In an elegant and moving award ceremony at the Philippines Embassy in Washington, D.C., the visiting Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Alberto Romulo, the counterpart to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, conferred Presidential Decorations on several members of the Cincinnati Jewish community. Her Excellency, President Gloria Arroyo, requested Secretary Romulo, as part of his state visit to Washington, to hold an unprecedented Awards ceremony to give the National Order of Civic and Political Merit, The Order of Lakandula, (rank of Grand Cross) posthumously to the Frieder Brothers of Cincinnati, and to High Commissioner, Paul V. McNutt, who helped spearhead the rescue of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany to a safe haven in the Philippines. Furthermore, the Government of the Philippines decided to confer The Order of Lakandula (rank of Commander) on Frank Ephraim, who wrote the book Escape to Manila, and to Dr. Racelle R. Weiman, who was instrumental in achieving worldwide attention for the rescue initiative through educational and outreach efforts at The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. The entire event was originally memorialized in Cincinnati in February 2005.

The Grand Cross Rank of Lakandula is equivalent to a Congressional Medal of Honor, and was conferred on four of the Frieder Brothers, Alex, Herbert, Morris and Phillip. Jane Ellis, Peggy Selonick, and Alice Weston represented the Cincinnati Frieder children, accepting on behalf of their fathers the beautiful gold and silver medals nestled in mahogany boxes, emblazed with the symbol of the Philippines government, and an accompanying citation from the President, in both English and Filipino languages. Richard Frieder of Philadelphia accepted on behalf of his father, and Prof. Krauss of Indianapolis received the award for Governor McNutt. Television cameras from the Philippines and Europe crowded local cameramen as they recorded this momentous occasion.

Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk, Chancellor of HUC-JIR joined Richard Weiland, current chairman of the board of The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education, and Racelle Weiman, its Director, to receive the Order of the Lakandula—given for “political and civic merit awarded for dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of people.” The work of the Center “demonstrated exceptional deeds of dedication to the political and civic welfare of society”, the criteria for the award, according to Secretary Romulo, in his remarks to the audience of 200 eminent guests from across the USA. Dignitaries from the State Department, the Diplomatic Corps, Congress, USHMM officials, and major Jewish organizations joined Frieder family and friends at this momentous occasion. Rabbi Gottschalk stressed that this was a great moment for HUC as its receives international acclaim for reaching out among other cultures and faith, promoting ideals for all humanity.

In his passionate address to the audience, the Foreign Secretary announced that the remarkable rescue story continues to inspire people, and renewed friendships have been forged. Because of the widespread news of the Filipino rescue, the Israeli Ambassador in the Philippines offered to help the Philippines in a special project, as gratitude on behalf of the Jewish People. The Philippines asked Israel’s expertise to help in their formidable task at re-forestation. On behalf of the friendship between the Jewish and the Filipino peoples, Israel will be undertaking this work, in cooperation with the JNF. It was a poetic gesture that later in the ceremony, Racelle Weiman presented to the Foreign Secretary a JNF Tree Certificate for the Tree-by-Tree forest for the children who perished in the Holocaust.

In her speech on behalf of all the awardees, Weiman quoted from the Pirke Avot, Sayings of the Fathers: “Who is honored?…the person who honors other.” She spoke about how the actions of the Frieder brothers are inspiring for all people today. She realized that many others would be attracted to this Holocaust rescue story, not only for its unique aspects, but also for the very real possibilities it holds out to us for goodly acts in the age of globalization. The Frieders, creative leaders in business suits, were able to open their minds to a larger role in philanthropy and volunteerism—they became advocates of the dispossessed.

Manuel Quezon III, the grandson of the first President of the Philippines was flown in especially for this conferment award ceremony. President Manuel Quezon worked closely with the Frieder brothers to rescue Jews at the outset of WWII. Governor McNutt, Col. Dwight Eisenhower and other sympathetic individuals encouraged their work, which eventually saved 1,200 lives and led to more direct activity to save countless others.

Frank Ephraim receiving the Order of Lakandula medal at the Philippine Embassy on May 18, 2005

Manuel Quezon III won over the appreciative audience with his wit and charm. But he impressed on all the very seriousness and exclusivity of the awards. He expressed the hope that this piece of history might stir the education system in the Philippines to change to include the history of the Jewish People, including the Holocaust and Israel (The decisive vote in the UN on November 29, 1947 was cast by the Philippines). Frank Ephraim, the little German-Jewish boy who survived the war as a “Manilaner” and wrote the book 65 years later, couldn’t stop smiling. Tears were falling on the award on his chest as he proudly hugged his squirming grandchildren.