MY FARTHEST international travel to date carried more than miles. It carried meaning.
Bound for Israel with Jessel Kabalungos and Gelay Malagu, fellow Kapampangan content creators and delegates for American Jewish Committee Project Interchange, we arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport a day after a storm. Perhaps it was nature’s way of clearing the skies for stories waiting to be told. From the moment our feet touched Tel Aviv, it felt like stepping into a land that has mastered the art of rising after every storm, whether meteorological or historical.
Tel Aviv was breathtaking. The Mediterranean Bay shimmered beside bold, progressive city life, all facing Jaffa, the ancient port city that has seen centuries come and go. Here, history does not sit behind glass. It walks beside you, orders coffee with you, and jogs along the beach at sunrise.
Festival of Lights, Shared Hopes
Our first day coincided with the opening of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a single day’s supply of oil that burned for eight days. It is a powerful symbol of faith, resilience, and light triumphing over darkness. As menorahs were lit across the city, I could not help but draw parallels with our own Christmas traditions back home, especially the Kapampangan parol, our radiant lantern of hope. Different cultures, same flame.
Speaking of Kapampangan pride, we were generously hosted for dinner by Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola, who hails from Angeles City, Pampanga. In her abode, she shared with the delegation an array of sumptuous Filipino dishes and drinks. It was Filipino hospitality at its finest, warm, sincere, and deeply grounding.
The evening was made even more meaningful through conversations with the Ambassador, Consul Teri Bautista, and members of the Filipino community in Israel. As a token of gratitude, I shared my Paskung Kapampangan photography piece, a visual expression of thanks wrapped in light.
Jerusalem: Where Faith Finds Its Footsteps
If Tel Aviv is Israel’s pulse, Jerusalem is its soul.
We experienced a guided tour of the Old City, including the Al-Aqsa or Temple Mount compound, and the majestic Dome of the Rock. Its golden dome rises as one of the most iconic religious structures in the world. Built in the late 7th century, it stands on a site sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. It is associated with Abraham’s test of faith and the Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey. Few landmarks so powerfully embody shared reverence across faiths.
At the Western Wall, silence spoke louder than words. We pressed our palms and foreheads against ancient stones polished smooth by centuries of prayer. We whispered our hopes and placed handwritten wishes into the crevices of the wall. It was deeply personal, humbling, and profoundly human.
We walked the Via Dolorosa, retracing the path of Christ’s suffering, which led us to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The historic restoration of Jesus’s burial shrine stands as a testament to preservation, faith, and continuity across generations.
Jerusalem also revealed joy in unexpected ways. We met Issa Anis Kassissieh, a former basketball player who found his father’s old Santa Claus costume and transformed it into a lifelong mission. Today, he spreads joy, hope, and unity to everyone, regardless of origin or belief.
At the City of David, we took a glimpse into the archaeological heartbeat of ancient Jerusalem, where stones and tunnels narrate stories older than memory itself.
Golan Heights: Where Geography Meets Grace
We were honored to experience a geostrategic helicopter flight, soaring above Tel Aviv, crossing the Sea of Galilee, and landing in Majdal Shams. From above, borders soften, and the land reveals itself as a living map shaped by history and strategy.
Over lunch, we were warmly welcomed by the Druze community, hosted by Sheikh Taher Abu Saleh, head of the community, and his son Atty. Murray Abu Saleh. Hospitality here was generous and sincere, served alongside wisdom, laughter, and cultural pride.
Nazareth: Sacred Beginnings
Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, was part of our sojourn. We explored the Basilica of the Annunciation, surrounded by prayers etched in stone from around the world. Rare rainfall gently blessed the city. In Israel, every falling drop is a gift, a quiet reminder of faith, hope, and sacred beginnings.
There Is Life in the Dead Sea
Our journey continued south to the historic Masada Fortress, built by King Herod and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rising dramatically from the desert, Masada stands as a symbol of resilience and resolve.
We then floated on the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Rich in minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium, its waters are known for their therapeutic and healing properties. Floating felt effortless and restorative.
Guided by Jake and Orit Benzaken, tour guides and life partners, we learned that the Dead Sea is shrinking at an alarming rate, losing water equivalent to 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools a day. For 11 years, they have served as guardians of the Dead Sea, advocating for its protection.
(First of two-part feature)
