Saturday, January 2, 2021
Central Luzon population to reach 12.6M in 2021
THE population of Central Luzon will reach a total of 12,609,535, according to projections by the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) in Central Luzon.
The increase, however, will be a slow pace, according to PopCom.
It added that the population will grow gradually by 1.63 percent by the start of 2021—an increase from 2020’s projection of 12,413,181 but a slower growth compared with a 2.13 percent population growth rate in 2016 and 1.81 percent between 2019 and 2020.
Among population groups, the most notable increase was observed within the working-age or Filipinos between 15 to 64 years old, which will reach 8,364,085 by next year, making up 66 percent of the entire Philippine population. The working population by 2021 will be composed of males at 4,250,284 and females at 4,113,761, with a difference of 136,523 between sexes.
This implies the need for additional job creation, particularly at the local level, which will be challenging given the current pandemic and its effects on the labor sector.
The increase in the working-age population also implies a demographic precondition for greater productivity, with additional members of the labor force compared to dependents, the region is slowly positioning itself to reap from the demographic dividend or the economic gains brought by shifts in a population’s age structure.
However, this demographic change must be reinforced by policies and programs that would ensure the needs of the labor force, as well as the dependents. Thus, the need for approaches not only on employment but also in healthcare, particularly in family planning and education.
Meanwhile, individuals belonging to the “dependent” population, consisting of those within 0 to 14 years old, as well as those 60 years of age and older (27 percent and 10 percent of the population, respectively), will increase by 59,765 in 2021 and have a total of 4,675,083. The constant increase of senior citizens in the region calls out for better interventions in terms of their needs for healthcare and well-being.
PopCom Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III stated the “need to focus on the needs of this vulnerable part of the population, as it is also an often-neglected sector.”
While projections show that the increase among younger dependents in the region aged 0 to 14 has slowed down from 8,888 additional members in 2020 to only 5,100 in 2021, there is a possibility that the increase of younger dependents may accelerate given the current pandemic, which brought community quarantine protocols, thereby affecting access to health centers and workers for family planning (FP) information and services. The constant increase of women of reproductive age who may reach 3,302,082 by 2021, which would be 26 percent of the total population, also amplified the need for intensified actions on family planning.
Before the pandemic, Central Luzon, based on the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), has more than 9 out of 100 women who have an unmet need for modern FP, while 2 out of 10 women are using temporary FP methods. The constant increase of women who are capable of childbearing and the possibility that FP users may not be resupplied with their FP needs are some of the causal factors of the possible increase of childbirths and increase in younger dependents by 2021, as projected by PopCom.
In the national situation, the University of the Philippines Population Institute and the United Nations Population Fund provided estimates of 2,560,000 unintended pregnancies in the Philippines, of which 751,000 are due to community quarantine-induced family planning service reductions.
Adolescents aged 10 to 19 are seen to have a slower increase of 11,285 by 2021 at 2,324,927 from the previous population of 2,313,642 in 2020. However, the increasing trends in cases of adolescent pregnancies in the region as reflected by regional reports before the pandemic still present another concern that local policy and decision-makers need to address. This is validated by UPPI and UNFPA which stated that unintended pregnancies from this age group in the country will reflect a 21.04% rise and is expected to reach 102,000 due to community quarantine-induced service reductions on family planning.
PopCom-Central Luzon has called for support in the implementation of the population management program in the region.
PopCom's estimates for 2021 are based on geometric method projections, using the last population census in 2015 by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Bill creating lone district of Butuan cited
Residents of Agusan del Norte welcomed the recent passage by the House of Representatives of a bill that proposes to transform Butuan City into a single congressional district.
The House voted 220-0 last month against House Bill 7771 that will incorporate the municipality of Las Nieves to the second district which currently comprises of Cabadbaran City and the municipalities of Buenavista, Carmen, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Magallanes, Nasipit, Remedios Trinidad Romualdez, Santiago, and Tubay.
Currently, Butuan and Nieves comprise the first district represented in the chamber by Rep. Lawrence Fortun.
Rep. Ma. Angelica M. Amante-Matba represents the second district.
Fortun and Matba authored HB 4123 that underscored the need to create the lone district of Butuan.
“Such reapportionment is consistent with sound management and governance and in keeping with the purpose and thrust of the provisions of the Constitution,” they said.
HB 7771 provides that the reapportionment of Agusan del Norte must take effect in the 2022 national and local elections.
Fortun and Matba will continue to represent their respective legislative districts until the expiration of their term of office next year.
The House Committee on Local Government chaired by Tarlac Rep. Noel L. Villanueva strongly endorsed passage of the measure.
Authors recalled that Butuan used to be the capital of the province of Agusan which is now divided between Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte.
Agusan del Norte retained Butuan City as its capital until it was reclassified into a Highly Urbanized City in 1985 and became separate and independent of the province. However, Butuan then could not qualify into a single legislative district because it lacked the population requirement of 250,000.
Cabadbaran City serves as the current capital of Agusan del Norte.
Matba noted that as of August 2015, the Philippine Statistics Authority confirmed that Butuan had a population of 337,063, which is 34.8 percent over the minimum population for it to become a congressional district.
“Butuan City, as a lone legislative district, can better pursue its development goals and meet its needs peculiar to its status as a Highly Urbanized City and Regional Center of the Caraga region,” authors of the measure explained.
Further, they noted that Las Nieves will be “fully restored under the rightful jurisdiction” of Agusan del Norte under the bill.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/02/bill-creating-lone-district-of-butuan-cited/
House continues legislative churn amid pandemic
The House of Representatives has ensured that the legislative mill is always churning amid a whirlwind of events ranging from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the tug-of-war for the speakership, and multiple disasters that all occurred in one year.
The lower chamber was able to process an average of 35 measures per day.
From July 22, 2019 to Dec. 16, 2020, the House processed a total of 2,598 measures during 74 session days, 40 of which were enacted into law, 16 transmitted to the President, and 453 approved on third and final reading.
Bayanihan laws, other Covid-19 mitigation measures
President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Congress for special powers to deal with the Covid-19 crisis in March, ranging from faster procurement of essential goods, provision of financial assistance to low-income households and other vulnerable sectors, regulation of transportation operations, to the realignment of public funds, among many others.
Congress heeded the call of the executive branch to convene a special session for the enactment of a law that was crucial to speed up government action and provide the bureaucracy with the needed flexibility, particularly in public budgeting.
It was the first time in the chamber’s history to hold a “virtual” session on March 23 to strictly observe social distancing measures amid the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
The measure was certified as urgent, thus allowing second and third reading approval within the same day.
The “Bayanihan to Heal As One Act” or Republic Act 11469 was inked by Duterte on March 24 but was only published in newspapers on March 25.
With Bayanihan 1 lapsing on June 25, the President called on Congress to pass the proposed “Bayanihan to Recover as One” law or the Bayanihan 2 to help speed up the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
The second installment of the Bayanihan Act will supplement funds amounting to PHP165.5 billion for recovery and response against the impact of the pandemic.
The largest chunk of the budget was allotted to loans for sectors hit by the pandemic, such as micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises, transport, tourism, and agriculture.
It also provided for the government's Covid-19 health-related response.
The House also passed other bills to boost the government’s response to the health crisis, including the Accelerated Recovery and Intervention Stimulus for the Economy (ARISE), Covid-19-related anti-discrimination bill, the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) bill, and the bill on a “better normal” for the workplace and public spaces.
ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy
Aside from the pandemic, the House was also preoccupied with the controversial franchise renewal case of broadcast giant ABS-CBN.
Congress was unable to renew the network’s congressional franchise before its expiration date on May 4.
ABS-CBN, upon the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) shutdown order, ceased its broadcast operations on May 5.
The franchise bills have been set aside by the 18th Congress as the country faced the Taal volcano eruption and Covid-19.
ABS-CBN’s fate was sealed on July 10 when the House Committee on Legislative Franchises approved – by a 70-11 vote, with one abstention – the resolution denying the franchise application of the network to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain radio and broadcasting stations in the Philippines. Two other lawmakers inhibited from voting.
The previous House hearings have exhaustively discussed the network’s franchise issues, including the citizenship of ABS-CBN chair emeritus Gabby Lopez; the possible violation of the constitutional limits on foreign ownership; reported labor and tax violations; and other violations of the terms of its legislative franchise.
The NTC on June 30 also issued two cease and desist orders, directing ABS-CBN to halt the operation of its digital television transmission using Amcara Broadcasting Network, Inc.’s Channel 43 and the direct-to-home satellite transmission of its cable firm, Sky Cable Corp.
Tug-of-war: Cayetano vs. Velasco
The tug-of-war for speakership between Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco hounded the legislative affairs of the chamber, particularly the passage of the proposed 2021 national budget.
Under the term-sharing deal brokered by Duterte, Cayetano would serve as House Speaker for the first 15 months, or until October 2020, while Velasco would take over and assume the highest position at the House of Representatives for the remaining 21 months or until the 18th Congress ends in 2022.
Cayetano, however, expressed his desire to stay on as the House’s top leader longer than expected, contrary to the gentleman’s agreement.
Duterte had to intercede and set up a meeting with the speakership rivals at Malacañang, wherein it was agreed upon that the turnover would be conducted on October 14.
Following the meeting, Cayetano offered to step down in a privilege speech before fellow lawmakers, but the plenary rejected his offer of resignation with a 184-1-9 vote.
Velasco continued to push Cayetano to honor the agreement and resign by October 14.
Just a few days before the agreed-upon speakership turnover, lawmakers from the lower chamber held an unprecedented remote plenary session to elect Velasco as the new Speaker.
A total of 186 lawmakers voted to install Velasco as the House's top leader in a remote plenary session at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City on October 12.
It was made official with the ratification of Velasco’s election a day after, with the same number of lawmakers who voted to elect him as Speaker.
As the 27th House Speaker, Velasco committed to exert all efforts toward attaining his goal of a “stronger, inclusive and united House.”
“We will work together in Congress to pass laws that are timely and responsive to the needs of our countrymen and to make the lower chamber truly the House representing the people,” he said.
Velasco said under his helm, the chamber was able to pass “timely and relevant laws to alleviate the plight of our people during these trying times.”
“Rest assured we will continue to do so in the coming new year,” he added.
According to House records, the chamber processed 688 measures or an average of 115 per session from October 2 to December 16 alone.
Velasco expressed hope that an affordable, safe, and effective vaccine against Covid-19 would arrive in the Philippines at the soonest time possible, especially with the passage of the 2021 national budget.
“Having a safe and effective vaccine available to Filipinos is currently the best way for us to beat the virus,” he said.
TIMOW’S TURF OPENING SALVO FOR 2021: THE YEAR OF RECLAMATION
THE HERALDING of the New Year yesterday was not the same as in the years before, meaning that this year starts off with a grayish gloom. It’s not surprising how Pantone chose Ultimate Gray as the color of the year but did they not realize that there is another color they assigned? (It is called Illuminating, a specific hue of yellow.)
Thus, the two-color combination fits with the zeitgeist of every people in the world. The former color can mean the clouds of doubt or fog of uncertainty hovering over us on a post-pandemic future or gray areas where it is difficult to determine right from wrong. The latter color can define as the light at the end of the tunnel (i.e. after the lingering pandemic comes the vaccine) or a shining moment for new players, platforms or methods.
Applying the Colors
So how our world, our country and our media see the two colors conspiring for the new year?
The World
The whole world in 2021 begins at the gloom with the new mutating variant of the virus (grey) while they try to build new normalcy in social lives (Illuminating). While planning to go forward, animosity and skepticism against the competing superpower brought us to its knees (grey).
In the United States, the illuminating hope to restore the prestige of public office will happen in 18 days with the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President, respectively but they must face the gray clouds of doubt in working with a solidly conservative Supreme Court and more importantly, a split Congress (pending the outcome of the run-off U.S. Senate election in the state of Georgia next week).
The United Kingdom had the bright spot as they were the first country to administer the COVID vaccine but now shadowed as they were labeled as the new mutation of the virus. Also, fogs of uncertainty arise for the implementation of the last-minute new deal with the European Union after leaving the bloc 11 months prior — which may signal the last straw for one of the constituent countries who voted to remain, Scotland.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel will step down after almost 16 years in power, casting the clouds of doubt over the most influential country of the EU. Her successor will be determined in the Bundestag election this September.
In Japan, the reset button was pressed so that their rescheduled Olympics could proceed as the vaccine is in their reach but the people felt doubtful, putting their spectacle to the world to waste (especially to our very own Carlos Yulo’s campaign for the first gold medal).
Our Country in 2021
This is the year that we will commemorate the 500th anniversary of two historical angles of our country — the embracement of Christian faith (whose jubilee celebration will start this April and end the following year, instead of culminating it) and Lapulapu’s heroism.
For the politically aware, it is the final full calendar year (and the last quarter) of the Duterte presidency — which give us some relief as we reach the end of the tunnel — but the fog of uncertainty reigns as many of us are speculating who will be running and filing their certificates of candidacy to succeed him.
The Philippine Media
This New Year is the first under the New Landscape.
The frequencies of VHF 2, UHF 23, 101.9 MHz and 630 kHz (for Metro Manila) are now on the search of new owners. The winning bidders will get the privilege to run those frequencies for the 25-year lease, net on their respective franchise dates (it’s an illuminating opportunity for those deficient in portfolio).
The surviving free-to-air media giants, GMA and TV5, have their own sparks this year but they have their clouds of doubt ahead of the year with all the individual deficiencies and issues they must address. (The latter network will go first this month, the former on next month.)
Digital television transition is now doubtful to prosper by the end-2023 as scheduled (gray). Some content producers and consumers — like you and me — are not patient anymore as they will skip the slow process and move on to streaming platforms like Netflix or Kumu (illuminating).
A New Year’s Theme
Inspired by CGP Grey’s initiative, instead of investing in New Year’s resolutions that will just fail within a fortnight (two weeks), we are going to invest this year in a theme. For the Turf, the year 2021 is the Year of Reclamation.
With the end of the pandemic lingering on the horizon, we are reclaiming our somewhat normal lives despite the significant damages they left behind.
For some countries, they are taking back control and they’re taking back their soul for their national character. For our country, we are planning to reclaim dignity and honor in choosing our next leader despite the lasting impact of what we are now.
In this blogging sphere, we are reclaiming things that are lost as we learned our lessons from the past year due to the inundation of the aftereffects of the fall of a major player. We’ll try our best though.
Friday, January 1, 2021
The One Thing To Remember About The New Year
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
Today is the first day of the year, and to be honest with you, it's almost a bit scary staring another year in the face. Looking behind we think, "What happened to the good intentions and resolutions we made a year ago—ones which we have not only failed in attaining but can't even remember what they were?"
Looking to the future, we have hopes that things will be better in our world, in our homes, in our personal lives; yet someway our hopes are laced with a slight whiff of cynicism, knowing that we are apt to see a rerun of the past, much like the man who had a boring job which he had for years. He used to say that he actually had one year of experience repeated thirty-five times.
There is one very important thing you must remember: Nothing will happen to you this coming year which is unknown to our heavenly father, whether it is armies that do battle, or the personal struggles you will face in your own life. At the same time, nothing will come as a surprise to Him, either. He knows.
Have you ever taken a small child for a walk towards evening, and as long as it was light, your child ran ahead of you, gaily playing, having no thought of you, until it began to get dark, and then the darker it became the closer he got to you, finally reaching up for your strong hand, wanting daddy to curl his large hand around his.
Frankly, that's my feeling as we start another year. When I was a teenager, more than a few years ago, I remember that as New Year's Eve approached, there was always a prayer service in my church. We sang, shared experiences, and talked until the midnight hour approached. Then before the clock struck the midnight hour, we always knelt and prayed. We called it, "praying the old year out and the new one in." I'm sure that I searched my heart, asking God to forgive the mistakes and failures, strengthening me to do better for the next year.
And what happened? The answer depended on my attitude and focus. What the New Year brings to you isn't nearly as important as what you bring to it. Don't bother to make resolutions; make commitments, yielding your future to Him who holds the future. Instead of stubbornly holding out for what you want, try praying, "Lord, have your way in my life."
Long ago, David, who knew something of the ups and downs of life, cried out, "There is forgiveness with you that you may be feared" (Psalm 130:4, NKV). That isn't a truth for the midnight hour but for every day. You can count on the faithfulness of the Lord no matter what the New Year holds for you.
Frankly, I'm glad that I don't know what it will hold—for two reasons: (1) If I knew, there would be no surprises, no serendipities as something wonderful happens, and (2) If I knew some of the troubles that would knock on my door, I'd be thinking about them, worrying about them, trying to solve them long before they arrive. And besides, as Mark Twain used to say, most of the things he worried about never happened.
There is one powerful thought I leave you with today: God's grace is ladled out on a daily basis—just for today. Corrie ten Boom used to say that her Father never gave her the ticket until it was time to board the train. That's how God dispenses His grace, too. Just enough for today, and no sooner or later than you need it. Remember, God is seldom early, but He is never late. He is exactly on time.
Resource reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-8.
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/the-one-thing-to-remember-about-the-new-year/
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.
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
John Prats, Isabel Oli to start 2021 with construction of new home
Celebrity couple John Prats and Isabel Oli are immediately marking a milestone at the open of 2021: the start of the construction of their new home.
In their latest YouTube vlog entry, Prats and Oli shared their Christmas Day trip to the lot where their house will be built, with a breathtaking view of the city.
“I can’t wait [na itayo] ‘yung bahay namin dito next year which is five days na lang, itatayo na siya. Uumpisahan na siya,” Oli said.
Prats and Oli got to the location by motorcycle — their first ride together in their eight years as a couple.
Prats first shared a glimpse of the lot in October, writing on Instagram at the time: “A house is made with walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”
Prats and Oli got married in 2015. They have three children together.
Formal resumption of radio and television broadcasts for ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN is strongly considering the suggestion of Rep. Jose Atienza, Jr. to re-apply for a new franchise come 2021.
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| Jojo Bailon, a timepieces specialist at Salcedo Auctions, is the administrator of View on the 3rd, a Facebook page that shares old and new T.V. show clips, commercials, photographs, CDs, laser discs, and VHS tapes, featuring foreign and local celebrities and personalities, among many others. Photo by JL JAVIER |
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morning song Winter Dawn (1998 version)
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It began test broadcasts on October 1, 2021; officially and finally returning to the air on June 30, 2022, with the callsign of the flagship station, DWWX-TV and the corporate name, ABS-CBN Corporation as a result of the management of the network which took over its operations.
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| TV Guide graphic (1) |
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| TV Guide graphic (2) |
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| TV Guide graphic (3) |
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| TV Guide graphic (4), background music: Peace of Mind 1 by Richard Friedman |
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| TV Guide graphic (5), background music: Peace of Mind 1 by Richard Friedman |
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| Beautiful Moments (2005 version) |
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morning song Winter Dawn (1998 version)
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| Ingesting and editing |
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| Monitoring Room at Technical Operations Center |
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| Beautiful Moments by China Central Television (2005 version) |
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| Winter Dawn by China Central Television (1998 version) |
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The President is actually looking forward to the end of his six-year term and his return to his home city of Davao.
Manila Time | Program Title |
02:25-03:25 | Test Card |
03:25-03:57 | Beautiful Moments by China Central Television (2005 version), Winter Dawn by China Central Television (1998 version), TV Guide, Orbit 1 by David Arnold and Paul Brian Hart, Lupang Hinirang by UP Madrigal Singers with the PNP Band (1998 Centennial Version), Panatang Makabayan for Philippine Centennial 1998 produced by ABS-CBN, Announcement, ABS-CBN Station Notice (Start-up) (2022), Pray the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary: Luminous Mysteries by Kris Aquino, Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo by Carol Banawa, ABS-CBN Station ID (5 Seconds), Please Stand by, Independence Day 2004 Campaign |
03:57-04:00 | Kape't Pandasal |
04:00-05:00 | Gising Pilipinas (Live) |
05:00-05:30 | Balita Alas Singko ng Umaga (Live) |
05:30-08:00 | Alas Singko Y Medya (Live) |
08:00-13:00 | Presidential Inauguration Coverage (Live): Oath taking at the Barasoain Church |
13:00-14:30 | Magandang Tanghali Bayan (Live) |
14:30-15:00 | SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (Live) |
15:00-15:30 | Flames (rerun episode) |
15:30-16:00 | Telenovela |
16:00-18:00 | Presidential Inauguration Coverage 2 (Live): Inauguration ceremony at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila |
18:00-18:30 | TV Patrol (Live) |
18:30-19:00 | Ang Probinsyano (new episode) |
19:00-19:30 | Make It with You (new episode) |
19:30-20:30 | Ipaglaban mo (new episode) |
20:30-21:30 | Maalaala mo Kaya (new episode) |
21:30-22:30 | Nagmamahal, Kapamilya (new episode) |
22:30-23:00 | The World Tonight (Live) |
23:00-23:30 | Sports U (new episode) |
23:30-00:00 | Martin Late @ Night (Live) |
00:00-00:30 | Game Time (Delayed Telecast) |
00:30-01:00 | Business Nightly (Delayed Telecast) |
01:00-01:30 | Dayaw (replay) |
01:30-02:00 | Balitang America (Live) |
02:00-02:30 | Pray the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary: Sorrowful Mysteries by Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Stella Maris by Bukas Palad Music Ministry (1989 version), closing song Feeling Quiet by China Central Television (1998-1999 version), Lupang Hinirang by UP Madrigal Singers with the PNP Band (1998 Centennial Version), Announcement, ABS-CBN 2 Station Notice 2022 (Sign Off Version), Test Card |
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| Beautiful Moments by China Central Television (2005 version) |
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| Winter Dawn by China Central Television (1998 version) |
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| TV Guide graphic |
