People’s Television (PTV) host, Jules Guiang was fired after he tweeted about a government official attacking ABS-CBN and its franchise renewal application.
Guiang had tweeted, “Defensor grills ABS-CBN for hiring people under diff contracts like some aren’t regularized.”
Guiang said that if people do a background check of the status of the employees in the government sectors, there is a floating number of contract-of-service employees who pray that their contracts would be renewed every 3, 6, or 12 months.
“Check govt’s backyard, thousands aren’t regularized. Ex: I’m on my 8th year in PTV w/o benefits, no employer-employee status. Job orders are a thing in govt & private sector,” said Jules.
He also said that “Job Order” status in the government and private sector still exists though there are laws that are supposed to stop the “End of contract” for employees.
He used his statement as a wakeup call for the industry he served for eight years to examine the way they treat their subordinates just like ABS-CBN.
“We’re all for regularization, for a living wage, etc. I just find this argument hypocritical to be used against a network that is trying to renew its franchise. Maybe it’s a wakeup call for the industry to treat their people fairly pero ‘wag naman ipitin ang dos dahil dito.”
Guiang reportedly got into trouble for his tweet. He later took to social media to pour his heart out.
First, he recounted how his “palaban” self has evolved to him rechanneling his voice to other platforms.
PTV provided him with immense opportunities. While the network has limited training, Guiang said his drive pushed him to learn on his own and that the humble beginnings of Korina Sanchez who started out as a Production Assistant at PTV motivated him.
When he got calls for new projects or shows, while feeling undeserving of such privilege, he just says he is grateful for working with people and groups within the government, private sector, and civil society, both in the country and abroad.
Guiang chose to stay with PTV. He said, “I am certain, that it’s been LOVE for the network, my work, and the people that made me stay. I turned down opportunities from several big networks because I felt I still have a mission to accomplish before I move forward.”
PTV is Guiang’s second home. The very reason he wakes up early, the very reason he treats his co-workers as his own family.
But, as Guiang revealed, his straightforward commentaries “from speaking up against PNoy about SAF, being impassioned that ‘rape is not a joke,’ saying that Mocha Uson is a disaster, stood up against the Tulfos, and lately, speaking truth to power by blasting the hypocrisy of those 70 lawmakers who chose to deny ABS-CBN’s franchise – and cited that most of their workers weren’t regularized”, has cost him his work that he loves the most.
He had so many dreams for PTV-4. He wanted it to be the BBC of the Philippines, where editorial independence exists and where the network does not only serve the governors but the truly governed, being true to its name, People’s Television.
He urged the new PTV management to process the regularization of the network’s employees, like him, who despite serving the network for eight years, still did not get regularized and worse, got kicked out.
Guiang also wanted PTV to focus on their employee’s wellbeing, in the light of this pandemic. He urges them to every employee with love, kindness, appreciation, and respect.
“With a broken heart and a lost mind in this middle of a pandemic, I feel I have reached the end of my story with PTV-4”, he said.
Regardless of what the higher-ups may think about him, Jules Guiang will always remain grateful and humbled.
See his side of the story here:
I’m taking a bow.
I’m leaving @PTVph. pic.twitter.com/PffIq6y85D— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) July 27, 2020
