Rappler Newscast | June 4, 2013

Story 1: DAVAO CROWD CHEERS AS CEBUPAC MOVES PLANE
The Cebu Pacific aircraft that skidded off the Davao Airport runway is pulled out of the grassy area to cheers from workers and officials Tuesday afternoon. 
The aircraft has been on the grassy area since Sunday, after it overshot the runway amid heavy rain.
The incident forces the closure of the country’s 3rd busiest airport.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines airport area manager Frederick San Felix says the airport resumes operations at 8pm.
Local airport authorities allow Cebu Pacific to continue towing away the aircraft despite the order of the CAAP.
In a 2pm statement, Cebu Pacific says it hired a Singapore engineering company to extract the plane.
CAAP wanted to take over removal operations after the airline missed several deadlines.
On Tuesday, CAAP Deputy Director General John Andrews cites initial findings that show nothing was wrong with the plane’s engine. 
He adds, “We now have evidence that points to possible human factor… it may be pilot error.”
On Monday, Cebu Pacific president Lance Gokongwei called it an “unfortunate incident,” and issues a personal apology to passengers.

Story 2: SERENDRA UNIT ‘NOT CLEARED FOR LEASING’
A lawyer of the owner of the Two Serendra unit that exploded Friday says the unit still had to be inspected after renovations to the apartment.
Raymond Fortun, counsel of unit owner George Cayton, says Unit 501B was not yet cleared by Serendra management, a requirement before it can be rented out.
But Serendra management allowed Cayton’s family to lend the apartment for 9 days to their friend, Angelito San Juan.
Fortun says Cayton’s daughter is expected to arrive Friday to cooperate with the probe and provide documents on the renovations done in the unit.
Investigators have not yet identified the cause of the blast, but the probe is looking at engineering issues as a possible cause. 
Ayala Land says residents of affected Serendra buildings are given temporary lodging and will be allowed to return home once the authorities give clearance.
Property analysts at Jones Lang Lasalle Leechiu and CBRE say the blast won’t affect long term prospects of the property market because of the demand for office and commercial spaces. 
They say the expansion of global firms make BGC a viable alternative to Makati City in hosting company headquarters.

Story 3: NEW P55-M FORFEITURE CASE FILED VS LIGOT, FAMILY
The government files a second forfeiture case against retired Lt Gen Jacinto Ligot and members of his family.
The petition seeks to recover P55.6 million worth of cash investments and bank accounts that form part of the Ligots’ alleged ill-gotten wealth.
An ill-gotten wealth case filed against the family in 2005 sought forfeiture of real estate assets worth P135.28 million.
In the latest case, the government is seeking the confiscation of the proceeds of 7 investment accounts with the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association Inc. 
These accounts are in the names of Ligot, his wife, and children, with a combined value of P1.2 million.
Ligot retired as comptroller of the Armed Forces in 2004.

Story 4: NBI SUBMITS FINAL REPORT ON SABAH STANDOFF
The National Bureau of Investigation finishes its probe on the failed attempt by over 200 armed followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to reclaim Sabah.
In an interview Tuesday, NBI Deputy Director for Regional Operations Virgilio Mendez says they submitted the report to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
De Lima earlier announced it is up to President Aquino to release the findings.
The probe aimed to determine who should be held liable for the standoff.
In February, Malaysian authorities corner followers of the sultan in Sabah.
The group, calling itself the Royal Sulu Sultanate Army, staged the operation to stake their claim on Sabah.

Story 5: PAINTING OVER THE ISSUE
Pollution in the streets of Manila is harming motorists’ health.
A local company aims to ease the problem through paint and artwork.
Devon Wong reports.

It’s not unusual to see people covering their noses and mouths in EDSA traffic. We may not see it, but we’re breathing in a very real problem.
When I first moved into the neighborhood, I developed a chronic cough.
My friends joked, calling it the “EDSA lung”.
But the long-term effects of everyday air pollution are no laughing matter.
It’s a very real concern for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

CORAZON JIMENEZ, MMDA GENERAL MANAGER: It’s not good for tourists, it’s not good for people who inhabit Metro Manila.

Jimenez says that EDSA carries three times the amount of traffic than its capacity on a daily basis. 
The sight of traffic is an eyesore to most commuters in Metro Manila. 
But Jimenez is more concerned about the health effects.
But out of thin air, a local company approaches Jimenez with a colorful idea.

JOHNSON ONGKING, BOYSEN PAINT VICE PRESIDENT: It’s an air cleaning paint. That’s a very very new concept. Whatever surface you paint it on, that surface becomes an air purifier.

The paint combines existing technologies to turn every painted surface into an active air filter.
They work with government towards an ambitious goal — to paint murals along the most heavily polluted sections of EDSA using the high tech paint.
Initial tests before and after the painted murals prove to have some positive results on reducing the levels of air pollutants.

JOHNSON ONGKING, BOYSEN PAINT VICE PRESIDENT: Purely in terms of reduction of nitrogen oxides, it’s worth about 1000 trees, really. So when we paint about 8 of these, which we’re planning to do, it’s sort of the equivalent of planting 8000 trees.

But what about the people who spend most of their waking hours along EDSA? 
Do they notice the difference of the high tech artwork?

RODRIGO KALIMANTAN, LONGTIME VENDOR UNDER ORTIGAS FLYOVER: It does. And it looks nice. The air is clean. Especially when you’re here everyday, I don’t get headaches anymore.

The project is halfway through painting, but the battle for clean air is far from won.
Filipinos are not likely to give up their vehicles, but Jimenez hopes the public & private sectors will evolve a solution.

DEVON WONG, REPORTING: The project is a creative attempt to manage Manila’s growing urban development.  It might be a superficial approach in addressing the city’s air pollution issue, but at least it’s scratching the surface.

Devon Wong, Rappler, Manila

Story 6: CROWDSOURCING WEEK IN SINGAPORE
Crowdsourcing Week, the first international conference on crowd innovation, begins its first day of talks and panel discussions Tuesday.
Global thought leaders and experts gather in Singapore to share future-oriented insights into innovation, crowdsourcing and effectiveness.
Participants live-tweet insights and images of the event throughout the day.
We Are Social SG quotes Shelley Kuipers of crowdsourced market intelligence firm Chaordix. She says, “Crowdsourcing is about tapping into the hearts and minds of many for a common purpose.”
Crowdsourcing.org shares ideas from Sarah Reiter of the creatives company Future Brand. 
Reiter says, to know what’s going on, talk to the people that do the service.
User @gbriana tweets, “Light-bulb moment for @ImageBrief ‘s @simonamoss — realizing 90% of the world’s photographic content was not available online.
User @gemmabmendoza quotes Roger Yuen of Clozette.co on policing the crowd. He says, “By definition, the crowd cannot be controlled. You can only moderate.”
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa also attends the conference. 
She speaks on Media Disruption through Crowdsourcing and Social Network Theory and highlights Rappler’s mood navigator.
Talks continue Wednesday with Secretary of Presidential Communications Ricky Carandang as the first keynote speaker.

Story 7: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 7, a newly signed law considers the welfare of priests by allowing them to carry firearms outside their houses.
But Catholic bishops give this legal provision the cold shoulder, saying priests, as “men of peace,” shouldn’t own guns. 
The law classifies priests as among those “under actual threat” or “in imminent danger.” 
At least 3 Catholic bishops say priests shouldn’t use weapons for self-defense because they should “imitate Christ.”

And at number 10, Catholic bishops urge family and friends to guide international artist Charice Pempengco, after the singer reveals she is a lesbian.
The head of the family and life unit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines says they are not condemning Charice, but adds, “In this time of her life that she is experiencing an identity crisis regarding her sexual orientation, we would rather not pre-judge her.”
Fr. Melvin Castro also says the Church condemns only homosexual acts, not homosexuals.

Story 8: MIAMI HEAT SMOTHERS PACERS, RETURN TO NBA FINALS
The Miami Heat advances to the NBA Finals after smothering the Indiana Pacers, 99 to 76, in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference championship series.
LeBron James explodes for 32 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the reigning world champions to their third consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals.
Dwyane Wade, who has been struggling in the series, breaks out of his slump to contribute 19 points and 9 rebounds.
The Miami Heat will defend their NBA title against the well-rested San Antonio Spurs on Thursday — Friday in the Philippines.

Story 9: DOG HERO KABANG TO RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES
After getting treatment abroad for the upper jaw she lost for her heroic act saving her owners, dog hero Kabang is ready to return to the Philippines.
Josh Villanueva reports.

There are stories of dog superheroes, and then there’s the story of Kabang.
Considered a hero in her hometown of Zamboanga City, Kabang is an Azkal – a native dog who shot into national fame in 2011, when she thrust herself onto a speeding motorcycle to save the lives of her two owners.
The accident ripped off her upper jaw, a deformity many thought she would not survive.
Her story is also one for the social media history books.
A Facebook Page – Care For Kabang was set up to raise funds to fly her to the United States to receive treatment.
9 months and 20,000 dollars later she arrived at the University of California, Davis October last year.
Her escort to the US, veterinarian Anton Lim says they looked for the best doctors to help her.

ANTON LIM, VETERINARIAN, TZU CHI FOUNDATION: I saw the resumes of the doctors assigned to Kabang they had been doing this all their lives.

But wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Doctors found out Kabang was also suffering from heart worm and a form of infectious cancer – and it was important that she receive treatment before they could attend to her face wounds.
Finally in March doctors begin reconstructive surgery, which included removing her upper teeth and reconstructing one of her eyelids.
Her facial wounds were closed with skin flaps that were brought forward from the top and sides of her head.
Nasal openings were also reconstructed giving her two new permanent nostrils.
The 5-hour operation was a success. Late last month Doctor’s gave her a clean bill of health to return to the Philippines.
Today Kabang is discharged from the hospital and is scheduled to fly home on Thursday to a heroes’ welcome from her family.
Josh Villanueva, Rappler, Manila.