Celebrities Angel Locsin, Enchong Dee, and Bea Alonzo, who starred as the Salazar siblings in the 2013 cult-favorite Four Sisters and a Wedding, have already shown their support for home network ABS-CBN amid the challenges it is facing regarding its franchise renewal.
Angel, who played Alex in the movie, took to social media to explain the consequences and implications of the threat against the network.
In her latest Instagram post, Angel said, “Isang pakiusap. Think before you click,” which was the title of a GMA Network information campaign.
“Mga cameramen, utility, art department, technical department, production, actors, directors, caterers, producers, lightmen, crew, tents, etc.. Mga ilan sa libo-libong tao sa loob ng isang network. KAMI po ang ABS-CBN,” Angel wrote as a caption to her photo with ABS-CBN people, who work behind the camera.
“Sa ilang taon ko po sa ABS-CBN, nakilala at minahal ko ang mga tao dito. I have listened and known their stories — kung anong mga pinag-iipunan nila, magkano pa ang utang, sino ang nagkasakit… lahat pinagpapaguran para po sa pamilya nila,” she added.
The actress said she loves everyone at the network and considers them as family.
“Mahal ko sila at hindi po ito drama kundi kung sino po ang mas magdurusa sa sitwasyong ito. Bago po tayo magsalita, isiping mabuti kung makakasira ba ito ng buhay ng napakaraming tao. Kung ito ho ba ang tamang solusyon?” Angel said.
“Kung meron pong pagkakamali man, gawin po nating tama. Hindi po ang pagpapasara ng isang network ang makakatulong sa amin at sa pamilya po namin. We have families that rely on us kagaya nyo rin po. Konting pag-unawa lang po. Isang pakiusap,” she added.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8dTgDpFa3R/?igshid=wiu1e5j46y2m
In the Four Sisters and a Wedding movie, it was Angel’s character Alex who dragged a woman, portrayed by Mocha Uson, by her hair after Alex caught her boyfriend, Chad (Bernard Palanca), kissing the woman.
Alex’s siblings even helped her get even.
Ironically, in real life, Mocha, who is an ardent supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is supporting the shut down of ABS-CBN — the opposite of Angel’s advocacy.
Enchong, who starred as CJ in the film, posted his thoughts on ABS-CBN’s franchise woes on Twitter.
In his tweet, the actor urged his fellow artists to speak up not only because their job is on the line but because it’s their duty as Filipinos to fight for democracy.
“I always tell people that ‘Artists should be the first line of defense of our democracy’, people tend to agree, but most do nothing about it or get reprimanded for saying something political,” Enchong said.
“Very few listen and even fewer are brave enough to stand their ground because of their ‘reputation’. Now that ABS-CBN (my home for almost 15 years) is being wrongly accused of so many things… I am angry. I am sad. I am bothered,” he went on.
He further said: “But again, this is not the first time that we will pass through a dark tunnel. I know that we will rise together stronger than ever before kasama ng libo-libong empleyado ng ABS-CBN. I am a Filipino first and my job comes second. Let’s be vigilant not only because our jobs are in peril but mainly because we are Filipinos fighting for the democracy and Constitution of our country.”
“I know after this post, paid trolls would attack me but I stand firm with my beliefs and I am not afraid to lose my little popularity,” the actor added.
#AkoLangTo pic.twitter.com/8zSbWdHoOJ
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) February 12, 2020
Bea, who played Bobbie in the film, simply wrote on her Instagram, “Kapamilya.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8YbzRflCkZ/?igshid=1a657qpbd9hjw
The two other Salazar siblings, Teddie (Toni Gonzaga) and Gabbie (Shaina Magdayao), have remained mum on the issue.
It can be recalled that Toni and her younger sister Alex attended a private dinner at Malacañang Palace with President Rodrigo Duterte last May.
Toni also supported former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his vice-presidential run in the 2016 elections.
For her part, singer-actress Angeline Quinto, who starred as the “chararat girl” – the girlfriend of CJ in the movie, has also expressed support for ABS-CBN.
On her Twitter account, Angeline wrote: “Ipaglalaban po namin ang estasyon na nagbigay ng magandang buhay sa Pamilya namin. Kaya nga Kapamilya di po ba!”
Ipaglalaban po namin ang estasyon na nagbigay ng magandang buhay sa Pamilya namin. Kaya nga Kapamilya di po ba!
— Angeline Quinto (@LoveAQuinto) February 10, 2020
Netizens react
Meanwhile, a lot of netizens have aired their opinions on the statements and “no reactions” of the Salazar siblings.
Here’s what they said:
“Iba talaga sina CJ, Bobbie at Alex Salazar palaban at may paninindigan.”
Iba talaga sina CJ, Bobbie at Alex Salazar palaban at may paninindigan pic.twitter.com/2sBjYpOlLX
— Flow Galindez (@FlowGalindez) February 12, 2020
“Bobbie Salazar, FYI, this is CHARARAT! We expected more from you considering you’re a Corporate Communications Manager required to have an extensive vocabulary, who never uses inane and poorly worded language like ‘black sheep’ and ‘old maid’ to describe the people she just met.”
Bobbie Salazar, FYI, this is CHARARAT! We expected more from you considering you’re a Corporate Communications Manager required to have an extensive vocabulary, who never uses inane and poorly worded language like "black sheep" and "old maid" to describe the people she just met. pic.twitter.com/rg2hal0irj
— ricci (@ricci_richy) February 12, 2020
“👏👏👏 Nasaan na yung isang Salazar sister na umattend ng dinner sa Malacañang? Ang tahimik ha.”
https://twitter.com/erf_da/status/1227579484997476352?s=19
“Calling Alex and Bobbie Salazar pasabunot at pakaladkad ulit pls.”
calling Alex and Bobbie Salazar pasabunot at pakaladkad ulit pls https://t.co/J0clLtKkT1
— Hans Joren (@ComicHansMS) February 12, 2020
“One of the bravest statements that I’ve read. He spoke not only as an artist of ABS-CBN but also as a Filipino. Now I get it kung bakit favorite ni mama si Rebreb. P.S. Naghihintay ako ng statements ng Salazar sisters.”
https://twitter.com/binibining_alyy/status/1227553548910710785?s=19
“Sarap ulet sana ipasabunot sa Salazar sisters. 🤣🥴”
https://twitter.com/roeljohngn/status/1227516531715633157?s=19
“Gaga talaga ‘tong si Mocha. Baka gusto mong mabugbog ulit ng mga Salazar sisters? Tang**a.”
Gaga talaga ‘tong si Mocha. Baka gusto mong mabugboh ulit ng mga Salazar sisters? Tangina https://t.co/ODyy2nI5LX
— al (@aljaykol) February 12, 2020
“Bitter parin na kinaladkad kasi siya ni Alex nung nahuli siya ng Salazar Sisters na pumupokpok. Fitting lang kasi talaga ung role gurl.”
https://twitter.com/sabspasco/status/1227392109553975296?s=19
“Aba define oligarchs muna teh 🤮 mas totoo pa yung tagline ng ABS-CBN na ‘In the Service of the Filipinos’ kaysa sa serbisyo ng gobyerno—ops, mga totoong oligarchs. Pasok Ms. Alex Salazar para makaladkad ulit ‘tong nag cameo sa movie niyong four sisters and a wedding. 🤮”
https://twitter.com/zhamayyyzing_/status/1227340785948884992?s=19
“Te sarap mo ipakaladkad sa Salazar Sisters ulit!!”
Te sarap mo ipakaladkad sa Salazar Sisters ulit!! #IStandWithABSCBN https://t.co/pNCnegdvKb
— Edralyn (@edralynnjeww) February 11, 2020
“Calling the salazar sisters specially alex @143redangel gusto ko yung mas intense sana yung mas malala sa una. Ha ha.”
https://twitter.com/danedc_/status/1227229575882530817?s=19
Bills calling for the ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal has remained pending at the Congress.
The network’s franchise will expire on March 30.