Comedienne and actress Pokwang looked back on her journey with ABS-CBN as news broke that the network had sold a significant portion of its Quezon City compound to Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) for ₱6.24 billion.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Pokwang recalled her early days in the network, particularly when she almost backed out of the ‘Clown in a Million’ contest in 2004, which later launched her showbiz career.
“2004 sa audience entrance, ayoko sumali sa contest na ‘Clown in a Million’ kasi natatakot ako baka di ko kaya. Aatras na lang sana ako pero tinawag ako ni Christian Torio at lumingon ako, deretso kami sa talent center office para sa VTR… Pinanood ako ni Mr. M. Ayun, at kinabukasan, pinabalik ako agad para isalang sa ‘Yes Yes Show’,” she reminisced.
Pokwang also expressed her gratitude to ABS-CBN, saying the network changed her life and gave her opportunities that helped support her family.
“Salamat po… sa studio ng ‘Wowowee,’ ‘Banana Sundae’ kung saan saksi sa mga tawa at iyak, at tagumpay ang bawat dingding ng gusaling tumayong pangalawang tahanan ko sa loob ng 15 taon,” she wrote.
Pokwang’s victory in ‘Clown in a Million’ paved the way for a successful career, making her a household name in comedy and television hosting. Over her 15-year tenure with ABS-CBN, she appeared in numerous programs, including ‘Wowowee,’ ‘Banana Sundae,’ and several drama series.
Following ABS-CBN’s franchise denial in 2020, Pokwang officially transferred to GMA Network in 2021. Since then, she has starred in various Kapuso shows, including ‘Pepito Manaloto,’ ‘Magpakailanman,’ and the ongoing afternoon drama ‘Binibining Marikit.’ She also appears on the morning show ‘Tiktoclock.’
The Lopez-led ABS-CBN sold 30,000 square meters of its 44,027.3-sqm property in Quezon City to ALI to settle its outstanding debt of ₱16.32 billion.
Since its shutdown in 2020, the network has faced financial struggles, prompting cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, asset sales, and digital partnerships with streaming platforms like Netflix and Viu.
ABS-CBN has gradually reduced its losses by 22% between January and September 2024, but the network still faces challenges in fully recovering from the franchise denial.
Despite moving to another network, Pokwang’s career remains deeply tied to ABS-CBN, where she rose to fame and built her legacy in Philippine entertainment.
