The ABS-CBN shutdown created a vacuum in the media industry after Congress’ decision not to renew the network’s franchise.
Several employees of the Kapamilya network lost their livelihoods and faced the pandemic without ample resources to survive.
And having their value of family, other Kapamilyas who saw their fellow ABS-CBN employees suffer amid the pandemic and the network’s shutdown have decided to aim for a position of power wherein they could invoke change that would benefit all Filipinos.
Here is a list of Kapamilyas who ran for office in response to ABS-CBN’s Shutdown.
First off the list is the award-winning actor Arjo Atayde. According to his mom, Sylvia Sanchez, Atayde has always wanted to run for office. However, the ABS-CBN shutdown created a spark that further motivated him to pursue a position in Congress.
“High school pa lang siya talaga nagsasabi na siya, ‘Gusto kong manungkulan, mommy. Gusto kong tumulong.’ Sabi ko, ‘Makakatulong ka naman kahit wala ka sa puwesto.’ Sagot niya, ‘Mas makakatulong ako kapag nasa puwesto ako, mommy.‘”
“Okay na ‘yun eh, nanahimik na siya noon. Hanggang nang magsara ang ABS. Doon siya talaga — ‘yun ‘yung ang pinakatalaga nalungkot siya, nagalit siya, nalungkot siya [para] sa lahat ng Kapamilya, sa mga kaibigan sa loob, mga Kapamilya natanggalan ng trabaho tapos pandemic pa. ‘Yun talaga ang isa sa pinaka rason din niya.”
Sanchez added that despite her apprehensions, she supports her son’s decision to run for office.
“Kapag pinalad, pinagkatiwalaan ng mga tao, nakapuwesto, iga-guide naming mag-asawa para hindi naman masusulsulan and hindi naman maliligaw. Kabado, yes, pero suporta, 1,000%.”
Another Kapamilya who aims to run for a government position is the former ABS-CBN senior writer and award-winning poet Jerry B Gracio. In October, Gracio announced his acceptance of the second seat in the Kapamilya Partylist.
Umiyak si Mama when she learned na tinanggap ko ang nomination as rep ng KAPAMILYA Partylist.
Pa’no yan, wala ka nang trabaho.
Ma, nauna nang nawalan ng trabaho mga kasama ko.
After the drama she says: Benta ko kaya lupa ko sa Samar para sa kampanya n’yo?
Ako naman naiyak. pic.twitter.com/PzW37AyfNN
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) October 4, 2021
Gracio commented on Sylvia’s revelation, noting that it’s a “valid reason to run” because of the employees who lost their jobs amid the shutdown.
Valid na rason ang pagsasara ng ABS-CBN bilang isa sa mga dahilan ng pagkandidato. Hindi para sa ABS-CBN kundi para sa mga manggagawa na nawalan ng trabaho. Takot lang ang kalaban dahil alam nilang hindi uurong si Arjo. Dadalhin niya ang laban ng mga Kapamilya sa QC sa Kongreso. https://t.co/mVWddDKqF0
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) October 26, 2021
Aside from his comments about Atayde’s position, Gracio also shared the Kapamilya Partylist platform for the 2022 elections.
Bukod sa job generation, job security, at sahod na nakabubuhay, siyempre, isa sa mga unang bill na ihahain ng #KapamilyaPartylist sa Kongreso ay ang pagbibigay ng prangkisa sa ABS-CBN. Para makabalik sa trabaho ang mga Kapamilya na nawalan ng trabaho sa gitna ng pandemya.
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) November 5, 2021
Next is Karla Estrada. She filed her certificate of candidacy as part of the party-list Tingog Sinirangan in October 2021.
Estrada earned the ire of KathNiel fans because the party-list she joined had the representative Yedda Romualdez, one of the Congressmen who voted against ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
However, her son, JC Padilla, explained that his mother aims to change the mindset of the party-list about ABS-CBN.
While they may have different paths in taking up a seat in the government, they all aim to make a change, not only for Kapamilya but all Filipinos.
