Broadway singer Lea Salonga praised ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak in the light of the franchise renewal troubles the media giant is facing.
On the Twitter account of the singer, Salonga said she can ‘vouch’ for Katigbak’s grace especially in these trying times, “I can vouch for this man’s grace. In the few times that I’ve met him, he’s been nothing but filled with grace and calm, and always with a smile on his face. As much as I fear that things won’t go the way of ABS-CBN, this much I know…”
I can vouch for this man’s grace. In the few times that I’ve met him, he’s been nothing but filled with grace and calm, and always with a smile on his face. As much as I fear that things won’t go the way of ABS-CBN, this much I know: 1/2 pic.twitter.com/rM2EZMPNfF
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 5, 2020
Recently, a number of celebrities and Kapamilya journalists have taken to social media to voice their observations on Congressmen Rodante Marcoleta, Jesus Remulla, and Mike Defensor who have continued to prolong the ABS-CBN franchise hearing and seem to be bullying the CEO by focusing on issues that have already been discussed and answered.
Didn’t they teach you that bullying is bad?
— Ria Atayde (@RiaAtayde) June 29, 2020
Apaka Bias and unfair ni Remulla, Defensor & Marcoleta! #IbalikAngABSCBN
— Roque Rox Santos (@roxsantos) June 29, 2020
One man’s whim > welfare of 11,000 Filipino families
Our Congress in a nutshell.#DefendPressFreedom#IbalikAngABSCBN
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) June 29, 2020
But as seen in the past hearings, ABS-CBN President and CEO Katigbak has always answered the redundant questions calmly.
In her second tweet, Lea praised Katigbak and shared that he is a leader that she looks up to.
“He will continue to lead without acting the bully or throwing his weight around. This is the kind of leader I resonate with, the kind of leader I follow, the kind of leader I aspire to be. ”
And whatever may happen, Lea assured that her support will be with Carlo and especially with ABS CBN.
“Whatever happens, Carlo, I lift you up and support you.”
…He will continue to lead without acting the bully or throwing his weight around. This is the kind of leader I resonate with, the kind of leader I follow, the kind of leader I aspire to be. Whatever happens, Carlo, I lift you up and support you.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 5, 2020
Last week, National Telecommunications Commission ordered ABS-CBN to cease the service of its digital TV channel 43 (TVPlus) in Metro Manila, as well as Sky Cable Corp.’s SKYdirect.
As the final hearing for the renewal of the franchise bills of ABS-CBN Network resumes on Monday, July 6, it will be decided in the hands of 91 congressmen whether the shuttered network will be permanently closed, leaving 11,000 employees unemployed, or whether it will be granted a fresh 25-year franchise to resume broadcasting operations on-air.