After 30 years, multi-awarded veteran broadcast journalist Ted Failon has left ABS-CBN and made his final appearance on ‘TV Patrol’ and ‘Failon Ngayon sa TeleRadyo’.
His departure comes after ABS-CBN was denied a new franchise and was forced to retrench some of its employees.
ABS-CBN News journalist Anjo Bagaoisan posted on his Twitter account some of Failon’s statements from the last episode of his DZMM program ‘Failon Ngayon sa TeleRadyo.’ Bagaoisan wanted to highlight the weight of Failon’s statements where he said that those people with power often try to manipulate the news that is being broadcasted on different news programs.
Failon said that many are unhappy about the content of the news if it’s about the anomalies and abuse of power by the people on top. The broadcast journalist also noted that even the editorial independence of the news is being threatened to be taken away by those people with power and authority.
… at maging ang editorial independence ng mga news organization ay gustong payukuin sa kanilang kapangyarihan– kapangyarihan na mula po naman sa tao.
Hindi maitatanggi ang mga pagkakataon na dahil ang news ay nagsisiwalat po ng katotohanan, ito ay binubusalan.
— Anjo Bagaoisan (@anjo_bagaoisan) August 31, 2020
Bagaoisan quoted the statements of Failon from his final ‘Failon Ngayon sa TeleRadyo‘ appearance on Monday, August 31.
“Hindi lahat ay natutuwa sa laman ng balita lalo na kapag ang balita ay tungkol sa katiwalian at abuso sa kapangyarihan,” Failon said.
“Kaya nga po maliwanag sa ating mga napanood noong mga nagdaang buwan na ultimo paglatag ng headline ay gustong pakialaman ng ilang mga tao,” he added.
“At maging ang editorial independence ng mga news organization ay gustong payukuin sa kanilang kapangyarihan–kapangyarihan na mula po naman sa tao. Hindi maitatanggi ang mga pagkakataon na dahil ang news ay nagsisiwalat po ng katotohanan, ito ay binubusalan,” he further added.
Failon said that he wanted to relay that message for the sake of the people who deserve the truth and for the sake of all the news journalists whose only aim is to provide the current news and affairs to the public.
He mentioned that despite the effort and sacrifices of news journalists in gathering news reports amid calamities, tragedies, and disasters and reporting the controversies in the government, and tackling anomaly and corruption, people tend to point the blame on them for the content that they choose to air.
He also said that along with the anger of the citizens for some of the content in the news of the news programs, are the rage of those people who hold the power for they wish to manipulate the news themselves.
Failon wanted to share what importance the news holds. He said that through the news, the people who are abused, beaten, and taken advantage of are being given hope in life as the news will also be the one to reveal all those misfortunes. The news serves as an inspiration to everyone as it broadcast various charitable movement from the people and the government.
He gave recognition to all the people of ABS-CBN News and thanked them all for their sacrifice and service to the people.
“Para po sa aking Failon Ngayon team, maraming, maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyo. Magmula po noong ako’y tinanggap sa ABS-CBN noon pong June ng 1990, utang ko po sa ABS-CBN kung sino ako ngayon,” said Failon.
“Radio is my therapy. Dito po ako kumukuha ng lakas, dito ko po nakakalimutan ang napakaraming problema sa buhay. At sa pamamagitan po ng malalim at pinag-isipang talakay at pag-aanalisa ng mga isyung pambayan, ay nakaaambag po ang aming palatuntunan sa radyo sa pag-uulat po sa mga kaisipan ng mamamayan, sa mga totoong nangyayari sa atin lipunan,” he explained.
He thanked his fellow radio host Czarina Balba or DJ Chacha for being his partner and bringing color and joy to the station. On the other hand, he mentioned that he was saddened that DZMM will stop its operations and be off-air along with other TV and radio programs of ABS-CBN.
“Ngunit napakasakit pong tanggapin ang katotohanan na ngayon po ay wala na sa himpapawid ang DZMM,” he said.
Failon became emotional as he offered a prayer to the Lord and asked Him for the strength and acceptance that they needed in these dark times in their broadcasting industry.
“Kaya nga po lagi ko pong ipinagdarasal, at inyo niyo po akong sinasamahan sa aking pagdarasal, na ‘Panginoon, bigyan niyo po kami ng kahinahunan na tanggapin ang mga bagay na hindi na po namin kayang baguhin, at lakas ng loob upang baguhin ang mga bagay na kaya pa po namin. At ang karunungang malaman ang pagkakaiba ng dalawa,'” he tearfully said.
“Hindi po ako nagpapaalam para po sa ating mga manonood at tagapagtangkilik. Hindi po ako nagpapaalam. Ako po ay nagpapasalamat nang lubos. Sa ngalan po ng aking pamilya, maraming maraming salamat po,” he added.
At the end of the message, he thanked the ABS-CBN executives and bosses for their sacrifices in keeping the network running. He thanked his colleagues and friends for their support, all the staff and people behind the camera who plays a big part in the making and success of a show, and especially thanked all the viewers and supporters of the ABS-CBN network who continued to stand with the network.
