UPDATED - Nov. 22, 2013- Amidst devastation, a burning hope for recovery… and redemption at the ring. The people of Tacloban are looking forward to watching Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring in Macau this Sunday.
City Administrator Atty. Tecson Lim is excited they will get to watch Manny’s much anticipated fight – this despite Tacloban not having any electricity.
GMA Network is working with the local government of Tacloban City to provide viewing stations in the city that will allow residents to watch Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Brandon Rios this Sunday.
GMA’s viewing stations will be set up at City Hall – where thousands of residents mass daily to get relief goods and medical aid while the other will be placed at Tacloban’s Rizal Park. Atty. Tecson says being able to watch Manny’s Macau fight – said to be his big comeback bout- means a lot to the people of Tacloban. “We will be cheering him on,” said Lim in a press interview. GMA Network is flying in equipment and generators to make the public viewing happen for the people of Tacloban. Apart from airing Manny’s fight, GMA is committed to helping recovery along by providing survivors access to critical information aired on its news programs on GMA and GMA News TV.
GMA Network will maintain these generator-powered public viewing stations in Tacloban until the city gets back commercial power, which is supposed to be sometime before Christmas Day according to Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Petilla.
The public viewing in Tacloban City will showcase the “Clash in COTAI: PACQUAIO VERSUS RIOS” to be shown simultaneously with the telecast on GMA Network on Sunday morning at 11 am. Right before that, at 10am, is the primer “Ang Bagong Hamon: Pacquio Versus Rios.”