"The strong emotional bond between the Jewish nation and the Philippines can be traced back to the Spanish Inquisition, when Marranos settled in Manila, in the 1590s."
Rabbi Joel Weinberger: The STAR-K has invested years in education and capacity building in the Philippines and this impressive showing at Kosherfest validates the effort that has helped the country allow its small and medium producers use kosher certification to export its fine products to the world.
Sunil Gersappe, Director of Business Development for Franklin Baker, Inc., a leading Filipino manufacturer, distributor and exporter of desiccated coconut and specialty coconut products in the U.S. and international markets (it manufactures the retail coconut brand Baker's Coconut): Rabbi Weinberger has made a tremendous effort to get the Philippine delegation and Philippine products exposed to the Kosher customer base in the United States and with his efforts we are sure that more and more Philippine products will find a presence on retail shelves and within the food processing industry.
Josyline C. Javelosa, Ph.D., Agriculture Attaché for the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines: I was impressed to see how Rabbi Joel Weinberger warmly shepherded the Philippine participating companies at the Kosherfest in New Jersey and how he tirelessly helped promote their products so these could gain some ground in this growing niche market in the United States. It is always uplifting to see how someone like Joel, who is from a culture very different from ours, can find and share the great promise in integrating our products such as our Philippine coconut sugar, oil, flour and cream, into his own, such as in making healthy and delicious fruit shakes and other recipes. The Kosher industry will have much more to pleasantly discover from these Philippine kosher food products and I wish Rabbi Joel, STAR-K Kosher Certification and our food manufacturers all the best as they continue to work together in promoting these products in this multi-billion industry.
Zaldy B. Patron, Consul of the Philippine Consulate General: I would like to congratulate the Philippine delegation, led by Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Euclides Forbes, for their participation at Kosherfest 2012. By being present at the event, they were able to break new ground for kosher-certified products from the Philippines. I also wish to thank Rabbi Joel Weinberger and the STAR-K Kosher Certification for helping our Philippine companies gain markets for their kosher-certified products here in the US. The Philippine Consulate General in New York will be prepared to help promote these products in Northeast USA.
