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 Officials said that rooting for Pacquaio in Tacloban and other
places ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan two weeks ago would help inspire
survivors as they struggle to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of
the destruction that killed more than 5,000 people.
Cable inspector Allan Larano said he and other technicians from the
country's largest cable provider, Sky Cable, were setting up the
screen at the Tacloban astrodome, around which the displaced have
taken shelter in tents and inside ground-floor shops.
Much hope is pinned on Pacquiao in his homeland. He is returning to
the ring to fight Brandon Rios in Macau on Sunday. It will be
Pacquiao's first fight since his knockout loss to Juan Manuel
Marquez last year, following a defeat by decision to Timothy
Bradley.
Boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielz said that Pacquiao has always
dedicated his fights to the Philippines, but Sunday's bout "takes on
a special significance because of the devastation."
"His impressive performance will lift the spirit of the people, no
matter what," Nathanielz said.
Civil defense chief Eduardo del Rosario said that win or lose,
Pacquiao's performance is "a very, very welcome opportunity for us
to relax and unite as a people."
"At least we will see the Filipino spirit fighting for our country,"
he said.
In Tacloban, Pacquiao fan Anatolio Cabalida eagerly awaited the
fight.
"He's my idol," the 70-year-old said.
Dioscoro Balano said he hoped to be able to watch the fight with a
neighbor who has a generator.
"If he wins, it will be a big boost to the morale of the typhoon
victims," he said.
Army Cpl. Joseph Reyes looked forward to Pacquiao's donating some of
his winnings to the typhoon victims. Reyes is stationed at the
seaside Tacloban airport whose terminal building was one of the
buildings severely damaged by walls of water.
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Larano said that two other cable TV teams were preparing smaller TV
screens near a church and the Leyte provincial capitol.
Philippine broadcaster GMA television also will install large
screens at the Tacloban city hall and at a park, said network Vice
President Rikki Escudero.
"We are very excited that at least we are able to provide that
service to the people," Escudero said.
Fierce winds and tsunami-like storm surges turned much of the city
into a mass of debris. More than 5,000 people were killed in the
typhoon's path, at least 1,700 from Tacloban, one of the most
devastated cities. Officials expect the death toll to rise.
Tacloban is still in ruins, without electricity though some areas
have received running water and shops and gas stations have started
reopening.
Pacquiao, one of the world's highest paid athletes, is the
wealthiest member of the Philippine Congress. He represents his
southern home province of Sarangani, where his wife, Jinkee, is the
vice governor. His province was not affected by the typhoon.
Pacquiao has promised to bring aid during a visit to the disaster
sites after the fight. [Associated
Press; BULLIT MARQUEZ]
Associated Press writers Oliver Teves in
Manila and Teresa Cerojano in Tacloban contributed to this story. Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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