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Ricky Lee: ABS-CBN did not sign off in hearts of Filipino viewers

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<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wk56NB32idY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>MANILA -- Even when ABS-CBN went off-air for the first time in decades on Tuesday night, the Philippines&#x27; biggest media network did not sign off in the hearts of its Filipino viewers and supporters, according to a multi-awarded screenwriter.&quot;I appreciate and believe ako sa ABS-CBN, dahil kita ko na nung nag-sign off siya, ang lakas ng tiwala niya sa kaniyang manonood. Na maski nag-sign off siya, hindi nag-sign off ang ABS-CBN sa kaniyang manonood,&quot; Ricky Lee, a veteran screenwriter, journalist and novelist, told ANC on Thursday.(I appreciate and believe in ABS-CBN, because when I saw it sign off, it had a big trust in its viewers that even it signed off. Even it went off-air, ABS-CBN did not sign off for the viewers.)&quot;Tuloy-tuloy pa rin siyang nakakonekta sa kaniyang mga manonood, maski na nag-sign off sila.&quot;(It continues to connect to its viewers, even after it went off air.)Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Telecommunications Commission ordered ABS-CBN on Tuesday to “cease and desist” (CDO) from broadcasting on television and radio, one day after the company’s 25-year operating franchise expired.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/05/20/abs-cbn-to-go-off-air-in-compliance-with-ntc-order">ABS-CBN to go off air in compliance with NTC order</a></li></ul>Solicitor General Jose Calida on Sunday warned the NTC against issuing a temporary permit to operate for ABS-CBN.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/06/20/calida-pressed-ntc-to-issue-cease-and-desist-order-vs-abs-cbn-document-shows">Calida pressed NTC to issue cease and desist order vs ABS-CBN, document shows</a></li></ul>Even though ABS-CBN&#x27;s shutdown was &quot;disappointing and frustrating,&quot; it was also inspiring, said Lee.&quot;I saw so much support, inspiration sa mga katrabaho, sa mga kaibigan, sa mga hindi kakilala. Ang dami-dami kong nababasa at naririnig na sumusuporta sa ABS-CBN at kumokondena dun sa ginawang pag-shutdown sa kaniya sa ganitong panahon,&quot; he said.(I saw so much support, inspiration from colleagues, friends and strangers. I read and hear about lots of people supporting ABS-CBN and denouncing its shutdown during this crisis.)&quot;Nakakalakas ng loob.&quot;(It&#x27;s encouraging.)Lee said the government is hellbent on silencing people and companies who tell and show stories against it, even as the pandemic persists.&quot;&#x27;Yun ang gusto nila eh, tayong mga nagsusulat, gumagawa ng kwento e manatili sa dilim para ang maririnig ng nagbabasa at ng mga nanonood ay &#x27;yung mga gusto nilang iparating na mga kwento, which is usually &#x27;di totoong kwento,&quot; he said.(That&#x27;s what they want, that we who write, make stories will remain in the dark so that what viewers and audiences hear and watch will be the government&#x27;s stories, which are usually not true.)&quot;Gusto nilang nasa dilim tayo.&quot;(They want us in the dark.)ABS-CBN&#x27;s online platforms will thrive amid the shutdown since Filipinos, especially the network&#x27;s supporters, will find other sources of information and entertainment from it, Lee said.&quot;I think &#x27;yung mga taga-tangkilik ng ABS-CBN pupunta &#x27;yun dun sa iWant, sa ANC at sa mga iba&#x27;t iba pang platforms ng ABS-CBN,&quot; he said.(I think supporters of ABS-CBN will go to iWant, ANC and other platforms of ABS-CBN.)iWant, ABS-CBN&#x27;s video streaming service and app, delivers entertainment content to internet users. ANC, or the ABS-CBN News Channel, continues to broadcast as the NTC order does not cover cable news channels.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/05/20/which-abs-cbn-businesses-can-still-operate-after-ntcs-cease-and-desist-order">Which ABS-CBN businesses can still operate after NTC&#x27;s cease and desist order?</a></li></ul>Amid the government&#x27;s actions against media entities who speak against it, Lee said this is the right time for writers and tell stories.&quot;Mas mahalaga ang papel ng kwento sa panahong ito.&quot;(Stories are more important in this time.)ABS-CBN has asked the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order to stop the implementation of the CDO.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/07/20/abs-cbn-asks-supreme-court-for-tro-vs-ntc-closure-order">ABS-CBN goes to Supreme Court for broadcast resumption</a></li></ul>Media entities and rights groups have slammed the government for its action against ABS-CBN, calling it &quot;suppression of freedom&quot; and a prelude to dictatorship in the Philippines.Several senators and lawmakers, including pro-administration members of both houses of Congress, have called on the NTC to rescind its order against the network.

Even when ABS-CBN went off-air for the first time in decades on Tuesday night, the Philippines' biggest media network did not sign off in the hearts of its Filipino viewers and supporters, according to a famed screenwriter.

Even when ABS-CBN went off-air for the first time in decades on Tuesday night, the Philippines' biggest media network did not sign off in the hearts of its Filipino viewers and supporters, according to a famed screenwriter.