Israel’s flag carrier, El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. Flight No. LY 063 landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this morning at around 6:25
By Alithea De Jesus
Photos courtesy of Embassy of Israel in Manila
Call it symbolical or historical, but for His Excellency Isreal Ambassador to the Philippines, Rafael Harpaz the arrival of an Israeli flag carrier plane in the Philippines for the first time in seven years has a deeper meaning.
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd., the National Airline of Israel, with Flight No. LY 063 landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) this morning, October 14, at 6:25 AM.
In the communiqué sent by the Embassy of Israel in Manila, Ambassador Harpaz said that this historic flight symbolizes the good relations between Israel and the Philippines. Last October 6, the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines opened its Honorary Consulate in Davao City, which is an affirmation of Israel’s friendship with the Philippines.
As background, it was in November 2013 that the two Israeli planes carrying humanitarian aid first touched the Philippine soil via Cebu airport to assist the Philippines in wake of Typhoon Yolanda. It was one of the biggest relief operations that Israel has ever conducted. The Israeli delegation of doctors, nurses, and paramedics and Israeli Foreign Ministry and Defense personnel provided a field hospital and helped repair damaged infrastructures such as schools and water facilities particularly in Bogo, Cebu.
The passengers from the El Al Israel plane that arrived in Manila were 250 Filipino students from different agriculture universities and colleges in the Philippines who completed their 11-month on-the-job training course of combined academic learning and practical work in the latest farming techniques and technologies in Israel.
The program offered the students the opportunity to study at specialized agricultural academic centers and work in modern farms throughout Israel. Approximately 5,000 Filipino students have already participated in this Agro Studies program. Another batch of flight from Israel to the Philippines is scheduled later in the month.
The Embassy looks forward that after the COVID-19 pandemic and through the existing visa-free agreement, more Filipino tourists will come to visit Israel and vice versa; and hopefully, the direct flight services between the two countries will be implemented soon.
Read related story:
https://thephilbiznews.com/israel-opens-honorary-consulate-in-davao-2/