On August 31, 2026, the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast held a presentation and a fellowship of Filipino Christian national leaders at the Dusit Thani Hotel – Manila. The key speakers who came all the way from Jerusalem were Ohad Tal, a member of Israel’s Knesset and Albert Veksler, Co-founder and Global Director of Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast (JPB).
The gathering started with the national anthems of the Philippines and Israel sung by Evelyn Malonzo. This was followed by the opening remarks of Pastora Mercy Cabiles, Executive Director of Moriah Prayer Mountain, Inc. and one of the key leaders pioneering the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in the Philippines.
Ptr. Mercy Cabiles, Executive Director of Moriah Prayer Mountain
The History of Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast
Albert Veksler shared the history of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast; how in a conversation with Knesset Member Robert Ilatov to increase public support for Israel, they decided to host a breakfast that would connect government leaders in Israel with Christians. They envisioned a breakfast where Jews and Christians—no matter their differences in religious beliefs—and political leaders, even from opposing sides, could find something to agree about. “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem,” was the main focus of agreement. This was met with approval of then President Reuven “Ruvi” Rivlin.
The first Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast happened in 2017 in Jerusalem, on the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem (May 23-24, 1967). There were 578 delegates from 58 nations who attended, politicians and Christians leaders supporting Israel. It was a successful platform for global connection and support. Veksler shared how he first thought the breakfast would simply stay as an event in Jerusalem, but invitations came afterward for the breakfast to take place in other parts of the world.
Now, it has come to the Philippines.
The Philippines and Israel
Veksler shared how the Philippines has always been a supporter of Israel, standing up for the nation even when it went against the norm. He pointed out how, in 1947, the Philippines voted in the United Nations assembly for the establishment of the State of Israel. He also shared how President Manuel Quezon saved 1,300 Jewish lives during the holocaust, indirectly preserving the 8,000 descendants who are thriving today. Furthermore, Veksler pointed out how God’s promise to the patriarch Abraham stands faithfully as global “foreign policy”: Bless the Jews and your nation would be blessed; curse the Jews and the nation would be cursed. He remarked at how a nation’s alignment with the purposes of God always brings blessings.
Albert Veksler, Co-founder and Global Director of Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast
MK Ohad Tal spoke afterward, sharing his delight at hearing the room sing the Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, at the beginning of the program. He shared how difficult it has been in Israel since October 7, 2023. Despite the war happening at multiple fronts, Israel has been successfully breaking the “ring of fire” that terrorists, particularly Iran with its 7 proxy armies, have been building around them.
In the midst of moral confusion and with all the accusations of genocide that Israel allegedly commits, MK Ohad spoke about how Israel is the only country that gives aid to their enemies, whether food, medical help, or shelter; and how Israel warns innocent people to evacuate critical areas through countless phone calls and leaflets before an attack would happen. He shared that despite the ceasefire in Gaza currently, which Israel upholds, no one is blaming Hamas for the many killings after the ceasefire. “Why is there such an obsession with Israel? Is it because at the back of everyone’s minds, we know that when Israel comes back to their land and stands strong, this is evidence that God is real?” he said.
MK Ohad Tal
Mk Ohad Tal went back to Scripture where the vision that God has for Israel stands: to be a nation of priests and a House of Prayer for all nations. It is a vision that we, too, as Filipinos should remember when we pray for Jerusalem.
Standing for What Is Right
Mrs. Heli Veksler, the wife of Albert Veksler, also shared a few words. She recounted how a Filipino caregiver, Angeline Aguirre, who had just been married for a year, chose to go to Israel and live a life of service caring for the elderly. On October 7, Aguirre had chosen to stay with the elderly lady she had grown to love and care for, dying in the hands of the Hamas at the Kibbutz Kfar Aza instead of leaving her.
Mrs. Heli Veksler and Albert Veksler
Heli Veksler paralleled this incident to how the Philippines in 1947, being only a year old in its independence from America, stood up at the United Nations assembly to support Israel when the other nations did not. This to her was testament of how the Filipinos are as a people when it comes to standing for what is right.
Bishop Leo Alconga, Chairman of Philippine Christians Standing with Israel (PCSI), also shared the different stages of Philippine awakening; how in every 40 years, the Philippines is marked by something historically profound. In 1096, for example, the Philippines transitioned from Spanish as their main language to English. Then in 1946, the Philippines gained her independence from America. Jumping forward 40 years to 1986, the Philippines experienced the strength of peaceful revolution in the streets of Edsa. “Now that it is 2026 and another 40 years since 1986, what could be the milestone of the nation? Perhaps it is to commemorate our connection with Israel and strengthen ties with Israel,” Bishop Alconga said.
Bishop Leo Alconga, Chairman of Philippine Christians Standing with Israel
Prayer Points
Although the breakfast was essentially a “merienda” since it happened in the afternoon, a sumptuous buffet opened for all attendees of the fellowship. There was a question-and-answer portion where MK Ohad Tal gave very good answers and updates on the Abraham accords, stressing that the member-nations of the Abraham Accords were standing with Israel; he also shared his insights on the Gaza strip, such as how Israel’s aid cannot be expected to turn the hearts of those in Gaza who repeatedly call for the destruction of Israel. Then he finished by sharing the prayer points that we in the Philippines can pray for:
1. Pray for Israel to go back to our roots. This includes who we are and our calling in God.
2. Pray for the Jews going back home; those making Aliyah from the four corners of the globe.
3. Pray that we see God coming back to Jerusalem and that the temple would be rebuilt.
With everyone present in the room who held a degree of influence in their respective spheres like business, media, the Church, and government, the fellowship was given a closing challenge by Albert Veksler: Could we round up people—say 10,000 people—for Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast to happen in the Philippines? Perhaps in an auditorium or even a coliseum?
It is a challenge we all said “yes” to before we closed in prayers for Israel and the Philippines led by Rev. Lalano Badoy Jr., Deputy Director for Missions and Church Planting of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and by Ret. Gen. Essel Soriano of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Participants at the presentation of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, August 31, 2026
Janina Marie Rivera is the author of the book, A Night Bird Sings of Blindness and Fear and has co-authored the devotional, Dawns, published by OMF Literature. She is a contributing poet in the books Joyful Light and Whitmanthology: on Loss and Grief by Various Authors. She is the Editor-in-Chief of One Voice Magazine.
