‘ABS lang ang malakas ang signal dito.’ Broadcast Journalist Jeff Canoy shares ABS-CBN Shutdown affects Filipinos in Typhoon Ambo

Some checkpoint authorities at the Aurora Province border have been hoping that media giant ABS-CBN will resume its broadcasting operations as the country faces its first typhoon.

According to them, ABS-CBN is the only network that has a signal in their town that can reach far-flung areas.

On the Facebook account of Broadcast Journalist Jeff Canoy, he and his team met police officers who shared how they were affected by the ABS-CBN shutdown especially in these difficult times.

As they presented their identification cards issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force, one of the police officers asked him if he was one of the reporters who usually covers natural disasters, confirming that he was, the police officer asked.

“Babalik na ba kayo, sir?”

Canoy answered that he and his team are just on their way to Aurora but the police officer clarified, that what he was referring to is if ABS CBN will be back on air.

“Hindi sir. ‘Yung ABS, babalik na ba?”

 

Canoy also answered that he is hoping the network can resume its broadcasting operations,

“Aahh. Sana, sir.”

The police officer then told him that he is hopeful for ABS-CBN’s return where he also cited how weak the mobile data signal is in the place.

“Facebook na lang ba kayo? Hirap ng data dito sa bundok, sir.”

The officer said that only ABS-CBN has a strong network signal which reached the border of Aurora province.

“ABS lang ang malakas ang signal dito. May bagyo ngayon, ‘di namin malaman kung ano nangyayari.”

“Sana makabalik na kayo sir,” he told the reporter.

Netizens seeing and reading Canoy’s testament on how ABS-CBN has greatly impacts the lives of Filipinos can’t help but wish ABS-CBN to be back on air.

At hindi lang sa Aurora ganito.

Translation: ABS-CBN's @jeffcanoy gets flagged at a police checkpoint while covering the typhoon. They tell him ABS is the only accessible channel there, they don't know where to get news on the coming storm, and they hope ABS goes back on air. https://t.co/62ePzCHXus

— Regine Cabato (@RegineCabato) May 14, 2020

damn right. why are these abscbn artists insisting that abscbn’s shut down is the fight of the Filipino, the fight of the youth. pwede bang fight nyo lang abscbn employees? you dont represent all of us! @bernardokath bruh, we have our own battles too!

— itsyanzeee (@itsyaneee) May 14, 2020

Watching updates about the typhoon at TV Patrol on Teleradyo. Ingat tayong lahat!@jeffcanoy @TVPatrol#TyphoonAmbo#LabanKapamilya pic.twitter.com/ZSdPcmqOMO

— Eric #MassTestingNotMassArrest (@EricVl_6) May 15, 2020

This only shows that ABS-CBN is a big part of the Filipino lives.@jeffcanoy pic.twitter.com/oUKYzbyt9v

— Human Torch (@JJhumantorch) May 15, 2020

Ending his Facebook status, Canoy felt affected by the police officers’ hope for ABS-CBN to be back on air.

“Lakas maka-fragile ng mga ganitong random acts of support dahil sa mga pinagdadaraan ng mga empleyado ng ABS-CBN.

“Salamat, salamat mga ser! Para sa inyo ang balita.”

ABS-CBN left the air last May 5, 2020 the day after the expiry of its 25-year legislative franchise granted by the Congress. This was in accordance with a cessation order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission.

On May 7, the network moved its broadcasts to online platforms and other properties not affected by the closure order, but unfortunately, not everyone has access to the internet.