Last Updated on December 13, 2021
Israel’s Filipino Community.
The content and images for this article about the Filipino community in Israel have kindly been contributed by The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Members of the Filipino community celebrate Labor Day in Tel Aviv
As a service to the large English speaking Filipino community living in Israel, mostly contract workers, we have provided some information to ease their integration into the Israeli lifestyle. We welcome you to join our social groups and participate in our social activities.
Little Manilla – The Filipino community in Israel
The Philippine Embassy estimates that the Filipino community in Israel is between 30,000 and 50,000 strong (September 2017). A large majority of the community living and working in Israel is concentrated in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. There are also a considerable number of Filipinos working in Beer Sheva, Netanya, Rehovot and Rishon Lezion however, most of them maintain apartments in Tel Aviv where they normally spend their weekends.
True to their gregarious nature, Filipinos in Tel Aviv have taken flats near each other and have congregated in distinct areas like the Carmel Market and the new central bus station (Tachana Merkazit). On any given Saturday evening, when most are on their day off, the Tachana Merkazit gives the impression that one is in Divisoria or Cubao with the thousands of Filipinos letting their hair down after a week’s work.
Sunday is normally market day for the Filipino community in Israel. In Tel Aviv, the Carmel market is very popular since several stores sell pork, Philippine vegetables, Filipino delicacies and other Asian products. In Tachana Merkazit, there are many stores catering to Filipinos, selling Philippine products and delicacies, including VCDs of Philippine movies. There are also shops for airline booking and money remittance. There are also video bars, restaurants, pubs and discotheques in Tel Aviv which cater to Filipino clients. In Jerusalem, the Filipino store enjoys popular patronage. In Haifa, two stores offer more than Philippine products, they have billiards pool, karaoke and Filipino refreshments.
Religion has always been a facet of expatriate Filipino workers, and is very pronounced with their awareness of being in Israel. Filipino worshipers usually flock at St. Anthony Catholic Church along Yefet St. in Jaffa for the Saturday masses at 5:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. Weddings are usually scheduled during the 5:30 p.m. mass. The church which is run by the Franciscan friars can accommodate about 1,500 people at any one time. In Haifa, Filipinos frequent the St. Joseph Church. In Jerusalem, the Notre Dame Church and the Church of the Terra Sancta. Saturdays are also the day for worship for some Filipinos who belong to other religious orientations. Filipinos in Israel practice their faith freely.
Under Israeli law, foreign workers are only allowed to stay in Israel for a maximum period of five years. However, they may continue to stay in Israel after five years provided that they are working for the same employer. Although official working days in Israel commence on Sunday until Thursday, working days for majority of the Filipinos start from Monday until Friday noon.
Most of the Filipinos in Israel work as caregivers and a small fraction work in hotels and restaurants. Women outnumber men by 6 to 1.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Israel & services for the community
The Philippine Embassy regularly meets with the Filipino Community through the FFCI. The Cultural Attaché and the Labor Attaché sit as advisers to the FFCI during its meetings held every third Sunday of each month at the Philippine Embassy conference room.
The Embassy has identified Filipino focal persons in major areas in Israel who will coordinate with other Filipinos in their jurisdiction in case of emergency or special events at the Embassy. In addition, the Embassy maintains the “text brigade” which was launched in 2004 to monitor Filipinos in case of bombings and emergency situations.
Contact the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Israel
Rehov Bnei Dan 18
Tel Aviv-Yafo, 62260 Israel
Telephone: +972.3.601.0500
Fax: +972.3.604.1038
Email: filembis@netvision.net.il
Business Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Services including; passport related issues, visa and citizenship related issues, marriages and births, documents and fees for consular services are handled at the embassy – call +972.3.601.0500 for more information.
The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI)
The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI) is the umbrella organization of all Filipino associations/groups in Israel. Represented by the Presidents of each organizations, the FFCI conducts sports and social activities for the Filipino Community. They also extend assistance to Filipinos in Israel on case to case basis as well as work on projects assisting Filipinos in the Philippines.
Elected FFCI Officers
- President: Ms. Minerva Villanueva – minervsky005@yahoo.com
- Vice President: Ms. Jill Tuparan Sollesta – jilstjohn@yahoo.com
- Secretary: Ms. Liza Atibagos – balougs@yahoo.com
- Treasurer: Ms. Lina Caasi – linacaasi@yahoo.com
- Auditor: Mr. Ruel Bautista – focal_atinatinlang@yahoo.com
- PRO: Ms. Babes Pramis – babes_pramis@yahoo.com
- Business Manager: Ms. Lourdes Levi – deslevi@yahoo.com
Appointed Officers
- Assistant Secretary: Ms. Cheryl Sevegan chaps_1022@yahoo.com
- Assistant Treasurer: Mr. Bernie Jimenez
- Assistant PRO: Ms. Grace Cardenas – honeygmc@yahoo.com.ph
- Assistant Business Manager: Mr. Russ Pagarigan
List of Filipino organizations in Israel
- ASIAN LADIES – PHILIPPINE GROUP nesshoffman@yahoo.com and trudylevi@yahoo.com
- ALPHA PHI OMEGA YSRAEL (APOY) claud_sprakk@yahoo.com andbhongxi90@yahoo.com
- ASSOCIATION OF IGOROT MIGRANT WORKERS IN ISRAEL (AIMWI) minervsky005@yahoo.com
- BICOL ASSOCIATION
- BOLINAO COMMUNITYlina_caasi@yahoo.com
- COUPLES FOR CHRIST COMMUNITY (CFC)balougs@yahoo.com
- EL SHADDAI COMMUNITYphinnes_23@yahoo.com
- FILIPINO ORIENTED GROUPcandyroseblue@yahoo.com
- FILIPINO OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION (FOWWA-HAIFA) atevi28@yahoo.com
- FILIPINO PRESS CLUB
- GOOD SHEPHERD COMMUNITY: Ines Carbon – 0547417226 ines.carbon@yahoo.com
- IGLESIA NI CRISTO COMMUNITY – JERUSALEM nitusyafa@yahoo.com
- ILONGGO TRIBE jilstjohn@yahoo.com and el_trinanis@yahoo.com
- IN HIS CARE COMMUNITY
- JESUS IS LORD (JIL)
- KABAYAN KO MAHAL KO (KKMK)
- KALIPUNAN NG LAKAS AT ADHIKAIN (KALAHI) kalahiorgz@yahoo.com and deslevi@yahoo.com
- KALIPUNAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO SA ISRAEL (KMPI) babes_pramis@yahoo.com
- KAPISANAN NG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO SA ISRAEL (KAMPI)rusleoni@yahoo.com and mrlcdelacruz@yahoo.com
- MINDORENIANS chaps_1022@yahoo.com
- NEW LIFE MINISTRIES
- PANGASINAN GROUP
- PINOY ONLINE COMMUNITY IN ISRAEL (POCOI) honeygmc@yahoo.com
- SAMAHANG ILOKANO agustin_llyod@yahoo.com and slasher61892@yahoo.com
- SAN LORENZO RUIZ COMMUNITY Milet Aureada- 0544472531 carmi_aureada@yahoo.com
- TAO HOLY LAND allanustaris@yahoo.com and carmi_aureada@yahoo.com
- TARLAKEÑO ASSOCIATION focal_atinatinlang@yahoo.com
- VILLA BACOLOR
- VINCENTIAN
Filipino religious leaders in Israel
FATHER ANGELO ISON, OFM , PHILIPPINE CHAPLAIN – 052 33 51 065
FATHER RIC FERNANDO, SBD, VICE CHAPLAIN – 054 30 93 463
MS. ANNE GONZAGA – 054 79 26 791
A delicious meal and a fun evening – try a Filipino restaurant, bar or food corner in Tel Aviv or Haifa
PINAY NAMASTE INTERNET CAFE AND RESTO-BAR,
RM.3000 3rd flr. infront of LEVINSKY PARK.
108 LEVINSKY ST.TEL AVIV.
Tel: 036870217 / 0544946766
MOMMY’S PLACE,
#10 BENE BRAK ST.
TEL AVIV.
Tel: 0546856612
ARLENE BAR & RESTAURANT,
#15 HERZL ST.CORNER SHEMARYAHU LEVIN ST.
HADAR HAIFA
Tel: 0774401416
Stock up on favorite delicacies at one of the Filipino stores
TAMBAYAN NI ATE LISA INTERNET CAFE,
#2BALFOUR ST.HADAR HAIFA
Tel : 0524244445
EAST & WEST
#1 HEHALUTZ ST.
HADAR HAIFA
INTERNATIONAL DRAGON FOOD PRODUCTS
48,6 ROSH PINA ST.
TEL AVIV.
Tel: 03-6884219 / 0508377632 / 0508377641
MAKATI CABALEN SUPER MARKET AND MAKATI PAWNSHOP
4312 4th flr. 108 LEVINSKY ST.
TEL AVIV.NEW CENTRAL STATION
PINOY PINAY YOUR GIFT & JEWELLERY SHOP
4th flr.108 LEVINSKY , TEL AVIV
Tel: 03-6873177.
WORLDCOM INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
#107 Levinsky St., Tel-Aviv, Israel
Tel: 03-6399977
website: www.wic.co.il
email: info@wic.co.il
Keep up-to-date, subscribe to one of these Filipino magazines
FOCAL Entertainment Magazine
#108 Levinsky St.
New Central Bus Station,
4th Floor, Unit 5436
Tel-Aviv, Israel
Contact Nos.: 03-6877598 / 03-6877592 / 052-7474544
email: jena@focalmagazine.com
P.O. Box 59568
Tel-Aviv 61593
Religious services: Catholic churches in Haifa & Jerusalem
ST.JOSEPH LATIN PARISH CHURCH,
#80 Hameginim St, .Haifa,048524346
mass every sat.7:00pm
STELLA MARIS CONVENT,
PO Box 9000,Haifa,
mass everyday at 7:00am,and every sun.8:00am and 9:00am
CARMELITE CHURCH,
Tchernikovsky St, Haifa – mass everyday at 7:00am
San Lorenzo Ruiz Community
Ratisbone Church.
Shmuel Hanagid St.Jerusalem.
Wednesday: Novena mass for Immaculate Mother (English) at 9:00pm, Saturday; regular mass at 9:00 pm (English), Sunday; regular mass 9:00am (Filipino mass)
Visa requirements for Israelis traveling to the Philippines
Israelis are not required to secure visas for a maximum stay of fifty nine (59) days in the Philippines. There are cases however, that the Bureau of Immigration limits the stay of tourists.
Would you like to contribute your story to this website?
We would love to hear about your experiences as a Filippino living in Israel? If you enjoy writing, have great content and would like to be published, we’d love to get an article from you. If it is suitable we will publish it. Write to us at anglolist [@] gmail dot com
