Support and sympathy poured on Kapamilya employee Annie Perez-Gallardo when she shared that everyone, including media personnel were affected by Super Typhoon Odette on Monday, December 20.
As shared by fellow Kapamilya journalist Jojo Pasion Malig, Gallardo was in Cebu, which was also hit hard by the super typhoon.
According to Gallardo, unlike before, when ABS-CBN was still on the air, the reporters such as herself had little or no problem–in covering or delivering news in affected areas. However, due to the Network’s shutdown–it resulted in limited resources, they struggled to continue providing information.
— Jojo Pasion Malig (@JojoMalig) December 19, 2021
Gallardo also stressed that media are not useless whenever affected regions are covered. They too were also caught in the situation.
Meanwhile, fellow Kapamilyas sympathized with Gallardo.
Kapamilya journalist Mike Navallo stressed that “no aerial inspection” could replace the impact of regional reporters providing real-time coverage of what was happening during the onslaught of Odette. He then noted that Filipinos do not need photo ops but “tunay na malasakit sa bayan.”
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte earlier on Saturday have conducted an aerial inspection of the regions affected by Odette along with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go who shared photos and videos of the inspection.
This.
No aerial inspection can take the place of regional reporters working around the clock to tell you the story of our kababayans hit hard by the typhoon.
We deserve so much more than photo ops. We deserve tunay na malasakit sa bayan. https://t.co/aD3iOf1UB5
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) December 19, 2021
Kapamilya employee Rachel Hermosura reiterated Gallardo’s situation. She urged netizens should refrain from judging and understand the situation of journalists who were also dealing with the aftermath of Odette instead.
Bago tayo magturuan ng bakit kulang ang coverage o balita sa bagyong Odette, sana ikonsidera natin na hindi rin madali ito sa mga nagbabalita na, surprise, nasalanta rin. Here's a POV from @feanneperez who has been sending us dispatches from Cebu as much as she can. https://t.co/7brF1nJB2v
— Rachel (@chasingrach) December 19, 2021
Situations like Gallardo made fellow Kapamilya reporter Jacque Manabat miss ABS-CBN Regional Network Group who got affected by the Network’s shutdown in 2020.
One of the reasons why I miss ABS-CBN Regional Network Group.
POV of one of our colleagues , @feanneperez in Cebu.(I started my career with RNG. Kaya ganito na ang hinanakit ko na wala nang RNG.) https://t.co/8WtX3wamNQ
— Jacque Manabat (@jacquemanabat) December 19, 2021
Karen Davila also pointed the importance of ABS-CBN to the public, especially during calamities.
What having ABSCBN on free TV means to the public. #TyphoonOdette
VIEWER: I just wanted to say I am feeling the loss of abs on air. I feel helpless as I want to track the effects of the typhoon pero no coverage. How sad because so many of my friends are affected.
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) December 17, 2021
TV personality Justin Dizon then shared the photos of the 70 congressmen who denied ABS-CBN its franchise as he said, “Ang laki ng kasalanan ng mga ‘to sa mga Pilipino.”
Ayan yung mga nagpasara. Ang laki ng kasalanan ng mga to sa mga Pilipino. https://t.co/7wBOdZ13qi pic.twitter.com/lVFkLv9LR4
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) December 20, 2021
Actress Agot Isidro also believed that ABS-CBN’s absence was really felt during Odette’s landfall and blamed the lack of information to the congressmen and their “puppet master” for rejecting the Kapamilya Network’s franchise renewal.
Kapag may mga disaster na ganito, tutok tayo sa balita sa TV or sa radyo. Ramdam ang pagkawala ng ABSCBN ngayon.
To the 70 congressmen and their puppet master. Hindi talaga kayo nakatulong.
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) December 20, 2021
Rep. Carlos Zarate clapped back at people who said that they do not need ABS-CBN by asking them to repeat what they have said knowing that 200 and more individuals have been killed.
"We can live without ABS-CBN", sabi noon ng mga ayaw i-renew ang franchise ng #Kapamilya Network. Sabihin kaya nila uli yan ngayon na mas ramdam ng maraming nasalantang kababayan natin hindi lang ang kakulangan ng dagling tulong kundi pati na rin ang maagap na information? https://t.co/6I6hGE1jOR
— Carlos I.T. Zarate (@kaloi_zarate) December 20, 2021
Similar to personalities and Kapamilya journalists who reminisced the time when Typhoon Rolly made Filipinos realize the importance of ABS-CBN, Kevin Manalo a former Kapamilya employee, also recalled how ABS-CBN prior to its shutdown was extremely visible during calamities.
Few years ago in the aftermath of devastating typhoons, you will simultaneously see and hear special programs in free tv and radio respectively organizing volunteers and relief operations. Nakailang round ng kolekta ng mga pagkain at damit ang ABSCBN foundation sa lugar namin. ❤️
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) December 20, 2021
Nick Villavecer, another former employee of ABS-CBN, stressed that media workers were also typhoon victims who were working to provide news “despite the limited resources.”
Please understand that media workers in VisMin are typhoon victims, too, but they try as much as they can to give updates despite the limited resources. As of now, several areas are still left in the dark because electricity and cell signals have not been fully restored yet. https://t.co/yTItBY0Edz
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) December 19, 2021
Although ABS-CBN has been shut down for more than a year, it still offers a lending hand to the victims through its very own foundation and via its Christmas Special Andito Tayo Para Sa Isa’t Isa: The ABS-CBN Christmas Special 2021.
For donations, ABS-CBN has provided its bank accounts for the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation to provide relief for Typhoon Odette victims.
As Christmas Day approaches, let's share our blessings and help our fellow kababayans who have been battered by the Typhoon #OdettePH.
Every donation counts, whether in cash or in kind. #TulongTulongsaPagahon
More details: https://t.co/aVghdvzKD0 pic.twitter.com/eWEX5gm52N
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) December 20, 2021