UN to show docu on Jews' escape from Nazis to Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations headquarters in New York City will screen a documentary about a previously untold rescue of 1,300 Jews from the  Nazis  to immigrate to the Philippines.

Titled "Rescue in the Philippines", the one-hour film follows former Philippine President Manuel Quezon, five cigar-making brothers and several top officials including would-be US President Dwight Eisenhower craft an intricate plan to help fleeing Jews to immigrate to Manila as World War II ravaged both continents.

Emmy Award-winning producers Russell Hodge and Terry Irving and award-winning communication strategist Cynthia Scott put together a story of how seven men from vastly different backgrounds found a common purpose.

"When no other country would take in the masses of fleeing Jews, they alone persevered simply because 'it was the right thing to do'," the producers wrote.

"This is also the story of how a young nation – at considerable political risk – takes its seat at the table of nations by demonstrating moral courage equal to – at this time far superior to – larger, wealthier, stronger nations," they added.

A monument was erected in Israel in 2009 to commemorate the courage and bravery of the Philippines in their rescue of thousands of Jews during the war.

The United Nations screening will be on November 7. The Eisenhower Institute, a center of public policy in Washington, DC, will also view the film on November 12.

Since April this year, Rescue in the Philippines has aired over 890 times on 388 Public Broadcasting Service stations in the US.