Veteran broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon, together with other ABS-CBN employees who were retrenched, assembled to protest the rejection of the network’s franchise bid.
On July 27, a protest called “SONAkaisa” held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman was set hours before President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Retrenched ABS-CBN workers led by Drilon condemned the unjust verdict of Congress that junked the franchise application of the network, which led to the mass layoffs of 11,000 workers.
Drilon, in front of various groups, said she is one with the workers who were affected by the cruel Duterte administration.
“Ayaw lang po ng isang tao ang pagbabalita namin at dahil dito hindi kami nabigyan ng prangkisa,” she said.
“Hindi po ako tagapagsalita ng ABS-CBN, hindi rin po ako tagapagsalita ng kapwa ko manggagawa, libo-libo po kaming nawalan ng trabaho, pero kaisa ko po sila na nagsasabing kami po ay biktima ng isang mapaniil na administrasyon,” she added.
She further warned the other media outlets that reporting the truth may also lead them to closure.
“Babala po ang nangyari sa amin…. Mayroon pa bang mag-uulat kaya ng totoong nangyayari? Malamang ay matatakot na rin sila. Mensahe po ang nangyari sa amin na ‘Mag-ulat kayo, baka kayo na ang sunod.’”
"Kami ay biktima ng isang mapaniil na administrasyon."
ABS-CBN veteran journalist Ces Drilon has this to say after a House committee junked the network's bid for new broadcast franchise. Drilon is among those who will be laid off by end of August. | Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News pic.twitter.com/OKseWYQJyQ
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 27, 2020
After the ABS-CBN network lost its battle for a new franchise, majority of its employees were affected by the retrenchment program. It may be hard to believe but among the first workers who were laid off was Drilon.
Despite losing her job early, she found a new way to spend her free time and that is venturing to farm and business.
In an Instagram post, she shared her excitement on devoting more time to farming as she stated, “Farming was the plan until ABS-CBN plucked me out of ‘retirement’ from field reporting. Now it’s time to give it more focus as life has once again led me to a new journey. But I will always be #foreverkapamilya.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4h72tMUJD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
She also shared a glimpse of her entrepreneur side as she introduced her products of eyewear and accessories.
Netizens admired Drilon’s strong personality and confidence that they showered her with support.
go ces i will fight #labankapamilya#IbalikAngABSCBN ❤️💚💙
— mildred lizardo (@mileslizardo) July 27, 2020
#laban Lang kapamilya❤️💚💙
— Vivian12 (@Elbena8) July 27, 2020
Salute to you Mam
— Jocelyn Banua (@JocelynBanua) July 27, 2020
Laban kapamilya 💖💖💖
— Mariel Ann Chavez Lasconia (@ann_lasconia) July 27, 2020
