These days, there is a lot of news about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for the world and, indirectly, for the Pacific as well.

Countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia are among those most affected by this situation, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also engaged in complex negotiations to secure the passage of ships and avoid the real risk of blackouts in the country.

These range from widespread smart working to the increasingly evident silence on the streets of Manila, from the famous jeepneys in trouble due to high diesel prices, to ASEAN conventions made as essential and digital as possible, also in the light of this year’s Philippine presidency: an important, indeed very important role, which, in fact, is being scaled down by the effects of the Iran crisis.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump issues vague but harsh ultimatums, going so far as to evoke ‘hell on earth’ if the strait is not unblocked. But the Philippines, like much of the world, cannot afford to wait. Manila thus becomes the first nation to declare a state of national energy emergency, a strong signal that tells of the extent of the crisis.

A significant step, which highlights the profound difficulties that Manila faces, already hit by natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. And in this scenario, the leadership of Marcos Jr. is being put to the test, called upon to withstand the shock and lead the Philippines through an extremely delicate phase.

Manila reacts: state of energy emergency

In response to this extreme crisis, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took an unprecedented decision: to declare a state of national energy emergency.

It is not just a matter of preventing power supply disruptions, but of avoiding a wider collapse of the economic and social system.

Manila is moving on several fronts. On the one hand, indirect negotiations and diplomatic contacts to guarantee the passage of ships, also through complex interlocutions with actors linked to Iran. On the other, internal interventions to reduce consumption and rationalise the remaining available resources.

Daily life changes with ‘pagtitipid’ (savings)

Meanwhile, the crisis enters the homes of Filipinos.

In Manila and other big cities, the government is pushing towards forms of remote working, a kind of generalised ‘work from home’ to reduce fuel consumption and relieve pressure on the energy grid. The streets are now quieter, almost suspended.

As already mentioned, the famous jeepneys – the symbol of Philippine urban transport – are starting to suffer from the high diesel prices. Many reduce rides, others stop altogether. The cost of fuel directly affects the drivers’ already fragile earnings.

And so now the concept of pagtitipid (saving) emerges: a common word in Tagalog that becomes a national guideline. Saving energy, limiting travel, adapting to a new ‘normality’.

ASEAN in essential format

The energy crisis comes at a particularly sensitive time for Manila. The Philippines holds the chairmanship of ASEAN, a role that requires presence, organisation and strong diplomatic skills.

Yet, even this is inevitably downsized. Shorter meetings, events in digital format, travel reduced to a minimum. A ‘minimal’, almost compressed management that reflects the difficulties of the moment.

Politically, it is a test for the country’s international credibility: being able to maintain a regional leadership role while dealing with such a deep internal crisis.

Marcos Jr. between internal pressure and political tightness

Crisis management tests the leadership of Marcos Junior.

The Philippines is used to emergencies, often related to natural disasters – earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons. But this time the threat comes from outside, and is less controllable.

Choices have become difficult: rationing, energy priorities, possible impacts on industry and the possible accompanying protests. Every decision has a political cost. Maintaining stability – katatagan (resilience, stability) – becomes the main objective in a rapidly changing environment.

A crisis that redefines priorities

Needless to deny it, the Strait of Hormuz crisis is not just a Middle Eastern issue. It is an event that crosses continents, redefines priorities and tests governments thousands of miles apart.

According to several recent estimates, about 95-98% of the oil imported by the Philippines comes from the Middle East. This means that more than 90% of the Philippines’ energy needs depend directly on routes that pass through Hormuz.

The figure becomes even more relevant if one considers that it is not only crude oil: about 97% of refined oil products and more than90% of LPG (domestic gas) come from supply chains that, upstream, depend on that energy corridor.

In other words, when Hormuz slows down or stalls, it is not a distant crisis for Manila: it is an almost direct interruption of its own energy, indeed, lifeblood.

Manila, today, is on the front line. And its response – between emergency, adaptation and diplomacy – offers a more than concrete glimpse of what it means to live in a world where energy and geopolitics are intertwined subjects and not two parallel lines.