Hello PW Readers!

We know many of our readers are based in the Middle East as OFWs. Please take extra care. Follow official embassy advisories, stay indoors when alerts are issued, avoid military areas, and keep your passport and documents ready. Conditions are changing quickly. Your safety comes first.

Stay safe.

Fatal strike in Tel Aviv
A 32 year old Filipina caregiver, Mary Ann V. de Vera of Pangasinan, was killed in a missile attack in Tel Aviv, according to the Philippine Embassy in Israel. She had worked there since 2019. Her identity was confirmed through biometric records after her husband identified her remains. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said she was helping her employer reach a bomb shelter when she was struck by shrapnel. The embassy has assured her family of full assistance.

US hits Iranian missile sites
The United States Central Command said B 2 stealth bombers armed with 2,000 pound bombs struck Iranian ballistic missile facilities in the first wave of attacks. Iran responded with missile and drone launches targeting Israel and US bases across the Gulf.

Blackouts and power shift in Tehran
Iran’s state broadcaster reported parts of its headquarters were hit but said operations continue. Internet monitoring firm Kentik estimates about 99% of Iran’s global internet access has been cut. Meanwhile, an interim leadership council is now overseeing the transition as Iran selects a new supreme leader.

The Architect of the Ecosystem: Andrew Tan’s Rise

Andrew Tan’s story began in a cramped Manila tenement, selling appliances to help his immigrant family survive. He later founded Megaworld and built a formula that reshaped urban living: integrated “live, work, play” townships.

The Three Sharp Moves

Scaling the empire

Tan expanded beyond property through Alliance Global, with interests spanning Emperador and the master franchise of McDonald’s Philippines.

Rising conflict involving Iran has disrupted liquefied natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for 20% of global LNG trade. At least 11 tankers linked to Qatar have paused voyages, raising supply fears in Asia. Buyers in China, India, and Japan are seeking alternatives as prices risk climbing.

Airstrikes involving the United States, Israel, and Iran forced 23 international flights to be cancelled and three diverted from Feb. 28 to March 2, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and major Gulf carriers were affected. Airlines offered rebooking and refunds as tensions threaten travel demand and airline revenues.

Prime Infra’s Ahunan Power and Prime Infra Foundation launched a livelihood program in Pakil, Laguna to scale mushroom and vermicompost production. The farmers group Punla targets over 10,000 kilos of mushrooms yearly and 500 kilos each of vermicast and vermicompost, creating new income streams alongside a 1,400-megawatt power project.

Robinsons Supermarket relaunched its Magnolia branch and will renovate nine more stores nationwide in 2026, investing about P200 million. The upgrades target higher foot traffic and spending, shifting select outlets to an affordable premium format. Early renovations showed improved basket size and transaction growth across key locations.

Kapamilya’s Lella Ford and Kapuso’s Caprice Cayetano were named Big Winners of Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab 2.0, receiving 1 million pesos each during the show’s Big Night finale. (Read More)

Sonny Wagdos and Artjoy Torregosa set new national marathon records at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon, surpassing long-standing marks held by Eduardo Buenavista and Mary Joy Tabal. (Read more)

Actress Anne Curtis’ trip to Dubai was diverted to Milan after airstrikes in the Middle East grounded flights, prompting her to share updates and prayers on Instagram. (Read More)

The Center for AI Research leads AI projects with global firms in agriculture and health care. AI adoption could add P2.6 trillion yearly to GDP by 2030 while promoting ethical standards. (Read More)

OpenAI said its Pentagon deal includes layered safeguards for classified AI use. The $200 million contract bans mass surveillance, autonomous weapons control, and high-stakes automated decisions, with termination allowed for breaches. (Read More)

Capcom released Resident Evil Requiem worldwide, with director Koshi Nakanishi saying it blends classic horror and action. The game introduces new character Grace Ashcroft and brings back Leon S. Kennedy to refresh the franchise. (Read more)

Cumberland, British Columbia is testing geothermal technology using water in old coal mines. Researchers aim to heat and cool buildings efficiently, reduce emissions, and turn mining tunnels into a clean-energy resource. (Read more)

Health officials say education, not fines, is the recommended approach as vaccination rates remain below target, while bills on immunization and tuberculosis programs move forward.

Blocking age-related protein 15-PGDH restores cartilage in mice and human tissue, offering potential non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis and joint injuries.

Scientists Engineer Bacteria to Eat Tumors From Inside

Modified Clostridium sporogenes target oxygen-free tumor cores, offering potential alternative cancer therapy and triggering immune response, with pre-clinical trials planned for testing effectiveness in humans.

Jupiter’s Moons Could Have Formed With Life’s Building Blocks

Studies show complex organic molecules could have been delivered to Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, and Io during formation, providing chemical precursors for potential prebiotic chemistry and habitability.

Philippine senators push fuel subsidies and tax suspension as Middle East conflict threatens oil price hikes and economic recovery. (Read more)

Thousands filled Session Road as Baguio celebrated 30 years of Panagbenga with floral floats, celebrities, and tourism showcases. (Read more)

Philippine Airlines launches 85th anniversary seat sale on March 2, featuring 85-peso base fares on select domestic and international routes. (Read more)

Philippine embassies in the Middle East on full alert as Israel-Iran conflict escalates, with 2.4 million Filipinos monitored. (Read more)

Pampanga court dismisses P6.6-billion estafa case against Globe Asiatique founder Delfin Lee, citing insufficient evidence of fraud. (Read more)

Israel carried out new strikes in Tehran following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US bases, Israel, and regional targets, causing widespread disruption.

The US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, lowering the effective rate to 10%. China gains as its exports face smaller tariffs, while other US trading partners face uncertainty ahead of Trump’s China trip.

A cardinal was discovered with a cellphone during May’s Sistine Chapel conclave, briefly halting proceedings. The book reveals U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost secured victory on the fourth ballot to become Pope Leo XIV.

📝 Ayala Group launches 2026 summer internship to train students for real-world business experience. (Read more)

📝 New 10th-gen Pokémon game for Switch 2 draws inspiration from Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. (Read more)

📝 Tehran residents celebrated in the streets after news of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death. (Watch)

📝 LEGO launches Smart Brick to combine physical play with new tech features. (Watch)

📝 Gigantic python slithers through Bali’s flood-hit streets. (Watch)

Practical Adulting