MANILA, Philippines — Several Kapamilya stars will be holding an online event via Facebook Live later today to protest against the shut down of ABS-CBN, which went off-air on Tuesday night following the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cease-and-desist order.
Veteran actress Cherry Pie Picache is among those calling on their supporters to join the event, which will start at 8 p.m. through the “Laban, Kapamilya!” online event page on Facebook.
“Mamaya po… Samahan nyo po kami!!! Hindi pa po tapos!!! May boses po tayo, dapat marinig at pakinggan (Join us later! The fight is not over! We have a voice, and it should be heard)!” Picache said Friday on Instagram.
Picache’s post came with a poster of the event, of which the description read: “Panahon na para ipagtanggol ang iyong pamilya. Tutulang ang pagpapasara sa ABS-CBN, ang ating tahanan!”
(It is time to defend your family. Fight against the shutting down of ABS-CBN, our home!)
Boy Abunda and Bianca Gonzalez will be hosting the event, which will be joined by Coco Martin, Judy Ann Santos, Kim Chiu, Bela Padilla, Cherry Pie Picache, Agot Isidro, Michael De Mesa, Rowell Santiago, Raymart Santiago, John Prats, Dan Villegas and Antoinette Jadaone.
Martin, who is one of the most vocal Kapamilya stars against the shutdown, likewise called on fans and their “brave bashers and keyboard warriors” to join them for the event so that they will have “substance.”
“Samahan nyo po kami mamaya ipagtanggol ang ating karapatan at ang malayang pamamahayag, ngayon ang simula ng laban!!! Sa aming matatapang na bashers at mga keyboard warrior tara iniimbitahan namin kayo para mag kaalaman naman po mga sinasabi nyo!!! I love you god bless you all,” the “Ang Probinsyano” star said.
(Join us later in defending our rights and press freedom. The fight starts now! To all our brave bashers and keyboard warriors, we are inviting you to join us so that what you say will have some substance.)
Martin and other celebrities earlier today pushed the “starve a troll” campaign online by asking fans to ignore trolls so that they would not get their pay. He is one of the many in the entertainment industry who have rushed to the defense of ABS-CBN over the issue.