Good morning and happy Tuesday, May 27.

While you were recharging over the weekend, the world kept spinning—and shaking up headlines. From K-Pop concerts in contested waters to peso power moves and solar energy outshining nuclear (at least in the summer), here’s what you might’ve missed:

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Peace, Love, and K-Pop in the West Philippine Sea
The “Atin Ito” coalition returned for its third mission to the West Philippine Sea—this time with international artists (yes, including K-Pop stars) for a floating “Concert at Sea for Peace.” Think Coachella, but make it sovereignty. The event doubled as a peaceful show of presence in disputed waters, turning soft power into stage power.

Marcos Heads to Malaysia
President Bongbong Marcos is in Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN Summit, where the West Philippine Sea is again a hot topic. Also on his to-do list: addressing U.S. tariffs that could sting Philippine exports. A favorable trade deal here could soften price shocks back home.

BSP Hints at Rate Cuts
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is signaling potential interest rate cuts this year. For you? Possibly lower monthly payments on loans, more room to spend, and better vibes for businesses needing capital.

MIC Backs NGCP Extension
The Maharlika Investment Corp. wants to lock in a 25-year extension for the NGCP (our national power grid operator). The goal? Avoid passing on massive costs to consumers from unrecovered investments. TL;DR: they’re trying to prevent your electric bill from turning into a horror story.

Bottom line:
National pride, regional diplomacy, economic relief, and power grid planning all packed into one weekend.

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OpenAI is acquiring “io,” the hardware startup founded by ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a $6.5B deal that brings 55 top engineers, including Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan, into the AI giant’s fold. Ive’s firm LoveFrom will remain independent but will lead design across all OpenAI products. The first hardware is set for 2026 and is described as pocket-sized, screen-free, and radically new—not a smartphone killer, but something entirely different.

Wilcon Depot Opens 103rd Store in Cordova, Cebu

Wilcon Depot has officially opened its 103rd store in Cordova, Cebu, expanding its reach in the Visayas. Located along Gabi Road near the CCLEX, the new branch brings Wilcon’s wide range of home improvement products and services closer to Oponganons and the wider Cebu area. The store features the Design Hub and ABCDE Lounge for professionals and DIYers alike, while also creating new local jobs. Open daily from 8 AM–7 PM.

Czech Republic Eyes 10K+ Filipino Workers for Key Sectors

The Czech Republic is opening over 10,000 work visa slots annually for skilled foreign workers, with Filipinos a top priority for roles in transport, logistics, and tech. Czech Ambassador Karel Hejč highlighted this at the Philippine-Czech Friendship Week, noting strong demand for drivers and public transport staff. DMW chief Hans Cacdac confirmed OFWs will receive equal treatment under Czech labor laws, with wages ranging from €1,600–€3,000 plus benefits like housing and healthcare.

Jollibee Eyes More Stores in Southeast Asia Despite Profit Dip

Jollibee Foods Corp. plans to expand its flagship brand across Southeast Asia, even after posting an 8.1% Q1 net income dip to ₱2.41B due to non-operating costs. Sales in the region (excluding PH) jumped 27.8%, with Jollibee opening 51 new stores last year. Chickenjoy remains a hit in Singapore and Malaysia, while regional twists like Chili Chicken in Vietnam spice up menus. JFC aims to triple net income in five years and is scouting for franchisees in untapped Southeast Asian markets.

Peso hits 22-month high, could strengthen more this week

The Peso closed Friday at ₱55.25 per dollar, its strongest in nearly two years, driven by cooling inflation, dovish BSP signals, and positive global sentiment. Week-on-week, it gained 38.5 centavos. BSP Governor Eli Remolona hinted at two more rate cuts this year, possibly starting in June. Traders are eyeing Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech and key US data, including Q1 GDP and inflation numbers, for further direction. Analysts expect the peso to move between ₱55 and ₱55.50 this week.

A Weight Loss Pill That Mimics Gastric Bypass—Minus the Scalpel
A new obesity drug candidate, SYNT-101, is drawing attention for doing what gastric bypass surgery does—without surgery. In a small human trial, the once-daily pill temporarily coats the upper small intestine, rerouting nutrient absorption to the lower gut. Why that matters: this “duodenal exclusion” mimics a key mechanism of bariatric surgery, helping control appetite and blood sugar while preserving lean muscle. Early results? No major side effects, solid glucose control, and metabolic signals pointing to reduced hunger. It’s still early days—just nine people tested so far—but the safety profile looks strong. Syntis Bio plans to move to FDA trials soon.

Malaria Parasite Has a New Cloaking Trick
Malaria just got sneakier. Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite behind the disease, can shut off a set of genes that usually help it cling to blood vessel walls—making it “invisible” to the immune system. This gene-silencing trick lets the parasite quietly linger in the body, possibly hiding in the spleen or bone marrow, where it avoids detection and elimination. The finding, published in Nature Microbiology, could explain why some people carry malaria for years without symptoms—and why mosquitoes can still pick it up and pass it on.

The Longest Train Journey in the World (That No One’s Taken)
You can travel by train from Portugal to Singapore—11,654 miles, 13 countries, 8 time zones—but no one ever has. Technically, the route exists, thanks to the Laos-China Railway completing the final link in 2021. But logistics? A mess. You’ll need 20+ train changes, multiple station swaps, separate tickets, and a detour around Russia (because… sanctions). Philosophically, it’s the Ship of Theseus on rails: If you swap trains at every border, is it still one journey? And practically, it’s a test of endurance, not convenience. Still, it sparks wanderlust—imagine watching Europe morph into Southeast Asia from a train window.

Capuchin Monkeys Are Kidnapping Baby Howlers—And No One Knows Why
Researchers on Panama’s Jicarón Island caught something strange on camera: young male capuchin monkeys carrying baby howler monkeys on their backs—for days. The babies weren’t hurt, just… abducted. Some starved, as capuchins can’t nurse them. The behavior seems to have started with one monkey nicknamed “Joker” and has since caught on. Why are they doing it? It’s not food, status, or parenting. Scientists think it might just be… boredom. With no predators and few rivals, Jicarón’s capuchins may be inventing odd new social traditions—like treating howler infants as noisy, wriggly toys. Grim, fascinating, and totally unprecedented.

Buzzfeed, but Make It Botanical
Turns out, snapdragons can hear—and they’re not ignoring the bees. Scientists in Italy discovered that when buzzing bees fly near, the flowers crank up nectar production and sugar content, possibly to sweeten the deal for good pollinators and snub freeloaders. In experiments, plants exposed to bee buzzes (vs. wasps or ambient noise) actually changed gene expression related to nectar output. The team suspects plants use mechanoreceptors—cells that sense vibration—to detect who’s nearby. This could be an evolutionary hack to attract the best winged suitors. Next up: testing if plants can also send vibro-acoustic signals.

Venezuela held legislative and regional elections Sunday, but voter turnout was as empty as the polling stations. Following last year’s disputed presidential election and fresh government crackdowns—including the arrest of opposition figures days before the vote—many citizens stayed home, disillusioned or afraid. Opposition leaders called for a boycott, arguing that participating only legitimizes Maduro’s grip on power. Meanwhile, government supporters reportedly voted out of fear of losing jobs or rations. Polls suggest just 15.9% of voters planned to participate, with most support going to Maduro’s ruling party. Despite the optics, the regime is already claiming victory.

Trump vs. Ramaphosa: A Diplomatic Golf Game Gone Off the Rails

What was supposed to be a charm offensive turned into a press conference ambush. During South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House, Donald Trump surprised him with a video alleging white farmers in South Africa are victims of genocide—a claim widely debunked by researchers and courts. Trump cited crosses in a protest video and played a song by Julius Malema with lyrics like “Shoot the Boer.” Ramaphosa, unfazed, calmly pointed to his white delegation members, including golfers Ernie Els and Johann Rupert, saying, “If there was a genocide, these men wouldn’t be here.” Trump wasn’t convinced. The two leaders left with cooler golf vibes than trade progress.

ASEAN wants a group chat with Trump on tariffs

Southeast Asia’s leaders want to FaceTime Trump—well, diplomatically. Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim said ASEAN is seeking a joint meeting with the former (and now returned) U.S. President to push back against sweeping tariffs hurting the region’s exports. Some duties hit as high as 49%. ASEAN isn’t just talking tariffs. The bloc unveiled a 20-year economic integration plan and urged China to agree to a binding South China Sea code of conduct (good luck). On Myanmar, Anwar is pushing quiet diplomacy, but critics say the junta isn’t playing ball.

The Asian Development Bank wants the Philippines to boost mobile internet access, especially in rural and low-education communities, saying it directly improves household wealth. ADB research found stronger digital connections increase school completion, job access, and income opportunities. But it’s not just about coverage—quality matters too. The paper urges investment in mobile towers, satellite internet, and upgraded infrastructure, alongside digital education tools, skills training, and equity-focused rollout.

J.Lo Sued for Posting Paparazzi Pics of Herself
Jennifer Lopez is facing a lawsuit for sharing paparazzi photos of herself on Instagram and X without permission. Photographer Edwin Blanco and agency Backgrid claim they own the copyright to two images of Lopez in a white dress and fur coat at a Hollywood party in January. The lawsuit argues Lopez used the pics for self-promotion and brand partnerships. They’re seeking up to $150,000 per image. Similar suits have targeted Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, and Khloe Kardashian.

DTI and DepEd Partner to Bring AI to Classrooms
The DTI and DepEd have teamed up to integrate AI into Philippine education, with DTI donating 10 high-powered computers under the Tatak Pinoy Strategy Program. These will support the Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR), set to launch impactful digital tools by June 2025. The move aims to boost student support, policy decisions, and workforce readiness. DTI calls it more than a donation—it’s a shared bet on innovation and future-proof Filipino talent.

PH by the Numbers: Top 5 Verified Stats for 2025

 All numbers are sourced from recent studies and official reports, with brief analysis and notes on methodology where appropriate.

Historybook: The 1565 Arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi and the Birth of Spanish Colonial Rule .On February 13, 1565, Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi landed in Cebu, marking the start of permanent Spanish presence in the Philippines. With four ships and 380 men, Legazpi established the first enduring Spanish settlement, forging a treaty with Rajah Tupas of Cebu on June 4, 1565. This agreement effectively placed Cebu—and soon, much of the archipelago—under Spanish suzerainty, beginning over three centuries of colonial rule that would shape the nation’s language, religion, and culture

Fun Fact: The settlement Legazpi established in Cebu became the first Spanish province in the Philippines by royal decree on August 6, 1569, with Legazpi named as governor and captain general.

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