On February 2, broadcast journalist Julius Babao admitted that he felt hurt with ABS-CBN’s shutdown in 2020.
During the media conference for Babao’s welcome in TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas, he recalled what he felt when his public service program Mission Possible got canceled, following ABS-CBN’s shutdown.
“One of the reasons na masakit for me na iwan ang Kapamilya Network is ‘yung mga shows na ganito. Masyado naging attached ‘yung Mission Possible when it was canceled because of the not granting ng franchise ng ABS-CBN.
“Naging masakit ‘yun for me kasi nanghinayang ako sa mga taong matutulungan, na ang dami-daming lumalapit sa amin. Pero unfortunately wala kami magawa kasi wala na nga ‘yung show.”
He also remembered other public service programs on TeleRadyo that suffered the network’s lack of franchise.
“Tapos nagkaroon pa ako ng show na Linggkod Kapamilya na tumutulong din sa mga tao, ‘yun din talaga ‘yung pangunahing reason kung bakit may kurot sa puso na umalis ako sa Kapamilya aside ‘yung mga na-establish ko na mga kaibigan doon, mga minahal kong mga kaibigan na parang naging kamag-anak ko na rin.”
He then expressed his hopes of having similar public service programs now that he’s in TV5.
“Right now, wala pang final but we’re talking about it and hopefully, bumalik nga ‘yung ganong klaseng segment man lang, para at least marami tayong matulungan. Kasi right now, ang kailangan ng mga kababayan natin, ay tulong talaga.
“It’s really tulong-tulong more than anything else. So it’s a welcome development kung magkakaroon ng ganitong klaseng show or segment dito sa TV5 na marami tayong matutulungan.”
Babao began working with ABS-CBN in 1993, wherein he became a TV reporter in TV Patrol. He worked on programs such as XXX: Exklusibong, Explosibong, Exposé, Aksyon Ngayon, and Mission Possible. Babao remained with the Kapamilya network after its shutdown, working as occasional replacement anchor to Ted Failon, who also transferred to TV5.
After 28 years of working with the Kapamilya Network, Babao announced his transfer to TV5 in December 2021.
Now, Julius Babao joins TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas, starting February 7, every 5:30 PM, live on TV5 and via Livestream at News5 Facebook and YouTube pages.