MANILA, Philippines — Broadway singer and actress Lea Salonga urged ABS-CBN’s supporters and employees to be optimistic despite losing the bid for a fresh 25-year franchise, reminding people that every crisis presents another opportunity.
In a tweet on Friday night, hours after the House of Representatives’ committee on legislative franchises adopted a resolution junking the franchise renewal, Salonga said that there are things that cannot be controlled.
Rather, she noted that people can control how they react.
“We can’t always control what happens around us, but we can control how we react. For myself, I choose optimism rather than vengeance and hate,” Salonga, who features as a judge in ABS-CBN’s singing talent search The Voice, said.
“In every crisis, there is opportunity. We need to take the time to figure out what that’ll be. Tomorrow is another day. Must create,” she added.
We can’t always control what happens around us, but we can control how we react. For myself, I choose optimism rather than vengeance and hate. In every crisis, there is opportunity. We need to take the time to figure out what that’ll be. Tomorrow is another day. Must create.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 10, 2020
However, Salonga later on clarified that she too was dumbstruck with what occurred, admitting that she was silent for most of the day, pondering about the recent events.
“But not gonna lie….. sat at my kitchen table in stunned silence for much of the day trying to make sense of things… I ask for kindness please, not for myself, but for everyone else hurting today. Sigh… paano ba ‘to…,” she tweeted.
But not gonna lie….. sat at my kitchen table in stunned silence for much of the day trying to make sense of things… I ask for kindness please, not for myself, but for everyone else hurting today. Sigh… paano ba ‘to…
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 10, 2020
Earlier, 70 lawmakers from the House panel and other ex-officio members voted to adopt a technical working group report denying the franchise application, which would have allowed the network to operate for the next 25 years.
At least 11 lawmakers voted against the report, while two inhibited and one abstained.
Salonga’s earlier message of optimism rings a bell with Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s advice on Thursday for ABS-CBN employees to look for other jobs as there are other ways to earn a livelihood.
Groups supportive of ABS-CBN’s cause have criticized the House for continuously denying the network of its franchise, saying that it is an affront to freedom of speech and to laborers who might lose their job, as ABS-CBN officials have already admitted that they may start lay offs by August if operations remain suspended.
Earlier, Vice President Leni Robredo advised the public to take note of the lawmakers who voted for the junking of ABS-CBN’s franchise, and to make them accountable for their actions.
ABS-CBN’s free television and radio broadcasts remains shut after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order against the network, after its previous franchise expired last May 4.
NTC’s order came despite previous pronouncements in front of Congress last February that ABS-CBN would continue operating.