Thursday, December 31, 2020
DIGONG LEADS NATION IN WELCOMING NEW MILLENNIUM
President Rodrigo Duterte will join the masses as he leads the nation in 2021 at a New Year's Eve celebration tonight at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, where he is expected to deliver his message for peace and prosperity.
The President, will stay briefly at the Manila Hotel, a hundred meters from the venue of the festivities, to await his part in the program. He will lead in the countdown of the last seconds of 2020, and then deliver his remarks welcoming the New Year.
A concelebrated mass with Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, as the main celebrant will be held prior to the final countdown for the new century.
Before the President's appearance on stage, there will be prayers to be said by representatives from the Catholic Church, the Muslim religion, Protestants, Iglesia ni Kristo, and the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan).
Members of the El Shaddai Prayer Partners Foundation will lead in the traditional "Kapit-Bisig" number as a show of unity among the people. This will be followed by the release of thousands of red, white and blue balloons the colors of the Philippine flag.
Fireworks will also follow the President's New Year countdown and New Year speech.
To provide music during the program is a 120-piece symphony orchestra and a 200-man choir to be provided by ABS-CBN television, which will also broadcast the program live on Channel 2.
Pope Francis' New Year's message to the Filipino people will be read during the "Misa Milenya" mass following a procession of selected images of the Blessed Mother, the country's patroness.
Following the midnight rites, the President, will proceed to the Manila Hotel to join their children and special guests in welcoming the first day of the New Year, a New Year's Eve tradition of the Duterte family dating back to his first years in public service.
3 Ways To Make Next Year Better Than This One
Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Deuteronomy 32:7
Another year is history, and the firm but often unseen hand of God has written another chapter in the history of mankind. Like the knots in a sailor's rope, or the trickle of sand through the hourglass, or the fenceposts along the highway, the coming of a new year is a marker in your life, in everyone's life. Interested in making this coming year better than the one past? Then today's three guidelines are just for you. Three phases: forget, remember, and press on.
Guideline #1: Forget the past. The cry "remember" is militant, and there are some things you need to remember, but there are other things which must be forgotten. Like what? Like your mistakes and failures, like your sins which are confesses and forgiven. Forget your sorrows and disappointments, because they grow only heavier with each year you carry them.
Some folks live in a world of broken pieces and constantly dwell on their hurts and wrongs, the short end of the bargain, the way someone cheated them out of an inheritance, the rejection they experiences from someone they loved. All these things are painful, but healing cannot take place until they are put behind you and essentially forgotten.
Paul stressed the importance of learning to forget, saying, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the price for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13,14). If you can't forget, which may mean forgiving, as well, you will go through the year bearing a burden which will certainly rob you of your joy. The taste of revenge is never sweet nor worth what it costs in peace of mind and heart.
Guideline #2: Remember. In God's Word, the Bible, we are told to remember about twice as many things as we are told to forget. In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses wrote, "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years…" (8:2). Again he urged, "Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past…" (Deuteronomy 32:7).
One of the reasons the memory capacity of our mind isn't so great is that we are always focusing on present needs rather than past victories; yet it builds our faith to remember the way God has met us in the past. Remember when you were hospitalized and God met you, when your son or daughter was in trouble and you prayed and God heard you? Remember when you were broke and unemployed and God sent a gift to meet your need?
Now if God met you yesterday, why can't you believe Him for today? Try to remember that God never grows weary, that He knows your needs far better than even you yourself, that He knows when to answer your prayer and when it is best to let you learn the lesson of patient trust.
Guideline #3: Press forward with the Lord. Problems and pressures will do one of two things: they will drive you further from the Lord or else they will gently push you toward Him. It all depends on where you put yourself relationship to the problem. Remember, dads, when your children were small, how you would take them for a walk along toward the sunset? They would run ahead of you, not wanting to stay with you, until it grew dark. Then, presently, a little hand would reach up for your larger hand, and the darker it grew, the closer they wanted to stay by your side. That is the way it can be in the coming year. Who knows what the year may bring forth? But when you hold the hand of Him who holds the world, what need is there for worry?
Resource reading: Deuteronomy 8:1-11
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/3-ways-to-make-next-year-better-than-this-one/
#ABSCBNShutdown: How Philippines ended its leading broadcast network amid pandemic
One of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines faced the end of its longtime service to Filipinos when it was forced to shut down in 2020, leaving thousands of its employees jobless in the middle of a pandemic and global crisis.
On July 10, embattled ABS-CBN failed to secure its application for franchise renewal after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises voted 70-11, junking the network’s bid to return on air.
Apart from its flagship ABS-CBN channel, the Lopez-owned network also operates other brands such as ABS-CBN Sports and Action, DZMM Teleradyo, cable channels ABS-CBN News Channel or ANC, Cinema One, Jeepney TV, Knowledge Channel, Metro Channel, Myx, and global channel TFC.
The network also started offering digital TV boxes that carry KBO, a channel airing Filipino movies.
However, this was one of the two issues Solicitor General Jose Calida raised before the Supreme Court (SC) when he asked the high court to revoke the franchise of ABS-CBN, which by that time was set to expire on May 4, 2020.
The issue with the network and its owner, the Lopezes, and the government has stemmed a long way before the current administration.
Here is the timeline of events from the broadcast giant’s beginnings to its saga of franchise renewal:
February 24, 1957: Lawyer and businessman Eugenio Lopez Sr. acquired then Alto Broadcasting System owned by Aleli and Tony Quirino, the brother of former President Elpidio Quirino. This leads to the merger of ABS and Chronicle Broadcasting Network or CBN.
September 21, 1972: ABS-CBN, along with other broadcasting networks, was forced to shut down operations after then-President Ferdinand Marcos puts the entire nation under martial law.
September 16, 1986: The network finally resumed daily broadcasts nearly seven months after a “people power” revolt toppled the Marcos regime.
March 30, 1995: Former President Fidel Ramos signed Republic Act 7966 or otherwise known as an act granting the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation a franchise to construct, install, operate and maintain television and radio broadcasting stations in the Philippines granted the network its franchise until 4 May 2020.
September 11, 2014: Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao filed House Bill 4997, the first attempt to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise ahead of its March 2020 expiration. This does not get past the committee level.
June 11, 2016: ABS-CBN issued a statement in response to a newspaper report, stating that the network had applied for a new franchise in September 2014, but had to withdraw the application “due to time constraints.”
May 5, 2016: A 30-second political ad showing children raising questions about then Presidential candidate Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s foul language was aired on ABS-CBN and it explained it was “duty-bound to air a legitimate ad” based on election rules.
May 6, 2016: Former Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte’s then running mate for the presidential elections, gets a Taguig court to issue a temporary restraining order stopping ABS-CBN from airing TV commercials against Duterte.
November 10, 2016: Nueva Ecija Representative Micaela Violago filed House Bill 4349 seeking to renew the network’s franchise for a fresh 25-year. This was followed by a similar bill drafted by brothers Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles and PBA Party-List Rep. Jericho Nograles. Both remain at the committee level.
March 30, 2017: President Duterte first publicly lashed out at ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, calling the broadcast network “trash” and the newspaper “bullshit” over what he claimed was their unfair reporting.
April 27, 2017: Duterte accused ABS-CBN of “swindling” after the network failed to air a campaign ad he paid in 2016. He then threatened to block the network’s franchise bid.
August 30, 2018: Representatives Karlo Nograles and Jericho Nograles filed House Bill 8163 seeking to renew the network’s franchise.
November 8, 2018: Duterte once again cursed ABS-CBN’s chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez and reiterated his desire to reject the renewal of the network’s franchise.
July 1, 2019: The House Bill 4349 lapsed and was refiled by Violago in the 18th congress as HB 676 and signed by 20 more co-authors. Ten other bills are filed to give ABS-CBN a fresh legal mandate.
July 28, 2019: Senator Ralph Recto files a similar bill to extend ABS-CBN’s franchise for another 25 years. Detained former Sen. Leila De Lima later asked to be the co-author of the measure.
December 3, 2019: Duterte again said he will personally “see to it” that ABS-CBN will be out of business in 2020. He urged its owners, the Lopezes, to just sell the network.
February 10, 2020: The Office of Solicitor General Jose Calida filed before the Supreme Court a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN for allegedly violating their franchise. He also claimed the network allowed foreign owners to control the company by selling Philippine Depositary Receipts to them and offering KBO as an entirely new TV channel.
The network denied the said allegations and was asked by the high court to submit a response in 10 days.
February 12, 2020: Sen. Grace Poe called for a hearing of her public services committee to look into ABS-CBN’s “compliance” with its 1995 franchise after the House remains unmoved by the franchise application.
Committee Vice-Chairman Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano Jr. also apologized to the estimated 11,000 workers of ABS-CBN for delays in discussing the franchise renewal.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano then vowed that the House will be “impartial” in tackling ABS-CBN’s franchise.
February 14, 2020: Despite staging bigger rallies, Cayetano said conducting hearings on the network’s franchise application was “not that urgent.”
February 18, 2020: Calida asked the Supreme Court to issue a gag order on ABS-CBN and “parties and persons acting on its behalf” and cited a digital explainer outlining the issues he raised in his quo warranto petition and the company’s response.
ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. were given up to five days from receipt of the new petition to submit their response to the gag order plea.
February 24, 2020: Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said before the Senate Committee on Public Services that the National Telecommunications Commission can give a provisional authority for ABS-CBN to continue operating.
He noted that based on “equity,” the network should be allowed to stay on air even when its franchise expires on May 4, 2020.
ABS-CBN CEO and president Carlo Katigbak then clarified the unaired political ads. He also apologized for the negative ads, saying that it was not intended to offend the President.
February 26, 2020: The House Committee on Legislative Franchises asked the National Telecommunications Commission to issue a provisional authority for ABS-CBN’s continued operations while the chamber deliberated on its application for a new franchise.
In a speech, President Rodrigo Duterte accepted the network’s apology and told ABS-CBN to donate the PHP 2.9M political ad refund to charity
March 5, 2020: Lawyer Larry Gadon filed a “writ of prohibition” before the high court, questioning the House committee’s move instructing the NTC to grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN.
March 10, 2020: The Supreme Court deferred action on the Solicitor General’s petition seeking to take ABS-CBN off the air.
NTC also heeded Guevarra’s advice and told the House Committee on Legislative Franchises that it will issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN.
March 11, 2020: Congress goes on recess without passing any of the bills granting a fresh 25-year franchise to ABS-CBN.
May 3, 2020: On the eve of the expiration of ABS-CBN’s franchise, Calida warned the NTC officials that they may face graft charges if they issue a provisional permit to the network. He said such authority could be given only if there’s a valid legislative franchise.
May 4, 2020: ABS-CBN’s franchise expires. Malacañang said it will not interfere and will let the NTC decide.
May 5, 2020: The NTC issues a cease and desist order (CDO) against ABS-CBN’s television and broadcast operations, citing the network’s expired franchise.
In compliance with the order, the network officially went off the air at 7:52 PM.
May 13, 2020: The House of Representatives approves on second reading a bill granting a provisional franchise to ABS-CBN Corp, valid through October 2020.
May 26, 2020: The House held its first hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise bid, led by the Committee on Legislative Franchises, along with the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
June 1, 2020: The House joint panels tackle for the first time the citizenship of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, which was being tied to supposed violations in media ownership rules under the 1987 Constitution.
The Department of Justice said Lopez is a Filipino citizen from birth.
June 11, 2020: For its fifth hearing, the House panel focuses on the Philippine Depositary Receipts, or PDRs, issued by ABS-CBN.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. did not violate its regulations when it issued Philippine Deposit Receipts (PDRs).
June 17, 2020: During its seventh hearing, the lower chamber addressed claims on the legality of the media giant’s operation for more than the prescribed 50-year cap.
June 23, 2020: The Supreme Court dismissed the Solicitor General’s quo warranto petition questioning ABS-CBN Corp’s franchise for it was “moot and academic.”
It earlier junked a petition filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon on the ground of having “no legal standing.”
June 29, 2020: During the eighth hearing, the NTC said it would heed the advice of the Office of the Solicitor General to shut down the Kapamilya Channel, which airs some of ABS-CBN Corp’s shows through cable and satellite television.
June 30, 2020: The NTC issued alias cease-and-desist orders against ABS-CBN’s digital broadcast on TVPlus in Metro Manila, and SKY’s satellite broadcast nationwide.
July 1, 2020:ABS-CBN announced that TV Plus will also stop airing in areas outside Metro Manila.
July 2, 2020: At the continuation of the House hearings, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority debunked allegations that the network was using its subsidiaries overseas to avoid tax payments.
July 6, 2020: On its 12th and final hearing, the House joint panel covered alleged biases in the network’s reporting.
Former Health Secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin also grilled ABS-CBN’s news and current affairs for supposed unfair coverage of public health issues, including the Dengvaxia controversy.
Remulla also accused ABS-CBN of “cyberbullying” in the course of the franchise hearings.
July 10, 2020: Voting 70-11, lawmakers denied the embattled media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a fresh 25-year franchise.
September 4, 2020: media giant ABS-CBN’s aggressive plans to build more AM and FM radio and analog and digital UHF and VHF television transmitting stations for the rest of the year got its initial big push having secured 30 permits from local government units in Luzon, Visayas and in Mindanao.
Information gaps during the wall-to-wall media coverage of typhoons that occurred in the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2020, particularly Masbate earthquake, Typhoon Molave (Quinta), Typhoon Goni (Rolly), Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) and Tropical Storm Krovanh (Vicky) - including the ensuing widespread floods in Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region and Caraga, were attributed to the ABS-CBN shutdown, with reports noting the void left by the closure of its provincial news bureaus and lack of a strong signal reach in provinces far from Manila.
October 24, 2020: ABS-CBN pays our deepest condolences to the families of the late director and loyal Kapamilya Al Quinn Pastrano he was passed away on this day at the age of 86 due to the CoVID-19 pandemic. Al was a director ABS-CBN's top-rated comedy sitcom Quizon Avenue (led by the King of Comedy Dolphy) and musical variety show Superstar (led by Superstar Nora Aunor) which was aired by RPN. He is also a director of some TV specials of the network such as Binibining Pilipinas and Airtime Marketing specials such as PMPC Star Awards (both in movies and television franchise), Box Office Entertainment Awards, FAMAS and Metro Manila Film Festival (awards night).
November 27, 2020: ABS-CBN released the lyric video of Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya, its Christmas theme song featuring performances from 20 Kapamilya stars. The lyric video debuted during ABS-CBN’s newscast TV Patrol, after its advanced release earlier at noon on iWant TFC.
