The ABS-CBN network still does not have a franchise to operate after being forced to shut down in July 2020.
Many Kapamilya celebrities, executives, and production staff already left the network like Bea Alonzo, Xian Lim, Johnny Manahan, and Kim Atienza.
Despite the ongoing exodus of Kapamilya artists, many celebrities still expressed their loyalty to the network.
Here are seven celebrities who declared to stay as a Kapamilya:
Angel Locsin
Locsin is one of the Kapamilya celebrities who vowed to stay with ABS-CBN despite the lack of a franchise.
In her statement with ABS-CBN News last July, the 36-year-old actress said she would stand with her network amid its crisis.
“Stay ako dito kasi ‘yun ang tingin ko na tama. Nandito lang ako kasi hindi ko kayang iwan ‘yung mga kaibigan o kapamilya,” she said.
“Hindi mo naman sila iiwan habang naghihirap, di ba? Habang may pinagdadaanan, hindi mo iyan iiwan kapag mahalaga sa’yo. Habang may pinagdadaanan ‘yung ABS-CBN, nandito lang ako,” she added.
Piolo Pascual
Despite the rumors that Papa P is planning to leave ABS-CBN, the actor proved his loyalty to the network as he renewed his contract in September 2021.
Pascual revealed that he stayed with ABS-CBN during his contract signing event because he did not want to ‘add insult to the injury.’
“This is the best time to show support and loyalty. To quote my boss Sir Carlo (Katigbak), sabi niya, ‘Masakit, siyempre, kapag umalis. Pero mas masakit kasi you know we’re not in a good position,’ so I don’t want to add insult to injury. I don’t want to hurt the station, that’s why I also stayed. Ito ang pamilya ko, ito ang bahay ko, kaya there’s no reason for me to leave,” he said.
Sarah Geronimo
Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo also promised to stay with ABS-CBN. In a pre-recorded message aired on “ASAP Natin ‘To” last July, she said that she will stay with ABS-CBN along with the Kapamilyas.
“Mga Kapamilya, nandito pa rin ang ating pamilya dahil sa hindi nagbabagong pagmamahal natin para sa isa’t-isa. Hindi kami magsasawang paulit-ulit kayong pasalamatan dahil paulit-ulit niyo ring pinapatunayan na ang magkapamilya, hindi nag-iiwanan. Mahal na mahal po namin kayo,” she said.
Boy Abunda
Recently, speculations on Boy Abunda’s plans of returning to his previous home, the GMA network has surfaced.
Tito Boy currently has no project with ABS-CBN but the TV host stressed that he will stay with the network.
“I’m still waiting for ABS-CBN to have free TV. I will wait. If, halimbawa, free TV ang ABS, we wouldn’t even be talking about this. Iyon lang naman ang inaantay ko. I wanna go back to television. I miss television. I miss doing my talk shows on television,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News in September.
“Ang sinasabi ko, maghihintay ako hanggang magkaroon ng prangkisa ang ABS-CBN. Mahirap magsalita nang patapos, pero right now the answer is no,” he added.
Anne Curtis
Curtis was rumored to make her transfer to the GMA network after she was spotted in a virtual meeting with Kapuso executives last July.
However, the actress denied the rumors saying that the virtual meeting was only about a film with the GMA network.
She said that she will still remain as a Kapamilya.
“Kalma. They pitched a film for next year na hindi pa naman sure yet. As always, I need to read the script first before making a decision. The last viva x gma film I did was IN YOUR EYES with Ate Claudine & Richard. I was already a Kapamilya then. So Kalma Lang!” she tweeted.
https://twitter.com/annecurtissmith/status/1410512198007357445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1410512198007357445%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fstarcinema.abs-cbn.com%2F2021%2F10%2F3%2Fnews%2F5-celebrities-who-spoke-about-remaining-kapamilya-70331
Kathryn Bernardo
One of ABS-CBN’s A-listers Kathryn Bernardo also expressed her loyalty to the Kapamilya network.
In October 2020, during the online conference for her new digital series with Daniel Padilla, “The House Arrest of Us,” Bernardo said that she will stay with ABS-CBN to give back to the network that helped build her career.
“Aside from ABS-CBN being a mother network, sobrang malaking bagay sa akin ang loyalty. Ito ‘yung way ko para pasalamatan ‘yung network sa kung ano ang meron ako ngayon. Lahat ng blessing namin ay dahil sa kompanya,” Kathryn said.
Daniel Padilla
Padilla, the on-screen and real-life partner of Kathryn Bernardo, will also stay with the ABS-CBN network.
He reiterated his loyalty to the network during his press conference for his online concert Apollo: A Daniel Padilla Digital Experience last October 2020.
“Unang-una, malaki ang utang na loob namin sa ABS-CBN. Malaki talaga sa akin personally dahil ang buhay ko, nagbago.
“Nakakatulog ng maigi ang pamilya ko ngayon dahil sa mga proyekto na binigay ng ABS sa akin. It’s not just ABS. Siyempre ‘yung binigay nila sa akin trinabaho ko ng maigi. So you know, it’s a give and take, and I can wait. It’s not the end of me kapag lumipat na ako or something,” he said.
The actor said that he can wait for ABS-CBN until the network can get back to its feet.
“I can wait hanggang makabangon ang ABS-CBN dahil naniniwala ako na babangon tayong lahat dito. Hindi lang para sa aming mga artista, pero para sa mga empleyado na nawalan ng trabaho sa ABS. Kasama nila akong naghihintay,” said Padilla.
Despite currently not having its franchise, the ABS-CBN network still has several loyal artists. The mentioned list of celebrities is only a few of those who decided to stay with the network.
