• 5 months ago
Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

- 'Long story, personal': Sara Duterte teases reason behind Marcos Cabinet exit 
- Stairway to heaven? MMDA draws flak for steep EDSA busway wheelchair ramp 
- Bacolod's Manokan Country reopens temporarily amid redevelopment tensions 
- Hong Kong journalist group head says she was fired by WSJ amid press freedom row 
- SEVENTEEN’s concert film ‘Follow Again’ to hit PH cinemas in August


https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/july-18-2024/

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News
Transcript
00:00Today on Rappler
00:13Vice President Sara Duterte says the reason behind her resignation from the Marcos cabinet
00:18is quote, a long story.
00:20The MMDA is under fire for a steep wheelchair ramp at an EDSA busway station that goes viral.
00:26Bacolod Mayor Benitez orders the temporary reopening of the iconic Manokan country.
00:30A Hong Kong journalist says she was fired by the Wall Street Journal after refusing
00:34not to advocate press freedom.
00:37And a concert film of K-pop boy group Seventeen's recent follow-again tour is coming to Philippine
00:41theaters.
00:44Vice President Sara Duterte seems to be more than ready to answer questions from reporters
00:49no holds barred.
00:51When asked about the reason behind her resignation from the Marcos cabinet, she says it was a
00:55quote, long story.
01:08She did not elaborate on what she meant by saying it was personal.
01:12The Vice President even hints at doing a sit-down interview with reporters for a tell-all interview.
01:17Duterte resigned from the Marcos cabinet on June 19, confirming the rift inside the Uniteam
01:22coalition forged in the 2022 elections for the Marcos-Duterte tandem.
01:27At the time, she said she was resigning as education chief out of concern for teachers
01:31and the Filipino youth.
01:35The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, or MMDA, is under fire after the newly constructed
01:40wheelchair ramp at an EDSA busway station goes viral.
01:44Online users say the ramp is too steep, especially for persons with disabilities.
01:49They say the ramp may do more harm than good.
01:51Some even compare the structure to roller coasters, skateboard ramps, and water slides.
01:56The MMDA explains the ramp was created since the elevator cannot be at the same level as
02:01the footbridge, given height restrictions imposed by the Metrorail Transit, or MRT.
02:06Armand Eustaquio, one of the architects who helped craft the accessibility laws implementing
02:10rules and regulations, says the controversial ramp has a very steep gradient of 1 is to
02:154.
02:16The law says ramps should have a maximum gradient of 1 is to 12.
02:19He also points out the ramp does not have handrails at the right heights, and that the
02:23floor is not non-skid.
02:24Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez orders the reopening of the iconic Manocon Country
02:32for a month, a day after City Hall closed it down.
02:36The decision is intended to buy time for the affected tenants to relocate to the SM City
02:40Bacolod Transport Terminal, which they previously resisted.
02:44The move is driven by humanitarian considerations.
02:47The 41-year-old Manocon Country, known for its famous chicken inasal, had been shut down
02:51a day earlier to make way for a new commercial center project.
02:55It is seen to displace at least 24 stall owners, many of whom operated their small food businesses
03:01in the area for decades.
03:03The redevelopment project, spearheaded by SM Prime Holdings Inc., will transform the
03:08site into a mixed-use commercial property.
03:11It is part of a larger P4B project aimed at modernizing the property, which hosts the
03:16Manocon Country, Vendors Plaza, and the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports Center.
03:23The head of the Hong Kong Journals Association, or HKJA, said she was fired by The Wall Street
03:27Journal Wednesday, July 17, after she refused demands from senior editors not to advocate
03:33for media freedoms.
03:34Selena Cheng said she was told by her supervisor, Wall Street Journal's World Coverage Chief
03:39Gordon Fairclough, employees of the journal should not be seen as advocating for press
03:43freedom in a place like Hong Kong, given a potential conflict of interest.
03:48She was elected on June 22 to be the HKJA's new chairperson, but was told beforehand by
03:54Fairclough to withdraw from the election.
03:56Cheng worked in the journal's Hong Kong bureau as a reporter covering China's automobile
04:01sector.
04:02She says she will continue to head the HKJA.
04:04A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the journal's parent company, says The Wall Street Journal
04:09has been and continues to be a fierce and vocal advocate for press freedom in Hong Kong
04:13and around the world.
04:17Cebongs are coming to the big screen again, Filipino carrots!
04:21A concert film based on K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN's recent Follow Again tour is set to premiere
04:26in Philippine theaters in August.
04:32Fans can secure movie passes starting July 23.
04:35Ticket prices and participating movie houses are yet to be announced.
04:39The concert film promises to give fans an immersive experience.
04:43The movie also contains live performances of the group's latest single, Maestro, and
04:47unit songs Spell, La La Li, and Cheers to Youth.
04:50The four tracks are part of their compilation album, SEVENTEEN is Right Here, which was
04:55released in April.
04:56The 13-piece act was last in the Philippines in January.
05:00SEVENTEEN is known for hits like Hot, Don't Wanna Cry, Super, and Adieu Nice.
05:06And that's today's wrap.
05:07I'm Cara Oliver.
05:08Thank you for watching.
05:09Click the link below for the full story.
05:11Follow us on Rappler's YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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