philippine economy through their remittance which amounted in 2009 to USD17B.

As a gesture of appreciation, he also touched upon the Filipino custom of “pasalubong” which came from the root word “salubong” which he translated as “to welcome”.  Thus, in honor of the warm welcome accorded to him and his family, he gave commemorative coins to Ambassador Petronila Garcia, Mr. Max Weisler, Mr. Simi Salpeter and Mr. Yitzak Oren as pasalubong.

Monetary Board Member Ignacio Bunye was in Israel to attend a seminar on banking at the Galilee College in Nahalal (northern part of Israel).

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