Israeli Ambassador Fluss pays courtesy call on GMA Network CEO Gozon

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss paid a courtesy call on GMA Network Inc. chairperson and CEO  Felipe L. Gozon through a virtual meeting on Thursday morning.

With Fluss were Israel Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Nir Balzam, and Press Officer Danica Mae Marollano.

Meanwhile, Gozon was joined by GMA Network Chief Marketing Officer Lizelle Maralag, GMA VP for Corporate Affairs & Communications Angel Javiel Cruz, GMA Kapuso Foundation EVP/COO Rikki Catibog, and award-winning broadcast journalists Vicky Morales, Pia Arcangel, and Carmela Tiangco during the call.

Gozon and Fluss assured pa artnership between the Israli government and the media network, which includes collaborating with GMA’s Kapuso Foundation.

Fluss stressed the importance of their partnership with GMA Network as it would open more opportunities.

“The partnership with you is extremely important. It's a partnership which deals with reaching out to the public to understand, to receive, not only the staggering issues, but also it opens opportunities because they know they have a possible partner here. They are looking for those kinds of partnerships,” he said.

Israeli Ambassador Fluss with GMA Network executives

“Our Foundation, I can assure you that whatever it receives  will be delivered to intended recipients. We've been doing this for years without expectation or reward,” the GMA Chairman said.

Apart from the collaboration with GMA, Fluss also discussed several exciting projects that would eventually strengthen the relations between the Philippines and Israel, including Philippine Airline's direct flights to Israel, which will soon be available this year.

"It's a game-changer in relations because it will basically give [Filipinos] access to pilgrimage and the holy land," said Fluss.

He is also keen to impart Israel's innovation and advanced technology to the Philippines.

"Israel is a technology hub, and I would like to create bridges of innovations between the Philippines and Israel," His Excellency said, noting that Waze, one of the leading navigating apps available in the Philippines, was actually invented by an Israeli company.

To open more discussions on the possibility of innovations between the two countries, Fluss established the Philippine-Israel Innovation Board, which allows a group of experts to further talk about collaborations.

Gozon said GMA Network is willing to deliver the message of the foreign government to the Filipino people as well as to serve its conduit.

“We are very much willing and ready to cooperate with your government,” Gozon said. "Our role as a broadcast network is to deliver the message to the people, and our people will spread the word all over the Philippines."

Fluss was officially appointed as Israel Ambassador to the Philippines in October 2021. From 1995 until 1998, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission of the Israel Embassy in Manila before joining the Israeli Navy for five years. — LA, GMA News