Hello PW Readers!

Good morning. Global tensions are starting to ripple closer to home. More than 1,000 OFWs are now asking to return to the Philippines as the Middle East conflict escalates. Meanwhile, oil risks threaten the economy, government debt keeps climbing, and one Filipino founder shows how a smart pivot can build a startup.

Stay safe.

Big picture:
At least 1,189 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have requested repatriation from the Middle East as tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States raise fears of wider instability. According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the largest requests came from Bahrain (278), Abu Dhabi (246), Dubai (231), and Qatar (173).

What’s happening:
Philippine authorities say this is not yet a mass repatriation, but agencies are preparing evacuation options depending on alert levels set by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Government response:
So far, the Department of Migrant Workers has assisted 1,824 OFWs on the ground, providing shelter, financial aid, welfare checks, and evacuation support. Another 236 Filipinos stranded in transit hubs abroad have received help with rebooking flights.

Context:
Officials say many OFWs remain employed and safe, particularly in the UAE, but monitoring continues as the regional situation evolves.

Roland Ros is one of the Filipino founders who helped bring Silicon Valley startup thinking into the local tech scene. As co-founder and CEO of Kumu, he helped turn a simple idea into one of the Philippines’ most recognized social media startups.

Kumu launched in 2018 as a messaging app designed to connect Filipinos worldwide. But early data revealed a problem: users were not interested in the chat features. Instead, they were spending time on the app’s livestream button.

Ros made a decisive move. Instead of competing with messaging giants like Viber or Messenger, the company pivoted toward livestreaming and creator communities.

The bet worked. Kumu grew into a social entertainment platform backed by international investors and has raised more than $100 million in funding.

For founders, the lesson is simple: pay attention to how users actually behave, not what you originally planned.

The Philippines’ total debt rose to P18.13 trillion in January after the government ramped up domestic and global bond issuances to secure better financing terms. Domestic debt made up 68 percent, while foreign loans reached P5.81 trillion. Slower 2025 growth and rising interest costs add pressure.

The Philippines and South Korea signed an upgraded trade deal creating a vice-ministerial body to quickly resolve business bottlenecks. The agreement expands cooperation in autos, shipbuilding, semiconductors, energy, and digital industries. It supports the free trade agreement and aims to attract higher-value Korean investments.

Grab Financial Group Philippines defended its microloans as regulators tighten oversight of digital lenders. The company said its loans have fixed repayment amounts, no penalty fees, and income-based caps to prevent over-borrowing. It argued annualized rates can mislead for short-term credit, stressing compliance with interest caps and disclosure rules.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may seek special powers to temporarily reduce fuel excise taxes if Dubai crude exceeds $80 per barrel, citing risks to growth. Economic managers estimate oil shocks could trim GDP by up to 0.25 point, while lawmakers warn of revenue losses reaching P30 billion monthly.

Quezon City Representative Bong Suntay apologized for the pain caused by his remark involving Anne Curtis during a March 3 impeachment hearing but said the analogy was effective in drawing media attention and stressing impartiality. (Read More)

Sandara Park denied fellow 2NE1 member Park Bom’s claim that she used drugs, saying on Instagram she has never taken illegal substances and wishes Bom well. Bom alleged she was framed in her 2014 Adderall controversy to cover for Dara. (Read more)

Filipino center Kai Sotto will attend a U.S. college to chase his NBA dream. The 23-year-old will pause Gilas Pilipinas duties, with SBP president Ricky Vargas supporting his decision. (Read More)

AIRA LABS launched its AI Command Center in Naga to streamline complaint routing, improve public service delivery, and detect procurement anomalies, supporting the MyNaga app’s 32,000 downloads and 4,500 citizen reports. (Read More)

TikTok said it will not adopt end-to-end encryption for direct messages, arguing the privacy feature could hinder safety teams and police from detecting harmful content, setting it apart from rivals like Meta and X. (Read More)

Amazon.com is restoring cloud services in the Middle East after drone attacks damaged three data centers, highlighting how the Iran conflict is disrupting tech infrastructure and exposing companies to regional security risks. (Read more)

A Spanish university created AI-equipped nests and boxes that identify bird species, track populations, and detect invasive birds. The system has been tested in Huelva, including monitoring lesser kestrels and bats. (Read more)

The Department of Health reported 4,277 new HIV cases from October to December 2025, mostly among men aged 15 to 34, with the highest numbers in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.

Researchers at UCLA found a hidden brain system that removes toxic tau protein, explaining why some cells resist Alzheimer’s damage and offering potential new treatment approaches.

Cockroaches Eat Each Other’s Wings to Form Loyal Pairs

Wood-feeding cockroaches chew off each other’s wings during mating, creating lifelong monogamous pairs that aggressively defend nests and offspring, showing that insects can exhibit strong pair-bonding behaviors.

Scientists Fear Penguin Moult Is Turning Deadly

Scientists say Emperor penguin moulting season is becoming deadly as Antarctic sea ice shrinks. Without stable ice to regrow waterproof feathers, thousands may have drowned or frozen in recent years.

House justice panel finds two impeachment complaints vs VP Sara Duterte sufficient, sends to plenary, orders response in 10 days. (Read more)

Senators urged a manhunt after 19-year-old maritime student Mark Kenneth Alcedo allegedly died in a Cavite hazing, demanding accountability and justice. (Read more)

The House referred Rep. Bong Suntay to the ethics committee over lewd remarks about Anne Curtis and ordered him to attend hearings. (Read more)

DILG launches massive manhunt for Atong Ang, using international partners, Interpol coordination, satellites, and drones to track the fugitive efficiently. (Read more)

Basilan officials condemned a grenade attack near a new Jollibee in Lamitan City, injuring a laborer and damaging the building. (Read more)

Oil and gas prices soared as strikes in Iran and Lebanon raised fears of prolonged conflict, while global stock markets fell sharply, reflecting concerns over economic disruption and inflation.

Israel launched its tenth wave of attacks in Iran and bombarded Lebanon, vowing to kill Iran’s next supreme leader, as over 1,000 people have died since the conflict began.

Clashes between government forces and opposition allies in South Sudan killed at least 169 near the Sudan border, threatening a return to full-scale civil war and displacing thousands.

📝 A UK company aims to run a city using just a glass of water. (Read more)

📝 Laufey to hold a two-night Manila concert in May. (Read more)

📝 ‘Scary Movie 6’ trailer drops with Wayans Brothers, Regina Hall, and Anna Faris back in action. (Watch)

📝 Eiichiro Oda hides One Piece treasure secret in chest until series' final chapter release. (Watch)

📝 Four Filipina actresses win first Actor Awards at 32nd annual ceremony in Los Angeles. (Read more)

Global Filipino