Abbey M.

Another Filipino boat gets water-cannoned. Another resupply mission gets blocked. There is outrage, there are statements, and then just like that, the noise dies down until the next incident. And there is always a next incident.

At some point, it stopped feeling like a crisis and started feeling like a pattern. But that should not stop us from asking the question: why is China doing this? 

The most common answer is resources. The West Philippine Sea is rich in oil, gas, and marine life. Whoever controls it controls a lot of wealth. That part makes sense.

But experts who have studied this issue for years say there is much more to it than that.

Retired Justice Antonio Carpio, one of the country's top international law experts, points to the 2016 arbitral ruling at The Hague — a landmark decision that invalidated China's historical claims over the South China Sea. The Philippines won that case. And yet, China is still there.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the AFP Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, argues that the artificial islands China built across the disputed waters are not just about resources. They are about military reach and something far bigger than most people think.

But one expert brings a different angle to the table. Associate Professor Enrico V. Gloria of the UP Department of Political Science, who has studied Chinese foreign policy up close, raises a dimension rooted in history and identity in how China remembers its past, and what it believes it is owed. 

He points to a painful chapter in Chinese history known as the "Century of Humiliation" — a period when China lost territories and sovereignty to foreign powers. From China's point of view, what is happening in the South China Sea is not a conquest. It is recovery. And that distinction, Gloria argues, matters a great deal in understanding why China will not simply walk away.

These three experts lay out the most complete explanation of why China refuses to back down, and why this issue is far more complicated than it appears on the surface.

At the end of the day, the West Philippine Sea is not just a headline. It is a question of what kind of country the next generation of Filipinos will inherit, and whether the seas that belong to us will still be ours when that time comes. That is worth paying attention to.

‍

Watch the full explainer on YouTube: 

‍

The United States and Israel launched a massive joint military operation against Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a wave of retaliatory strikes that has pushed the Middle East to the brink of a wider war.

The operation codenamed "Operation Epic Fury" by the US and "Roaring Lion" by Israel targeted Iranian military installations, nuclear-related facilities, and top government officials in coordinated strikes that began in the early morning hours in Tehran.

Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei's death on March 1. He was 86 years old and had led Iran for nearly four decades. Iran declared 40 days of national mourning and immediately launched retaliatory strikes across the region.

Why did the US and Israel attack?

President Donald Trump, in a video statement released at the start of the operation, said the US objective was to "defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime", citing Iran's nuclear program as the primary threat.

The strikes came just two days after US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva ended without a breakthrough. Days before the attack, international inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported discovering hidden highly enriched uranium in an underground Iranian facility that had survived previous strikes. The IAEA said it could no longer confirm that Iran's nuclear program was "exclusively peaceful."

US intelligence also reportedly warned that Iran was planning to launch a preemptive missile attack of its own, which Trump cited as further justification for acting first.

Beyond the nuclear threat, the attack came amid a severe domestic crisis inside Iran. Beginning in late December 2025, mass protests erupted across the country after Iran's currency, the rial, collapsed and prices spiked sharply. The Iranian government responded with deadly force, with death toll estimates ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of protesters killed. Trump had previously told Iranians to "keep protesting," saying "help is on the way."

The region responds

Iran wasted no time retaliating. It launched an unprecedented wave of missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and Gulf Arab states that host American forces, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

Dubai's international airport, the world's busiest for international travel, was forced to suspend all flights indefinitely after Iranian strikes caused damage to the facility. Airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also hit.

Three American service members were killed and five others seriously wounded, confirmed by US Central Command on March 1. Trump warned that more US casualties were likely but vowed that strikes would continue.

Iran also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz,  the narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes, prompting major shipping companies to immediately suspend transit through the strait.

Global reactions

The strikes drew sharp international condemnation from several world powers. China condemned the attack called it "unacceptable" and a violation of international law. Russia's President Vladimir Putin described Khamenei's killing as a "cynical murder." North Korea also condemned the strikes as illegal aggression.

Within the United States and among Iranian diaspora communities, reactions were sharply divided, with some celebrating the fall of a regime they had long opposed, and others warning of dangerous and unpredictable consequences.

The European Union urged both sides to immediately halt military action, warning of a possible "nuclear proliferation cascade" if the conflict continued to escalate.

What happens next?

As of this writing, the conflict is ongoing. Israel has continued strikes inside Iran, and Iran has vowed further retaliation. The fate of Iran's government remains unclear following Khamenei's death, with a temporary leadership council reportedly being established.

The OPEC group of oil-producing nations convened an emergency meeting to address the threat of a severe oil price spike should Gulf supply lines remain disrupted.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno signed Executive Order No. 7, cutting fuel consumption across city government offices by 50% in anticipation of reduced fuel supply from the Middle East. The order directs all city offices, departments, and bureaus to reduce fuel use of motorized vehicles, generators, heavy equipment, and other fuel-dependent assets.

Filipinos will also start feeling the impact. Starting Tuesday, March 3, 2026, gasoline prices will rise by P1.90 per liter, diesel by P1.20 per liter, and kerosene by P1.50 per liter, a direct consequence of the supply disruption caused by the conflict. This marks the 10th straight week of price hikes for diesel and kerosene, and the 8th consecutive increase for gasoline. Since the start of the year, gasoline has gone up by a total of P4.80 per liter, diesel by P8.20, and kerosene by P6.20.

The international community is watching closely and calling for an immediate ceasefire before the crisis spirals further out of control.

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo on March 1 called on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to implement a recovery plan for Filipino workers whose Middle East deployment was cancelled following joint US and Israel airstrikes on Iran.

Tulfo expressed concern not only for OFWs already in conflict-affected areas but also for those who had been preparing to leave for work abroad and were forced to stay behind due to the escalating unrest.

"While we are concerned about our fellow Filipinos caught in the conflict in countries affected by the airstrikes in the Middle East, we also call on the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to pay attention to Filipinos who were about to leave the country for work but had to stay due to the ongoing unrest," Tulfo said.

The senator noted that many of those affected came from provincial areas, making their situation more difficult as they had likely already made financial and logistical preparations for their departure.

Tulfo proposed tapping the P2 billion AKSYON Fund (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan Fund) to provide immediate financial assistance to displaced workers. The fund was specifically designed as an emergency relief mechanism for distressed OFWs.

The United States and Israel launched joint military operations against Iran on February 28, further escalating tensions across the Middle East region.

Manila, Philippines — KDR Music House has officially signed Vince, a rising OPM pop artist from Binalonan, Pangasinan, marking the start of a new chapter for the young singer-songwriter.

Vince brings a sound rooted in contemporary pop ballads, drawing inspiration from the likes of Ben Platt, Benson Boone, Elton John, Lewis Capaldi, James Arthur, and The Beatles. 

His musical roots run deep and began singing at six years old and started writing his own songs by twelve. By high school, he had made the decision to pursue music seriously after witnessing firsthand the profound impact it can have on people's lives.

"It feels truly exciting and surreal to officially join KDR Music House," Vince said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow as an artist under a label that believes in my music and vision, and I'm looking forward to learning, creating, and sharing more meaningful songs with a wider audience as I begin this new chapter of my journey."

His debut release under the label will be "Kalsada," an atmospheric pop ballad about the courage it takes to move forward in the face of uncertainty. 

The track draws from moments of heartbreak and personal setbacks, using the image of a road as a symbol of hope, healing, and fresh beginnings. Through the song, Vince hopes to encourage listeners to embrace change and trust in the new paths that open up ahead of them.

Looking forward, Vince aims to build a reputation for heartfelt ballads, meaningful songwriting, and captivating live performances. The message at the core of his music is simple but powerful: "It's okay to feel deeply, to start over, and to keep going. No matter what someone is going through, there is always hope and a new path waiting ahead."

KDR Music House is a music publishing and event production company dedicated to elevating the art of music. By bridging creativity and technology, the label connects artists with audiences across generations through digital platforms and live events,  guided by its core mission of sending a message through music.

Follow Vince on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify for updates on "Kalsada" and future releases.

Kumakabakaba ka na ba? Natutunaw na parang yelo?

KDR Music House artist HAKKI is making noise on social media with her newest single Halo-Halo, released in 2026. 

The track, now available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms, has quickly gained traction online, igniting a growing wave of TikTok users to participate in what is now being called the Halo-Halo Dance Challenge.

Since its release, videos of netizens performing the challenge have been flooding TikTok feeds, with creators across different age groups and backgrounds putting their own spin on the dance. 

The single runs at 2 minutes and 31 seconds and carries an upbeat, feel good energy that lends itself naturally to the kind of short form, high energy content that thrives on TikTok. 

Halo-Halo marks Hakki's second single under KDR Music House, following her 2025 debut track Aaminin, which has accumulated over 24,000 streams on Spotify to date. 

The new release signals a step forward for the artist, who is steadily building a following within the contemporary OPM scene.

KDR Music House, the label behind Hakki's releases, continues to develop Filipino musical talent with an emphasis on producing good music that resonates with audiences. 

Halo-Halo by Hakki is out now on Spotify and all major streaming platforms.

‍