ABS CBN Shutdown

Toxic sa social media.  Here is my personal take on the ABS CBN shutdown issue.  Mabuti linawin muna natin yung mga pangyayari. Dahil franchise ang isyu ngayon, kailan ba ito nagsimula?

Noong March 30, 1995, pinirmahan ni Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos ang Republic Act 7966. Ito ay nagbibigay sa ABS CBN ng 25-year franchise para makapagpatuloy ng operation. Limang taon na maaga ang renewal nito bago pa ito mag-expire noon. Nagkabisa ang nilagdaang RA 7966 noong May 4, 1995.*
*If you are to calculate, the 25-year franchise to operate should expire by May 4, 2020

So, anong nangyari? Bakit inabot ng expiration ang franchise nito?

Sabi ng ABS CBN Corporation, pinili nilang mag-apply ng early franchise renewal noong September 2014. Idinaan ito sa karaniwang legislative process. Nai-file sa mababang kapulungan ang House Bill 4997 sa ilalim ng 16th Congress pero hindi ito nag-progress sa committee level. At dahil kinulang na rin sa panahon, nagpasya ang ABS CBN na bawiin ang application at isumite na lamang ang renewal application sa panahon ng 17th Congress (administrasyong Duterte).

November 10, 2016, under the 17th Congress, House Bill 4349 was filed seeking to renew the network's franchise for another 25 years. Isa pang House Bill na katulad ng nilalaman ng HB4349 ang binalangkas sa mababang kapulungan. Ang parehong panukala ay nanatili lamang sa committee level. Sa mga panahong ito, mainit ang usapin ukol sa kampanya ng pamahalaan laban sa droga. Maraming media ang nagbabalita ukol rito pero ang madalas lumutang na media entities sa mga dismayadong bahagi ng talumpati ng Pangulo ay ang Inquirer, Rappler, at ang ABS CBN.

Mula 2017 hanggang November 2018, madalas mabanggit ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang pagkadismaya nito sa network. Pangunahin ang isyu kaugnay noong hindi pag-eere ng kaniyang political ad noong bago mag eleksyon ng Mayo 2016, sa kabila ng ito ay bayad na. Meanwhile, a paid advertisement putting Duterte in bad light was aired in the same network. This has prompted the President to always mention in his speeches that he will not allow the network's franchise to be renewed.

July 2019, the House Bill seeking for the network's franchise renewal was refiled in Congress on the second day of the 18th Congress, and within the same month, a similar bill was also filed in the Senate. But the chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises in December 2019 said that they will not tackle the bills on ABS CBN until the end of 2019. The House Speaker said that even the network is aware that budget and revenue bills will be priority and that there is enough time in January & February of 2020 to discuss about the franchise renewal under HB 4349.

Issues on ABS CBN franchise violations surfaced: tax evasion, servicing of TV Plus "without permits" which causes cable TV operators to lose business, issuance of  Philippine Depositary Receipts to foreigners, which the Solicitor General equated to ceding control and voting rights to foreigners--- a violation of 1987 Constitution that says it prohibits foreign ownership of media entities in the country. In one of the Senate hearings last February, ABS CBN maintained that they did not violate any of the franchise provisions.

From January 2020 up to Congress recess last March 11, 2020, no bills were passed by the House of Representatives to grant a fresh 25 years in favor of the network.  Yesterday, May 5th, the National Telecommunications Commission ordered the giant network to stop its operations due to the expiration of its legislative franchise.

*Timeline source: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/2/13/ABS-CBN-franchise-timeline.html

image credit to CNNPH

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I have a lot of friends / colleagues who worked and are working in ABS CBN. For the next two administrations after the Marcos ruling, ABS CBN has cemented its relevance to every Filipino family. Even before TV Patrol, there was The World Tonight. In my high school years, what wakes me up in the morning was DZMM's Kabayan from my grandfather's transistor radio. The network's TV public service program Hoy, Gising! was a standard among other succeeding public service programs.  And TV entertainment was given a new life with the shows produced by the network.

My personal affiliation with ABS CBN should be the recent years in my current profession when we partnered with the network for a number of projects: Reality show - I Do; program plugging engagements in Umagang Kay Ganda, Mornings@ANC; Open House (Lifestyle show) aired on ANC; and the numerous meetings and photo shoot inside the ELJ building.

I Do Village opening at Lancaster New City

Nalungkot ako sa shutdown ng ABS CBN. Hindi para sa network executives kundi para sa mga maliliit na tao na doble-kayod kung gumawa para maitaguyod ang adhikain ng kumpanya at para na rin may maiuwing pangkain para sa kani-kanilang pamilya.  Hindi naman sila yumayaman kahit mag-overtime sila araw-araw. Oras na kasama ang mga mahal nila sa buhay ang nawawala sa kanila para magampanan ang trabaho.  Lalo sa panahong ito na may pandemic, hindi biro ang pagsuong sa panganib para lang maitawid ang mga dapat maiparating sa sambayanang Pilipino na kanilang pinaglilingkuran.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, hindi ako naniniwala na katapusan na ng malayang pamamahayag ang pangyayaring ito. "Napulitika lang"--- ito ang tingin ko.  Nananatili pa ang Rappler, at isama na natin ang Phil. Daily Inquirer, na kilala bilang matatapang sa pagpapahayag ng anumang puna laban sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Pero nandyan lang sila. Maging ang ABS CBN, naniniwala ako na hindi ito matagal na "mawawala." Wala tayong martial law ngayon. Huwag nating ulit-uliting "i-suggest" ang mga bagay na hindi naman nangyayari sa kasalukuyan. Mahirap kung bigla nga itong ibigay sa atin.

Tingin ko, somewhere along the road, may nagawa ang network na naglagay sa kanila kung nasaan sila ngayon. Pagsubok? Marahil. Parusa? Siguro. Bakit? Ang ABS CBN lang ang nakakaalam. Ako kase, lahat ng bagay ipinagpapasa-Diyos ko na lang lalo na kung may nagawang mali sa akin ang kapuwa ko.

Sana maayos ang gusot na ito, para sa maliliit na tao na ang nais lang ay makapagpatuloy sa isang marangal na trabaho at may madalang biyaya sa hapag-kainan ng kani-kanilang mahal sa buhay. Sila kase talaga ang tunay na biktima rito, wala nang iba.

Going Back to Iloilo

AUGUST 14 - 16... I went back to the Heart of the Philippines---Iloilo with two of my team mates, Akina & Miko. Our mission: handle two events with media invitees.

August 14: weather was cooperative as the sun smiled after taking cover behind dark clouds a few days back. it will be my team mates' first time in Iloilo. as usual, i was early at the Terminal 3 eluding the rush hour traffic from the east. upon arrival at the departure area, i immediately noticed some push carts with our brand on it. cool! i usually take my morning meal at Kopi Roti but this time i let my companions choose where they want to eat. As soon as they both arrived, we just decided to dine in Kenny Rogers. i had their corned beef breakfast and partnered it with pineapple juice. upon going to the boarding gate after our hearty meal, we met the (company) officers that are boarding the same flight with us to Iloilo. Our chairman was also present and greeted us with all smiles! When we arrived in the province, we checked-in our hotel first and refreshed ourselves, then off we went to do media rounds. visited the offices of Bombo Radyo, The Daily Guardian, ABS CBN, and Panay News. We personally invited them to attend the two events we're holding for the next couple of days. it was already evening when i got the 2nd advertorial approved and it was just then that i have called it a day. King, Miko & I decided to spend dinner time inside Smallville and Miko & I tried this "Medical Spa" within the area. I wasn't really impressed with their 'relaxing massage' which i availed.. feels like my little daughter stroking my back--- yeah, THAT SOFT. Interestingly though, they got our BP first before going to the massage routine. i guess it's the difference being labeled as a 'medical' spa. i was offered to take a shower but i turned down the offer since i just took my shower in the hotel prior to getting there. anyway, it was our first day.

[caption id="attachment_3079" align="alignnone" width="150"] one of the hundreds of pushcarts in Terminal 3 featuring Lancaster New City & Bellefort Estates[/caption][caption id="attachment_3078" align="alignnone" width="150"] the sign tells you what NOT to do[/caption]

August 15: woke Miko up and we headed to the breakfast buffet area. i didn't eat a lot compared to the previous times i was in the hotel. just had a cup of fresh brewed coffee blended with milk, that green juice which i forgot the name, and just had adobo with garlic fried rice. after fixing ourselves, we, together with Akina, headed to the venue of the ground breaking ceremony. we waited for our invited media guests and stayed with them throughout the event.

[caption id="attachment_3085" align="alignnone" width="300"] Corp. Comm. team with friends from the Iloilo press[/caption]

after the event, we needed to prepare for yet another event the following day. but yeah, i didn't forget my most important obligation of the day: attend worship service! there are numerous road and bridge repairs in Iloilo right now so traffic's a nightmare. i took a cab telling the driver to take me to the locale of Jaro. Coming from Hotel del Rio, the cab driver suggested we go to Iloilo City locale instead. i agreed and just told him to take me where traffic's lighter. so it was my first time to attend the worship service in the locale of Iloilo City, which the driver says, it's the biggest in the province. after the service, went to see Akina & Miko, then we had dinner in Smallville (again).

[caption id="attachment_3086" align="alignnone" width="274"] BG: the beautiful house of worship of Iloilo City Locale[/caption]

August 16: a bit excited for this day. we are about to complete the "Gift of Knowledge" turnover to the 3rd school-recipient which is Bolilao Elementary School in the town of Dumangas. First two school-recipients were Alapan 1 Elementary School in Imus, Cavite, and Nueva Victoria Elementary School in Mexico, Pampanga. Miko & I joined Shawn for breakfast. When Akina was ready, she and Miko went ahead to meet the press, while i rode with Ms. Tani and Sir Gus at a later time. it was an hour drive to Dumangas from the city and we were greeted by a welcome banner just before the school entrance:



everyone was very hospitable. the students were greeting us from left to right. the teachers welcomed us warmly. the ceremony started with some students performing the opening prayer and they also led the singing of the Philippine National Anthem. then a series of talks followed and finally the turnover of the e-learning facilities. everyone in the room was happy. and the kids were excited to try the facilities after the turnover. the package includes the following: Netbook preloaded with K Channel educational videos, optical mouse, external speakers, Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR), and a 32" LCD TV. the gift of knowledge is really priceless. the travel all the way from the city is very much worth it. on our way home, we visited the so-called 'oldest' (Catholic) church in the province located in Dumangas. after the event, off we went to the airport to go back home--- Manila. :)

Day 28 of 365

presented our corp. comm. activities with the sellers today at the Lancaster Estates. wasn't able to check the venue of the meeting so i was caught offguard. but the presentation went good, anyway. Akina presented the first activity and i proceeded with the rest. people were all excited with the viral online campaign we are launching in the next week. "PRO-FRIENDS ka rin ba?" in the next month, we will also be featured in a new magazine show in ANC...



busy days weeks ahead...

3 News Programs

[caption id="attachment_2224" align="alignright" width="300" caption="(L-R) Jun Veneracion, Mariz Umali, Pia Arcangel, Raffy Tima"][/caption]Balitanghali - Balitanghali (a portmanteau of the Filipino Words Balita and Tanghali, meaning "news" and "noon", respectively; hence "Noontime News") is the noontime newscast of GMA News TV in the Philippines. The newscast is also heard simultaneously on Super Radyo DZBB 594 every weekends. The newscast is anchored by Pia Arcangel and Raffy Tima during weekdays and Mariz Umali and Jun Veneracion during weekends. It also aired worldwide via GMA Life TV.

The newscast was first aired on GMA's secondary network, QTV on November 11, 2005 during the network's initial broadcast. On February 6, 2010, the newscast launched their weekend edition and began airing.

Balitanghali was also simulcasted on radio through GMA Network's flagship station DZBB. In June 2008, the simulcast was only limited to weekends to give way for the radio station's noontime newscast, Super Balita sa Tanghali Nationwide.

After Q ceased airing on February 21, 2011, the newscast was carried over on its replacement network, GMA News TV on February 28, 2011. The newscast had moved out of their initial studio at GMA Network Center and had introduced a new studio set at GMA Network Studio 2, title card, graphics, and OBB. On April 25, 2011, Grace Lee was named as the new host for the Star Bites segment for weekdays.
(article hooked from Wikipedia dot com)

Balitanghali airs daily, 11:30am to 1:00pm on weekdays, 12:00pm to 1:00pm on weekends.

[caption id="attachment_2226" align="alignright" width="198" caption="Maki Pulido & Mark Salazar"][/caption]Balita Pilipinas Get the biggest news from the entire country with BALITA PILIPINAS NGAYON. Anchored by Maki Pulido and Mark Salazar, BALITA PILIPINAS NGAYON is a 30-minute daily recap of the headlines from various points in the country.

Pulido and Salazar, along with some of the most credible broadcasters from the regions, will deliver the biggest stories from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The newscast will also familiarize viewers with each region’s food, travel, history, art, and culture. The program will also join Serbisyong Totoo activities by the GMA Kapuso Foundation, in tandem with local and national partners.
(article hooked from iKUWADERNO dot com)

Balita Pilipinas Ngayon airs weekdays at 4:30 in the afternoon.

State of the Nation with Jessica Soho - the news program that aims to redefine what an evening newscast should be. By asking the right questions and through intelligent storytelling, viewers will be exposed to the deeper context of a day’s events. SONA will be more than just a rundown of the day’s top stories, it will present a comprehensive mix of news, features, opinion segments, and exclusive, in-depth reports.
(article from gmanews dot tv)

SONA airs weeknights, 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock.

Manyaman 27-102010

naka-publish na po ang pangalawang panulat ko sa kolum na Manyaman, sa e-zine na tinig dot com.

sa pangalawang labas ng aking kolum, tinalakay ko rito ang isa sa nagpapasarap sa pagiging Pilipino: ang pagiging masayahin ng mga Pinoy kahit nasa gitna ng iba't-ibang suliraning panlipunan. nawa po ay inyong masilip ang aking kolum at kung may nais po kayong talakayin natin ukol sa positibong mga bagay ng ating lahi, mangyari lamang na ipagbigay-alam ninyo sa akin. salamat po! ;)

Manyaman 27-092010

nai-publish na ngayong araw na ito ang kauna-unahan kong kolum, ang Manyaman, sa e-zine na tinig dot com. isang karangalan para sa akin ang mabigyan ng pagkakataong sumulat buwan-buwan sa nabanggit na website at paraan rin ito para maibalik ko ang dati ko nang hilig sa pagsusulat. mabibiyan din nito ng pagkakataon na maipahayag ko ang mga positibong saloobin ko ukol sa kagandahan ng bansang Pilipinas at ng lahing Pilipino. ako na ang pumili ng tema na isusulat ko at umaasa ako na magiging maganda ang hinaharap ng kolum kong ito.

salamat sa aking kaibigan na si Ederic Eder, ang patnugot ng tinig dot com, na siyang nagbigay-daan para ako'y sumulat ng kolum dito.

kung may nais kayong matalakay ukol sa temang nabanggit, pwede nyo po akong i-email o kaya ay mag-iwan ng comment dito o kaya sa kolum ko sa tinig. salamat po! :D

that McDonalds commercial

marami ang humanga sa kasalukuyang McDonalds (Philippines) commercial na "First Love". Sa patalastas ay dadalhin ka sa taon ng nagdaang dekada, na kung saan ang tagapagsalaysay ay ibinalik sa ala-ala ang panahon ng kabataan nang muling dumalaw at kumain sa McDonalds. Dito ay bumalik ang larawan ng dalawang masayang bata na nagkakilala at nagkasundo hindi lamang sa pagkain kundi maging sa mga kulitan at paglalaro sa loob mismo ng paborito nilang fast food chain. Sa pagpapalit ng panahon mula sa kaniyang balik-tanaw, bumungad ang katotohanan na bagaman hindi sila nagkatuluyan bilang mag-irog, nananatiling kasama ng magandang ala-ala ang hindi niya pa rin ipagpapalit na kaniyang "first love".

ang patalastas ay lalong nagpakilig sa maraming Pilipinong naka-relate sa commercial na ito nang saliwan ng awiting Huling El Bimbo ng noo'y sikat na bandang Eraserheads



"Tuwing pumupunta ako dito, naaalala ko ang lahat...
parang kahapon lang

parang antagal na naming magkakilala

yung mga gusto ko, gusto rin niya!

tapos biglang....

at kahit hindi rin naging kami sa huli
...siya pa rin ang first love ko."

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sa mga bumuo ng produksyong ito para sa isang minutong patalastas,

banning condom ads and educating the youth

last week, a news story not-so-generally-interesting caught the attention of our company--- banning of the Frenzy Condom TV Ad. this motion was suggested by the Family Media Advocacy Foundation:

"Nakakatuwa marahil ang commercial ng dalawang teenager na bumibili ng flavored condom sa isang drug store.
Pero para sa ilang magulang at konserbatibo, kabastusan ito sa telebisyon.
Dahil dito, nais nang ipatanggal ng grupong Family Media Advocacy Foundation ang lahat ng mga advertisement tungkol sa condom at pills sa radyo at telebisyon."
(full story here.)

It actually concerns our principal, DKT Philippines but unfortunately at the time the issue went out, DKT Philippines personnel were on a conference in Thailand and no one will be able to answer the concern for their side until they come back to office on January 23, Wednesday. Unexpectedly that day, January 22, i have answered an office phone call from GMA reporter Julius Segovia. He was inquiring on who can be interviewed regarding the issue but i politely informed him that it should be our principal who must tackle the issue. and that they were on a conference outside the country and will be able to answer only upon their return to Manila. with this situation ABS CBN sensationally gave its news readers the impression that DKT is escaping the responsibility of airing their side against the topic:

"Sinubukang kunan ng ABS-CBN News ng panayam ang DKT na siyang nagbebenta ng Frenzy at Trust at sinabi nilang sa Miyerkules na lang daw sila magpapainterbyu. (link given above)"

call it unbiased journalism. (pun intended.)

The next day, the CBCP was encouraging the senate & congress to pass a bill on banning the use of artificial contraceptives, and even IDS-Free Philippines, Inc., Human Life International (HLI), and Family Media Advocacy Foundation (FAMAF) president Butch Canoy earlier complained to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas that the TV ad of DKT was irresponsible. (full story here.)

My personal take on the issue, while the Philippines is culturally conservative, it's high time that we educate the people, especially the young ones, about responsible sexual intercourse. sex education must not be restrained from informing the young students of how the sperm cell and the egg cell meet and create a new life, but it must extend to the responsibilities that the sexual intercourse bring. i often complained and believe that overpopulation is one of the major reasons of poverty in the country. too many mouths to feed, too limited basic needs: food, home, shelter, and we can add employment in the list. we maintain morality by condemning abortion but for as long as the means of contraception doesn't induce or suggest it, let the government find ways to help its people practice effective family planning. condom doesn't abort babies. as for the morality issue, here comes the role of the family and the church to educate the young ones according to their beliefs. we can not dictate anyone on what to do with their lives. it's always the individuals choice. what the family and church can do is to suggest to them the pros and present the cons of things then encourage them according to their moral beliefs. but that's it. even how big time a parent rants he/she can only do so much for their kids. thats why education is very important at a young age. and removing these TV Ads will not help reduce teenage pregnancy, irresponsible sex, and might even contribute to the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases in the country for the lack of information, guidance and choice among the people, especially the young ones.

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EDIT: This entry has been submitted to The Filipino Voices - Philippine Issues Writing Project

mediamen's bread and butter

sa ganitong mga "pagkakataon" buhay na buhay ang mga mamamahayag at masasabing ito rin ang pagkakataong handang-handa ang lahat kung kailan may tensyon at karamihan ng mamamayan ay nakatutok sa mga pag-uulat. ngayon ibababa ng Sandiganbayan ang hatol nito sa kasong kinakaharap ni dating Pangulo ng Pilipinas, Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Anim na taon mula nang maungkat ang usaping ito, sa wakas ay magkakaroon na ng "linaw" (kahit papaano) ang nasabing isyu. Paano ba ang pakiramdam ng mga mamamahayag sa ganitong mga okasyon? ang pagkakaroon ng "assignment" ay unang kinasasabikan--- kung saan matotoka o kung ano ang magiging gampanin ng isang mamamahayag: reporter o anchor. kasama ng mga TV reporter ay, natural, ang mga cameramen, sakay ng isang "mobile unit" na kung saan tila paparazzi kung magmaneho (dapat) ang tsuper nito. kung bakit ay alam na alam ito ng mga mamamahayag. kung nasaan ang MISMONG subject, mas maganda. meron kasing mga assignments na pangalawa o pangatlong baitang na ng may kinalaman sa usapin ang iyong kakapanayamin. halimbawa ay sa kaganapang ito na pagbaba ng hatol sa Sandiganbayan, bagama't nakasasabik interview-hin ang mga Erap supporters na nagkalat sa palibot ng lugar na pagdarausan, iba pa rin ang pakiramdam ng isang mamamahayag kung siya ay na-assign mismo sa loob ng Sandiganbayan lalo na kung pinalad makasama sa loob mismo ng courtroom. Ang ilan naman na natokang "sundan" ang kaganapan mula sa paglipat ng subject sa kaniyang unang kinaroroonan hanggang sa patutunguhan, obligado ang mga mamamahayag na ito na maging listo upang hindi makawala o makalayo sa kanila ang pinakatampok na iuulat.

Ang mga mamamahayag. Bihasa sa pagod. Kung minsan 24 oras ay hindi alintana makaganap lamang sa kanilang tungkulin sa bayan. Sa mahahalagang okasyon na pinagkakainteresan ng publiko, babatahin ang pakikipagtulakan, pakikipagsiksikan, kahihiyan, gutom, at isasakripisyo ang sariling oras para lamang makapag-ulat ng tapat sa taumbayan.

Long Live Philippine Broadcast Journalism!

I'm saddened by the news that Radio-TV broadcaster Reyster Langit didn't survive Malaria and caused his death. These broadcasters, while some are uncommendable, are the dedicated ones in their duty--- to give their countrymen the knowledge on what has been happening to our society. They would give their lives covering for special stories, exposing government-related anomalies, and going to the lighter side of the business, covering special events on every town that enriches our cultural heritage.

Earlier, Arnold Tañare passed away with the same cause as Reyster's. Arnold was the cameraman covering the feature story that they were suppose to present for their TV Program.

For dedicated broadcast journalists and the crew behind every success news/feature stories: MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT!