On August 21, 1937, Philippine President Manuel Quezon issued Proclamation No. 173, initiating an open-door policy for the country so that it could receive persecuted Jews fleeing Europe. Under this program, the local Jewish community in the Philippines assumed responsibility for the refugees, ensuring they would not burden the local community. The same year, the Jewish Refugee Committee (JRC) was established. The program was selective; only refugees with ‘desirable’ professions such as doctors and scientists, along with their families, were prioritized and eventually granted visas. From 1938 on, the Philippines…
