Charles Teves
ABS-CBN has been suffering the effects of having no franchise for over a year now, but Kapamilya artists believe that the shutdown proves how strong the network is like a “family.”
During a media conference of the latest Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) episodes, the artists involved shared concurring answers when asked what their thoughts were on ABS-CBN’s downfall.
Highly-acclaimed filmmaker Mae Cruz-Alviar will never forget that a congressional franchise last year rejected ABS-CBN’s bid for a franchise renewal, which resulted in billions of revenue loss. But she never left and instead continued working with the network.
“Masakit pa din kahit one year na siya. What you gotta do is just move on and show them that you’re still standing.
“You’re doing this not just for yourself but for everybody who’s still there and who still believes in us.”
To her, ABS-CBN is more than just a network, it is a family, and she’ll be with the members no matter what.
“This is not just a job, this is not just a company we work for, this is a family. You are there for your family and I will be here for my family.
“That’s keeping us going in spite of the difficulty of filming, the threat of COVID because you are also doing this to survive,” she said.
Director Jerry Lopez Sineneng thanks God for not allowing ABS-CBN to “die.”
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa DIyos naka survive tayo ng isang taon na walang prangkisa. Pero di nila napatay ang ABS-CBN.”
Despite the trying journey, ABS-CBN refused to get eliminated completely, he said.
“We are a family. We have formed a really strong family na kahit ganyang yung pagsubok, nag hawak kamay, nag kapit-kapit. Kahit papaano, napatawid ang isang buong taon. Naitawaid naman siya ng matagumpay.
“Isang patunay lang talaga ay inalalalayan ng Diyos.” Sineneng added.
Iza Calzado, who said the script given was perfect for her, doesn’t think the network is actually thriving and not really surviving.
“One year later we’re still here. I’d like to think we’re thriving despite the loss of the franchise.
“I have to congratulate the network, everybody that’s working really hard to make this possible.”
ABS-CBN did not stop running programs despite the lack of a franchise because certain artists believe that the network will come back eventually.
And somehow, she believes the shutdown only made ABS-CBN “stronger.”
“It made us stronger. It has united all of us. Para sa industriya itong ginagawa natin.
“[It is] Very meaningful that we are doing this for our Kapamilyas. Thank you for this opportunity, deeply grateful for it.” Calzado said.
Heaven Peralejo, meanwhile promised she’d stay a Kapamilya regardless of what happens.
“Sobrang galing talaga ng ABS kasi hanggang ngayon andito pa rin tayo.
“All I can say is I will always be loyal to my family.”
Zaijian Jaranilla is just “happy” that ABS-CBN is still competing and showing no signs of slowing down.
“Dito na ako lumaki sa ABS, dito na ako nakilala. Parang dito na ako nagka isip. So yung nangyari yun, syempre malungkot kasi lahat ng artista, mga nagtatrabaho sa ABS naapektuhan.
“Pero sobrang happy ako kasi kahit di na renew yung franchise nakakasurvive pa rin tayo.”
Shamaine Buencamino lauded ABS-CBN for not cutting corners considering “what they went through.”
“I’m just so proud of ABS-CBN because considering what they went through, they still do not cut corners. When it comes to being safe in production, yung SOP nila nakakaproud considering there’s not a lot of ads now, and they are not as financially robust like before, hindi pa rin sila nagtitipid when it comes to the safety and health of their people.”
The latest MMK story is titled Dialysis Machine, which is about a family that is plagued with chronic kidney disease.
MMK is aired every Saturday at 8:30 PM on the Kapamilya Channel at A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live YouTube channel, ABS-CBN Entertainment Facebook page, and iWantTFC.
