Kapamilya artist Enchong Dee continues to fight for his home network ABS-CBN and encourages his fellow artists to do the same.
He remains vocal on his social media accounts saying that the issue does not only concern the talents of the network but all the other employees within it as well.
The Twitter post was captioned as “At marami pang iba na kasamahan ko sa trabaho. Marami sila na kailangan ng boses ng mga kapwa ko artista.”
The post was a picture of a conversation Enchong had with an Instagram user in the comment section. The netizen mentioned that he admires Enchong’s bravery in supporting and speaking up for ABS-CBN but he thinks that it is wrong for Enchong to pressure all the Kapamilya artists to be as vocal as him.
At marami pang iba na kasamahan ko sa trabaho. Marami sila na kailangan ng boses ng mga kapwa ko artista. pic.twitter.com/A32rE1XI2f
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) July 15, 2020
The netizen said that Enchong should just focus the blame on the government instead of shading other artists to also be active with their support to the network because according to him, everyone shows support in different ways and all of it is valid.
Enchong defended his actions and his urgency in speaking up for ABS-CBN by saying that the matter does not only affect himself. He is being vocal in his concerns because his voice will serve as the voice of those who have nothing. Those people who don’t have large incomes and are struggling with their day-by-day expenses. As an artist, Enchong believes that he has the capacity to reach a large audience in spreading the needs and demands of all ABS-CBN employees.
“We have to start thinking beyond ourselves, our voice is not for us but for the others who have nothing, those who live paycheck to paycheck,” he said.
The artist stated that he is not shading his fellow artists to be vocal, rather he is calling for their support as they possess enough influence and means to knock on other people’s hearts in taking into consideration the jobs of those people affected with the network’s shutdown and make everything right.
Enchong also mentioned that he could just live without having his job back. As a talent who works in front of the camera, he can just live well with the money that he earned and saved as an artist. But he said to also think about all the other employees who worked behind the cameras and bright lights, those who kept the corporation safe and clean, those who helped assist the network’s artists and everyone else that all artists got to work with every day.
“I can go on with my life without this job but I couldn’t speak for the utility personnel, the wardrobe, the make up artists, the staff, the crew, which ALL artists get to work with everyday,” Enchong said.
“Again this is beyond oneself,” he added.
Enchong also posted in his Instagram account that he has been fighting for his country since he was 13 and though difficult and unsure, he said that the reward of serving his country is fulfilling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCnbLnXp9r5/?igshid=156rz6fsqbipf&fbclid=IwAR0Yt2mKDF-9anGSxz7Xde8i5XpOqMkikqy9WSgFfn57NkiCOxV5zQH0mrU
He posted a picture of himself as one of the swimmers representing the country as he was part of the Philippine national swimming team and has participated in the SEA Games and 2006 Asian Games.
The artist mentioned that just like how he served and fought for the country as a swimmer, he will also do so as a talent of ABS-CBN which he already considers his home for 15 years. He said that he will not stop speaking up against the cruelty that we have in our society.
He said that being bashed by the people online is a small price to pay for the sake of being on the right side of history. Enchong will stand by his home network until the time comes that the network will open up again and continue its operations. He called out his fellow artists saying that this is not the time to be silent but the time for them to gather as one true family.
“At sa mga kapwa ko artista, hindi ito ang oras para manahimik, maging totoo tayo sa salitang #kapamilya,” Enchong wrote.
Numerous people have been giving their love and support for the ABS-CBN network especially now that the network was not granted to continue its operations. People have been pouring their hearts out on various social media platforms although some rejoiced over the denial of franchise renewal.
The network has received support from Jennylyn Mercado who is not even a part of ABS-CBN, rather a Kapuso artist.
Jennylyn defended ABS-CBN from those who are celebrating the network’s shutdown saying that rejoicing with other people’s sorrow is wrong and inhumane. She said that those people are cruel for not showing any hint of care for those 11,000 employees who will lose their jobs.
https://www.facebook.com/JennylynMercadoOfficial/posts/10159770029743942
The Kapuso artist also said that it is fine with her even though netizens keep on bashing her because she doesn’t want to be silent on the ABS-CBN franchise denial. She said that being bashed is a small price to pay for practicing her freedom of speech and that being silent in times of injustice is injustice.
But I am a Filipino and that alone is enough.
To be neutral or silent in times of injustice is injustice.
If being “bashed” is a small price to pay for practicing my right to freedom of speech. Then I am fine with it. pic.twitter.com/CKeTsnUbr1— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) July 13, 2020
ABS-CBN network was forced to shut down after the congress denied the network a franchise renewal on Friday, July 10.
The network’s president and chief executive Carlo Katigbak said that ABS-CBN will stay committed to serving the people and will look for other ways to continue serving even though the network was ‘deeply hurt’.
“We remain committed to public service, and we hope to find other ways to achieve our mission,” Carlo said.
According to ABS-CBN’s head of integrated news and current affairs Ging Reyes, they are all still uncertain who will retain or lose their job with the network’s shutdown.
“No one is certain at this point as to who will retain or lose their jobs. We are all living in uncertainty,” Ging said.
She said that ABS-CBN still owned the building and all its equipment and can still produce content only on cable and online.
“It’s still ours. We can still produce content, ideally. We still have cable. We can do content on cable. We still have online.” she added.
But the media giant has lost the capability to air its shows freely in television and radio programming which made the network lose its core strength.
