Rappler Newscast | November 25, 2013

Story 1: PACQUIAO BEATS RIOS
Dominating the younger Brandon Rios, Manny Pacquiao shows the boxing world he is back.
Natashya Gutierrez reports.

It’s sweet victory for Manny Pacquiao and the people of the Philippines.
Not only does the 8-division world champion prove to the world he still has much left in him – the triumph also lifts the spirits of his countrymen looking for much needed inspiration after Super Typhoon Haiyan.
Pacquiao delivers.
From the opening bell, a dominant Pacquiao shows superiority over his less experienced opponent, Brandon Rios.
He lands his punches from unexpected angles, and uses his speed to avoid Rios’ hands.
Rios does not provide much of a threat. He takes Pacquiao’s punches but barely throws his own.
Pacquiao continues to outbox the Mexican-American until the end. He wins by unanimous decision.
Of Pacquiao’s 281 punches that connect, 241 land on Rios’ head.
Rios says its Pacquiao’s speed that caught him off guard, but insists Pacquiao didn’t hurt him.

BRANDON RIOS, AMERICAN BOXER: I never got hurt at that fight. He never hurt me at all. I never got stunned. Nothing. I think the quickness just threw me off guard.

Pleased with his performance, Pacquiao silences critics.
Retirement rumors flew after Pacquiao’s knockout one year ago.

MANNY PACQUIAO, FILIPINO BOXER: I told them this is not my time yet. My journey will continue. I said we will rise again and that’s what happened.

His trainer Freddie Roach is also happy with Pacquiao’s showing. But he says Pacquiao could’ve dropped Rios.

FREDDIE ROACH, PACQUIAO’S TRAINER: Manny did take it easy in the last round and I feel that he didn’t step on the gas pedal. I think he could’ve finished Rios but he told me there’s no sense in beating him up anymore, he beat him in every round. He said there was no sense in trying to hurt the guy. I think his compassion got in the way a little bit.

There is no knockout but the win is enough to convince fans Pacquiao is back.
That night, Pacquiao hosts a Christian fellowship to give thanks.
The next day – one final bible study in his suite led by actor Stephen Baldwin – before returning to his hometown in General Santos City.
He vows to visit areas hard-hit by the typhoon.

NATASHYA GUTIERREZ, REPORTING: More than just a sporting victory, Pacquiao’s triumph is symbolic. It’s a source of pride and unity for his countrymen especially after a difficult few weeks– at a time of rebuilding for the Philippines.  His victory’s a reminder…the typhoon ravaged areas can rise again. Natashya Gutierrez Rappler Macau.

Promoter Bob Arum brings up names of possible opponents for Pacquiao. These include: American Timothy Bradley who defeated Pacquiao early last year in a controversial split decision; Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao’s rival who dealt him a devastating 6th round knockout in December 2012; and Floyd Mayweather Jr, widely considered as the top boxer right now.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach says he “personally” wants to fight Marquez again but the Mexican would want a lot of money for a 5th fight.
But Pacquiao calls out Mayweather.

MANNY PACQUIAO, FILIPINO BOXER: My job is to fight. Anybody who will fight me, I can fight…I’m willing to fight Floyd, but it’s up to him if he’s willing also.

Story 2: HAIYAN SURVIVORS CHEER PACQUIAO, SEEK HELP
Pacquiao’s win redeems his boxing career — but it also inspires Filipinos battered by super typhoon Yolanda — international name Haiyan.
Paterno Esmaquel reports from Tacloban City.

Two weeks ago, a fortress of fear.
On Sunday, a hall of recreation.
Hundreds of survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda return to what was once their evacuation center to watch a make-or-break boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios.
Soon after entering the Tacloban Astrodome, 58-year-old Emma Parientes breaks into tears.
She says this place evokes her worst memories.

EMMA PARIENTES, TACLOBAN RESIDENT: Umiyak ako kasi naalala ko ang kalagayan namin dito. Hindi pa man nagsimula ang bagyo, diyan kami. Ang akala ko, mahimbing ang tulog namin. (I cried because I remembered our condition here. Even before the typhoon hit land, we were there. I thought we would be sleeping well.)

Parientes watches the boxing match alone.
Her children live elsewhere.
Like over 1,600 others, her husband Alberto is missing.

EMMA PARIENTES, TACLOBAN RESIDENT: Sana manalo si Pacquiao para matulungan niya ang mga taong mahihirap galing sa bagyong Yolanda. (I hope Pacquiao wins so he can help the poor people after Typhoon Yolanda.)

Parientes gets her wish. Pacquiao beats Rios in a unanimous decision.
The Tacloban Astrodome erupts in cheers.
Typhoon survivors celebrate not only the boxer’s victory, but also his promise to help the ravaged city.

JUNJUN MABINI, TACLOBAN RESIDENT: Ang mensahe ko lang kay Pacquiao: Pacman, ito dala dala ko ang flag natin, ‘yong bansa natin. Sana pumunta ka dito ng Tacloban. Tulungan mo kami sa kalagayan namin ngayon. Mahirap na kami. Mahirap na ang Tacloban. Bangon, Tacloban! Bangon! (My only message to Pacquiao: Pacman, I’m holding our flag, the symbol of our country. I hope you can go to Tacloban. Help us recover from this condition. We’re now poor. Tacloban is now poor. Rise, Tacloban! Rise!)

It’s a sign of hope after so much death and ruin.

PATERNO ESMAQUEL, REPORTING: For a day, this place of tears becomes a place of cheers. From Pacquiao’s winning match, typhoon survivors return to their daily battles – with one more thing to smile about. Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Tacloban City.

Story 3: GOV’T STARTS WORK ON REBUILDING TYPHOON-HIT AREAS
More than two weeks after the super typhoon, the government begins the herculean task of rebuilding shattered communities.
Experts say it will cost billions of dollars and take years to revive areas flattened by the typhoon.
At least 5,235 people are dead with more than 10 million people affected.
There is no official estimate for the recovery and rehabilitation cost, but Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan says it could go as high as P250 billion or $5.8 billion.
Top priority is rebuilding homes for the 4.3 million displaced people, and making sure their homes are typhoon-resistant.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau will send 5 geologists to survey areas in typhoon-ravaged Leyte.
It will take a week or two for the team to complete the mapping of so-called “no build zones” – areas vulnerable to landslides, flooding and storm surges where infrastructure should not be built.
These danger zones will be plotted on multihazard maps that local government units can use as a guide for rebuilding communities.
President Benigno Aquino is also set to certify as urgent a P14.6 billion fund that will go mainly to rebuilding infrastructure.
The typhoon caused around P13 billion worth of damage to infrastructure.

Story 4: ILO HELPS PROVIDE ‘EMERGENCY’ JOBS IN HAIYAN-HIT AREAS
The International Labor Organization or ILO will be one of the agencies providing emergency jobs to millions of people who lost their livelihoods to the super typhoon.
Fishermen are among the most affected sectors– the typhoon either washed away or destroyed their boats.
ILO Philippines Director Jeff Johnson says, “Emergency employment essentially puts money in the hands of individuals affected.”
After Tropical Storm Sendong wiped out many fishing villages in Mindanao in 2011, the ILO taught alternative fishing techniques to fishermen near Iligan City.
While fishing and agriculture remain crippled, the labor department says victims can use their skills to rebuild damaged infrastructure.

Story 5: LESSON FROM YOLANDA: SECURE RESPONDERS’ FAMILIES – ROXAS
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas cites a valuable lesson in the aftermath of the super typhoon: secure responders’ families first so they can immediately respond to disasters.

MAR ROXAS, INTERIOR SECRETARY: Mahirap na asahan silang gampanan din ang kanilang mga tungkulin kung ang isip nila o ang atensyon nila ay nasa paglilikas ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. (It is hard to expect them to fulfill their duty when their mind or attention is focused on evacuating their loved ones.)

Roxas admits the government did not think of evacuating the responders’ families.
Each year, an average of 20 typhoons hits the Philippines, located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific.
Asked why it took the world’s most powerful storm for the government to learn the lesson, Roxas says Filipinos learn from experience.

MAR ROXAS, INTERIOR SECRETARY: Yolanda ang kauna-unang signal number typhoon na number 4, dito sa atin. So tayo naman ay natututo tayo sa ating mga karanasan. Sa teorya, hindi ito naisip. (Yolanda is the first typhoon where we had signal number 4. We learn from experience. In theory, we did not think about it.)

Contrary to his statement, there were 14 previous storms since 1991 where the state weather bureau raised signal number 4 in the Philippines.
In the immediate aftermath of the typhoon, local disaster response was paralyzed because some officials were killed, while others looked for missing family members.

Story 6: PH BUYING 2 MORE C130 CARGO PLANES
The super typhoon showed how the military’s limited resources slowed its ability to respond quickly to disasters.
C130 cargo planes were the first to be deployed for relief operations in the areas devastated by the typhoon.
But the military only had 3 airworthy C130s.
On Monday, the military says it will buy two more C130 cargo planes.

EMMANUEL BAUTISTA, AFP CHIEF OF STAFF: We are in the process of acquiring two more C130s and 2 logistics support vessels and strategic sealift vessel. We’re acquiring two also. Very important because you very well know 3 lang ang C130 natin, in terms of strategic capability, very important sa atin ang C130. Nakita ninyo ang gamit niya dito sa calamities, not just for military operations but for other operations other than war like rescue and relief efforts. (Very important because you very well know we only have 3 C130 planes. In terms of strategic capability, the C130 planes are very important to us. You see the use of the planes in calamities, not just for military operations but for other operations other than war like rescue and relief efforts.)

This will bring the total number of cargo planes to 5, although the Air Force says the ideal number is 9.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto says one C130 costs about P2.2 billion, while repairs cost P500 million.
At least 16 countries deployed 61 foreign aircraft to the Philippines to help transport relief goods to devastated areas.

Story 7: GREENERATION SUMMIT: TAPPING THE BAYANIHAN SPIRIT OF THE YOUTH
More than a thousand young Filipinos gather to discuss climate change issues on the first day of the Greeneration Summit.
Organized by the Climate Change Commission or CCC, the event brings together policy makers and citizens concerned about climate change.
CCC vice chair Lucille Sering says it’s imperative to discuss the issue because of the Philippines’ geographic location.

LUCILLE SERING, CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION VICE CHAIRMAN: We are a Mecca of disasters. The only thing we don’t have is a winter storm…The best way to address a problem is to accept that it can happen. Hindi ho pwede tayong mag deny deny. Science is there to provide certainty of this phenomenon.

In partnership with the CCC, Rappler also launches the Project Agos microsite– a one-stop shop for disaster mitigation and risk reduction management.
It integrates crowdsourcing, mapping, and social media in a platform that will bridge response initiatives of the government, civil society, and citizens.
The platform allows for a new form of bayanihan: users crowdsourcing information via social media to help

each other during disasters.
MARIA RESSA, CEO, RAPPLER: The new bayanihan, your bayanihan there’s a new tech term for it it’s called crowdsourcing. This is Project Agos. It is our collective prayer and you (youth) are a huge part of this. Please join us.

Story 8: NBI PROBES CHAVIT SINGSON, DAUGHTER FOR WILD DUCK HUNTING
The National Bureau of Investigation will look into reports former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson and his daughter hunted and killed vulnerable and protected wildlife in the Philippines.
An Instagram post showing the two holding up carcasses of wild ducks sparks outrage among bird watchers.
The wild ducks killed by the Singsons for sport appear to be Philippine wild ducks, a vulnerable species protected by Philippine law.
This is not the first time the former governor was linked to controversial wildlife hunting.
Singson was severely criticized online for leaked photos showing him hunting lions in Africa for his birthday.

Story 9: WORLD POWERS, IRAN CLINCH ‘HISTORIC’ NUCLEAR DEAL
In a breakthrough deal that world powers say is the biggest step in efforts to deny Tehran an atomic bomb, Iran agrees to temporarily freeze its nuclear program Sunday.
Under the deal between Iran and six world powers, Iran will limit uranium enrichment to low levels and give UN atomic inspectors unprecedented access.
Iran will also neutralize its entire stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium within 6 months.
In exchange, Iran gets some $7 billion in sanctions relief.
But Israel slams the deal over the weekend as a “historic mistake.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants all of Iran’s nuclear facilities dismantled for good.

Story 10: US HINTS AT MORE SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA AFTER IRANIAN DEAL
Following the nuclear deal with Iran, the United States hints at more sanctions against North Korea over its atomic weapons program.
North Korea wants to resume the six-party talks stalled since December 2008, but the United States says it must first show a commitment to denuclearization.
Glyn Davies, the US special representative for North Korea policy, says, “Pyongyang’s attempts to engage in dialogue while keeping its program running are completely unacceptable…We believe sanctions and pressure are key in sharpening choices that Pyongyang faces.”

Story 11: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, Japan warns about “unpredictable events” following China’s unilateral declaration of an air defense zone over areas claimed by Japan and South Korea.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida says his country is considering stronger protests “at a higher level” after China’s announcement.
China also releases a set of aircraft identification rules that must be followed by planes entering the area.
Japan says it cannot accept these new rules.

At number 7, the Oxford Research Group says more than 11,000 children died in Syria’s civil war.
In a new study, the group says 11,420 children aged 17 years and below were killed.
128 children were killed by chemical weapons in Ghouta, near Damascus, in an August attack that the United States and other world powers blamed on President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

And at number 8, The Time Lord popped up simultaneously in nearly 100 countries on November 23 – in a special episode marking 50 years of the BBC’s sci-fi series “Doctor Who.”
More than 1,500 cinemas from Australia to Mexico screened the 75-minute special in what the BBC says is probably the largest simulcast of a TV drama in history.
The episode kicked off with the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, dangling from his Tardis spaceship as it flew over London.

Story 12: GOLF: FIL-AUSSIE JASON DAY WINS WORLD CUP
Filipino-Australian Jason Day completes an emotional return to Australia to deliver an individual and team victory in the World Cup at Royal Melbourne.
Day captures his first-ever professional event on home soil, shooting a final-round 70 to defeat Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn by two strokes.
Day comes into the event with tragic news of the death in the Philippines of his grandmother, 6 young cousins and an uncle from Typhoon Haiyan.

Story 13: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS NOW A MUSICAL
Multi-awarded film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros is now a musical, featuring 30 original Filipino songs.
G Tongi reports.

G TONGI, REPORTING: I’m here at Philippine Educational Theater Association to talk to the musical composers and the star of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros.

Adapted from the 2005 film directed by Aurelios Solito, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros tells the story of an adolescent gay boy in Sampaloc, Manila.
The film won awards both here and abroad.
Now the acclaimed story hits the stage as a full length musical.
William Elvin Manzano, one of the musical composers, says original Filipino works like Maxie enriches our culture and language.

WILLIAM ELVIN MANZANO, MUSICAL COMPOSER FOR MAXIE: THE MUSICALE: It’s my story, it is your story, no matter where you live, no matter what your social status is, as long as you are Filipino, you will understand and you will feel…I think we should have our own things that are going on for us, something that we can actually sing with our language.

Jayvot Galang plays Maxie in the musical.
Galang joined a talent contest for a local TV show and his video went viral.
Maxie the musical marks his first work in theater.
He says he shares similarities with the character Maxie.

JAYVHOT GALANG, MAXIE IN MAXIE:THE MUSICALE: Halos yung kwento po ni Maxie, kwento rin po ng buhay ko. Ang pagkakaiba lang po naming, sweet sya. Kasi po sa amin, pag masaya po ako, masaya rin po ang family ko, tangap rin po ako sa family namin na ganito ako, maaga po ako nakapagladlad. (My story with Maxie is somewhat like my life. The only difference is that Maxie is sweet. Where I am from, I’m always happy and so is my family. They accept me for what I am. I “came out” early.)

The musical features over 30 original Filipino songs with book and lyrics by Nicolas B. Pichay and music by Manzano and his co-composer Janine Santos and JJ Pimpinio.
Maxie the Musicale: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros is running until December 8, 2013 at PETA.
G Tongi, Rappler Manila.