By Josefina Brobio
The largest flag in the world, as certified and recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records, is the American Super Flag that was unfurled in Hoover Dam, Nevada, U.S.A. 10 years ago. Measuring 154 meters long and 77.7 meters wide, it covers an area of 12,050 square meters.
Today, two larger flags have rendered the American Super Flag “super flag no more.” On November 25, 2007, these two giant flags - the flag of the State of Israel and the flag of the Republic of the Philippines will be unfurled in Masada, Bar Yeuda, Israel, surpassing the American Super Flag in size by approximately 30 percent, or 8,000 square meters bigger. Each flag measures 330 feet x 660 meters, and covers an area of 20,000 square meters, the size of two football fields. The giant Israel flag weighs 5.2 metric tons, while the Philippine flag has an approximate weight of 3.8 metric tons.
It took 14,900 yards of nylon taffeta cloth, 1,250 yards of satin and 70 yards of canvas, and required 18 rolls each of white, red, and blue thread, and 12 rolls of yellow gold thread to make the Philippine flag. On the other hand, the flag of the State of Israel consumed 16,200 yards of royal blue and 6,010 yards of white pongee cloth. Ten seamstresses worked non-stop 12 hours a day, starting on August 6, 2006 until September 16, 2006 to finish the Philippine flag. Work on the flag of the State of Israel commenced on November 14, 2006; it was completed on Dec 7 of the same year. An artist master cutter assisted by 40 volunteers continuously cut the strips of cloth needed to complete the two giant flags..
Made in the Philippines and transported by cargo ship to Israel, the approximate cost of both flags is placed at US$500,000.00, a humungous amount that is definitely a “splurge” for Filipino entrepreneur Grace Galindez-Gupana, who made the flags to make a statement of her lavish love for Israel and the Jewish people. By unfurling it in Israel, she wants to beckon to all peoples and lift up Israel over the nations to tell them, Israel is not just any nation; it is God’s plan for the nations.
On September 16, 2006, the largest Philippine flag was unfurled in Mt. Inordenan, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya, the Philippines. Three hundred volunteers held the giant flag on its four sides and let it lay on a trellis of aluminum cables suspended about three feet above the ground. The event, which was witnessed by tens of thousands of people from all walks of life, was a joyous time of celebration of the fulfillment of a vision that Mrs. Gupana had received to build and unfurl the giant flag; however, the celebration was cut short. A sudden gust of very strong winds tore and ripped the Philippine flag apart. Repairs and restoration work on it were done, and on July 7, 2007, the giant Philippine flag was again unfurled together with the giant flag of the State of Israel in San Mateo, Rizal, the Philippines. On the same occasion, two giant flags of North and South Korea were also laid out as a prophetic gesture for the unification of the two countries, which had been separated as a result of the Korean War in 1950-1953.
The July 7, 2007 event was a celebration of three very significant “7s”: the 40th Anniversary of the Retaking of the City of Jerusalem, which happened on June 7, 1967, the Jubilee of the Diplomatic Ties Between the Philippines and Israel, which had its beginning in 1957, and the Centennial of the Spiritual Revival of Korea, which took place in 1907.
WHY A GIANT FLAG FOR THE TWO COUNTRIES
Several key events punctuate the long and very special relationship between the Philippines and Israel. The diplomatic ties between the two countries was formally established in August 1957 with the appointment of an honorary consul in Israel, however it is believed that the Philippines’ connection to the Jewish people started as early as March 15, 1521 when Magellan discovered the Philippines. With him in his ships and in the succeeding expeditions of Spanish conquistadores were Marrano Jews, who were fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. History records that many of them found a safe haven in the Philippines, and eventually pioneered and established major businesses and industries in the country, such as the forerunner of the airline industry, the first radio station and newspaper, car dealerships, the transportation, embroidery and textile industries, etc. Thus, even today, it is not surprising to find Jewish people, or Filipinos with Jewish roots in the most unlikely places as Tabaco, Albay or in the smaller towns in the island of Samar.
In 1939, the Philippines adopted an Open Door policy, welcoming Jewish people escaping the terrors of the Holocaust in Europe. President Manuel L. Quezon, the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, made available 10,000 visas for them and donated 10 hectares of land in Marikina City where they could settle.
In the United Nations votation for the Partition of Palestine to create a Jewish homeland, the Philippines was the only country in Asia that voted in favor.
After the appointment of an honorary consul in August 1957, full diplomatic ties between the two countries was established with the opening of full-fledged embassies in Tel Aviv and in Manila in 1962. Since then, Israel and the Philippines have enjoyed a warm, cordial and friendly relationship in all spheres. Through Israel’s MASHAV program, the Philippines have benefited from technical and scientific assistance, and cultural and academic exchanges. Since then, the Holy Land has since become a favorite destination among Filipinos. Israeli owned businesses continue to have a very strong presence in the Philippine markets, especially in the telecommunications and electronics industry, and in agriculture.
And today, 50,000 Filipinos are in Israel, taking care of its elderly, babies, the sick and handicapped, and assisting Israeli mothers in household chores.
The relationship between the two countries is indeed a very special one: so special that we can almost brand Filipinos as the “chosen for His chosen people!”
It is for this reason that the giant flag of Israel was raised on July 7, 2007, and why it is being unfurled in Israel on November 25, 2007.
More than these, however, the unfurling of the flag of Israel finds a much deeper meaning in the Biblical verses that inspired Grace Galindez-Gupana to make the giant flags:
“From the islands of the sea, He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. “ (Isaiah 11:11b, 12)
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE GIANT FLAGS
Mrs. Grace Galindez-Gupana, the prime mover behind this entire project, is president of HalleluYah Prophetic Global Ministries Foundation and PG Prayer Intercessors for the Nations, Philippines. She is Vice-President/CEO of ABS GEN Herbs International Corporation and PhilHerbs Nutraceuticals Laboratory.
Program Organizers and Partners
Mr. Daniel and Vered-Chen Rozen, Founders-Directors
Jerusalem Foundation Living Stone Association - Israel
Mrs. Evelyn Klimosky
Jerusalem, Israel
Ms. Josefina Brobio, President
JAKIN CORPORATION
Makati City, Philippines
Mr. Samuel Smadja, Owner-General Manager
SAR-El Tours, Israel
Ms. Yael Zaoui, Operations Manager
SAR-EL Tours, Israel
Mr. Akram Albasel, Manager
Asian Department
SAR-EL TOURS, Israel
Mr. Raphael Ben-Hur
Senior Deputy Director-General
Ministry of Tourism, Israel:
Mr. Even-Zahav
Director for Africa, Asia, Oceania and Far East
Ministry of Tourism, Israel:
Municpal Government of Masada, Israel
Mr. Reuven Hershkovitch, Managing Director
Mr. Eyal Moyal, Manager
IS-LINE IMPORT EXPORT SERVICES, LTD.
Lod, Israel
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment