ABS-CBN’s third-party employees share their sentiments regarding the network’s forced shutdown

• Some are hopeful that they will still be employed but others can’t help but to get emotional as they needed to provide for their family.
• ABS-CBN has been off-air since May 5. 

With the National Telecommunications Commission’s issuance of a cease and desist order to ABS-CBN Corporation, more than 11,000 employees can possibly lose their jobs if the station’s franchise won’t be renewed.

But other than the thousands of employees, ABS-CBN also has third-party workers which they hire whenever a certain service is needed.

These people are not only unable to receive pay this time around but are also on the brink of being jobless.

In an interview aired TV Patrol, a few of them expressed their sentiments on the situation and how they’re coping with it.

Freelance set and events designer Myke Francis shared that ABS-CBN has been his main source of income as his job revolves around designing the overall look of the Kapamilya network’s shows and events.

Fred Baldon, who is Coco Martin’s stuntman on FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano also shared how ABS-CBN’s closure affected his life.

“Di naman kasi kami everyday meron o walang taping may sahod. So per taping din naman kami. Kumbaga kung may naitatabi man, di naman sigurong talagang malaki siya. Bilang stuntman kasi actually puhunan talaga namin katawan eh. Kaunting bali lang namin, problema na namin yan. Ang hirap talaga. Sobrang hirap. Pero dahil enjoy kami jan, hindi rin namin siya mabitawan,” he said.

Celebrity stylist Peter Lyle Foz added that the only hope they have right now is that they still have a job when everything is fixed.

“Ang naalis talaga is yung hope na meron kang mababalikang work… Yes may ipon. But you don’t know up to when ka makakahugot from your savings.”

In-house make-up artist Gina Manalac was emotional as she constantly needs to work hard just to provide for her family.

“Ang hirap. Siyempre work yun eh. Sobrang apektado hindi lang naman ako. Sa totoo lang, dati ha, araw-araw yan di ako natutulog. Araw-araw akong nagse-segway para lang mabigay ko yung kailangan ng pamilya. Lalong lalo na nung mga anak ko. Kaya sobrang sakit kasi eto yung pangalawang pamilya ko eh.”

ABS-CBN has been off-air since they received NTC’s memo on May 5.