The mayor of Quezon City in the Philippines, Joy Belmonte, arrived in Israel this week to sign a sister pact agreement with Rishon Lezion.
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The two cities decided to form an alliance just over a year ago, and the mayor's current trip aimed at cementing the partnership.
During the visit, Belmonte met with Rishon Lezion Mayor Raz Kinstlich, and signed the agreement between the two cities. The ceremony was attended by Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro R. Laylo Jr and Philippine Honorary Consul Boaz Waxman.
Following the meeting, the officials laid a wreath at the "Open Doors" monument in the Rishon Lezion Memorial Park, which honors Manuel Quezon, the former president of the Philippines who courageously offered asylum to around 1,300 Jews during the Holocaust through his "Open Door" policy.
The delegation also planted a tree at the park to celebrate the sister city agreement.
