Hope springs eternal for ABS-CBN
Before I start my piece for today, please allow me to congratulate Atty. Greg Austral for that beautiful piece of editorial last Sunday of the Bohol Tribune. What he wrote made me more inspired to continue writing about my thoughts of the cruelest death sentence to the media outfit. The powers that be of this country did not kill the Lopezes. They have killed, instead, the thousands of employees of ABS-CBN and their families. Killing them amidst the pandemic is like mass murder. And depriving senior citizens, like me, of entertainment in the sunset years of our lives, is another form of rudeness. True, there are now many television stations to choose from but ABS-CBN is part of our beautiful and collective memories. Should that be denied from us????
I met reporters up, close and personal after the Yolanda havoc in Tacloban, especially that they stayed in the same hotel where we were billeted. That was between Christmas and New Year, when the whole province was still midnight black. The reporters occupied ten (10) rooms at Rosvenil with all their equipment, vehicles, and personal things to cover the strongest typhoon in recent times before and after the strongest storm. When we first met, I learned that they were not able to go home and celebrate Christmas and New Year for they had to cover the aftermath of the Yolanda catastrophe.
They told me that the foundation of ABS-CBN helped them rebuild their lives. Schools, houses, and relief goods, etc. were all the time ready to be distributed to them for their essential needs. They were gratefully felt by the people of Leyte and Samar. When we came back for the Tacloban fiesta that succeeding June of 2014, they were still there at Rosvenil together with international NGOs who were present to help rebuild.
Now that ABS-CBN is gone by the decree of Congress, wala mahiluna ang mga katawhan han Leyte hin Samar. They are staging a rally in protest against the stand of Veda Romualdez who was part of those who signed the death sentence.
While there in Tacloban, we really had the chance to talk with the crew. We only had very few friends left. Most of them nangbakwit na didto sa Manila ug Cebu tungod sa kabangis ni Yolanda. You may ask why we are always at Rosvenil? We had a house then just across the street. Though the house is no longer ours, we were just very happy that the house was intact. Waray gud sin nga naglupad. They commented: matibay ang bahay mo mam.
In those days in the 80’s, when we built the house, hardwood in Leyte and Samar was still plenty: Tangili, Yakal, Molave, Narra, and many more. Ang sawog pud pa black and white wood. And that was our house that withstood the wrath of Yolanda.
Those ABS-CBN men have many stories to tell. How are they affected by the closure.??? The Lopezes would not be impoverished; but it’s the rank and file that would be truly affected.
In every group of dark clouds, there is a silver lining behind. Moabot gyud na nga panahon. Meanwhile, petitions and rallies are brewing. Sky Cable, ANC, and other cable outfits associated with ABS-CBN are now scheduled for closure.
The question is: Are there more coming? Who is next?
Meanwhile let’s all pray.