Jameson Blake, Charlie Dizon of the upcoming iWantTFC series My Sunset Girl share their thoughts as ABS-CBN will soon mark its first anniversary without a franchise this July 10.
Blake admitted that he was somewhat lost when the network shut down.
“After the shutdown, s’yempre para sa ‘tin lahat it was very alarming and we didn’t know how to act right away.”
The House of Representatives (HoR), on July 10, 2020, voted to reject the network’s franchise renewal bid with a vote of 70-11.
However, ABS-CBN continues to survive amid the pandemic, and being without a franchise, Blake is proud that the Kapamilya network is still serving the Filipino people.
“Pero I’m just happy na we still managed to get on our feet and keep going kahit papaano. And I can see naman throughout the year na we’re still trying to make more projects, do more shows, and everything. That’s what I’m proud about.”
His co-star Dizon, on the other hand, did not take well the outcome of the media giant’s battle for its franchise.
She was heartbroken upon seeing her fellow Kapamilyas outside the station, rallying, hoping that the network will have its franchise back.
“At nung nakita ko na nag-rally, at gan’on ang nangyari, sobrang first time ko nakita na ganun ka-weak ang nangyari sa ABS-CBN. And sobrang nalungkot ako n’on.”
Despite the blows that ABS-CBN received over the past year up to 2021, Dizon is proud to be part of ABS-CBN. It’s because the Network continues to provide entertainment and news to Filipinos not just in the Philippines but across the globe.
“Pero eventually, tulad nung sinabi ni Jameson, unti-unti tayong nakakabangon. Nakakagawa tayo ng projects kahit wala tayong office, tina-try pa rin nating maging ‘normal’ pa din yung mga trabaho.
“At yun ang sobrang kinaka-proud ko sa ABS-CBN. Na talagang pinanindigan po lahat ng makaka-kaya nilang gawin para sa lahat, ginagawa nila.”
Bascon also shared his thoughts regarding the Network’s demise.
According to him, he did not even feel that it was already a year since the Network lost its franchise. It’s because the Kapamilya network is still ‘in the service of the Filipino.’
“Kaya nga laging, ‘in the service of the Filipino’ tayo. Kung ano man ang nangyari sa ‘tin, pinagpatuloy pa rin niya ang serbisyo niya para sa kapwa kababayan niya. At hindi nawawala sa ‘tin yung gumawa ng de-kalidad na mga teleserye, gumawa ng tamang balita.
“Hindi ko nga naiisip na nag-shut down tayo kasi andito pa rin tayo, nagkikita pa rin tayo lahat. Tinatawa pa rin natin… Yan ang ABS-CBN hindi siya mawawala kahit anong mangyari sa ‘tin.”
Indeed, ABS-CBN is slowly returning to its former glory even without a franchise.
These past few months, the Network continues to provide new shows for its Kapamilya viewers, not to mention its stocks continue to increase.
However, it is still undeniable that ABS-CBN suffered a lot as its revenues and profits were greatly affected because of its inability to air on free TV.
Mylene Dizon, however, is still pissed about what happened to the Network.
“Well, s’yrempre malaking kawalan pa rin dahil a big chunk of our company is still not operating di ba? We are not still able to relay lahat ng news na dapat naihahayag natin. That I’m still naiinis about it,” revealed the actress.
The senior Dizon also promised that she will continue fighting with ABS-CBN to have its franchise returned. She reasoned out that she is not doing it for money but because of the camaraderie that she built throughout the years of being a Kapamilya.
“I’m still going to fight [together] with ABS-CBN para maibalik ‘yun. As for working naman, I think that’s the reason why we are all still working. It’s not because gusto nating kumita… Pero nagtatrabaho tayo dahil kasama natin ang ating mga kasamahan sa ABS-CBN.
“Kailangan nating magkapit-bisig tayong lahat para magkaro’n tayo ng trabaho. For everybody, for the entire company. We’re not just doing this for ourselves. I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for everybody, for the company…
“Kailangan nating magtulungan para kahit papaano naman lahat tayo happy. Pero I’m still very very pissed about what happened a year ago. Siguro yung galit ko noon, hanggang ngayon pareho pa rin yung level.”
Catch My Sunset Girl starting July 14. It will be available on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and via iwanttfc.com.
