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| Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau Last updated 10:06pm (Mla time) 10/07/2007 |
| The Pacman |
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| Blackouts add to suspense in Pacquiao-Barrera match ___________________ |
| BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- Workers of the National Power Corp. and residents in the northernmost province of Batanes, braved the strong rains and wind and worked overtime to repair a generator set to power television sets in time for the live broadcast of the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera fight before noon Sunday. On Friday, the generator set servicing Ivana (population: 1,293 as of 2000) and the southern towns of Mahatao (pop: 1,895) and Uyugan (pop: 1,268) broke down due to moisture from strong rains accompanying Typhoon "Ineng" (international code name: Krosa). Some transmission lines in these towns were also damaged, causing a power outage for about two days. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ The power supply in Ivana, which is 14 kilometers from the capital town of Basco, was restored at past 11 a.m. Sunday just as residents were returning home from attending Mass. Residents said the fight was broadcast live in Ivana through a pay-per-view service of a local cable television provider. Local officials, according to a resident, paid the broadcast fee so residents could watch the fight live. The Ivatan language going the way of the Dinosaurs Gilmore Ponce, a four-year-old Pacquiao fan in Ivana, shouted before the fight that, "Manalo si Pacman [Pacquiao will win]." Ponce could not contain his excitement and was jumping in front of the family's television set when the ring announcer declared Pacquiao winner of the match. In Pampanga, a power outage on the 7th round of the bout, at 12:20 p.m., spoiled the building excitement among boxing fans at the City of San Fernando who were watching the fight on pay-per-view. . . . |