Author: Larenz Allison Ararao
Last July 17, 2020, Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon declared that GMA Network debt-free as of the end of March 2020. Gozon added that GMA Network was free of any obligations. After having their operations hindered by COVID-19, Gozon said that the Network is resuming its regular programming. During the GMA Network’s annual stockholders meeting, Gozon said the company’s top line declined by 7% to P3.5 billion and its net income was lower by 19% to P583 million in the first quarter of 2020 “because of COVID-19” and the absence of election-related inflows during the period as compared to…
Last July 15, Lolit Solis defended actor-turned-Congressman, City 5th District Representative Alfred Vargas in an Instagram post after he chose to inhibit himself from voting on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. The franchise renewal bid was then junked by the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises. The veteran journalist, who is also Vargas’ manager, shared her thoughts regarding the bashing that Vargas and other congressmen are receiving for their move on the franchise. She opened the statement with: “Hindi ko maintindihan iyon bashing na tinatanggap ng mga congressman na involved sa issue ng franchise renewal ng ABS CBN, Salve. “Ok, nag-inhibit…
The Personal Assistant (PA) of Kapamilya star Janella Salvador has asked Raffy Tulfo in Action for help to claim her unpaid salary after she was fired. In an interview with Raffy Tulfo in Action, the personal assistant complained that the actress reportedly refused to pay her 12-days worth of salary which amounted to least 3,600 pesos. In the same interview, the assistant also claimed that she was not given any benefits such as SSS, PAG-IBIG, or Philheath while working for the actress. She is also paid 8,000 monthly for her service that includes not only attending to the star while…
Steadfast Duterte supporter and veteran actress Elizabeth Oropesa wants Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III kicked out from their current positions. Elizabeth Oropesa or La Oropesa is a multi-awarded actress who has appeared in numerous films and TV shows since 1973. The veteran actress is also known for being one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s devoted supporters. The actress shared in an interview with DZRH last Monday, July 6, that she will be producing a film to provide jobs for those who are working in the film industry. In the same interview, Oropesa also expressed her…
On Tuesday, June 7, 2020, Broadcast Journalist and radio commentator Julius Babao addressed congressmen who will be voting on ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise renewal. On Twitter, Babao stressed that a vote on July 9 on ABS-CBN’s franchise will have its place in history. He tweeted, “To our congressmen: Whatever you decide on the fate of ABS-CBN will be written in our history. There is no turning back. Before you cast your vote on Thursday. Thank the Lord & Say a prayer. Then ask yourself, ‘Am I doing this for the good of my country or for myself?'” https://twitter.com/juLiusbabao/status/1280472990426095618 Babao also Tweeted…
June 1, 2020, Monday, veteran actress turned Batangas 6th District representative Vilma Santos stood up for ABS-CBN through her Sponsorship Speech for House Bill 4305. The Congresswoman defended the network by emphasizing its contributions to Filipinos over the past years. She made mention that the media company was a great source of information through news, entertainment, educational shows. She also emphasized the network’s contribution to charity works. Ate Vi, on behalf of her colleagues, expressed how the shut down of ABS-CBN has greatly affected many people. As an actress turned congresswoman, she seeks for her fellow lawmakers from the Committee…
A netizen called out Angel Locsin for not helping employees that were allegedly illegally dismissed from ABS-CBN. He commented on the Locsin’s Instagram post, “@therealangellocsin BAKIT HINDI KA LUMALABAN PARA SA GA ILEGAL TINANGGAL NA EMPLEYADO NG ABS-CBN gaya ng news reporter NG WENG HIDALGO? Akala ko ba Makabayan ka? For show lang ba yon? @therealangellocsin” The netizen added, “NEVER KA NAMIN NARINIG NA LUMABAN O NABANGGIT MAN LANG UNG MGA ILEGAL NA TINANGGAL NA EMPLEYADO NG ABS-CBN? Puro ka na lang 11k employees @therealangellocsin NAPAPAHALATAAN KA TULOY NA LAHAT NG PAGTULONG NA GINAGAWA MO AY FOR SHOW LANG” Another…
Comedienne Pokwang replied to a fan on Instagram and confirmed she was leaving ABS-CBN. A netizen, @misspendon commented on an instagram post, “mukat mukat makikita mo si Pokwang nasa kabilang istasyon na.” Pokie then responded with affirmation; “@misspendon yes totoo naman yan kasi last year pa ako nagpapaalam wala pang pandemic at bearing sa prangkisa, yes matagal sa akong nagpaalam pero di ako pinayagan alam ng mga boss yan! Hindi ba pwede sumuporta muna bago umalis? May mga kaibigan akong maiiwan teh!” The comedienne revealed that she already asked the heads if she could transfer networks even before the pandemic…
Actor John Lloyd Cruz and journalist Maria Ressa together with new participants: National Artist Ben Cabrera, former Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, director Lav Diaz, lawyer Chel Diokno, journalist Inday Varona, and other personalities made a second version of The Great Dictator video protest against the recently signed Anti-Terror Law. The nearly six-minute video featured Rody Vera’s Tagalog translation of a speech from the 1940 Charlie Chaplin movie, The Great Dictator. It was posted on a Monday, July 6, by the film’s director, Chuck Gutierrez. He worked on the film for three weeks with many famous personalities approaching the director to…
On Saturday, July 4, lead actress of the afternoon series Doble Kara Julia Montes posted pictures on her Instagram account which showed her reuniting with her co-stars through video conferencing platform, Zoom. The Instagram post was captioned ‘night cap’. Doble Kara was a hit drama series that premiered on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold afternoon block and worldwide on The Filipino Channel from August 24, 2015 to February 10, 2017. It was directed by Emmanuel Q. Palo, Trina N. Dayrit, and Jojo A. Saguin. Julia Montes played a dual role, as Kara Dela Rosa and Sara Suarez, along with a cast consisting…
On Sunday, June 6, 2020, Lolit Solis, talk show host and entertainment news writer, posted on her Instagram account her dismay over the alleged postponement of Queen of all Media Kris Aquino’s show with TV5. Lolit said that according to fellow showbiz reporter Cristy Fermin’s “Reliable Source”, the new show of Kris has been postponed, “Sinulat ni Cristy na according sa isa niyang reliable source baka hindi matuloy ang show ni Kris Aquino sa Chanel 5.” Last Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Kris signed a contract under Cornerstone Entertainment, Incorporated, that ended her two-year showbiz hiatus. She had been on a…
On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, former Kapuso star Iwa Moto posted an open letter to the government via Instagram. The open letter criticized the government’s actions on the ABS-CBN franchise rather than prioritizing other concerns like Manila Electric Company (Meralco) for overcharging consumers. She added that life now is hard and being made more difficult. Aileen Quimado Iwamoto, known by her stage name Iwa Moto, is a former Kapuso star, model, and reality television personality. She was the first runner up in the third season of a reality-based talent search of GMA Network, StarStruck. Currently, she is the girlfriend of…
ABS-CBN’s franchise is up for voting on Monday, July 6. As the network waits for its fate at the hands of Congress, Kapamilya personalities and supporters have posted their sentiments on social media. Host Robi Domingo posted, “I have been part of ABS-CBN since 2008 but it has been part of my life since I was a kid. It taught me values, gave me entertainment, and instilled in me the idea of always being in the service of the Filipino. #KapamilyaForever” https://twitter.com/robertmarion/status/1278865981025075201 Marietta Subong, known for her stage name “Pokwang, posted on Twitter, “Para sa mga kaibigan kong camera man,…
On Friday, July 3, 2020, actress Liza Soberano shared her thoughts on the release of contracts of ABS-CBN’s talents and employees amid the Cease and Desist Orders by the National Telecommunications and Commissions and the delay of the Network’s franchise renewal. The actress posted a thread of her sentiments on Twitter. “I received what was probably one of the most heartbreaking text messages from one of our leaders in ABS-CBN. The little fan girl in me is probably crying so hard right now. I grew up watching the kapamilya channel and almost all of their telseryes. “I will forever be…
In an interview with INQUIRER.net, 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado denied that the ABS-CBN franchise hearings are biased. “Hindi natin dapat sabihin na biased ‘yung hearing na ito. Lahat ng nagsabi niyan siguro nakalimutang manuod thoroughly ng hearing natin, ‘yan clearly ay fake news.” Sy-Alvarado chairs the committee that handles hearings on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal along with House committee on legislative franchises chair Palawan District Rep. Franz Alvarez. “Kinakausap natin ang anti kung sila ba ay may nararamdamang hindi patas na pagturing ng mga chairman. Kinakausap din natin madalas ang mga taga-pro kasama na ang ABS-CBN kung sila ba…