Filipino typhoon survivors root for Pacquiao in brief respite to their worries

Philippine Navy Seabees clean the typhoon-damaged Tacloban Astrodome Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 to pave the way for Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao's fight against Brandon Rios of the United States in Macau on Nov. 24, at Tacloban city, Leyte province in central Philippines. Hoping to lift the spirits of thousands of people left homeless by Typhoon Haiyan, cable operators on Saturday set up TV screens inside the astrodome, near a church and in other landmarks in the devastated region to broadcast live boxing icon Pacquiao's comeback fight. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

A plea for help painted on a sign hangs from a damaged statue of Jesus in a Typhoon Haiyan destroyed neighborhood in Tacloban, Philippines on Friday Nov. 22, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced by Typhoon Haiyan, which tore across several islands in the eastern Philippines on Nov. 8. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder) (The Associated Press)

Thousands of survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the central Philippine city of Tacloban have jammed a damaged sports stadium and public plazas to watch the telecast of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao's bout on giant screens.

Officials say watching Pacquiao's fight against American Brandon Rios in Macau on Sunday will help traumatized survivors take their minds off the massive death and devastation wrought by the typhoon and inspire them to pick up the pieces. More than 5,200 people have died when the typhoon hit two weeks ago.

Thousands trooped to the Astrodome stadium, its roof ridden with holes, to watch the fight. One man carried a Philippine flag.

Pacquiao has dedicated his comeback fight to storm victims.