Despite the loss of its franchise, ABS-CBN continues to deliver news with every means possible. The network’s advantage over others is its wide reach.
And during these trying times, wherein calamities have continually devastated the country, the importance of the network giant has been underscored. As Typhoon Ulysses wreaked havoc, ABS-CBN did not fail to deliver special coverages and weather updates.
Being true to its motto, ‘In the service of the Filipino people’, netizens aired their sentiments over the internet.
The reporters of the said network were out there soaking in the rain, risking their lives just to cover the storm. ABS-CBN posted a video where one of their reporters is with residents of Barangay Poblacion, Busos, Bulacan reporting what was happening on the severely affected area.
Residents in Barangay Poblacion, Bustos, Bulacan trying to save what they can from their homes as water level continues to rise #UlyssesPH | via @jeffcanoy pic.twitter.com/8wJORmMIBD
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 12, 2020
Atty. Pilo Hilbay, commended the media’s nationwide ability to deliver news and inform the nation of impending calamities as well as the current statuses of affected areas.
Why did we seem to have underestimated #UlyssesPH?
1. #RollyPH was strong, but spared Metro Manila, w/c made people complacent.
2. Nothing compares to ABS-CBN's nationwide ability to inform the nation of impending calamities.
3. The absence of a President to warn the nation.— Florin Hilbay (@fthilbay) November 11, 2020
Twitter user @blailylethal tweeted, “even without a franchise, ABS-CBN staff are still out there… in the service of the Filipinos. if only the government would step up and do the same”, referring to the efforts of the network’s continued efforts to deliver live news regarding the storm.
https://twitter.com/blairlylethal/status/1326770416560578560
Almost all netizens who witnessed the wrath of Ulysses pointed out that ABS-CBN is very vital as a source of information during calamities.
Even though it lost its license to operate and all their regional groups were forcibly closed, the network’s presence was felt and was very much appreciated.
@PrincessFrance tweeted, “Oo, ididiin at ididiin ko ang kawalang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN. Dahil tinanggalan niyo ng prangkisa ang isang organisasyong naglilingkod sa mga Pilipino lalo na sa ganitong mga panahon. Habang ang mga pumatay ng prangkisa… Nasaan na?”
Oo, ididiin at ididiin ko ang kawalang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN. Dahil tinanggalan niyo ng prangkisa ang isang organisasyong naglilingkod sa mga Pilipino lalo na sa ganitong mga panahon.
Habang ang mga pumatay ng prangkisa… Nasaan na?
— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) November 12, 2020
The user referred to congressmen who were very active during the closure of ABS-CBN but was absent during Typhoon Rolly and now Ulysses.
Most netizens appreciated the effort of the media’s news team who, again, have lost most of their resources but have been covering the storm since its landfall.
Twitter user @kristinesabillo wrote, “So proud of the ABS-CBN news teams who have been covering the storm since last night. Ingat kayo.”
https://twitter.com/kristinesabillo/status/1326747250500931585
Even though ABS-CBN is off the air, their own rescue unit was present during relief operations. The effort of the now-closed network brought realization to some netizens making them question the decision of the government to close the media company.
@societyhonor tweeted, “Can we all agree now that taking ABS-CBN off the air was perhaps the stupidest piece of government work ever done in the history of democracy?”
— Ganda (@annehazelly1) November 12, 2020
ABS-CBN’s own broadcaster, @iamkarendavila felt the gravity of losing the network’s Regional Group.
She tweeted, “ABSCBN News. ABSCBN Regional. ABSCBN free TV. DZMM 630. You are missed now more than ever. Sa panahon ng bagyo. #UlyssesPH.”
ABSCBN News. ABSCBN Regional. ABSCBN free TV. DZMM 630. You are missed now more than ever. Sa panahon ng bagyo. #UlyssesPH
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) November 11, 2020
Even Kapamilyas who lost their jobs because of the network’s lost of license to broadcast, offered to help during this trying times.
In a video posted on twitter, Jericho Rosales and his wife Kim Jones were among those who extended help to rescue stranded residents of Brgy. Tumana in Marikina.
https://twitter.com/dearscarjames/status/1326730813396824070
Remember Super Typhoon Rolly? ABS-CBN tried their best to cover the previous storm despite losing almost all of its resources. Because the network is the only media company who is able to reach far-flung places in the Philippines, their coverage of the storm was greatly missed.
As of this moment the media giant is streaming online and can be seen on A2Z. However, A2Z’s reach is very limited. As a result, it also affected ABS-CBN’s range as well.
