Marcos Jr. said they will discuss the full implementation of the Reciprocal Access Agreement and other defense deals signed earlier this year.

Japan’s growing role in regional security, including its participation in this year’s Balikatan exercises, will also be tackled.

Also on the agenda is Japan’s assistance in the modernization of the AFP, including radar systems, technology sharing, and military training.

The President also stressed the importance of shared values and adherence to international law, particularly UNCLOS.IMT

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“The Senate is a target because we are the last line of defense,” Cayetano said before Monday’s plenary session.

He claimed attacks against the Senate started in 2023 when proposals surfaced to abolish the chamber and revive Charter change.

Cayetano also linked recent political tensions to renewed moves to amend the Constitution, including proposals for a regional Senate.

The Senate chief said he was not against political reforms but stressed that government should first address rising prices, electricity costs, and other problems affecting Filipinos.

Asked about calls for his resignation, Cayetano said there had been a “concerted effort” to remove him and replace him with someone easier to control.  

“Collaboration is OK, pero y’ung sunod-sunuran kami sa inyo at hawak niyo kami sa leeg, hindi pwede ’yon,” he said.IMT

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The vast majority of Filipinos express reluctance toward having romantic partners who smoke, vape and drink alcohol, according to the WR Numero March 2026 national survey.

The latest Philippine Public Opinion Monitor asked respondents how comfortable Filipinos are with their significant other or a potential partner consuming alcohol, vape and tobacco products.

Roughly 3 in 4 respondents (75%) say vaping is unacceptable for a partner, while only 15% indicate openness to it. About 10% remain undecided or are unfamiliar with vaping products.

Disapproval of vape consumption cuts across generations, with Gen X expressing the strongest opposition at 78%. They are followed by Baby Boomers (76%), Millennials (75%), Gen Zs (73%) and the Silent Generation (69%). Conversely, the level of tolerance for a partner using vapes is most pronounced among Gen Zs (21%).

A similar trend emerges for tobacco use, with around 78% of Filipinos saying they would not tolerate a partner who smokes. In contrast, 16% consider smoking acceptable while 6% are unsure.

Almost all generations disfavor partners who smoke cigarettes. Baby Boomers register the highest disapproval (86%), followed by Gen Zs (83%), Millennials (75%), Gen X (74%) and the Silent Generation (50%). On the flip side, Gen X showed the highest level of openness to a partner smoking (20%).

Nearly 2 in 3 Filipinos also consider alcohol use undesirable in a romantic partner, while 26% find it acceptable. About 8% have no clear opinion on the matter.

Across generations, Baby Boomers register the highest disapproval of alcohol use (72%), followed by Gen Zs (65%), Millennials (65%), Gen X (64%) and Silent Generation (52%). In contrast, about 26% in Gen Zs, 28% in Millennials, 28% in Gen X, 19% in Baby Boomers and 5% in Silent Generation express openness to their partners consuming alcohol.

The March 2026 nationwide survey, conducted from March 10 to 17, was done through face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,455 Filipinos residing in the Philippines, at a ±3% margin of error and 95% confidence level. The margin of error is higher at the generation level due to smaller sample groups.

These findings form part of the WR Numero Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, Volume 2026, Issue 9 (March 2026 National Survey). Access the full report at tinyurl.com/PPOM9Download

The latest WR Numero March 2026 survey also includes the current public opinion on the Anti-Dynasty Bill, the Impeachment proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte and the detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court.

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“We will continue to do this until the war ends or until we have repatriated all of our nationals back home,” the President said.

Over 2,000 OFWs have been repatriated so far, while 16,000+ Filipinos have received aid.

Flights are being increased from once to twice a week, depending on clearance from local authorities to avoid risks.

“Tinitiyak natin na lahat ng movement ay cleared… para lahat sila ay maging safe,” added Marcos Jr.IMT

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Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is closely coordinating with oil firms through the Department of Energy to cushion the impact on consumers.

“Let us refrain from doing activities like fear mongering… ang Pangulo at ang gobyerno ay still under control, in control of the situation,” said Castro.

She added Congress is working on a measure that would allow the President to adjust fuel taxes to help ease the burden of rising oil prices.

“Ngayon ay binabalangkas at gagawing batas ang pagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa Pangulo para mabawasan ang karagdagang buwis sa mga produktong krudo or fuel,” according to her.IMT

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In a privilege speech, Lacson said Marcoleta’s explanations about failing to disclose contributors in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) could be considered an admission against interest.

He noted that Marcoleta claimed the donations were received before he officially became a candidate, but stressed that Marcoleta was still a public official at the time as a representative of the SAGIP party-list in the House.

“Tumanggap siya ng pera para magkaroon siya ng utang na loob sa mga taong iyon — isang maliwanag na admission against interest,” Lacson said.

According to Lacson, accepting money by reason of one’s office may constitute indirect bribery under Article 211 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes public officials who accept gifts connected to their position.

He also questioned why the Commission on Elections has yet to release a resolution on Marcoleta’s SOCE case despite the controversy.IMT

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Senator Joel Villanueva pushed key amendments to ensure timely diagnosis, access to evidence-based interventions, and stronger healthcare support for individuals with ASD and their families.

The measure also requires the Department of Health to develop a strategic plan to deploy more ASD professionals nationwide in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education and the Professional Regulation Commission to address the shortage of specialists.

“Kami po mismo ay nakasaksi sa araw-araw na realidad na kinakaharap ng persons with ASD at ng kanilang mga pamilya,” said Villanueva.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the SBN 1822 brings the country closer to providing better services, education, and community support for Filipinos with ASD.

“This measure, which complements Republic Act No. 11650 or ‘Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act’, will help ensure that health and intervention services, community-based support, and inclusive education become more accessible to Filipinos with ASD,” he added.IMT

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As tensions flare across the Middle East following airstrikes and missile attacks, senators are calling for swift, coordinated government action to safeguard millions of Filipinos in the region.

There are more than 2.2 million Filipinos living and working across the Middle East, including over 1,100 in Iran who could be directly affected by the escalating conflict.

Senator Francis Escudero urged government agencies to intensify coordinated protection measures, stressing that the sheer number of Filipinos in the region requires an urgent and anticipatory response.

He acknowledged the directive of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to activate contingency plans and account for Filipinos in affected areas.

Saudi Arabia hosts more than 865,000 Filipinos, the UAE nearly 650,000, with significant communities in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman that could be impacted by any regional spillover.

But Escudero warned that advisories alone will not suffice.

“Such a mechanism is not alarmist but a necessary safeguard, especially for our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in high-risk areas like Israel and Iran, where mobility may be restricted and communication lines may be disrupted.”

The lawmaker proposed activating a coordinated Middle East Crisis Command Center to consolidate real-time monitoring, map safe corridors, and pre-position evacuation assets in friendly ports or airports.

He also stressed the need to assist Filipino travelers who may be stranded in airports due to flight cancellations, ensuring they receive guidance, temporary support, and clear repatriation options.

“I am prepared to work closely with our foreign and migrant-worker agencies to ensure that every Filipino in the region is accounted for, protected, and supported.”

Meanwhile, Sherwin Gatchalian called on the DMW to begin preparing for the repatriation of OFWs in Iran, Israel, and other Middle East countries.

As chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Gatchalian noted that the AKSYON Fund was increased by P800 million, from P1.2 billion to P2 billion, to support emergency assistance and repatriation efforts.

“Our priority is the safety of our OFWs. The government must be ready to repatriate those affected,” according to him.

He also urged the Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board (LTFRB) to prepare for the efficient rollout of the Pantawid-Pasada program, with P2.497 billion available for disbursement amid expected oil price hikes.

For his part, Senator Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Panel, demanded a recovery plan for Filipinos who were about to leave for jobs in the Middle East but were stalled due to the escalating conflict.

He called on the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to address the plight of these workers, many of whom have already spent money to secure overseas employment.

“Most of these Filipinos come from the provinces. They have already spent money on requirements in the hope of securing decent opportunities in the Middle East,” said Tulfo..

Reports cited first-time OFWs from the provinces describing the inconvenience and uncertainty caused by the airstrikes. Some said there has been no clear notice from government agencies or deployment plans from recruitment firms.

Tulfo proposed utilizing the AKSYON Fund to provide relief, not only financially but also for mental health support.

“We should exhaust all the remedies available for them not only on the financial aspect, but also for their mental health,” he said.IMT

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I’ve done this with my daughters many times, too. We’ve walked until our legs surrendered—through Orchard Road and Serangoon’s early-morning buzz in Singapore, Baiyoke Night Market’s neon-streaked stalls in Bangkok, the reborn energy of Baclaran, the gentle slopes of Tagbilaran, Burnham Park’s cold yet cozy scenes in Baguio, and the fragile edges of Dansalan in Marawi. And now, this week, the winding arteries around Burgos Market, Public Plaza, Capitol Park, and Lagoon in Bacolod. Our phones often tally 20,000 steps, but the numbers matter far less than the realizations they carry. Because the most honest parts of a city rarely announce themselves. They hide in wet markets where fishmongers shout prices, in jeepney stops that survive past 10 p.m., in the flicker of a tired streetlamp beside a carinderia, in how a public restroom is cared for—or neglected. These small corners tell the story brochures refuse to print.

Part of that walk, of course, is not just about pretty lights and photogenic corners. It also means smelling the stench of clogged canals, cigarettes, exhaust, and waste heap, seeing trash that city posters usually crop out, and feeling a bit exposed as an obvious outsider who might be stared at, teased, or catcalled by locals. Sometimes it means walking past cramped houses and glittering high-rises within the same block, and feeling that uncomfortable pinch in the chest when poverty and excess stand side by side. These are not side stories; they are the truth of the place. For me, this is the real point of the travel—to stay long enough, and close enough, for both the beauty and the brokenness of a city to come into view.

Immersive travel—something I first understood more deeply through Prof. Eddie Nuque of DLSU-JRIG—is not about being anti-tourist. It is about being willing to see what is real. The OECD (2020) says sensory-rich encounters deepen emotional connection, and I felt that along Araneta Avenue, turning into Ballesteros Street before drifting toward Burgos’ fruit stalls or Roxas Boulevard to MOA, noticing how each corner—from market noise to the hush of the bay—revealed a different mood of the city. A vendor sliced pineapples with a rhythm so practiced it felt like music. Children practiced their own version of urban choreography, weaving between tricycles without fear. Smoke rose from grills like incense. An older woman wrapped suman slowly, with the kind of respect one usually reserves for heirlooms. These were not attractions. They were signals—about how a community moves, hopes, survives.

A memory from Manila resurfaced as I walked. My daughters and I had taken a long walk from Quiapo to Intramuros—past review centers, overworked trays of kwek-kwek, and tourists waving their phones as if trying to summon a Grab by sheer force. Yet the moment that stayed with me did not happen on the street. It happened in a Lawton public restroom. A janitress—unaware she had an audience—was patiently teaching a kid how to wash his hands properly. She did not rush him. She did not scold him. She simply modeled care. It lasted less than a minute, but it revealed something about the city’s unseen decency, its pockets of tenderness. Those tiny gestures are the ones that linger.

Marawi, too, left its imprint. When we walked through Banggolo Bridge, past the ruins of Ground Zero, and into the stalls of Bangon Road, we expected an overwhelming sadness. And yes, the grief was present—etched into concrete, into silence, into pauses. But alongside it was movement. Rebuilding, albeit slow. Mothers buying vegetables beside soldiers. Small shops re-opening with stubborn faith. The frame of tarpaulins and smell of palapa rising into the sunlight. The metallic clank of hardware stores. Racal tricycles inching toward Lake Lanao with soft, unhurried rhythm. Immersive travel literature often highlights cultural shows or cooking classes, but walking through a recovering city teaches something more complex: how loss and resilience cohabit the same breath. Alex Dubois (2016) says immersion requires travelers to listen more than they speak. Marawi demanded exactly that kind of reverence.

Immersion doesn’t require hardship, though. Even in polished environments like Singapore, the sincerest stories lie outside predictable routes. We chose to step out of Orchard’s comfort and wander through Little India at dawn. We followed the scent of cardamom along Race Course Road and watched Tekka Centre aunties negotiate fish prices with graceful precision. In Bangkok, walking from Siam to Pratunam to Sukhumbit revealed a city full of contrasts—street food smoke drifting toward malls that glow until morning. Research says travelers grow more empathetic when they join local life rather than stand at a distance, and it rings true.

Teachers feel this deeply. They often say the best lessons come from short chats with drivers, vendors, or servers—people who reveal a city honestly. Cebu proves it too: tourists now learn by making puso, joining sikwate mornings, or painting ukuleles. Immersion makes educators sharper observers and kinder storytellers.

Back in Bacolod, immersion revealed itself in its humble corners. It meant standing beside a man roasting isaw near the old Lopue’s San Sebastian while teenagers debated the fastest “cimaron” jeepney home. It meant following the smoky whisper of chicken inasal past the new face of Manokan Country and into quieter, dimmer lanes where life slows down. It meant stepping into a narrow alley where kalamay-hati and ginger sat side by side on a wobbling table, guarded by a vendor who told stories with her eyes more than her words. These were not curated tours. They were micro-stories unfolding naturally, with no audience to impress. Scholars call this “situated authenticity”—the traveler as witness, not consumer.

Technology, for all its brilliance, still cannot recreate this. Tripadvisor’s 2024 report notes that VR and AR help build emotional anticipation before travel. And yes, they do. But no VR can mimic the weight of a ripe chico in your hand in Burgos Market. No AR can summon the exact blend of fish, smoke, and rain-soaked pavement along Iloilo’s Terminal Market. Technology can prepare the mind, but only the ground can prepare the soul.

In the end, immersive travel is not a practice. It is a posture. A willingness to be present. To walk slowly enough that a city has time to speak. To look past the polished and listen for the ordinary. Because in cities as in life, the ordinary often holds the truth. Whether in Bacolod or Marawi, Manila or Singapore, Tagbilaran or Bangkok, Iloilo or Baguio, I’ve seen the same pattern: the more you surrender control and let a place reveal itself, the more it changes you.

This is why I walk after workshops. Not to escape, but to return—to perspective, to humility, to a kind of learning no seminar can fully teach. The streets remind me that every city has a pulse waiting to be felt. Every community has stories that bloom only when you approach without expectations. And every journey, if taken with honesty, is an invitation to understand life a little better.

Maybe that is why the simplest act remains the most transformative: To keep walking—step by step—into the ordinary streets where a city tells its truth.

Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.

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