6 Kapamilya stars renew contracts with beleaguered network

From left: Maymay Entrata, Arjo Atayde, Star Magic head Lauren Dyogi, Francine Garcia, Donny Pangilinan and Edward Barber

I’ve never lost hope,” declared singer-composer Gary Valenciano, who admittedly was among our best local live performers gravely affected by the pandemic.

Venues and bars were forced to shut down, while events with live audiences were called off in all parts of the globe as we battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. Gary’s major concert to celebrate his 37th year in the biz, scheduled last November 2020, had been canceled.

“I don’t mean to sound too spiritual, but when you read His words, many of these things have already been stated. Instead of focusing on the problem, let’s just focus on the faithfulness of God and how He will see us through. The best example here is ABS-CBN,” Gary said, shortly after he renewed his contract with his home network of 17 years.

Also present at the contract-signing event, which was streamed online over the weekend with the title “Kapamilya Strong,” were Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, Donny Pangilinan, Francine Garcia, and Arjo Atayde who likewise renewed their contracts with ABS-CBN.

“No, I didn’t lose hope but I’ve had frustrations. At some point, I’ve said, ‘Sayang wala na ‘yong ganito, sayang wala na ang concert.’ But when I saw the [difficult] lives of my fellow Filipinos, this has encouraged me to write a song, as well as to come up with online concerts for the benefit of people in need,” Gary said. “Up to now, there are still people who need our help. I hope there will be more chances for us to raise the hopes of others who may have lost it at the time of the pandemic.”

Not losing hope

Gary added: “No, I didn’t lose hope, because I’ve already proven that He’s with me in every circumstance in my life; not only in mine but also my family’s. During this pandemic, everyone has all been taken care of.” When asked why he chose to stay with ABS-CBN despite the issues it had been involved with, especially those that resulted in the network’s failed bid to renew its franchise, Arjo said: “It’s because I’m a team player. If they sink, I sink with them. This is my home. I don’t want to be elsewhere but here.”

Arjo will be working on a movie, his tribute to his late idol Eddie Garcia, in April. He will write, direct and coproduce it, he reported. He will also be working on an ABS-CBN project by mid-2021.

“I’m happy to witness how ABS-CBN is slowly winning over its challenges,” declared Maymay, who is among the Kapamilya channel’s most visible talents, even during the strictest implementation of the lockdown in early 2020.

Maymay’s romantic comedy film, “Princess DayaReese,” opposite onscreen partner Edward, bannered 2021 for Star Cinema. “It’s so reassuring to know that I will always have this place as my home. Our bosses have always made me feel secure. They’ve continued to guide me and Edward no matter what was happening around us. I’m confident that ABS-CBN will rise again really soon,” she declared.

Support and trust

Edward said he chose to continue being a Kapamilya because of three factors, the most important of which is the support of the fans of the MayWard (short for Maymay and Edward) love team.

“One is that I have full trust in my ABS-CBN bosses. Another is because I believe in the vision of all the productions behind the network. Lastly, we’re doing this in the service of the Filipino people; but if the Filipino people are not supporting us, then this wouldn’t be possible,” he said. “Our MayWard supporters have given me the chance to try and discover who I am. I haven’t fully discovered that in my five years in the industry, but because of them, I will still get to try and figure that out,” he said. INQ