The day is May 5, 2020, a Tuesday.
It is all but normal. The pandemic is still around and the cases are fast rising. Uncertainties are also high as the lockdown still has no end in sight then. But to complete that crazy combo is the loss of a giant name in entertainment and information, two of the most vital things to keep people sane and updated through humanity’s darkest moment in years.
ABS-CBN, an institution of more than 66 years then. Touted also as the Philippines’ pioneer in television, the home of the biggest names in local showbusiness, and a dear ‘Kapamilya’ or family member for its loyal supporters. But in one momentous night, the network bade farewell and disappeared (albeit, briefly). The legion of channels and stations it had in the country had become silent all of a sudden. A moment many foresaw, but were still in disbelief when the sign off happened in real-time.
It was past 4:45pm. Channel 2, who was at that time airing provisional programming due to the imposed lockdown measures, interrupted its normal schedule. News Patrol with Jing Castañeda suddenly aired. No one knew what the news advisory was about. But there’s a weird feeling to it, especially when you’re aware that the network’s franchise expired the day prior. And so the unimaginable happened. The screen displays a line pertaining to the cease-and-desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
ABS-CBN, MOR, DZMM, and its regional TV and radio stations were ordered to close down immediately.
After a few moments, ABS-CBN still tried to carry on with the schedule and aired the remainder of the afternoon programming it had. However, a hookup of DZMM’s Dos Por Dos was also inserted in between, before TV Patrol unceremoniously kicked off at around 6:15pm. It was an utter scheduling chaos, reflective of how tense the situation is from all sides.
At that moment, TV Patrol ditched its usual fast-paced-all-bases-covered format and went with a special edition focusing on the developing story. At some point during that edition of the newscast, it was even mentioned that ABS-CBN will sign off at midnight. Later in the newscast, the bigwigs of the network appeared.
ABS-CBN Chairman Mark Lopez and ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak shared their piece to their viewers and appeal to those in power in the government. The words aimed to calm the storm that wasn’t just in their Mother Ignacia studios, but also across the world, in the homes of the loyal Kapamilyas. It was also indeed a declaration that they will do all that they can to continue serving without their prized assets.
Social media was also abuzzed at that very moment. Almost everyone were sharing their up-to-the-minute sentiment, no matter which side they are on in this issue. ABS-CBN was the definite talk-of-the-town that night.
Going back to TV Patrol, the shutdown had began to sink in the minds of everyone watching. Just as the triumvirate of Ted Failon, Bernadette Sembrano, and Noli de Castro were reading their extros, many were still speculating about “what’s going after the show?” and whether “ABS-CBN will defy the order.” But the cloud was cleared when Failon said that the network only needed a few minutes advise their viewers on what was happening and to shut their equipment off. Clearly, ABS-CBN will be gone after Patrol.
Gone? Actually, no. In the last few sentences of his monologue (written by ABS-CBN News chief Ging Reyes), De Castro declared that the network will not back down on its devotion to provide service to the public, despite being not on air on channel 2 after that night. Powerful words that would later serve as the northern star for the company moving forward.
After a brief shot of the ABS-CBN Compound, TV Patrol signed off for the evening. A video message created for the celebration of ABS’s 65th anniversary was played out, showing how they were able to touch the lives of many Filipinos anywhere throughout their existence.
After that, ABS-CBN’s resident voiceover Peter Musñgi delivered a few words of thanks for their loyal viewers through the years. Following that, ABS-CBN’s National Anthem video was played, and the final station notice came after it.
“This is ABS-CBN Corporation Channel 2, In the Service of the Filipino. Now signing off.”
And at 7:52pm, the channel’s feed faded to black. No sound, no colored bars, just a plain black screen. A color that symbolizes the darkness that the station and country faced and continue to experience up to this day.
To take an inspiration from the extro line used in Bandila, ABS-CBN’s former flagship late-night program, Cinco de Mayo, Dos Mil Bente. Isang araw na nakatatak na sa ating kasaysayan.