Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- Since Villars' PrimeWater took over, Bulacan residents suffering for years
- Philippines says it voiced South China Sea concerns during ASEAN-China negotiations
- Pope Francis makes brief appearance after Palm Sunday service
- ‘Beyond expectation’: BTS’ J-Hope promises Manila return
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-14-2025/
- Since Villars' PrimeWater took over, Bulacan residents suffering for years
- Philippines says it voiced South China Sea concerns during ASEAN-China negotiations
- Pope Francis makes brief appearance after Palm Sunday service
- ‘Beyond expectation’: BTS’ J-Hope promises Manila return
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-14-2025/
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NewsTranscript
00:00Today on Rappler
00:06Bulacan residents are almost unanimous in saying their top issue is water.
00:17The Philippines raises concerns on the South China Sea during the ASEAN-China Talks.
00:23Pope Francis makes a short appearance after the Palm Sunday service.
00:26And BTS member J-Hope vows to return to Manila after a successful concert.
00:35Rappler asked attendees in a Bulacan Alianza campaign rally what their pressing issues are.
00:41And the resounding consensus is bad water service and high costs.
00:45In a separate interview, Rappler also got the same feedback from Bulacan residents.
00:50Prime water sa tubig. Kasi palaging walang tubig. Pero mahal ang singil. Ayun lang. Tapos laging walang tubig.
01:00In February in Bulacan, senatorial candidate Camille Villar promised all the basic needs.
01:06Housing, jobs, etc. except for one. Water.
01:09So ang gusto natin dito is mas i-prepare yung mga taga San Jose del Monte for more jobs, better jobs, better infrastructure, and a very good housing program.
01:23Prime Water entered into a joint venture with the local water district of San Jose del Monte in 2018 under Rodrigo Duterte's presidency
01:31when Camille's brother Mark was the public works secretary.
01:36Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation is owned by Camille's brother Manuel Paolo A. Villar.
01:42Camille, Mark, and Manuel Paolo are the children of the Philippines' richest man,
01:47former Senator Manny Villar and graduating Senator Cynthia Villar.
01:51Camille Villar's camp referred Rappler to Prime Water when asked for a statement or an interview.
01:56Prime Water has not responded to queries sent to all its registered email addresses.
02:04The Philippines voices its concerns on the South China Sea during negotiations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China
02:12for a code of conduct in those waters.
02:14These include incidents that put its vessels and crew in danger.
02:19The Philippines hosted the latest round of talks from April 9-11
02:22and said it remains committed to solving disputes peacefully.
02:25The South China Sea continues to cause tension between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors,
02:31with Beijing's relationship with the Philippines at its worst in years due to frequent clashes.
02:37In February, the Philippine Coast Guard accused the China Navy of flying dangerously close to a government aircraft
02:43patrolling a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, an account Beijing denied.
02:48ASEAN and China agreed in 2002 to create a code of conduct, but talks didn't start until 15 years later, and progress has been slow.
02:58During the talks, the countries also discussed, quote,
03:01milestone issues, including the code scope and whether it can be legally binding.
03:05Pope Francis makes a brief appearance at the end of a Palm Sunday service in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, April 13.
03:14The Pope greets the crowd from his wheelchair as he continues to recover from double pneumonia.
03:20Unlike last Sunday, where he was seen in public for the first time since leaving the hospital three weeks ago,
03:32the Pope was no longer using an oxygen tube under his nose.
03:36Pope Francis was discharged on March 23, after spending five weeks in the hospital due to lung infection.
03:42It is still unknown how much he will participate in the upcoming Holy Week.
03:49BTS member J-Hope electrifies the Manila crowd in his Hope On Stage concert and promises to come back.
03:56J-Hope says Manila's BTS army inspired him, saying the huge crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena was beyond expectation.
04:04He also tries to repeat the phrase walang uuwe, which was being chanted by Filipino fans.
04:18The 31-year-old dancer and rapper performed a 25-song setlist including Neuron, Mona Lisa, Sweet Dreams, and Hope World.
04:27And that's today's wrap. I'm Cara Oliver. Thank you for watching.
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