Good morning.

Monday starts with a bill the country cannot ignore: ₱737B in government debt payments in just three months. We also track big bets on solar and hydropower, a robot monk in Seoul, a hantavirus-hit cruise ship, and why history still has receipts from Manila Bay for us today.

Stay Sharp.

Big picture: The national government’s debt payments more than doubled to ₱737.4B in Q1 2026, from ₱342B a year earlier. The main culprit was principal repayment, not just interest. Amortization hit ₱464.3B, nearly five times higher year-on-year, largely because of a major domestic debt repayment in February.

By the numbers: Interest payments also climbed 13.3% to ₱273.1B, with local lenders getting most of it. Government debt reached a record ₱18.49T by end-March, equal to 65.2% of GDP, the highest ratio in about two decades.

Why it matters: The debt is not yet a crisis. But with slower growth, high rates, and a weaker peso, the government has less room to make mistakes.

Philip Morris International urged ASEAN governments to tighten regional coordination against illicit tobacco trade as Middle East disruptions and supply chain issues create openings for cigarette smuggling syndicates. PMI estimates Southeast Asia lost up to $6 billion in taxes from illegal cigarettes and vape products in 2024, with the Philippines among the hardest-hit markets.

ADB Backs PH Solar Push With $300M Loan

The Department of Energy plans to tap a $300-million Asian Development Bank loan to install rooftop solar systems and energy-efficient appliances in public schools and hospitals. The five-year program targets 400 government buildings and supports efforts to cut electricity consumption as global oil market disruptions continue.

BDO Funds Massive Hydro Storage Projects

BDO committed ₱75 billion to finance two major pumped-storage hydroelectric facilities in Rizal and Laguna that will supply 2,000 megawatts of energy by 2030. The projects, backed by Prime Infra, aim to stabilize the Luzon grid, support renewable energy expansion, and provide electricity to about 3.2 million households.

The Department of Agriculture is investing ₱2.5 billion in farm-to-market roads in Sultan Kudarat to expand coffee production and reduce reliance on imported beans. The project will open access to 29,000 hectares of farmland as the government targets an additional 100,000 hectares nationwide to achieve coffee self-sufficiency.

Carla Guevara Laforteza said she raised Katseye leader Sophia to be independent, sharing how her daughter achieved global success through hard work and determination. (Read more)

Andy Gemao Receives First NCAA Division I Offer

Filipino basketball prospect Andy Gemao received his first NCAA Division I offer from Penn State, marking a major step in his journey toward playing college basketball in the US. (Read More)

Kris Aquino Reveals COVID-19 Diagnosis

Kris Aquino revealed she tested positive for COVID-19 after days of fever and coughing while continuing treatment for her autoimmune conditions and recent chemotherapy. (Read more)

A Buddhist temple in Seoul ordained a humanoid robot named Gabi as a monk to attract younger followers. The ceremony comes as Buddhist participation and new monk numbers continue falling in South Korea. (Read more)

OpenAI Explains Why GPT-5.5 Kept Mentioning Goblins

OpenAI said GPT-5.5 repeatedly used “goblin” and “gremlin” metaphors after trainers rewarded quirky language during AI training. The company called it an unintended behavior leak now being fixed before GPT-6 launches. (Read more)

Genesis AI introduced GENE-26.5, an AI system designed to help robots perform detailed human-like tasks using advanced robotic hands. The technology could first be used in warehouses, factories, and service industries. (Read more)

Princeton Researchers Build Computer Using Living Brain Cells

Researchers at Princeton University created a 3D device combining living brain cells and electronics to recognize patterns. The system could help develop low-energy AI and improve research on neurological diseases. (Read more)

Passengers Evacuated From Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship

Passengers and crew began leaving a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak in Spain’s Canary Islands, after three deaths and multiple confirmed infections onboard.

Astronomers Get Clearest Look Yet at an Exoplanet Surface

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers captured their clearest view of an exoplanet’s surface, revealing a hot, airless rocky world similar to Mercury and likely uninhabitable.

Scientists Study How to Predict Volcanic Eruptions Earlier

Scientists are improving volcano monitoring with sensors, machine learning, and underground studies, hoping future forecasts could predict eruptions days or weeks earlier, similar to weather forecasts today.

Major Atlantic Ocean Current Continues to Weaken

Scientists found that a major Atlantic Ocean current system has been weakening for nearly 20 years, a shift that could affect global weather patterns, storms, rainfall, and sea levels.

🇵🇾 Paraguayan President Santiago Peña began a historic Philippine visit, marking both countries’ first presidential meeting since diplomatic ties started in 1962. (Read more)

☠️ Two suspected treasure hunters died from possible toxic gas exposure inside a 100-meter excavation site in Dagohoy, Bohol, police said. (Read more)

🚔 CIDG will subpoena Senator Bato dela Rosa over drug war killings as authorities monitor airports and deny ICC involvement. (Read more)

🏛️ Malacañang rejected Senator Imee Marcos’ impeachment bribery allegations, urging evidence after lawmakers denied threats tied to VP Sara Duterte’s case. (Read more)

👮 A Bulacan police officer was relieved and detained after CCTV footage allegedly showed him violently assaulting his wife during an argument. (Read more)

Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine could be “coming to an end” as Russia and Ukraine observed a temporary ceasefire. He also signaled openness to future talks on Europe’s security arrangements.

Top Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk Arrested Over Abuse Allegations

A senior Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka was arrested over alleged rape and sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old girl. Authorities also arrested the girl’s mother for allegedly helping conceal the abuse.

Europe Holds Annual Seagull Screeching Contest

More than 70 contestants from 15 countries joined the European seagull screeching championship in De Panne. Organizers said the event aims to make people appreciate seagulls instead of seeing them as annoying birds.

📝 Idaho man holds skateboard on chin for over an hour. (Watch here)

📝 Motorist caught in MMDA road clearing invokes religion as defense. (Watch here)

📝Teen cosplayer attacks convicted sex offender at crowded convention walkway. (Watch here)

📝Hungary dancing politician Zsolt Hegedus performs viral dance at Parliament Inauguration. (Watch here)