Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla have broken their silence on the ABS-CBN shutdown. Image: Instagram/@bernardokath, @supremo_dp
Kathryn Bernardo broke her silence on the issue of the ABS-CBN shutdown yesterday, May 13, over a week after the media giant went off-air on May 5.
Actor Daniel Padilla, meanwhile, stood up for stars who have protested the shutdown and expressed concern at the criticism they have received.
Their individual statements, captured on video, were each delivered on Instagram yesterday afternoon. The House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill granting ABS-CBN a provisional franchise to operate until October 2020 last night.
‘‘Wag na po natin palalain ang inequality’
Bernardo explained that it took her time to speak up because she was afraid, citing that the last time she used her voice for politics, it was a “traumatic” experience as she and her family, she said, were attacked for it.
She and Padilla campaigned for Mar Roxas in the presidential elections.
She explained why she felt it important to make a stand. “Pero ngayon, andito ako kasi pakiramdam, ko kailangan. Pakiramdam ko kahit walang kasiguraduhan na marinig ‘to, at least may ginawa ako. Pakiramdam ko, kailangan kong maging boses ng iba.”
(But now, I am here because I feel it is needed. I feel that even if there is no certainty that this will be heard, at least I did something. I feel that I need to be the voice of others.)
“Ito ang panahon na dapat wala tayong pag-iwanan na Filipino. Ito ‘yong panahon na dapat magtulong-tulong tayo,” she stressed.
(This is the time when no Filipino should be left behind. This is the time when we should be helping each other.)
“‘Wag na po natin palalain ang inequality,” she said, then cited a quote from her overseas Filipino worker (OFW) character in “Hello, Love, Goodbye”: “Ang choice, di lang ‘yan dapat sa may pera.”
(Let us not worsen inequality. [To have a] choice should not just be for those with money.)
Bernardo also emphasized that the fight to keep ABS-CBN operating was not just because it was their second home.
She argued, “Isyu din po ito ng labor issue kasi ilang libong empleyado ang nawalan ng trabaho kahit wala naman silang nilabag na batas.”
“Isyu din po ito ng public health kasi ‘yong impormasyon na pinagkukunan nila para protektahan ang mga sarili nila, nawala.”
“Lastly, isyu din po ito ng press freedom kasi nawalan sila ng paraan para magpahayag,” she said.
(This is a labor issue because several thousands of employees lost their jobs even if they did not violate any law. This is an issue of public health because a source of information to protect themselves was lost. Lastly, this is an issue of press freedom because they lost a way to express their voice.)
She also urged Filipinos and the youth to speak up for what is right.
“Tayong mga Pilipino, sana matuto tayong manindigan sa kung ano ang tama. Sana magamit natin yung boses natin para mapahayag ng responsable kung ano mga saloobin natin,” she said.
(I hope we Filipinos will learn to stand for what is right. I hope we’ll use our voices to responsibly express our thoughts.)
“Sa mga kabataan, sana ‘wag kayong matakot. Kasi kagaya n’yo din ako, natakot ako. Pero kung hindi kasi tayo magsasalita ngayon, sino? Tayo ‘yong magmamana ng Pilipinas kaya may karapatan tayo.”
(To the youth, I hope you don’t become scared. Because you are like me, I got scared. But if we don’t speak up, who will? We will inherit the Philippines, which is why we have a right.)
‘Bago ako maging artista, tao at Pilipino muna ako’
Padilla addressed detractors of celebrities who have been vocal about opposing the ABS-CBN shutdown.
“Ano bang masama sa manindigan sa sariling kabuhayan at sa kabuhayan ng marami? Sa lahat ng mga pumupuna sa mga nagsasalita, alam ko na magkakaiba tayo ng opinyon,” he said. “Pero sana ho ‘wag tayong makalimot na rumespeto sa pinagdadaanan ng iba.”
(What is wrong with standing up for your own livelihood and that of many? To all those criticizing those who speak up, I know we have differences in opinion. But I hope we do not forget to respect what others are going through.)
“Bago ho ako maging artista, tao at Pilipino ho muna ako,” he stressed. “Kaya sana ‘wag n’yo po ipagkait sa amin ang karapatan namin na magpahayag ng saloobin.”
(Before I am an actor, I am a person and Filipino first. That is why I hope you do not deny our right to express our thoughts.)
He appealed to the National Telecommunications Commission—which issued the cease-and-desist order to ABS-CBN—to think of the good of many rather than the interests of a few.
Padilla concluded with a call for compassion and to recognize the truth.
“Sa mga kapwa kong PIlipino, ‘wag po natin talikuran ang pagiging makatao. Buksan ho natin ang mga puso natin para sa pinagdadaanan ng iba,” he said. “Buksan ho ang mata po natin para sa katotohanan.”
(My fellow Filipinos, let us not turn our backs from being compassionate. Let us open our hearts to what others are going through. Let us open our eyes to the truth.) /ra
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