Windows26: Weekend Roundup: Extreme heat across Luzon, Oscars 2025, and more

Hello, ! Alex here, INQUIRER.net's News Channel editor. Let's start with the hot news — namely, the weather. Due to climate change, the Philippines' two-season cycle has gone from dry-and-wet to very dry-and-very wet.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

UPDATE PREFERENCES

Hello, reader!

Alex here, INQUIRER.net's News Channel editor.

Let's start with the hot news — namely, the weather.

Due to climate change, the Philippines' two-season cycle has gone from dry-and-wet to very dry-and-very wet.

So now we're in the very dry, high heat index phase.

This week alone, several local governments suspended classes to keep students safe from the torment of soaring temperatures.

As in recent years, the Department of Health has warned about heat-related illnesses and listed measures to avoid them.

And again, the Department of Education is considering changing class skeds — or even shifting to remote learning.

Picking the right time to hold in-person classes will be tough because the choices are equally unpleasant: You can select a period when students get air-fried in school or a period when they get storm-drenched on their way there.

That's how it goes now because we've lost the cool transition between weather extremes, or at least the transition has become shorter.

As the older among you may remember, this transition lasted a few months before and after the holiday season. Now, we can only hope for a few days of cooler weather now and then in those months.

Will DepEd then consider remote learning a more workable option? Or maybe a hybrid of remote and on-site learning?

Now let's get on with your Weekend Roundup.

HEAT INDEX

'Danger' levels

Pagasa recorded a sudden rise in the heat index across Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon this week, reaching the "danger" level of 42 to 51°C, with forecasts indicating further increases. The heat index, as distinguished from the actual temperature in a given area, is also called the apparent temperature — or what humans perceive to be the temperature affecting their bodies. Read Dexter Cabalza and Gillian Villanueva's report.

With the heat index expected to rise as the country braces for the dry season, the Department of Education is proposing a change in class schedules and a shift to remote learning to spare students from the impact of extreme temperatures. Here's a report from Dempsey Reyes and Gillian Villanueva.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro also vowed that the government will promptly respond to the adverse effects of the upcoming dry season. "[K]ikilos po talaga agad ang mga ahensiya para po matugunan kung anuman ang magiging problema sa mga susunod na araw itong napakatinding init na nararamdaman natin," she said. Luisa Cabato covered this story.

Experts warn that it's time to take the heat seriously. Krixia Subingsubing's report details a study on the 15-day April heat wave in the Philippines, which found that such extreme weather events currently occur about once every 10 years due to climate change. However, under a 2-degree warming scenario, these impacts could happen almost every other year.

ON OUR RADAR

Must-reads

2 pilots found dead inside FA-50 fighter jet on Bukidnon mountain. The remains of two pilots aboard a missing FA-50 fighter jet were found on Wednesday inside the aircraft, which crashed in the Kalatungan mountain range in the Bukidnon province. BY FAITH ARGOSINO, JOSELLE R. BADILLA

Hontiveros gives BI 15 days to explain escape of Alice Guo, cohorts. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) was given 15 days to explain how Alice Guo and her cohorts fled the country undetected, otherwise, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she would call for a revamp of the agency. BY CHARIE ABARCA

Trump and Zelensky clash in Oval Office shouting match. US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky clashed in an extraordinary shouting match in the Oval Office Friday, leaving efforts to end the war with Russia hanging in the balance. VIA AFP

Palace looking into China-donated gear. Malacañang on Monday said it was studying reports alleging the presence of "spy bugs" in tools and equipment donated by China, which raised concern about potential espionage activities targeting the Philippine government. BY MELVIN GASCON

Inflation skids to a surprise 5-month low in February 2025. Inflation eased more than expected in February to hit a five-month low driven by easing price pressures from food, utilities, and transportation. BY IAN NICOLAS CIGARAL

Microsoft shutting down Skype in May. The tech giant said Friday it will retire Skype in May and shift some of its services to Microsoft Teams, its flagship videoconferencing and team applications platform. Skype users will be able to use their existing accounts to log into Teams. VIA AP

Oscars 2025: Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison win top acting awards. The Sean Baker-helmed film was the runaway winner of Hollywood's biggest night after winning four awards including Best Picture and Best Actress. BY HANNAH MALLORCA

Jaclyn Jose honored in Oscars' In Memoriam. The Filipino actress is on the list published on the award-giving body's website, along with late Hollywood personalities Gene Hackman, Maggie Smith and Gena Rowlands, among many others. BY ANNE PASAJOL

Watch films for free every weekend at Intramuros this Women's Month. This March, Intramuros is hosting a series of free screenings of acclaimed films whose stories all revolve around the rich tapestry of Filipinas' lived experience. The Film Development Council of the Philippines brings Cine Juana to Intramuros starting Mar. 8. BY INQUIRER LIFESTYLE

Column of the Week: Zelenskyy vs Trump: Post-American order? What we need is nothing less than "collective strategic bargaining," whereby like-minded mid-sized powers can jointly check the worst instincts of any superpower while enhancing interoperability and diplomatic coordination among themselves in the face of emerging existential challenges. BY RICHARD HEYDARIAN

WOMEN'S MONTH

It's #HerStory

This month, we spotlight women: how they empower and lead, make a mark, and transform our society. This is #HerStory, and we celebrate her.

Visit INQUIRER.net's Women's Month Special Site.

INQFOCUS

The papacy

The papacy's history is one of triumph, scandal, and intrigue, reflecting the Church's enduring role in shaping civilizations, confronting crises, and navigating complex moral and political dilemmas. Read this special story by Cristina Eloisa Baclig.

Thanks for reading our Weekend Roundup, reader. For suggestions and feedback, please reach out to us at newsletter@inquirer.net.

Best regards,

Alexander T. Magno

March 8, 2025

Alex Magno is the current News Channel editor of INQUIRER.net. He oversees the daily operations of the News Desk, ensuring the timely and consistent delivery of news stories to our valued readers.

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