Why not Bol for Gilas? MANILA, Philippines — Imagine 7-3 Bol Bol playing for Gilas. Bol, 26, was born in Khartoum, Sudan and qualifies to play for either the US where he grew up or South Sudan. Since Bol hasn’t played for any national team, he may be enlisted to join Gilas. “We would consider Bol of course as he’s obviously a very talented player,” said Gilas head coach Tim Cone.
It doesn’t look like the world is going to get any relief soon from the crisis created by the US-Israel war with Iran. That will end the ability of Saudi Arabia to use its Red Sea port of Yanbu for its oil exports. Even paying the toll that Iran is imposing on oil tankers is better than the current virtual closure. Its removal doesn’t give relief given the P66 per liter rise in diesel price and P40 per liter for gasoline. Vietnam also has a Fuel Price Stabilization Fund (similar to the Oil Price Stabilization Fund we used to have) from which it had begun to draw to help lower pump prices.
A letter to JulieI have a dear friend in America named Julie Hill whom I have written about before, an old friend of our country and people. A prolific and published author whose books I edited, Julie was born in Alexandria, Egypt and moved to the US for graduate school. She has returned to the Philippines many times to visit with her old friends and quietly supports some private charities. I thought of writing her this birthday letter to cheer her on. When you come to think of it, we’ve led far fuller lives than most people can even dream of.
A holy resetWhile the whole world only sees “fuel crisis,” economic disruption and the potential of Trump’s world war, some people are now beginning to say the word “reset” or returning to the original way or plan God had for us. Either it’s symptomatic of Holy Week reflections or people are finally realizing that we might only be at the start of the Middle East crisis going into a full-blown war. Once again we see the hypocrisy of Philippine politics giving dole-outs to the poor tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers and Grab delivery riders. One is to pay dearly because we failed to plan, prepare and invest; the other is to suffer and go without. It has no commander, no overseer, no ruler, yet it stores its provision in the summer and gathers its food at harvest.
Women power communities and economiesWhen I talk about MSMEs, I see them as more than economic units but also as engines of social change. You can also count on women entrepreneurs to imbue their ventures with a nurturing instinct. These entrepreneurs demonstrate the multiplier effect of supporting women: small investments in women often translate into steady household incomes, intergenerational benefits and community stability. Like most MSMEs, women-led enterprises need access to money, markets and mentorship, or the three M’s of successful entrepreneurship. When we invest in women-led MSMEs, we invest in jobs, culture, better nutrition, skills transmission and more inclusive growth.
1 million more barrels of diesel arrivingA vessel containing 142,000 barrels or 22.57 liters of diesel procured by the government as seen in a Deparmtent of Energy-released image on Thursday, March 26, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The government has secured 1.04 million barrels of diesel to beef up the country’s fuel buffer, with the first shipment having arrived last week and the remainder expected next month. After the arrival of 142,000 barrels containing 22.58 million liters of diesel on March 26, the Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed that an additional 900,000 barrels are scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks. Petronas, meanwhile, emphasized that its immediate priority is to ensure the reliable and continuous availability of fuel supply in Malaysia. The PCSPC’s 160-hectare complex has a storage capacity of 6.3 million barrels – approximately one billion liters – of fuel products.
Earth Hour cuts power use equal to 1 million homesRunners wearing neon shirts and shades join a community run in observance of Earth Hour at a mall in Marikina on Saturday. MANILA, Philippines — This year’s Earth Hour reduced 145.43 megawatts (MW) of power load, equivalent to the consumption of around one million households using 100 kilowatt-hours. The Philippines observed Earth Hour from 8:30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. last Saturday, with homes and businesses switching off non-essential lights to support environmental conservation. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stressed that energy-saving efforts should continue beyond Earth Hour, particularly as the country navigates the global oil crisis. The projects form part of the 200 power plants that President Marcos has directed the DOE to speed up over the next three years.
Medialdea undergoes angiogram, discharged soonDAVAO CITY, Philippines — Former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea was subjected to an emergency angiogram yesterday, after experiencing a health issue while giving a speech during the “Parada Dabawenyo” rally. Medialdea had the angiogram at a local hospital, which reportedly yielded no findings. An angiogram is a test using an x-ray and catheter to check for blood flow in arteries. He is said to be discharged soon, but no word on precisely when. It was Medialdea who accompanied Duterte to The Hague on a private jet on March 11, 2025 when the latter was arrested.
That is our stand on the committee on justice as regards allegations that Madriaga is of questionable character,” Zamora said. “We’re not saying that we have already established probable cause. We have not declared yet that there is probable cause to forward the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. “There would only be Articles of Impeachment once the House Committee on Justice finds or establishes probable cause. Of course, like we said, we will still have to go through the Committee on Justice hearing to declare probable cause,” Zamora said.
Palace cites public-private efforts to mitigate energy crisisMalacañang Palace, the official residence of the president of the Philippines, as seen from the Pasig River. He likewise cited the new wells of Malampaya that would go on stream by the last quarter of this year to further boost energy security. Recto likewise cited the government’s energy conservation program. “We also note with appreciation the City of Manila’s enterprising and inspiring move to fully subsidize the operations of thousands of jeepneys so they can ferry passengers for free,” Recto said. “And long before the oil price shocks, other cities, notably Quezon City, have deployed buses that offer free rides, and these, we note with thanks, have now been expanded,” he added.
Energy shiftWith traditional jeepneys reducing their daily trips and pooling earnings, I’m noticing more e-jeepneys on the road these days. Some folks I know have also joined the long queues to buy electric and hybrid electric vehicles, along with the home chargers for some models. People are now willing to suspend their doubts about the cost-effectiveness of solar panels and are checking out solar roofing for their homes. It can also provide incentives to bring down the prices of durable solar panels for office and household use. In the race toward renewable and alternative energy, we can’t afford to be left behind.
House scales down Philippine’s hosting of Asean IPAPhoto courtesy of the Office of the Speaker / pna.gov.phMANILA, Philippines — With oil prices reaching record highs, the House of Representatives is initiating an austerity measure by scaling down the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meetings this year. “Following the guidance of the President, we are adopting necessary austerity measures in our AIPA hosting – without compromising its objectives,” Speaker Faustino Dy III said, as they intend to limit in-person activities to the General Assembly in October and Interface Meeting in November. All other meetings will be “shifted to virtual platforms,” Dy said. Deputy Speaker and foreign affairs committee chair Maria Rachel Arenas, who heads the House’s AIPA organizing efforts, said preparations are being recalibrated to ensure a smooth transition to a hybrid format centered on two key in-person events. — Jose Rodel Clapano
Sabalenka completes Indian Wells-Miami sweepAryna Sabalenka celebrates her win against Naomi Osaka of Japan during Day 7 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 10, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. MIAMI — Aryna Sabalenka won her second straight Miami Open title on Sunday beating Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to complete a “Sunshine Double” Indian Wells-Miami sweep. 1 from Belarus, fresh off her first triumph in the California desert, became the fifth woman – and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022 – to win both of the elite early season hardcourt WTA 1000 titles. “It means a lot,” Sabalenka said after joining Poland’s Swiatek, German great Steffi Graf, Belgian Kim Clijsters and fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka on the list of women to win both titles in the same year. She handed Gauff her first career defeat in a hardcourt final.
Bad behaviorAggression unopposed becomes a contagious disease.– Jimmy CarterThe news came out on Saturday: a professional basketball player was arrested for an act of lasciviousness against a woman whom he did know after they accidentally bumped into each other. The news video blurred the identity of the victim and her paramour to protect their identities, and tried to do so with the accused. This player has played in the UAAP, PBA and MPBL, and has been known for his trademark hook shot. Again, if you follow basketball, you know the identities of the unnamed people he has insulted. In some instances, they’ve either fallen through the cracks or have been allowed to misbehave by the people who benefit from them.
Sabalenka sinks Gauff to win second straight Miami Open titleAryna Sabalenka kisses her trophy as she celebrates her Miami Open win over Coco Gauff. MIAMI, United States — Aryna Sabalenka won her second straight Miami Open title on Sunday beating Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to complete a "Sunshine Double" Indian Wells-Miami sweep. Gauff, finding more depth on her ground strokes to ramp up the pressure on Sabalenka, broke for the first time to take the second set. I knew that she's going to be fighting, she's going to be moving well, she's going to be trying to put literally every ball back on my side. "I lost a couple of opportunities in that second set, but I was just trying to stay mentally positive going into the third set."
