Author: Nouman Ali

There’s a saying that ‘one shouldn’t let a good crisis go to waste.’ Now is one of those times. We find ourselves in a crisis situation once again, this one triggered by a Middle East conflict thousands of miles away over which we have no connection or control. Under threat are over 2 million overseas Filipino workers and our oil supply, 95 percent of which is sourced from the region.

Oftentimes, in times of crisis, we resort to immediate measures and coping mechanisms, many of which are temporary. We tend to revert to normal policy and practice once the crisis abates. Shouldn’t we look at these times as an opportunity to install long-term, permanent solutions so we can avert future crises?

On the energy security front, the immediate concern is both the price of oil and its continued supply. Rising fuel prices and scarcity impact transport, food, electricity, and all activities that require energy. Our entire transport sector is dependent on oil as a fuel. Meanwhile, 60 percent of our electricity is sourced from coal (most of it imported), natural gas (15 to 18 percent), and renewables (20 to 25 percent). Aside from oil, prices for both coal and natural gas are on the rise.

While we are both oil-dependent and import-dependent, now may be a good time to accelerate structural shifts and policy changes to steer us in the direction of reducing these dependencies. To do that, we’ll need to have a convergence between our transportation and energy policies, plans, and infrastructure.

We can start by promoting the use of more electric vehicles (EVs) and active mobility (e.g., pedestrianization, cycling, etc.). Consumer interest in EVs is growing as a result of this fuel crisis, and EVs are already the fastest-growing segment of the automotive market. As the charging infrastructure is expanded, one can expect more EV growth.

But so much more can be done to promote EVs aside from passenger cars. We can, for instance, deploy more EV buses for mass transit and EV trucks for logistics and commercial delivery. EVs have already made their presence felt in the taxi industry. Can we eventually expand this to the jeepney and tricycle space? And for last-mile delivery, can motorcycles with swappable batteries be used instead of conventional motorcycles? All these technologies are already available. Passenger cars are available in both battery EV and plug-in hybrid EV models. Buses by Global Electric Transport/Comet and others run on electric engines. Cities like San Juan, Pasig, and Quezon City have already started EV shuttle bus systems. Mober delivery trucks handle home and commercial deliveries using their electric trucks. Meanwhile, the infrastructure for charging is rapidly expanding.

All this, of course, would not do anything to reduce oil dependency if EV charging continued using traditionally sourced electricity. To be truly green, we need to charge using renewable energy (RE). This is where energy policy fits in. Fortunately, the country has a policy and a plan for expanding the use of RE through its green energy auctions, green energy options program, and net metering schemes. Promoting large-scale RE as well as rooftop solar on a long-term and permanent basis will help improve our energy security picture. With the search and development of more indigenous energy sources, we could come up with a more balanced energy picture in the future.

Aside from the transport sector, another promising area for RE use lies in large estates and cities. Large estates with high electricity demand can use the Department of Energy’s green energy option to purchase electricity from their chosen RE supplier. So, too, can Philippine cities. One good example is Makati, which signed a nine-year contract with ACEN Corp. to provide RE power to city buildings. Makati owns over 150 buildings, and it calculates P300 million in savings for electricity and reduces carbon emissions by 289,885 metric tons. Aside from providing electricity, ACEN will also construct a network of EV chargers for the city to charge its fleet of e-jeepneys, e-buses, and e-shuttles. Quezon City is doing something similar by installing rooftop solar on its city-owned buildings, schools, and hospitals. These are great models for converging energy and transport policy, which enable cities to be more sustainable.

The Philippines has a total of 149 cities and over 1,500 municipalities across the country. Just think of the impact of having more cities run on RE.

The key is to think more long-term and strategically and get away from short-term crisis management, focusing only on solutions that fade away as a crisis abates. Whether we are looking at transportation and energy policy at a national level to urban planning solutions at the local government level, we need to set up institutions within government that take the long view and focus on eventual implementation. We should seriously consider some form of organizational structure that concentrates on getting things done.

The local government of Calanasan in Apayao province was placed under a state of calamity on Wednesday due to the worsening socioeconomic effects of the ongoing energy crisis.In a statement, the local government said the town council has passed a resolution on the calamity declaration, and Mayor Shamir Bulut approved it.The resolution came as an offshoot of the recommendation from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), which found that the current situation has ‘significantly disrupted local livelihoods, transportation, and the delivery of basic goods and services.’The crisis, driven by global oil supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, has caused fuel prices to surge to unprecedented levels, the statement added.

If you were in high school or college in the 2000s, chances are there was at least one guitar-toting student in your class-and what are the odds that when lunch break came, the song they played to show they had finally mastered their first barre chord was ‘Torete’ by Moonstar88?

It’s infectious and forgiving to play, and the payoff is worth more than you would expect. Before you knew it, everyone was singing their hearts out about unrequited love at high noon, because why not?

It’s hard to put into words exactly what makes Moonstar88 sound like Moonstar88, guitarist Herbert Hernandez says. But hard-pressed to give a reason, guitar-driven simplicity has got to be one of them.

Nothing too complex

They’re ‘not the most technical of musicians,’ they concede, but they have a keen ear for lyrics that hit from the very first line. And when lead vocalist Maysh Baay breathes life into them-coupled with Hernandez’s guitar work and the distinct ‘klangklang’ of drummer Bon Sundiang’s snares-the sound they create is unmistakably theirs.

‘Alam mong jinam ng banda ‘yong kanta sa acoustic guitar. Isa na ring sigurong dahilan eh hindi complex ‘yong chords at arrangement,’ Hernandez tells Lifestyle Inquirer. ‘There are those who concentrate on the sound or the hook-and there’s nothing wrong with that-but we focus more on the lyrics and the story we want to tell.’

It may not have been the original intention, but their instinct not to overcomplicate things leaves room for another defining element of the ‘Moonstar88 DNA’: the vocals. While Baay has a fuller, sturdier sound, there’s still a sweetness in her tone that harks back to the band’s early days with Acel Bisa’s whispery and fragile singing-the better to convey the sense of longing the music often evokes.

And this is something that has remained constant throughout the band’s 27-year musical journey-from ‘Torete’ and ‘Sulat’ to ‘Migraine’ and ‘Gilid.’ Hernandez and Sundiang can veer ‘super far out’ from what fans would expect in terms of production, but Baay’s singing always brings it back to center.

‘Alam namin na, at the end of the day, kapag kumanta at nag-record na si Maysh, ‘yon na ‘yon,’ Sundiang says.

‘Alam namin na, at the end of the day, kapag kumanta at nag-record na si Maysh, ‘yon na ‘yon’

Organic interplay

Fair enough-sound is better heard than explained. At the group’s recent contract signing with EMI Records Philippines, a sublabel of Universal Music Group, they let their music do the talking-playing two new singles ahead of their respective releases as part of their upcoming 13-track, all-original album.

‘Goma,’ an upbeat pop-rock anthem with a driving rhythm, speaks of being stretched to the limit but inevitably bouncing back into form. As its title suggests, ‘Kape Tayo’ is a tender midtempo ballad that yearns for warmth and companionship, ‘sa tamis at sa pait.’ (The band members aren’t much of drinkers, they joke.)

And if these songs are a preview of their upcoming album-which will include four compositions by ‘Torete’ composer Darwin Hernandez, who’s marking his return to writing for the band after a long while-then ‘Moonstareros’ can expect something fresh but still close to home.

‘There’s something new because we’re now with EMI and we have new sounds or stories to tell. There’s something gifted kasi maraming regalong kanta sa ‘min si Darwin. But at the same time, the magic of our signature sound still comes out,’ Baay says of the new material, which will also feature collaborations with Jay Contreras of Kamikazee, Rye Sarmiento of 6Cyclemind, and Jazz Jorge of Gracenote.

Although the said tracks sound steadier than senti, with dashes of grit and urgency here and there, they still rely on the organic interplay of actual instruments and the band’s knack for melodies that spark LSS (last song syndrome). The topics may essentially be about love, but not from the same shade or perspective they have already explored before.

Happy and confident

There’s nothing drastic here that immediately suggests they’re trying to jump onto a trend-and that’s precisely the point. More than their music’s sincerity and unpretentiousness, it’s their disinterest in chasing whatever is in vogue that makes their work timeless and relatable across generations.

‘If you look at it, hindi siya ‘yong uso, pero nandiyan lang siya lagi,’ Hernandez points out.

Case in point: when the VCR for ‘Fortunate Change’ played at Seventeen’s Philippine show last March, a predominantly young audience-maybe sensing similarities in the instrumentation-spontaneously sang ‘Torete.’ This seemingly reflects Moonstar88’s streaming demographics, which show that their Gen Z listeners have already overtaken Millennials.

‘It’s overwhelming na nasa isipan kami ng mga bata,’ Baay says.

Needless to say, Moonstar88 was amused and slightly bemused, but that moment only proves that good music is good music-whether played in a classroom in the 2000s or a K-pop stadium in 2026. ‘That makes us happy and confident to just continue what we love to do,’ Hernandez says.

As we filled our tanks early this week to take advantage of the second consecutive fuel price rollback, a sense of optimism emerged-perhaps things are finally returning to normal.

By ‘normal,’ we imagined oil prices at the pump reverting to pre-Iran war levels-before Feb. 28, 2026-when diesel, for example, hovered around P48 to P65 per liter and Brent crude traded at $60 to $70 per barrel.

This week, while the most common price remains below P100 per liter, it soared above P153 (from April 7 to 13), with the average that week ranging from P120 to P160. Notably, prices reached a record high of P170 to P172 in remote rural areas and at premium stations in Metro Manila.

The double-digit rollback this week was not a voluntary act by oil companies-nor did it result from a sudden resurgence of conscience among their owners, assuming they possess any at all.

The price reductions, though significant, remain far from adequate and were mandated by the government. Aware that major oil companies are unmoved by appeals or pleas, the Marcos administration has finally threatened legal action if they fail to comply more than seven weeks into the Middle East crisis that saw these companies greedily raising prices on oil stocks purchased long before the conflict in Iran.

Clear message. On Saturday, President Marcos himself announced fuel price rollbacks of P24.94 per liter for diesel, P3.41 per liter for gasoline, and P2 per liter for kerosene. He asked oil companies to fully implement these rollbacks (see ‘Marcos: ‘Big’ price rollback for diesel at P24.94 per liter,’ 4/19/26).

‘This is bigger than the rollback a week ago, and this sends a clear message for everyone: there is relief coming,’ Mr. Marcos said in Filipino. Directly addressing oil companies, the President said: ‘My request is clear: Fully implement the rollback, do it right, and with no delays. Give the Filipinos what they deserve.’

Since oil prices spiked after Feb. 28, Mr. Marcos has prioritized diesel subsidies for the transport and food delivery sectors, alongside cash aid for tricycle and jeepney drivers, delivery riders, ride-hailing service operators, and motorcycle taxi drivers.

But even if oil companies were to sell oil at prewar prices today, consumers understand that any rollback would barely compensate for the billions in profits amassed since the war in Iran began. With the Philippines maintaining a 50- to 60-day buffer stock, the older, cheaper oil supplies are only now running out. Unless companies offer their new stock at discounted rates-a highly unlikely scenario-the public will continue to be shortchanged.

Ibon Foundation estimated that oil firms raked in a staggering P46.5 billion in windfall profits in March alone-equivalent to P1.5 billion per day. Oil companies defend their price hikes on old stock by citing ‘replacement cost pricing,’ a practice in which pump prices are set based on oil futures that determine the cost of the next batch of oil.

Price caps. So when Energy Secretary Sharon Garin warned oil firms on Monday of hefty fines should they fail to implement the substantial price rollback, it seemed the Department of Energy (DOE) had finally found its voice, mustering the courage to stand up to big oil firms and local traders.

Citing the national energy emergency declared by Mr. Marcos under Executive Order No. 110, Garin stated that the government can now limit fuel price increases or mandate minimum rollbacks at the pump. In short, the DOE is now required to prescribe fuel prices-not just monitor them-to provide relief to the public and help stabilize the economy amid volatile global oil supplies.

This announcement from the DOE is welcome news, as it promises to end the oil firms’ and traders’ unchecked control over pump prices since the passage of the oil deregulation law.

However, Garin should have moved to control or limit price adjustments at the outset of this crisis, rather than waiting seven weeks to act.

There’s more than meets the eye in the energy secretary’s latest statement that could potentially curb oil firms’ windfall profits. Previously, she cited replacement-cost pricing and other landed costs to justify the surge in oil prices, and at the April 8 House committee on ways and means hearing, she denied that pump prices were overpriced.

Now, however, she strikes a different tone: ‘So that’s our new rule now. That’s because of the issuance of the executive order, which triggered the additional powers of government to prescribe the price during these times of emergency,’ Garin said at Monday’s press conference.

Yet EO 110 was issued nearly a month ago (March 24). She had also claimed the government could not impose limits due to the oil deregulation law (see ‘DOE: Hefty fine awaits oil firms defying price orders,’ 4/21/26).

The question on everyone’s mind remains: Why only now, and what really changed?

Concreat Holdings Philippines Inc., formerly Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., said one of its key subsidiaries has secured fresh funding to support capital spending and operations.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, the company said Solid Cement Corp. entered into a term loan facility agreement with BDO Unibank Inc. for up to P5 billion.

Proceeds from the loan will be used to fund capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, the Concreat said.

To support the transaction, Concreat and another subsidiary, Apo Cement Corp., signed a surety agreement to secure Solid Cement’s obligations under the facility.

The move comes as cement producers continue to invest in capacity and operational improvements amid steady demand tied to infrastructure and construction activities.

This fresh funding is expected to help sustain Solid Cements’s operations and support ongoing projects.

The disclosure did not provide further details on the loan’s tenor or pricing.

Profile

Concreat is engaged in the production and distribution of cement products through its subsidiaries. Its operations are anchored on key cement plants serving Luzon and other growth areas.

BDO, one of the country’s largest banks, continues to play a key role in financing large corporations, particularly in sectors tied to infrastructure and construction.

The parent firm, DMCI Holdings Inc., posted a 20-percent drop in consolidated net income for 2025, weighed down by softer earnings from its energy business and losses linked to the integration of its cement unit.

DMCI said the decline was largely due to ‘normalizing’ results from its integrated energy operations, along with losses incurred by its cement arm, Concreat.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., on Thursday, inspected the 11-hectare township built under the administration’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa mga Pilipino (4PH) program in Barangay Atate here.

The Palayan City Township Project, which, according to Palayan City Mayor Vianne Nicole Cuevas, already has about 2,000 unit takers through the Home Development Mutual Fund, or Pag-IBIG.

Some 200 of them have already occupied their respective units, Cuevas said.

The township, which includes an elementary school, livelihood center, administrative offices, central park, basketball court, mini market, and aquaponics gardens, has 11,000 available housing units

Together with Cuevas, Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Jay Vergara, and other officials, the President also met with ambulant vendors who sell locally produced vegetables, including those selling through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the Farmers Plaza here.

There, the President led the distribution of 100 10-kilogram sacks of rice to vendors.

A new generation of showbiz royalty will continue their family legacy as a new crop of stars, the children of beloved actors, actresses and screen veterans, after they were launched by Viva Artists Agency.

After Ashley Diaz, Gabbi Ejercito, Icee Ejercito, Jac Abellana, Jaime Yllana, Rob Walcher, Ryan Walcher and Vito Quizon were introduced as Viva’s ‘Next Gen’ stars, they vowed that they’re more than just rising stars who carry the last names of their famous lineal kin.

‘Okay lang po na natatawag kaming nepo baby, since totoo naman siya. Pero pwede ko namang ipakita na [I’m more than just a] nepo baby since nanggaling ako sa pamilya ng Quizon and kilala po sila,’ Vito, grandson of Comedy King Dolphy and son of Vandolph, said.

‘Medyo mas madali makapasok sa buhay ng paga-artista, and ang pinakagagawin ko is to improve and ipakita anong kaya kong gawin. Nandito po ako ngayon and ipapakita ko na kaya ko,’ he continued.

(It’s okay that we get called nepo babies because it’s true. But I can show that I’m more than just a nepo baby who comes from the Quizon clan. Since they’re known, it may be easier for me to get into show biz. What I can do is to improve and show what I can do. I’m here now, and I’m here to prove that I can make it.)

Gabbi, daughter of Gary Estrada and Bernadette Allyson, said she carries the advice that her parents gave her in her budding showbiz career. Also signing with the agency is her sister, Icee.

‘My parents always tell me to take every opportunity given. Going into Viva alone, of course, I was reluctant, but with their support and advice, I took the chance, and I’m very grateful that I did,’ she said.

Ryan shared that his beauty queen mother, Patricia Javier, and father, Dr. Robert Walcher, taught him how to make the most out of his entertainment career.

‘The best lesson that my parents taught me is to always make the best of things. No matter how [tough] things may seem, it just makes things a lot easier,’ he said, while his brother and fellow Viva artist Rob nodded in agreement.

Ashley, who stars as Rosetta Rodriguez in ‘Project Loki,’ is the daughter of Joko Diaz, an actor known for his antagonist roles onscreen. She is also the granddaughter of Paquito Diaz.

Also part of the newest crop of stars are Jac Abellana and Jaime Yllana, the son of Jojo Abellana and son of Anjo Yllana, respectively.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hiked its policy interest rate by a quarter-point on Thursday, its first tightening move in more than two years, amid a war-driven inflation flare-up.

The decision of the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board brought the key rate that guides bank lending costs to 4.5 percent.

‘The inflation outlook has deteriorated amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Higher global oil and fertilizer prices have begun feeding through to domestic fuel and food prices. At the same time, core inflation has continued to rise, pointing to a broadening of underlying price pressures,’ the BSP said in a statement.

The move was correctly predicted by 10 out of 16 economists polled by the Inquirer last week.

Higher borrowing costs are intended to prompt households to rein in spending, easing demand-driven price pressures but also cooling economic activity.

However, the Philippines-the first country to declare a national energy emergency amid Middle East turmoil-is grappling with supply-driven inflation after the war in the Middle East disrupted global oil exports.

The central bank earlier acknowledged that such challenges are not best addressed through rate hikes, which could also delay the economy’s recovery from the fallout of the flood control scandal.

Despite the limits to monetary policy, analysts have said raising rates could help anchor inflation expectations.

Angge Poyos admitted that blowing a two-set lead hurt for the University of Santo Tomas as they missed the outright chance to clinch a berth to the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball stepladder semifinals.

But the Tigresses have no time to dwell on the loss, shifting their focus to their Playoff for No.4 against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

‘The loss hurts, but we have to move on right away. We’ll come in more confident on Saturday because our fate is in our hands. That’s what we’ll hold on to, giving our best no matter what,’ said Poyos after pouring in 24 points, 15 receptions, and nine digs.

Poyos kept UST afloat in the decider, but her attack error sent NU to match point before Vange Alinsug nailed the game-winning kill to clinch the No.2 spot with a come-from-behind 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 15-13 win on Wednesday.

‘One factor was miscommunication, especially in crucial moments like when it was tied 13-all. There was a miscommunication with Ate Cassie (Carballo), so communication really played a big role,’ she said. ‘We struggled to close out the game. We were up 2-0 but couldn’t finish it in the third or fourth set.’

Poyos urged her teammates to keep their heads up with their final chance to keep their semifinal streak going.

‘It’s frustrating because we were already close, but still couldn’t get it. For now, our focus is recovery, rest tomorrow, then prepare for Saturday since that’s the most important game for us to make the semis,’ said the former league Rookie of the Year. ‘We just have to stay patient and move on quickly from what happened. We played well, but it still wasn’t enough to get the win.’

Although UST swept FEU in the elimination round, Poyos has no room for complacency in a do-or-die game for the right to face Adamson in the stepladder semis.

‘We just have to give everything, our 101%, and not doubt ourselves. It’s a do-or-die game this Saturday, and we know FEU will come back strong. We won’t just let this slip. We really want to make the Final Four. We’ll stay patient and just perform at our best,’ said Poyos.

The United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran have now embroiled the entire Middle East in a war characterized by the use of large quantities of missiles and drones.

Like Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the United States and Israel are using naked force to push ahead with their own political agendas. The law-of-the-jungle aphorism of ‘might makes right’ seems to be sweeping across the world. Does this mean that the world has entered an era in which military power alone holds sway?

I don’t think so. When observing the two wars, doubts arise about whether military power is actually helping to achieve the goals. Both wars were launched to attain political objectives in a short period of time, but things are not going as desired by those countries.

The US and Israel seem to have established air superiority over Iran just a few days into their offensive. Nonetheless, Iran has not surrendered and is instead continuously staging counterattacks on other Middle Eastern countries that host US military bases.

Moreover, Iran has declared a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, taking bold steps to choke off supplies from the Gulf area to the rest of the world, and the United States has been unable to take any effective countermeasures against this.

In other words, these two wars show that no matter how overwhelming the difference in military power between the two sides is, it is not so easy to force an opposing country that resolutely resists to accept political demands in a short period of time, let alone force it to ‘unconditionally surrender.’

There are several factors that make it difficult to accomplish political objectives through destructive physical force or threats.

The first factor is the opposing country’s firm resolve not to yield. Ukraine, for instance, has maintained its resolute stance not to capitulate to Russia’s unjustifiable demands, in spite of the US’ calls for a ceasefire. In Iran, the Israeli intelligence agency apparently expected to see moves to topple its leadership from within emerge right after the beginning of the US-Israeli attacks, but no such thing has happened, even after the killing of many leaders.

Second, international norms regarding military action during conflicts are still in effect to a certain degree, although they have been weakened. Nevertheless, no countries have publicly declared their intention to kill civilians in large numbers, and situations like the indiscriminate air raids in World War II have been avoided so far.

Third, the asymmetry of the weapons and tactics used in modern warfare is also significant. Even if a country cannot defeat an attacker using the same types of weapons or tactics, it may still be able to counter them by employing different types of weapons or tactics. If Iran says it will lay inexpensive mines to block the Strait of Hormuz, ship operators will inevitably hesitate to travel through the waterway even if there are not a large number of mines.

Fourth, global economic interdependence reduces the use of destructive force and mitigates the impact of intimidation. The interdependence of the global economy is complex. Even if there are no deep economic ties with a hostile nation, a country that takes military action will face various economic repercussions.

The US itself is hardly dependent on Middle Eastern crude oil, but Iran’s counterattacks on other Gulf nations and the Islamic Republic’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent Middle Eastern crude oil prices soaring.

A spike in energy prices leads to spiraling prices for other products and supply constraints. Stock markets react to concerns about these situations, fluctuating wildly as people get excited or discouraged regarding the course of the war. If the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is prolonged, the situation could bring about a crisis far more serious for the global economy than the oil crises of the 1970s.

The outbreak of the war in Ukraine and that in the Middle East has worsened the circumstances of all the countries involved. In short, military power doesn’t help achieve political objectives.

Needless to say, it isn’t easy to end a war once it starts, since nations, too, don’t always act rationally. However, the continuation of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East will bring nothing but harm to not only the countries directly involved but also the entire world.

The most rational choice in both wars is first and foremost to achieve a ceasefire. It is crucial to persuade the countries directly involved of this. The Japan News/Asia News Network

Akihiko Tanaka is president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a post he took up in April 2022 for the second time after his first stint from 2012 to 2015. He also served as vice president of the University of Tokyo from 2009 to 2012. He was president of the Tokyo-based National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies from 2017 to March 2022.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a member of the Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 media titles in the region.