A new war

I was on a plane traveling back to the Philippines from Europe via the Middle East after a week-long family trip when I heard the news.

- IRIS GONZALES

After several hours of sleep, I turned on my phone and the first alert I saw was that Trump had ordered strikes in Iran, officially making the United States part of the Israel-Iran conflict.

It was a shocking and jittery way to wake up. I wondered if our pilot had deviated from the flight path because the usual route from Europe to the Middle East often skirts between Iran and Israel, according to the map.

It all felt so surreal.

My immediate thoughts went to the safety of Filipinos in the affected countries and how this would impact global oil prices and, in turn, the Philippines.

Getting ready

This is not our war and yet, make no mistake, this will hit us big time.

Here's what I believe is going to happen. The situation will get worse before it gets better and it's no thanks to the move of the US to join Israel's attacks on Iran.

Dark clouds of uncertainty now hover over the world economy and vulnerable economies like ours are at risk. For one, the Philippine economy is easily affected by changes in oil prices and it is largely dependent on remittances from overseas Filipino workers.