Just days after the House committee on legislative franchises junked ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application, the company was forced to operate in a limited capacity, thus prompting the implementation of major retrenchments affecting its more than 11,000 workers.
Shuttered media workers and supporters were enraged by this that they held a noise barrage and a motorcade in front of the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City to air their sentiments of Congress who denied the franchise even after all violations were addressed and cleared up.
Actress Angel Locsin who was among the protesters called out her fellow talents and asked them to rally behind their home network.
She said, ‘Yung mga kasamahan kong artista, na hindi pa rin nagsasalita. Ano tatahimik na lang kayo? Wala na kayong network? Ano magpapacute na lang kayo sa Instagram?’
Angel Locsin – 'Yung mga kasamahan kong artista, na hindi pa rin nagsasalita. Ano tatahimik na lang kayo? Wala na kayong network? Ano magpapacute na lang kayo sa Instagram?' pic.twitter.com/Hyep8BY0j3
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) July 18, 2020
Actor Enchong Dee also encouraged his colleagues who have enough influence to help make things right. Stating that this fight is beyond oneself it is for the utility personnel, the staff, the crew, and all other workers whom they have work with every day.
Hinimok ni Enchong Dee ang ibang artista na makialam at magsalita hindi para sa sarili kundi para sa mga Kapamilyang apektado ang kabuhayan ng pagpatay sa #ABSCBNfranchise. https://t.co/P0HGZzXnEL pic.twitter.com/7ohilDvs7F
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 17, 2020
Enraged Film writer and director Rod Marmol expressed his dismay with Kapamilya artists who have not shown any support to ordinary employees like him who will be in danger of being jobless. Disheartened by the fact, he reiterated that the writers, directors, and the production people were the ones who helped make them successful, and yet in this trying times they are nowhere to be found.
Para sa mga ordinaryong manggagawa na nawalan ng trabaho. Para sa kanila, hindi sa inyo. pic.twitter.com/sZf0HIAuNk
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) July 17, 2020
Even Kean Cipriano shared the same sentiment where he stated that this is the reality, people will tend to just use you despite the help you have given them.
He said, “Sa 3 years ko na pagiging manager, eto ang natutunan ko: hindi lahat ng tinulungan mo ay pasasalamatan ka.Yung iba ay gagamitin ka tapos pagmumukain ka na masama. Pero ganun talaga. That’s entertainment. But that wont stop me from helping other artists be heard. #realtalk.”
Sa 3 years ko na pagiging manager, eto ang natutunan ko:
hindi lahat ng tinulungan mo ay pasasalamatan ka.Yung iba ay gagamitin ka tapos pagmumukain ka na masama.
Pero ganun talaga. That’s entertainment.
But that wont stop me from helping other artists be heard. #realtalk
— Kean Cipriano (@keancipriano) July 16, 2020
Other Kapamilya workers also appealed to the silent artists to use their voice and help them regain their livelihood.
Ano kaya ang tulong na naibigay na ng mga BIG CONTRACT STARS sa mga maliliit na manggagawang nawalan ng trabaho na nakatulong para marating nila ang kanilang tinatamasa ngayon? Meron na ba? O kyaw kyaw lang sila?
— Joel Reyes Zobel (@joelzobel) July 18, 2020
Sa pinakamalalaking artista ng ABS-CBN na tikom pa rin, anong pumipigil sa inyo na gamitin ang boses para sa maliliit at lugmok ngayong empleyado na tumulong itaguyod ang karera niyo?
— Miguel Dumaual (@migueldumaual) July 18, 2020
On July 10, Congress denied the network’s appeal for a new franchise. Due to this, the Lopez-owned company was forced to lay off workers effective August 31, leaving its long-time employees jobless amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to ABS-CBN, the retrenchment program will be the last resort to ensure that the remaining workers will still be employed and the company can continue its operations in other avenues.
In a statement on July 15, ABS-CBN said, “As much as it hurts us to implement this retrenchment program, this is the only way to ensure the continued employment of the rest of our Kapamilya,”
“We are doing all we can to mitigate the pain that will be felt by those affected, including paying out separation and retirement benefits and providing job placement programs,” they added.
The entire departments were cut, including the network’s sports arm and its film restoration.
The flagship national newscast TV Patrol’s local journalists and staff were among those who will be laid off, even two of the most high-profile name veteran journalists Ces Drilon and Korina Sanchez were also affected.
