Which Filipino President let Jews come to the Philippines during the 2nd World War?

In the late 1930s, President Manuel Quezon of the Philippines welcomed over 1,200 Jews from Germany and Austria into an unlikely haven in the Pacific archipelago. Even as most countries closed their doors to Jewish refugees, Hitler's Open Doors policy allowed these Jews, known as "Manilaners," to escape Hitler's growing threat and reach the Philippine capital.

On January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the little-known rescue was commemorated at the United Nations in New York, as well as at the Philippine embassy's recently inaugurated cultural center in Tel Aviv, the Balai Quezon. Both events were organized by Philippine diplomatic missions and B'nai B'rith.

Jews rescued by Quezon, including Max Weissler in Israel and Ralph Preiss in New York, provided their perspectives. Weissler recently turned 90, and Preiss will turn 90 later this year.

In an interview with The Times of Israel, Weissler described the Open Doors story as "something that must be remembered."