Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust is a 2013 documentary film directed by John Rubin and co-directed by Beverly-Anne C. Dimapilis. The film is a historical retelling of the story of how a small group of Filipinos, led by then-President Manuel L. Quezon, worked to provide refuge and safe passage for Jewish refugees from Europe before the outbreak of World War II.
The documentary features interviews with historians, experts, and surviving witnesses to the events, including the children of the rescued refugees. The film shows how Quezon, along with a group of Americans and Jewish businessmen, actively worked to help Jewish refugees escape from Europe and reach the Philippines, which at the time was an American colony.
The movie also highlights the role played by the country's Jewish community, which was small but active in supporting the rescue efforts. Additionally, it explores the social and political climate of the Philippines in the 1930s and the attitudes of Filipinos toward immigrants, particularly the Jewish refugees.
The film showcases the impact of the rescue on the lives of the refugees and their descendants, many of whom made the Philippines their home and built successful careers and families there. It also exposes the largely forgotten history of the Philippines' role in saving Jewish lives during the Holocaust, shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of the war.
Rescue in the Philippines: Refuge from the Holocaust premiered in Manila in 2013 and has since been screened at film festivals and events around the world. It serves as both a tribute to the bravery and compassion of those who risked their lives to save others and an important reminder of the power of moral courage and human kindness in the face of hate and persecution.