Last night, the country held its breath as one of its top broadcasting networks signed off. Several personalities expressed their sorrow and frustration over the cease-and-desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that forced the station to end their radio and TV broadcasts. In their last hour, the station gave their final appeal to the administration and the public. Tears were shed and rallying cries dominated on-air and on social media. Throughout this, however, some netizens were quick to react to #NoToABSCBNShutdown posts from Kapamilya stars who previously aired their support towards the president and his administration.
In fact, there were Twitter users listing the names of these station talents who they believed were “complicit” to the shutdown exactly because of how “friendly” these personalities were to the administration. For example: President Rodrigo Duterte hosted a dinner party last year as a “thanksgiving for artists who support the President.” ABS-CBN released photos of some of the attendees such as Toni and Alex Gonzaga, “It’s Showtime” hosts Vhong Navarro and Ryan Bang, Bayani Agbayani, John Lloyd Cruz and Robin Padilla. With receipts like these in tow, netizens called out these celebs under their posts.
In response to, Alex Gonzaga’s crying emojis tweet, netizens said that her support enabled the shutdown and that she should take a stand against it.
The internet was also not having her sister Toni Gonzaga’s Instagram story on the sign-off that was filled with crying and broken heart emojis.
However, the actress did reshare a “Para sa #MalayangPamamahayag” clip on her account and wrote #IStandwithABSCBN on the caption.
Plenty also poked fun at outspoken Duterte supporter Robin Padilla. The action star’s Instagram post was full of incredulous replies from people who couldn’t believe his reaction to the shutdown. On Twitter, users were saying that it was a prime example of a “man vs. himself” conflict and how he’s not getting their sympathy.
ABS-CBN reporters also weren’t exempt from the backlash. Netizens brought back this tweet of a satire page posted in February about the silence of some station journalists.
Doris Bigornia also made a tearful statement on DZMM but netizens weren’t convinced when they remembered how the president confirmed that she was once offered but declined the position of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) but declined. Bigornia was on good terms with the president back when she was covering during the 2016 presidential campaign period. Duterte once said in a media interview, “What is beauty? Beauty is like Doris Bigornia.”
Meanwhile, many were shocked when Noli de Castro (whose daughter Kat de Castro was appointed board director at the People’s Television Network) said at the end of yesterday’s TV Patrol newscast that the shutdown was an attack on democracy. But it turns out, news chief Ging Reyes wrote those final words.
While there were celebs who didn’t share their sentiments on the franchise renewal, there were those like Angelica Panganiban who had become more vocal and bolder by the day.
Are we going to see more personalities of Philippine show business taking stronger stances on matters of public interest? Only time will tell.
Art by Dana Calvo
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