A Catholic faithful's stand on ABS-CBN Shutdown and freedom of the press

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On May 5, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) released a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN (Alto Broadcasting Station - Chronicle Broadcasting Network), after its broadcasting franchise was expired last May 4, 2020. This order seeks to shutdown its television and radio (DZMM and MOR) broadcasting operations which the network complied that night.

What happened that night in my opinion is the pinnacle of oppression in our modern society where freedom of speech, expression, thought, information access and freedom of the press are recognized as part of man's basic freedoms.  It was from these freedoms that our blog and other forms of Catholic alternative media that we watch, read or hear today exists that upholding these values in order to disseminate information to our audiences.

As a communications graduate, we are taught on how media plays a vital in our society not only in shaping our opinions and actions in our daily lives, but also acts as the so-called fourth estate to monitor the country's government thru the delivery of news and provide comprehensive commentaries on the different situations the country faced over the years. This sudden move by the government has a chilling effect not only in mainstream media, but to the alternative media as well for this violates the freedoms that we currently enjoy in our modern society.

The network not only served the Filipino nation by providing news and entertainment, the network also served the Philippine Catholic Church through its shows and programs instilling good Christian values to the Filipinos by airing regular Sunday Masses, the Three o'clock prayer and other prayers every day and inspirational television shows from "May Bukas Pa", "100 days to heaven", "Nathaniel", "Honesto" among others as part of their programming.

The sudden shutdown of the country's largest network also affected its 11,000 and more workers from its executives, news anchors, actors, performers, radio personalities, creatives, producers, broadcast operators down to the utilities personnel who suddenly find themselves and their careers on the line which adds to the problems that the country is facing due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. I personally knew some workers of the network from my batch mates in college, friends and professors who are now facing this unjust uncertainty in their lives and it is painful to this kind of injustice inflicted upon them. What is more concerning is that some deluded Filipino are enjoying at this tragedy without considering the jobs of these people are at risk of losing their livelihood, which is definitely unchristian, all in the name of satisfying their egos in support the present oppressive regime.

I am putting out this statement in this blog because it is our duty as Catholics to stand for truth and justice and be its defenders as Our Lord teaches us. I do not side any political parties for we are ought to be "politically orphaned" and to stand for what is right and to defend what Our Lord has given us.

With this in mind, I am joining the nationwide call to our government to hasten the renewal of the broadcasting franchise of ABS-CBN in order to continue its longtime commitment to serve the Filipino people by providing useful information and entertainment, especially in this time of crisis.

We pray also for those who are still in a state of haze who are enjoying at this tragic event that curtails our basic freedoms that they may one day realize their follies and be more responsible citizens of this democratic nation.

Our Lady of the Annunciation, pray for us!
St. Joseph, Patron of workers, pray for us!
St. Gabriel the Archangel, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, Patroness of Television, pray for us!
St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Titus Brandsma, Patron of Journalists, pray for us!

May 6, 2020
Feast of St. Dominic Savio

Post script: Unfortunately , the franchise of the network was denied by the House of Representatives on July 10, 2020 with 11 out of 70 votes who are in favor of the franchise renewal. Despite this major blow, the network continues to provide news, entertainment and telecast masses thru their cable channels and digital platforms. 

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