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Amid ABS-CBN closure, remember to serve fellow Filipinos, Fr. Caluag tells public

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/tvpatrol/07/08/abs-cbn-shutdown-anniv-md-41.jpg" class="fr-dib" alt="The ABS-CBN compound lights up in the network’s colors on May 5, 2021, a year after the country&#x27;s telecoms body shut down ABS-CBN&#x27;s free TV and radio operations. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News" style="width:950px"/><figcaption>The ABS-CBN compound lights up in the network’s colors on May 5, 2021, a year after the country&#x27;s telecoms body shut down ABS-CBN&#x27;s free TV and radio operations. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA—The chaplain of ABS-CBN Corp. on Saturday urged the public to be faithful to their service and mission to the country, saying the rejection of the network&#x27;s franchise bid should only make them stronger.</p><p>In his homily during the Mass marking exactly a year that 70 House lawmakers rejected the broadcast network&#x27;s franchise application, Fr. Tito Caluag said the experience gave the Filipino community a &quot;renewed sense of purpose and a new sense of discernment.&quot;</p><p>&quot;As we look back in the past year, of course, there&#x27;s a lot of pain . . . that we felt when the franchise was denied and I think while we are going for that experience . . . and all of us were coming together and I remember that night the franchise was denied,&quot; Caluag said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles"><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/07/09/21/abs-cbn-franchise-rejection-timeline">READ: TIMELINE: The vote that killed ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise renewal bid</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Remember in the end, we must be very focused, and the focus is to serve the Filipinos no matter what the cost is. And we pray for that grace today, that the Lord may grant us the grace to see clearly the way forward.&quot;</p><p>The public should also look back at the network&#x27;s closure during Martial Law for inspiration and guidance, he said.</p><p>ABS-CBN&#x27;s iconic tagline &quot;In the Service of the Filipino&quot; should inspire everyone to serve the nation.</p><ul class="op-related-articles"><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/07/10/21/cmfr-abscbn-shutdown-chilling-effect">&#x27;Chilling effect&#x27; hit Philippine newsrooms in wake of ABS-CBN shutdown— veteran journalist</a></li><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/10/23/20/government-is-afraid-attacks-on-media-show-ph-govts-fear-of-accountability-journalists-say">&#x27;Government is afraid&#x27;: Attacks on media show PH govt&#x27;s fear of accountability, journalists say</a></li></ul><p>&quot;To realize that this moment over the past year is something that, in a sense, the predecessors of this community have gone through, and yet they were not crushed,&quot; Caluag said.</p><p>&quot;We realize that setbacks and disappointments will really break us, but it will not kill us. That is what we would like to continue to discern together.</p><p>&quot;I think the most important (thing), that brings everything together, is that you must give someone something to die for. And I pray that the past year has made it clear to each and everyone in our community, what is it that we are willing to die for, to sacrifice to be faithful to the mission.&quot;</p><p>ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, Chairman Mark Lopez, COO for broadcast Cory Vidanes were all present during the Mass.</p><p>On July 10 last year, lawmakers from the Duterte-dominated House of Representatives denied ABS-CBN&#x27;s fresh franchise application, causing thousands of retrenched employees as well as the deprivation of crucial information in far-flung areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>After the House committee voted to deny the network a fresh franchise, Katigbak said ABS-CBN was &quot;deeply hurt&quot; but stressed that the company remained &quot;committed to public service.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles"><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/07/09/21/abs-cbn-franchise-rejection-execs-defend-company">LOOK BACK: ABS-CBN execs defend company in franchise bid</a></li></ul><p>&quot;We remain committed to public service, and we hope to find other ways to achieve our mission. Together with our employees and our audiences all over the world, we share in your sadness over this setback. We look forward to the day when we can again reunite under our broadcast,&quot; Katigbak said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ys40AnqT5lY?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>

<p>Caluag said what ABS-CBN went through with the denied franchise should give Filipinos a "renewed sense of purpose and a new sense of discernment."</p>

Caluag said what ABS-CBN went through with the denied franchise should give Filipinos a "renewed sense of purpose and a new sense of discernment."

Amid ABS-CBN closure, remember to serve fellow Filipinos, Fr. Caluag tells public

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Amid ABS-CBN closure, remember to serve fellow Filipinos, Fr. Caluag tells public

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 10, 2021 07:32 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 04, 2024 09:21 AM PHT

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ABS-CBN franchise

Tito Caluag

Fr. Tito Caluag

ABS-CBN franchise renewal

ABS-CBN shutdown

ABS-CBN Corp

House of Representatives

July 10 2020

ABS-CBN franchise denial

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