Rappler Newscast | June 2, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• 20.9 million students go back to public schools in the Philippines.
• Manny Pacquiao’s wealth drops by 24% from 2012.
• King Juan Carlos abdicates from the Spanish throne.

 

Story 1: DEPED AIMING TO HIRE AND KEEP BEST AND BRIGHTEST TEACHERS
Nearly 21 million students return to school Monday when public schools opened nationwide.
Department of Education data show nearly 3,000 schools were affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda in November 2013.
There’s a demand for about 2,300 new classrooms, while nearly 18,000 classrooms needed to be fixed.
In typhoon-hit areas, thousands of students begin classes in tents and makeshift classrooms.
In Metro Manila, 20 schools remain congested.
Around 86% of public schools in the capital will hold double shift classes this school year.
Teachers’ groups, on the other hand, are clamoring for a salary increase for entry-level teachers nationwide from a base pay of around 18,500 to 25,000 pesos.
But Jee Geronimo reports, the education department is aggressively recruiting for the best and brightest teachers.

Even teachers get the first day jitters, especially Jessica Candari, who just left 16 years of teaching in a private academy to teach in a public school.

JESSICA CANDARI, FILIPINO TEACHER, SAN FRANCISCO HIGH SCHOOL: Syempre kinakabahan, nervous talaga kasi kaiba dun sa pinanggalingan ko. Number one pagkita ko pagpasok ko, eto pala. Bagong trabaho, so parang nagsisimula ka pa rin. (Of course I felt nervous, because it’s different from the private school I came from. It’s a new job, I’m beginning all over again.)

For nearly two decades, she was happy, even with the little she earned.
Her husband had to work abroad to supplement their income.
But she decided to quit when the school administration changed.

JESSICA CANDARI, FILIPINO TEACHER, SAN FRANCISCO HIGH SCHOOL: Bakit ako lumipat? Ang number one, actually, yun yung laging sinasabi ko sa sarili ko. Kapag ‘di na ako masaya sa isang lugar, aalis na ako. (Why did I leave? The number one reason I keep telling myself is that if I’m not happy anymore, I have to leave.)

Jessica is one of more than 33,000 new teachers in public schools this year, and among the brightest hired by the education department.
Education Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo says they look beyond the license when hiring qualified teachers.

JESUS MATEO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, DEPED ZAMBOANGA CITY: Ang tanong ngayon, sino dun sa may lisensya ang naangkop doon sa ating paaralan? (The question now is, who of those with licenses are appropriate for our schools?)

Once hired, the department makes sure they are well-compensated.
A United Nations agency says providing quality incentives will not only motivate teachers, it will also help improve the quality of education.
Jessica is still adjusting to her new environment.

JESSICA CANDARI, FILIPINO TEACHER, SAN FRANCISCO HIGH SCHOOL: Kakayanin ko ba ‘to? Pero nakita ko naman very supportive yung head teacher ko tsaka yung principal so siguro matutulungan din nila ako. (Can I do this? But the head teacher and the principal are very supportive, so I think they can help me out.)

Yet what she is most excited about is not the bigger salary, but the new faces and the new stories.
Jee Geronimo, Rappler, Manila.

Story 2: THE PRICE OF KEEPING NAPOLES DETAINED: OVER P1.4M SO FAR
The government spent at least P1.41 million or more than $32,000 to detain Janet Lim Napoles, the woman at the center of the Philippines’ latest corruption scandal.
Napoles is detained in Fort Sto Domingo in Laguna for allegedly kidnapping former aide turned whistleblower Benhur Luy.
It costs P150,000 a month to keep her detained in Fort Sto Domingo, and around P120,000 for every transfer from Laguna to Metro Manila.
Lawmakers criticize the high costs, with Senator Miriam Santiago saying regular prisoners cost the government only a little over P1,600 a month.

Story 3: MRS BINAY TO CHARGE OMBUDSMAN FOR REVIVING CASES
Former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay will file charges against the Ombudsman for reviving graft cases against her that were dismissed with finality in 2011.
The case stems from the alleged overpricing of hospital beds at the Makati Hospital when Mrs Binay was mayor from 1998 to 2001.
Her lawyers say the review of the dismissed cases –quote– “showed undue haste, harassment, and the blatant absence of transparency.”
Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado says the revival of the cases is part of the “demolition job” against Vice President Jejomar Binay, whose allies are implicated in the pork barrel scam.

Story 4: PACQUIAO SUFFERS BIGGEST DROP IN WEALTH IN 2013
Manny Pacquiao remains the richest member of the House of Representatives in 2013, but his latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth or SALN shows he suffered the biggest drop in wealth compared to 2012.
The net worth of the Filipino boxer and Sarangani representative drops by around 24% from P1.77 billion or $40 million in 2012, to P1.35 billion or $31 million in 2013.
The boxer’s total assets decreased despite earning around P875.4 million or $20 million from his fight with Timothy Bradley in April.

Story 5: NPA RELEASES FOREST WORKERS
Communist guerrillas New People’s Army or NPA releases abducted forestry workers Monday afternoon.
Compostela Valley’s police chief says the workers are now at the office of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The NPA kidnapped the forestry workers Friday and accused them of spying using a drone called the Sky Eye UAV.
Earlier, the NPA said they would release the captives once assured the Sky Eye would stop its “surveillance.”
The NPA has been waging Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency.
Compostela Valley remains one of its remaining bailiwicks.

Story 6: CHINA DENOUNCES US, JAPAN SLAMS CHINA
Japan reaches a new milestone, transforming itself from a pacifist nation to a “pro-active” state, which analysts see as a counterweight to an aggressive China.
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Saturday backed Japan’s plan to expand its regional military role, unveiled at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore.
This came after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country would play a more “proactive” role in Asian security, including providing coast guard vessels to the Philippines and potentially Vietnam.
During the security forum, Hagel accused China of restricting the Philippines’ access to Scarborough Shoal and moving an oil rig into disputed waters with Vietnam.
Hagel warned China against “destabilizing actions” in the South China Sea, saying the United States opposes assertion through coercion and force.
He added,“The United States will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged.”
On Sunday, China reacted with anger at the statements of the US and Japan.  
People’s Liberation Army deputy chief of staff Wang Guanzhong dismissed Hagel’s statements as baseless.
Wang accused Abe and Hagel of conspiring to attack China in their remarks.
Japan hits back at China Monday, saying Wang “made claims based on mistake of facts and defamed our country.”

Story 7: FLIGHTS RESUME AFTER VOLCANIC ASH DISSIPATES
Flights between Australia and Bali resume after volcanic ash from an Indonesian volcano forced the cancellation of flights over the weekend.
Flights into and out of the northern Australian city of Darwin were cancelled Saturday because of huge ash clouds from Indonesia’s Sangeang Api volcano.
The volcano erupted Friday, sending columns of ash up to 2,500 meters into the air.
While it continues to erupt Monday, the ash clouds have dissipated to levels safe for planes.

Story 8: KING JUAN CARLOS OF SPAIN ABDICATES
The King of Spain steps down.
Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announces King Juan Carlos will abdicate after a 39 year-long reign because of poor health.
In a televised address, Juan Carlos says his abdication will “to ensure stability” for Spain.
He says, -quote- “A new generation must be at the forefront.”
The king’s son, Crown Prince Felipe, will take over the throne.
Juan Carlos was one of the world’s most popular monarchs, but a series of controversies in recent years made Spaniards lose confidence in their king.
He secretly went on a safari while the nation was reeling from an economic depression.
The 76-year-old king ascended to the throne in 1975, taking over after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

Story 9: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 4, a US soldier captured nearly 5 years ago is freed Saturday.
In a deal brokered by Qatar, the Taliban frees Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for 5 Taliban inmates held at the Guantanamo prison.
Details reveal the commander of the US Special Operations team who recovered Bergdahl was directly communicating with his Taliban counterpart.
Captured in 2009, Bergdahl was held in Pakistan for close to 5 years.
In a report in the The Washington Post, the two sides arranged to meet near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan.

At number 6, top secret documents show the US National Security Agency or NSA has been using new software for facial recognition programs.
The images came from email, text, and social media posts, among others.
A report says NSA officials believe advanced technology could revolutionize the agency’s method of identifying targets.

And at number 10, the mega hit music video “Gangnam Style” by Korean pop icon Psy hits over 2 billion views on Saturday – a first on YouTube.
Earlier in February, Justin Bieber’s “Baby” was the only other video in the exclusive billion-view club.
The music video is seen by some as a satire on the ostentatious lifestyle of Seoul’s “Gangnam” shopping district.
It was first uploaded on YouTube in July 2012.

Story 10: VICTORY FOR DONAIRE, DEFEAT FOR AZKALS
The Philippine men’s football team or Azkals falls short in the AFC Challenge Cup finals Saturday midnight Manila time, bowing to Palestine 1 to zero.
The Azkals had shots at goal but were mostly off target.
Palestine’s 57th minute was the game’s lone goal and deciding factor.
Meanwhile, Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire steals the IBF featherweight title from South African Simpiwe Vetyeka.
After five rounds in the ring, the scorecards read 49-46 for Donaire, who wins his fifth world title.
Donaire joins the ranks of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr, and others as IBF featherweight champ.

– 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