MODS: I know this post delves into politics but I'm hoping that you'll let this pass.
ABS-CBN sacks De Castro's show
First posted 01:01am (Mla time) Jan 12, 2006
By Marinel R. Cruz, Cynthia D. Balana, Christine Avendano
Inquirer
Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Jan. 12, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE LONG-RUNNING show "Magandang Gabi, Bayan" was pulled off the air because of Vice President Noli de Castro's "problems" with ABS-CBN management regarding his support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, according to a network insider.
The insider told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Sunday that the Lopezes, owners of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., had "wanted to use" the weekly current affairs program "to attack the administration."
"When Mr. De Castro refused, it was made clear to him, 'Either help us or leave,'" said the insider, who is close to De Castro and his wife Arlene, and who asked not to be named for fear of loss of employment.
"Magandang Gabi, Bayan" (MGB) had its last show last Dec. 31, ending a run of close to 18 years that made De Castro famous as "Kabayan" and helped launch his political career.
It was produced by Bayan Productions, which is run by De Castro's wife, Arlene de Castro.
The last show was co-anchored by the De Castros' daughter, Katherine, with Erwin Tulfo and Henry Omaga Diaz.
"De Castro's reply to the Lopezes was simple: 'I can't use MGB to attack the administration because I'm part of the administration,'" the insider said.
Yesterday, a reliable source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Lopezes had asked De Castro to break away from Ms Arroyo, but that the Vice President had yet to respond.
The source cited the cancellation of MGB as proof of the alleged continuing pressure exerted by the Lopezes on De Castro.
According to the source, the Lopezes have declared a "war" on Ms Arroyo, whom they supposedly viewed to be hostile to their business interests.
The family was supposedly particularly piqued by Ms Arroyo's decision to back the efforts of the government-owned National Power Corp. to collect billions of pesos in debts owed by the Lopez-owned Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
Asked to comment, De Castro said: "Masakit ang ngipin ko (I have a toothache)"-employing former President Fidel Ramos' way of saying "No comment."
He said he was not sure whether the removal of the show from the air was politically motivated. He added that MGB, being a line-produced show, could be junked any time by the network.
De Castro also stressed that he had not been connected with MGB in any way since he left it last year and assumed office as Vice President.
But he admitted that talk about the Lopezes' request for him to withdraw support from the President and the axing of MGB had been going around ABS-CBN lately.
Pressed to say something on the issue, De Castro said: "I have no comment at this time."
De Castro has a public service program, "Para Sa Iyo, Bayan," which airs over ABS-CBN radio station dzMM every Saturday and for which he has refused to accept compensation.
Surprised
Per the insider's account, Arlene de Castro met last November with MGB anchors and some staff members at a restaurant in Rockwell, Makati City, to tell them the "sad news."
"They were surprised when they were told that it was over for MGB. Arlene told them that Bayan Productions would not renew the contract with ABS-CBN that expired in December," the insider said, adding:
"Ever since De Castro became Vice President, [the owners wanted to put] politics in the show."
At one point, the insider said, Omaga Diaz was made to host a segment on politics "against Arlene's will," but she complied.
"[But] the strategy didn't work," the insider said. "That segment had to be taken out because the ratings were taking a dive. Natatalo ng (the show was losing to the) competition. The ratings of police stories are still stronger."
'Time to retire MGB'
Yet another reliable source said ABS-CBN top management called Arlene de Castro early last month to inform her that MGB would have its last airing on Dec. 17.
But two more shows were eventually allowed to run until the swan song on New Year's Eve.
The source -- who, like the others, asked not to be named so as to protect himself -- said this was probably because the network had no show yet to replace MGB at that time.
The sudden cancellation of the show stunned everybody at the network, the source said.
The source also said the network management had told MGB producers that "it was time to retire" the program.
But the source wondered why MGB was given the boot when the people behind it were supposed to meet with top management in March to decide on the program's fate.
Also, the source said, the cancellation of the show was surprising because it was doing well in terms of ratings and commercials.
"Maybe they wanted to disassociate from Kabayan because of his continued support for President Arroyo," the source said.
Last week, "Kamao," a show on Filipino boxing hosted by Ted Failon, was shown on MGB's time slot.
No 'GMA factor'
"Kamao" is expected to run for the next three weeks as a prelude to the boxing rematch between the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao and Mexico's Eric Morales.
Lawyer Jesse Andres, De Castro's chief of staff and spokesperson, said there was no "GMA factor" in the decision of ABS-CBN to junk the show.
Andres told the Inquirer that the show's contract was only up to Dec. 31, 2005, and that it was possible that it was not renewed by the network.
"Block time lang yang MGB. ABS-CBN wanted to remove it after Noli left the show to serve as Vice President. Even with the ratings, medyo iba na rin ang dating (the show comes out different) without Noli," he said.
Andres said De Castro was no longer part of MGB and had no intention of returning to it because Cabinet members were not allowed to have direct interests in any business.
"The Vice President is not interested [in returning to MGB] at the moment. He still has to serve up to 2010," Andres said.
He also said offers had been made for the show to move to GMA 7, but that he did not know what had happened to the negotiation.
In the matter of the supposed rift between the Lopez family and De Castro regarding the latter's support for Ms Arroyo, Andres said: "I asked the Vice President about it and he said it's definitely not true."
Mum's the word
Staff members of MGB -- there were more than 40, eight of whom were writers -- were mum or in the dark about the matter.
Questions were posed: What happened?
"I have no authority to say," said one.
"Masalimuot (It's complicated)," said another.
Was it the ratings?
"Of course not! That's not true. We're in the thick of things. Lumalaban kami (We're fighting)," said one.
Said another: "Of course not. It has to do with ... No comment. We are not in the know about what happens sa itaas (in top echelons)."
Political?
"That's the speculation I'm hearing," said one. "But who are we to say? We cannot speculate on what happens on the highest floors of ABS-CBN." With a report from Bayani San Diego Jr.