Arzen Rose Dulzura

Jodi Sta. Maria, Anne Curtis, Paulo Avelino express concerns for Filipinos and call for peace as conflict in Middle East intensifies

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Amid the intensifying conflict between US-Israel joint forces and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that have resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Filipino celebrities have voiced their concerns for their <em>k</em><em>ababayans </em>and used their platforms to call for prayers and peace.  </p><p>Jodi Sta. Maria was among the first to react as the news broke, writing on X (formerly Twitter) on March 1 to stress that “no one truly wins” in war. </p><p>“In war, no one truly wins…it’s always the people who are left living in fear, traumatised, and confused. 💔,” she wrote, reflecting on the human cost of these conflicts.  </p><p>She said that her thoughts and prayers were especially with Filipinos living and working in the Middle East, adding: “Thinking of everyone affected by the US–Israel–Iran conflict, especially our fellow Filipinos in the Middle East. Praying for safety, clarity, and peace for all. 🕊️🇵🇭” </p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2027904401999102343&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-01T07%3A31%3A46.946332%3Afa1ec916-049b-4af4-b972-c9ca4677d276%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=28ad7490d4b9987228a7da40cd0fd17a6df51862&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:370px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2027904401999102343"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>Meanwhile, Anne Curtis shared a more immediate and personal encounter with the crisis. The<em> It’s Showtime</em> host was on a flight bound for Dubai after attending the Milan Fashion Week 2026 in Italy when she witnessed high-speed jets flying near her plane, a moment she captured and shared on her Instagram Stories. As airstrikes continued, Anne later revealed that their flight was forced to turn back to Milan after all flights to the Middle East were grounded. Along with the update, she expressed concern for families in the region and urged her fellow Filipinos to stay safe.  </p><p>“Praying for all the families in the Middle East. Sa mga kababayan natin, ingat po. Stay safe everyone. Hoping things ease soon,” she wrote in the caption.   </p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0kGVybNj79abaztAfvQCpdGnaDxRcxidiyPg9H6yd9ar8yYx1XteFAdpoMNYAWzprl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p><em>The Alibi</em> actor Paulo Avelino also took to X to address Filipinos in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of staying alert. He further reminded them to keep communication lines open with the Philippine embassy should the situation require assistance. </p><p>“To all my fellow Filipinos in the Middle East and nearby areas, I hope you and your families are safe. Please stay alert, avoid risky areas, and follow local advisories. Keep in touch with the Philippine embassy if needed. Stay safe always,” he advised.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2027729213118419100&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-01T07%3A31%3A46.946332%3Afa1ec916-049b-4af4-b972-c9ca4677d276%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=28ad7490d4b9987228a7da40cd0fd17a6df51862&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:320px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2027729213118419100"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>Netizens also wrote supportive messages online, expressing appreciation for the celebrities’ concern, sharing that they are also joining them in the call for peace and prayers.  </p><p>Their messages came in response to the conflict that continues to unfold following waves of US-Israel strikes targeting sites in Iran. The attacks prompted response from Iran, who in turn launched missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries hosting US military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.  </p><p>In addition to the death of Iran&#x27;s supreme leader since 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian state media also confirmed the deaths of members of his immediate family, including his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.</p>

<p>As tensions intensify in the Middle East following deadly airstrikes involving US-Israel joint forces and Iran, Filipino celebrities Jodi Sta. Maria, Anne Curtis, and Paulo Avelino took to social media to express deep concern for their kababayans.</p>

As tensions intensify in the Middle East following deadly airstrikes involving US-Israel joint forces and Iran, Filipino celebrities Jodi Sta. Maria, Anne Curtis, and Paulo Avelino took to social media to express deep concern for their kababayans.