Rappler Newscast | February 27, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• The Philippines may use the water cannon incident in its case against China over disputed South China Sea territories.
• Professors from the University of the Philippines Diliman say the academic calendar shift will affect the social sciences and humanities.
• US president Barack Obama threatens to pull out all military troops from Afghanistan. 

Story 1: PH MAY USE WATER CANNON INCIDENT VS CHINA
The Philippine government’s lawyer says Manila may use the water cannon incident at the disputed Panatag or Scarborough Shoal in its historic case against Beijing.
Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza says the Philippines may include the incident in its written pleading in the case it raised to an international court over disputed territories in the South China Sea.

FRANCIS JARDELEZA, SOLICITOR GENERAL: China has no right being there in the first place. So any action by China to harass deprive or shoo away our fishermen is a violation of UNCLOS. That would be the legal significance of raising it if we do raise it.

Sources say China is pulling all stops to derail the Philippines’ case, offering Manila incentives like more investments and the withdrawal of ships from Panatag.
Jardeleza’s statement comes after the Philippines “strongly” protested China’s use of water cannons to drive Filipino fishermen away from the shoal.
Lawyer Harry Roque of the UP Institute of International Legal Studies says the incident will bolster the Philippines’ claim.
He adds, it can be used to force an interpretation of an international law on seas.
The disputed shoal is now practically occupied by Chinese ships, although it lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The Philippines is also considering sending coast guard ships to Panatag if China “persists” in harassing local fishermen in the area.

Story 2: UP PROF: SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES TO SUFFER IN CALENDAR SHIFT
The University of the Philippines’ flagship campus is debating a shift in its academic calendar.
While the rest of the UP system and other top universities agreed to change their class opening, UP Diliman faculty members say changing the calendar won’t have clear advantages.
Some say the move would help the university become more globally competitive, but professor Ramon Guillermo says the social sciences and the humanities programs may suffer because of the focus on marketability.

RAMON GUILLERMO, UP DILIMAN PROFESSOR: By changing our calendar, we are sort of declaring that we are entering a competition with the other nations in ASEAN for foreign students. So now we have to evaluate our courses for marketability so that we can sell them on the ASEAN university network…In order to compete, we are giving the limited resources and the limited capacity that the UP has, you’re now going to cut programs which are, I think, important programs. Primarily, I think, in the social sciences and the humanities, there will be great impact.

UP’s constituent units are slated to open classes in August next year.
Archeology professor Victor Paz says holding classes during the summer months will affect research activities.

VICTOR PAZ, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARCHAEOLOGY STUDIES PROGRAM: If we change the calendar and make the first semester run across the driest months of the year, the effect of that will be we’re going to be forced to choose whether we are going to serve the university by teaching, or purely serve it by doing research.

The UP Diliman administration is holding a referendum to “assess the sentiment” of its professors.
Guillermo says a more thorough consultation process is needed.

RAMON GUILLERMO, UP DILIMAN PROFESSOR: The main thing is consultation, it’s really going through a process of understanding, discussing and evaluating this kind of change which is massive, which will affect a lot of things in the university. And I don’t think we have gone through a proper procedure, through a proper process of consultation and hammering out of what we really need.

Story 3: SUMATRAN HAZE TRIGGERS STATE OF EMERGENCY
The Indonesian province of Riau on Sumatra Island is under a state of emergency after being blanketed in thick haze from forest fires Thursday.
With thousands of people sick, transport disrupted and schools closed, the state of emergency prompts the Indonesian government to drop water on fires and induce rain by cloud seeding.
National disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says more than two dozen people suspected of starting fires are arrested.
In Riau, blazes are deliberately lit every year to clear land for palm oil and wood pulp plantations.
Haze from fires on Sumatra is an annual problem in Southeast Asia, but in June 2013, Singapore and Malaysia were cloaked in smog worse than usual.
This strained ties between Indonesia and its neighbors, prompting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to apologize.

Story 4: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 3, US President Barack Obama plans to withdraw troops in Afghanistan because of Afghan leader Hamid Karzai’s repeated refusal to sign a security pact.
The US threat is the latest twist in a long political struggle with Karzai.
The Obama administration says it prefers to leave behind a residual US force when its combat teams leave Afghanistan after America’s longest war at the end of this year.

At number 4, The capital of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking Crimea peninsula is rocked by a wave of secessionist sentiment Wednesday as pro-Russian protesters fight against supporters of Ukraine’s new interim authorities.
Thousands of pro-Moscow residents and Muslim Crimean Tatars hold competing rallies outside the regional parliament in Simferopol.
There are fears that Ukraine’s pro-Moscow East could push for partition, following the ouster of Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych.

And at number 7, struggling Australian carrier Qantas will cut 5,000 jobs as part of a major restructure after it posted a first-half net loss of $210 million.
The carrier also plans “significant changes” to its fleet plans and network.
Following a profit warning in December 2013, credit rating group Moody’s and stock index Standard and Poor’s both downgraded Qantas’ credit rating to “junk” status.
Qantas has since been working on its finances to convince the government it deserves a debt guarantee.

Story 5: SAN MIG COFFEE WINS PBA 2014 PHILIPPINE CUP
In local basketball, San Mig Coffee reigns supreme once again.
After a slow start in the Philippine Cup, they recover just in time to overcome Rain or Shine in 6 games.
Jane Bracher reports.

History: that is what San Mig Coffee achieved once the final buzzer of Game 6 sounded.
It was a hard-fought and controversial game, with Rain or Shine walking out and returning in the second quarter.
But in the end, San Mig clobbered Rain or Shine, 93-87-70 to close out the Finals series and become champions of the 2014 Philippine Cup.

Editorial Note: We earlier wrote 88-70 which is actually the score in the PBA D-League Finals, not the PBA Finals. We regret the error. 

The trophy is all the more sweeter, being the 16th title of Mixers coach Tim Cone, making him the winningest coach in PBA history, surpassing his idol, Baby Dalupan, Crispa’s legendary coach.

TIM CONE, SAN MIG COFFEE HEAD COACH: People are gonna say you surpassed Baby Dalupan.. Nobody surpasses Baby Dalupan. Nobody surpasses surpasses Baby Dalupan, nobody equals him, nobody surpasses him. The best part about all this is that I get to have my name mentioned with Baby. So when people mention Tim Cone, they talk about Baby, when they talk about Baby they talk about me.

The title marks the first back-to-back crown for the Mixers, who also won last season’s Governor’s Cup.
The Mixers overcame five loses at the conference start, coming into the Finals exhausted from a grueling 7-game semifinals series against Ginebra.

MARC PINGRIS, SAN MIG COFFEE FORWARD: Masaya. Kumbaga pinaghirapan namin. Siguro makakatulog na rin ako ng mahimbing ngayon. Pero ito talaga napatunayan din namin kahit paano na talagang puso lang yung puhunan namin. (Happy. We really worked hard for this. Maybe I’ll be able to sleep well now. We were able to prove that we fought with all our hearts.)

The “Coffee Prince” Mark Barroca was named Finals MVP.

JANE BRACHER, REPORTING: San Mig Coffee has proven for the past 3 years that winning is in its DNA. But this title is extra special. After all, the only thing sweeter than winning a championship is making history along the way. Jane Bracher, Rappler, Manila.

Story 6: FILIPINA X-FACTOR ISRAEL WINNER CAREGIVER NO MORE
Filipina X-Factor: Israel winner Rose Fostanes will pursue singing full-time.
Her employer decided to let her go so she could fulfill her dreams after winning the reality TV show.
During her courtesy call to the Israeli Embassy in the Philippines, Fostanes recounts her worries over her working permits.

ROSE FOSTANES, X-FACTOR WINNER: Dumating yung finals, ninerbyos ako. Anong gagawin ko pagkatapos nito? Hindi ko alam magiging resulta. Hindi na ako makakabalik sa employer ko kasi expired na visa ko. (When finals came, I was so worried. What am I going to do after the competition? I don’t know what the results will be. I won’t be able to go back to my employer because my visa is expired.)

Fostanes even tried to go back to work during the competition.
She was faced with a dilemma after winning X-Factor: stay on as a caregiver and sing only 10 hours a week, or sing full-time with an entertainer visa.

ROSE FOSTANES, X-FACTOR WINNER: Tapos nag-try pa rin ako pumasok sa kanya kahit na alam ko na mag-eexpire na visa ko, then sabi nya sa akin ‘Bakit? Anong ginagawa mo?’ Sabi ko, ‘Papasok ako sa ‘yo’. So siya na rin nagsabi sa akin na ‘No, you need to rest.’ (I tried going back to work even though my visa was about to expire. She told me ‘Why? What are you doing?’, I told her, “I’m going to work and take care of you.’ And she was the one who told me in the end ‘No, you need to rest.'”)

But her employer, who supported her from day one, encouraged her to pursue singing.
These days, Fostanes’ schedule is packed.
She will be in the Philippines for only 5 days.
Fostanes is also set to record her album and perform in Israel and Australia.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Menashe Bar-On says her win shows how his country provides equal opportunity to everybody.

MENASHE BAR-ON, ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES: It is touching to see a person who went to another country to work as a caregiver then coming back here as an idol.

Story 7: ARMLESS PILOT JESSICA COX RAISES FUNDS FOR PWD TYPHOON VICTIMS
Jessica Cox is the first licensed pilot in the world with no arms.
Having an inborn disability did not stop her from pursuing her dreams.
How can people living with disabilities overcome their limitations?
Ryan Macasero reports.

Jessica Cox was born without arms.
No one, including the doctors could explain why Jessica was born with this rare birth defect.
Little did she know the disability would be a source of inspiration for many people worldwide.

JESSICA COX, FIL-AM PILOT: It was a long journey. When I first walked in my room and saw that quote (on the wall), it always hits me as very powerful. All of us have a journey to self-acceptance…It was difficult to come to terms with it. As I got older it was extra difficult being laughed at, stared at, as a teenager that’s the last thing you want. The extra attention.

She first caught the world’s attention in 2008 after becoming the world’s first licensed pilot without arms.
In 2013, she was recognized as one of the “10 Best Pilots” of Plane and Pilot Magazine.
She is a martial artist, a diver, surfer, equestrian, gymnast and tap dancer.
Jessica arrived in the Philippines Tuesday night.
Working with Handicap International and the Ortigas Foundation, she is here to raise funds for typhoon victims with disabilities and her documentary “Right Footed.”
This visit is special to Jessica.
Her mother, Inez Macabare, is from Bobon, near Guiuan in Eastern Samar, where the devastating Typhoon Haiyan first made landfall.

JESSICA COX, FIL-AM PILOT: I know there’s been a lot of media about it. I’ve heard all of the stories. It would be something to see with my own eyes. And I’ve heard all of the stories. Just to be able to see it would show we are in solidarity.

Handicap International says disabled people are the most vulnerable in times of disaster.
The blind might not see a disaster coming, the deaf might not hear it, and people in wheelchairs often get left behind and can’t escape.
According to the Philippines census there are at least 1,443,000 persons living with disabilities in the country.
Many struggle to overcome their condition when facing everyday challenges like opening doors, going up the stairs, or simply leaving the house.

JESSICA COX, FIL-AM PILOT: I think for anyone who has a struggle with a disability or even if they are full normal and still struggle with self acceptance. I want to let them know God created us unique and unlike anyone else in the world and he has great purpose in that.

Jessica Cox says it’s truly a gift to be different, and part of that gift is helping PWDs like her live normal lives.
Ryan Macasero. Rappler, Manila.

Story 8: ATENEO ALUMNI PRESENT ‘TOILET’ THE MUSICAL
Young, upcoming writers and composers add their voice to the Philippine musical theater scene with the original musical, “Toilet.”
What do millenials have to sing and dance about?
G Tongi reports.

Alumni of Ateneo De Manilas’ Blue Repertory collaborate to produce an original musical, with a very unusual title.
Toilet the musical is the story of teenagers coming to grips with the realities of their world, where sexuality, acceptance, betrayal, bullying and love all come together to elicit a frenzy of discourses through musical song and dance.
A teenage drama of struggling through high school, the toilet is the only place where the characters truly reveal themselves.
Bym Buhain, co-director of Toilet says coming back to Blue Rep long after graduation is essential to his art.
He talks about the western influence that is palpable in the musical.

BYM BUHAIN, CO-DIRECTOR: Even though Blue Rep is totally different now because it’s a totally new generation, it still feels like home. And I would not chose anyone else, any other group to trust more with my first baby…Some people would think that we should only stick to our cultural roots, to Tinikling and stuff like that…I find that the western end of it is still a legitimate form of art and I think filipinos should just watch it because Filipinos made it, Filipinos are acting in it, it’s the Filipino youth which could actually be the Filipino future of theater. Not me, but these kids.  

Composer and lyricist is 23 year old Ejay Yatco, who also holds three silver medals and one gold from The World Championship of the Performing Arts.
He says Toilet: The Musical took years to develop.
Yatcos’ return to Blue Rep is nostalgic and says the musical is the voice of his generation.

EJAY YATCO, COMPOSER, LYRICIST & CO-DIRECTOR: I love Blue Repertory. I think it defines me as a person, this org…It’s made by an all pure Blue Rep Alumnus team,  Bym, Miyo and me, its a milestone for the org itself, and the musical, most of the characters are all based on Blue Reppers. So it encapsulates Blue Rep as a whole and even I’d like to think that the sound of it is the voice of my generation. They are all young people working here. I think the oldest person to work here is 25, 23. If people want to see how the youth think right now, I think this is a show to check out.

Television writer Miyo Sta. Maria co-writes Toilet The Musical.
Filipinos will relate to this kind of musical I think because Filipinos do have a strong religious character to them and they also have a tendency to judge a lot…It’s very important for them to see this play because you know I think maybe they can see what’s really going on behind a persons mask.
The thesis of the play?

EJAY YATCO, COMPOSER, LYRICIST & CO-DIRECTOR: There are no happy endings in this life we life…There are no endings just beginnings, I live my life as a new beginning, I live my life with no ending.

They are called the millennials said to be materialistic, self-centered, technology obsessed.
But it has also been said that they are the greatest force for positive change.
G Tongi. Rappler Manila.

Toilet the Musical closes this weekend at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Gonzaga Exhibit Hall.

– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER	Lilibeth Frondoso
DIRECTOR	Rupert Ambil
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PUBLISHER	Rodneil Quiteles
	Dindin Reyes
HEAD WRITER / PROMPTER	Katerina Francisco
	Marga Deona
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK	Exxon Ruebe
	Emerald Hidalgo
	Jaene Zaplan
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN	Charlie Salazar
	Adrian Portugal
	Francis Lopez
	Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS	Jessica Lazaro
	Raffy de Guzman
3D GRAPHICS	Sten Bautista