In an interview with Toni Gonzaga aired on Saturday, October 10, Lauren Dyogi, the head of ABS-CBN’s talent management arm–Star Magic, shared his realization amid the Network’s shutdown.
ABS-CBN has been facing a challenging time since its shutdown on May 5, 2021.
Dyogi said that the current situation of the Network taught him humility.
“It’s really a very humbling experience. You were the number one network and [in a snap], everything gone.
“Kailangan mo lunukin lahat ng pintas, lahat ng harsh words. You just have to believe na kaya mo bumangon,” he said.
But Dyogi admitted that it also caused him stress and depression which prompted him to take a break from his career.
“Kasi nanggagaling siya doon sa na-shut down tayo, may pandemic tayo, tapos may bago kang responsibilidad. Tapos pati yung mga artista, they are also going through a lot. So yung demands sa time and energy mo. And then I was overeager and excited to do something different, something new. Patong-patong iyon,” Dyogi told Gonzaga.
“It was my first Sabbatical leave in my entire career. Nag-break ako, hindi ako nagbakasyon. Nandoon lang ako sa bahay… I was having anxiety attacks. Hindi ako nakakatulog nang maayos.
“Nagsisikip yung [dibdib ko]. Feeling ko nga, COVID ba ito? Kasi hindi ka makahinga. Tapos my shoulder pain was so bad. Talagang nagpatong-patong yung preparation from the Congress hearing, shutdown,” he said.
He also described the way he felt after ABS-CBN’s franchise application was junked by Congress on July 10, 2020.
“Parang manhid ka na noon. Hindi pa nagsi-sink in, eh. The sinking of the feeling came days after, weeks after. Ano na ang mangyayari sa ‘yo?” he shared.
As ABS-CBN was shattered by the difficulties, Dyogi said it was hurtful for him to witness Kapamilyas leaving one by one.
“I suppose when the boat is sinking, you can’t expect everybody to stay in the boat, to stay with you… As I said, tao ako, masakit talaga. Especially doon sa mga taong kinausap ko na one, two or three times. Masakit talaga. Sana lang, ako kasi, from the onset, sabihin mo na lang na hindi mo kaya,” he said.
“Siguro I suppose, if I am going to analyze it, siguro kasi dumadaan din siya sa proseso. Iniisip din niya kung ano yung tama sa kanya. Hindi ko naman maalis sa kaniya yun. Pero masakit talaga. But I guess hindi ko controlled yun.
“Hindi ko na controlled ang utak at puso ng ibang tao. May priorities sila. May priorities din naman kami. Hindi siguro nagtugma at this point. I will wish them well. I will wish them the best.
“It’s always (during) very difficult times, crisis, challenging times na lumalabas yung tunay mong pagkatao. So okay na rin. Nagkakaalam tayo kung ano yung pinaninindigan mo. Bilog naman ang mundo. Ang liit-liit ng industriya,” he said.
Dyogi also realized that ABS-CBN is remaining intact up to this day because of the strong bond of loyal Kapamilyas.
“Totoo pala talaga yung Kapamilya, na sa hirap at ginhawa, magkakasama kami. We experienced pay cut… Pero ganun naman ang pamilya, ‘di ba? Kapag nasa hirap, magti-tighten ng sinturon, sama-sama kayo dahil mahal niyo yung katrabaho niyo, mahal niyo yung kumpanya niyo, mahal niyo yung pamilya niyo. Importante yun,” he drove his point.
On a positive note, Dyogi thinks that the current situation of ABS-CBN is a “redirection” from God.
He also noted that they were able to discover new things due to the shutdown.
“Because kung hindi rin po dahil sa shutdown, hindi kami makakadiskubre ng ibang paraan ng paggawa. Kasi naka-concentrate kami sa free TV for the longest time.
Ngayon, forced ka maghanap ng pera, forced kang gumawa ng paraan,” he said.
“In a way, challenging and exciting. It’s a good time also to be in ABS-CBN. Kaya lang nga, nandoon yung pangamba lagi. But I think yung kaba is good also for our growth.
“It’s still not a perfect set-up. It is still difficult. But alam mo kasi na kung sino yung kasama mo sa hirap, siyempre yun yung hopefully kasama mo sa ginhawa. One day.”
In his last statement, Dyogi said he is hopeful that ABS-CBN is being directed to a better path, a better place for themselves and for the people they care for.
