On Saturday, February 27, ABS-CBN talent manager-actor-producer Ogie Diaz said on his YouTube channel with his co-host Mama Loi reminisced what actor Arjo Atayde said during his contract signing with the Kapamilya network (Friday, February 26).
“[Because] I’m a team player. If they sink, I sink with them. If they’re gone, I’m gone with them. So the reason, why I’m staying is–this is my home.
“And I don’t want to be elsewhere but here. I am a Kapamilya. I am born to be a Kapamilya, and I will stay here no matter what.”
According to Diaz, that’s what the talent manager loved about Atayde—his unwavering loyalty.
It brought to the main point of the discussion about former Kapamilyas who left the Network but would have difficulty returning to ABS-CBN.
He hinted at two ex-Kapamilyas with initials of ‘B’ and ‘M’ who did not just try to save themselves but are now trying to persuade those who stayed to join where they are right now.
“Alam ko lang sa ABS-CBN yung katotohanan na pag nakabalik ka ng ABS-CBN, may ibang artista din na hindi makakabalik kahit gustuhin nila. Ayoko na lang magmention ng name pero may mga artista na alam nilang hindi sila makakabalik. Katulad ng mga artistang sila pa mismo ang naguudyok na lumipat na kung saan sila lumipat,” he said.
“Ako feeling ko letter B. B as in Bravo. Tsaka M. M as in Mama. Feeling ko lang ha. Kasi yun lang din ang naririnig-rinig ko na hindi na makakabalik. Because nag-iimbita pa ng mga artista na nag-stick sa ABS tapos sila, ‘halika na, punta na tayo doon.
“So yun yung mga feeling ko lang hindi makakabalik, or mahihirapang bumalik, or matatagalan bago makabalik. At aware sila na hindi sila makakabalik. Kasi nga nakarating na sa top management na nag-iimbita sila ng mga nandun sa Kapamilya at iniimbita pa nila na tumalon sa kabilang bakod.”
Diaz said that the Network understood why some talents chose to leave the Network amid its falling apart. Since it happened during the height of the pandemic and job is scarce, their only choice is to move to other Networks.
“Although naiintindihan naman ng ABS-CBN management kung yung iba eh tumalon ng barko at nagswim para lumipat sa ibang barko na hindi pa lumulubog or hindi pa lumulubog,” compared the talent manager.
However, the talent manager stressed that if he could only feel what the ABS-CBN executive felt during the exodus of talents, it would be that they would give importance to those who stayed.
“What I’m trying to say is kung pinili nilang mag-TV5 or mag-GMA [Network], it’s okay with ABS-CBN.
“Ako lang Loi ha, kung kilala ko yung top management ng ABS-CBN, mas nagmamarka sa puso nila at mas babalikan nila yung mga tao, mga production staff, mga host, mga artista na nag-stick sa kanila,” said Diaz.
Mama Loi also jumped in by saying that some of the talents knew how to be grateful. Once they decided to stay, it means that ABS-CBN would always trust them. Loi also mentioned Kapamilya stars such as Maymay Entrata and Edward Barbers who lingered with the Network through one of its darkest days.
“Totoo. Tsaka yung mga artista na may gratitude. Alam mo yun, yung grateful yung heart na patuloy silang pinagkakatiwalaan ng Kapamilya channel. Katulad ni Maymay, Edward.”
Diaz also mentioned the loveteams LizQuen and KathNiel who also stayed after ABS-CBN’s shutdown. In fact, according to the talent manager, Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil got offers from other stations. However, they declined.
“Even LizQuen, KathNiel andyan pa rin sila. Ang Lizqueen kasi sa totoo lang may offer sa ibang istasyon. Pero mas pinili nung dalawa na manatili sa ABS-CBN,” shared Ogie.
With Liza staying, the talent manager revealed that one of the network’s executives, Cory Vidanes was glad about the actress’ decision.
“Anyway, tuwang-tuwa naman si Tita Cory na mag-stay ang LizQuen sa ABS-CBN just like KathNiel and other stars.”
An article on opentextbc.ca defines what loyalty is, “In the early years of the movie business, actors were tied to studios by contracts that prevented them from making movies for any other studio, effectively limiting their earning power. Then the entertainment industry changed as actors gained the freedom to sell their services to the highest bidder, becoming much more highly compensated in the process.”
Is that what happened after the shutdown of ABS-CBN last year? Most of the talents who were part of the 11,000 employees lost their jobs. To fend for themselves, to survive amid the pandemic that hit the world since 2020–some chose to jump ship to other networks, while others did stay.
Leaving the company that nurtured them for the long-run, is another story; but pirating the rest is distasteful and unrespectful.
