Following ABS-CBN’s departure from free television last year, and its decision to allow its talents to transfer to other stations. A continuous outward stream of talents from the network, but an inward shift of new talents occurred, who surprisingly chose to work for the now franchise-less broadcast giant.
How the shutdown so far affected the movements of artists between networks, a year since ABS-CBN’s 1995 franchise expired?
The number of big stars either leaving or remaining with the Network and a surprise arrival of new transferees from other networks seems to be a strong indication of the influence and power the Network still holds.
The following lists the stars who remained with, left from, returned to, and transferred to ABS-CBN, since its May 2020 free television shutdown.
Departures
The decision to give contract talents freedom to cut ties with the Network has opened doors for many talents to seek opportunities in other stations. In the wake of ABS-CBN’s shutdown, an exodus of talents ensued, with some of the Network’s biggest homegrown stars leaving the network for the first time, in years.
Among the earliest big stars to start appearing on rival networks, are homegrown talents–Piolo Pascual and Maja Salvador, who served as main presenters of the short-lived Sunday noontime musical-variety show, Sunday Noontime Live. Several ASAP Natin ‘To staple performers, also appeared on the show, where former ABS-CBN director and star-builder Johnny Manahan, was at the helm.
TV5’s programming overhaul also attracted some of the biggest names from ABS-CBN, including Beauty Gonzales and Dimples Romana from the 2018 phenomenal daytime drama, Kadenang Ginto with each getting their respective shows on the Kapatid Network. Gonzales starred on the now-defunct weekend series, I Got You, alongside fellow Kapamilya stars Jane Oineza and RK Bagatsing. Dimples Romana, on the other hand, stars on the weekend sitcom, opposite Kapamilya leading man Ian Veneracion. Sue Ramirez, Adrian Lindayag, and Louise Abuel—who were all previously affiliated with ABS-CBN—also joined the cast.
The ABS-CBN shutdown also saw the departure of some of the Network’s brilliant young stars, including Jane Oineza, Jerome Ponce, Maris Racal, Zephanie, Sam Mangubat, Donny Pangilinan, and several others. They appeared on various projects on TV5.
The network also suffered losing some of its biggest TV hosts and presenters, the arguably biggest of which is the long-time ABS-CBN host Billy Crawford, who received some of TV5’s most anticipated new hosting gigs. Crawford currently serves as the lead host of the new game show–The Wall Philippines as well as the weekday noontime show, Lunch Out Loud that goes head-to-head with ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime. Crawford previously hosted the celebrity singing-talent show The Masked Singer, which also aired on TV5.
Xian Lim, who first completed his last teleserye with ABS-CBN, Love Thy Woman. He now hosts the weekend quiz show, 1000 Heartbeats: Pintig Pinoy. Cristine Reyes, who’s been popularly known for her roles on various ABS-CBN soap operas, sat on The Masked Singer Pilipinas’ jury, and now appears on the weekend drama, Encounter, an adaptation of the Korean hit drama, of the same title.
Comical artists K Brosas and Wacky Kiray join Crawford as main hosts of Lunch Out Loud, together with social media star Alex Gonzaga.
Pokwang, who was a staple on some ABS-CBN sketch comedies and tv series, sought hosting opportunities on TV5. She hosted the short-lived morning talk show, Chika BESH! (alongside fellow ABS-CBN star, Ria Atayde), and the recently canceled game show, Fill in the Bank. Ryza Cenon, who moved to ABS-CBN in 2018, and starred on the Angel Locsin-starrer, The General’s Daughter–had a short stint on TV5’s Primetime block, via the action-horror series, Bella Bandida.
News personalities Ted Failon, Anthony Taberna, Gerry Baja, and Korina Sanchez were among the biggest media personalities to receive the brunt of ABS-CBN News’ shrinkage as a major news organization in the country. Failon left news anchor duties from TV Patrol and now hosts his radio show, alongside former MOR 101.9 jock DJ Chacha, on Radyo Singko. Veteran DZMM journalists Gerry Baja and Anthony Taberna, on the other hand, transferred to DZRH, while former TV Patrol anchor Korina Sanchez continued her long-running magazine show Rated K on TV5 and now calls it, Rated Korina.
Adrian Alandy, who starred on the hit Kapamilya afternoon dramas–The Better Half and Kadenang Ginto, recently returned to GMA Network. Likewise, Richard Yap, who became a household name via his roles on various Kapamilya shows, including My Binondo Girl and Be Careful with My Heart has recently been introduced as a contract Kapuso star along with up-and-coming actor Royce Cabrera, who came to fame last year via the Kapamilya military-themed drama, A Soldier’s Heart and the boys’ love Web series, Quaranthings: The Series. Pilipinas Got Talent alumnus, Khalil Ramos also ended his stint as a Kapamilya star when he signed up for GMA Artists Center, last year.
Among those considered the biggest stars to leave ABS-CBN’s premises is Maja Salvador. Rumored to be banned from returning to the Kapamilya network, Salvador has since then appeared on many TV5 shows, including Sunday Noontime Live. She now stars in the inspirational primetime drama, Niña Niño. Salvador has recently set up her own talent management company, following her official departure from Star Magic.
The shutdown also caused several big names behind-the-cameras, including long-time ABS-CBN director, Bobet Vidanes to move out of the Network. This exodus also saw several veteran singers who accepted offers from other stations. The returning Sing Galing!, for example, employs many of It’s Showtime’s former employees, along with hosts and judges.
Interestingly, many of these talents didn’t officially cut ties with ABS-CBN’s talent management arm, Star Magic and some have managed to simultaneously appear on both ABS-CBN and TV5. This was made largely possible by the freedom accommodated by ABS-CBN, itself.
Some, however, are reported to have been banned from working for the Kapamilya network, due to their previous positions about ABS-CBN’s shutdown. Some stars, who practically left the Network, unceremoniously, were also called out over questions of loyalty as some of them immediately jumped ship amid existing offers and work in ABS-CBN.
Several homegrown stars, including Bea Alonzo have repeatedly denied the possibility of leaving ABS-CBN, some of whom even affirmed continued loyalty and commitment to the network. Rumors, however, suggesting their transfer to rival networks, prevail. It remains to be seen, whether or not, these surfacing big names will indeed end their Kapamilya stints.
One year into ABS-CBN’s franchise-free operation–much has changed, in the context of its homegrown stars leaving from and sticking with the Network. Some of those who tried to explore opportunities in other stations have successfully returned to the station, but some may have been permanently banned forever.
That said, ABS-CBN remains a formidable cradle of bastion of talents, which keeps growing with the arrival of new talents.
True enough, like what Gabby Lopez said, “Stars come and go, but the institution stays.”
