Despite having gone through a series of unfortunate events this year, Sharon Cuneta admitted that she has managed to remain strong. But what she couldn’t handle was the fact that ABS-CBN — her home network for several years — was denied a broadcast franchise in the middle of a pandemic.
“Pinagtanggol ang anak; siniraan, ginawan ng istorya, binaligtad, walang tigil na pambabash. Namatayan ng isa sa paboritong Tita, hindi man lamang nakita dahil nasa Amerika siya. Di mapuntahan at madamayan ang mga pinsan kong parang mga kapatid ko na sa pagmamahalan at pagdadamayan namin sa pagkamatay ng Mommy nila. Lumaban sa paninira ng dating kaibigan, pero pinatawad din dahil lahat naman maaaring magbago pa basta tapat sa puso niya,” she began.
“Lahat ng paninindigan, okay lang na may kokontra, pero hindi natural sa tao ang kumontra ng may pambabastos at napakasasakit na salita gayong di naman sila pinipilit na sumang-ayon, kundi rumespeto lang gaya ng noong araw,” she added.
Sharon, who has considered ABS-CBN her home for several years, lamented the way lawmakers treated the bosses of the network as well as the various accusations thrown against the media giant. Moreover, she couldn’t bear the decision of Congress to deny ABS-CBN a franchise despite its promise to become better.
“Pinadaan pa sa 13 pandinig ang mga Boss namin sa ABS-CBN na ang ilan, hindi lahat, pero ang ilan sa Congreso ay kung kausapin sila ay pasigaw at parang mga kriminal na mamamatay tao na halos ang mga kausap. Parang paulit-ulit lang ang mga tanong pero sinagot ng mapagkumbaba, disente, umamin sa mali at nangako sa harap ng milyong-milyong Pilipino na babaguhin ang mali. Wala namang kahit sinong kumpanya o tao ang perpekto. Tapos, napakabilis pala lang ng desisyong huwag bigyan ng prangkisa ang ABS-CBN,” she stated.
Sharon likewise lashed out at Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa for his statement telling ABS-CBN employees to find a new job in the middle of a pandemic.
READ: Hanap ng ibang trabaho? Arjo Atayde responds to Bato Dela Rosa: ‘Mauna ka’
She stated: “May isang Senador na nagsabing maghanap na lang daw ng bagong trabaho ang 11,000 mahigit na empleyadong may mga pamilyang apektado ng pagkawala ng hanapbuhay na ito, gayong may mga 16 million na yatang Pilipino ang nawalan ng trabaho at maraming negosyo na ang napilitang magsara sanhi ng COVID-19. Saan at paano hahanap ng trabaho?”
The 54-year-old actress, dubbed the Megastar, also shared that she had a misunderstanding with ABS-CBN in the past but has managed to sort things out. She likewise revealed that she should have already started taping for the new season of Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids had the COVID-19 pandemic not happen.
“Ako po ilang taon nang walang show sa ABS-CBN, nagkatampuhan din kami noon. Pero kundi sa COVID-19, nagsimula na sana ang bagong season ng Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids,” she shared.
While she feels for the suffering of the network, Sharon admits that she also understands the plight of the former workers of ABS-CBN who appeared before the Congressional hearings.
“Ganoon naman kami - may kanya-kanyang show sa kanya-kanyang panahon kasi iilang araw lang naman meron sa isang taon at ilang oras lang sa isang araw. Ayoko din ang napanood kong dinaanan ng ilang workers na di nabigyan ng kontrata at hanggang sa tinanggal ay temporary pa rin at biglaan pa. Sumama ang loob ko doon para sa kanila,” she said.
According to Sharon, she and Angel Locsin would’ve reached out to the bosses of ABS-CBN to help sort things out had they been given a chance.
“Pero kung nabigyan ako at nila Angel ng pagkakataon, sana nakausap namin ang mga Boss at kahit paano ay nakatulong kami sa ilang daang mga Kuya naming alam namin kung gaano kahirap ang mga naging trabaho. Sana nabigyan pa ng pagkakataon ang mga namamahala na itama lahat ng pagkakamali,” she said.
The acclaimed singer and actress was likewise all praises to the President and CEO of ABS-CBN, Carlo Katigbak for his leadership and service for the company.
“Si Sir Carlo Katigbak hindi pa gaanong katagal naming Chairman, pero napamahal sa amin dahil napakabuti at mapagkumbaba talagang tao. At magaling. He ran a very tight ship while he ran our station. And I am so proud to have been able to serve under him,” she stated.
She went on: “Respeto lang ang ipinakita niya sa akin. Sana nagkaroon pa siya ng maraming taon na pagandahin pa ang pagpapatakbo ng ABS-CBN. I told him in the beginning of the hearings that I WAS NOT GOING TO LEAVE MY CAPTAIN DURING THESE MOST TROUBLED TIMES. And I stayed loyal ‘til the end.”
On why it was only now that she has spoken on the issue, Sharon said she knew she won’t able to handle her emotions. She likewise stated could no longer take the kind of abuse her “home” has been receiving over the past couple of months, adding that she feels as if her family was killed and her home burned down.
“Ngayon lang ako nagpost tungkol dito kasi alam ko pag inumpisahan ko, iiyak ako, at dahil sunod-sunod na ang mga suntok na pinagtatanggap ko na di ko naman po inumpisahan, tapos tinadyakan pa kahit bagsak na, pinatay pa ang mga kapamilya ko,” she said.
She added: “Parang sinunog ang bahay namin. Parang pinatay na rin ang pamilya namin, lalo na ang 11,000 na hindi ganon ganon lang makakahanap ng trabaho ngayon lalo sa panahong ito. Sabi ko nga, personally, sa akin lang mag-isa, para akong nagulat na na-FPJ style na suntok na sunod-sunod na sinabayan pa ng mga ala Pacquiao na suntok din. Pero mabuti na rin ang sabay-sabay, para isang malaking SAKIT na lang.”
Admitting that she has learned to shove away the negativity, Sharon said she remains hopeful that everything will turn for the better in the end.
“Kaya okay ako, kahit na sabi nga ni Lupe, ‘gutay-gutay na’ ang puso ko. Pagod na po ako. Peace of mind and of existence na lang ang ine-enjoy ko ngayon. Di na ako nagpapaapekto sa negatibo. Salamat po sa lahat ng nagdasal at nagdadasal para sa akin. Salamat din po sa mga nagdasal at nagdadasal pa para sa ABS-CBN. Bilog po ang mundo. At buhay na buhay ang Diyos. Siya ang may hawak at may alam ng lahat ng mangyayari bukas.”
The decision to deny ABS-CBN a broadcast franchise comes after twelve hearings in Congress over the past two months.
ABS-CBN stopped broadcast operations on May 5, 2020 following a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).