Arena Aile-Bleue ARN-6005M One-Piece Long Spats Nux-K Power Strush

Infamously, no other than Ernest Lorenzo "Enchong" Dee, Maurice Sacho Ilustre, Maxim Christopher "Ixxi" Quilala and Timothy Vincent Yap of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tankers are wearing ARN-6005M One-Piece Long Spats Nux-K Power Strush size O, color GRN, while Kendrick "Ken" Uy and Christen "Tenten" Mercado of the University of the Philippines (UP) Varsity Swimming team are wearing ARN-6005M size O, color RED, Michaelmars "MM" Danila, Jan Michael "Janjan" Chiu, Evan Bryan Uy, Jessie Khing Lacuna, Jared Mella, Axel Toni Steven Ngui, Chem Ocampo, Jonas Isaac Ramos, Philip Joaquin "Wacky" Santos, Sean Paul Tan of Fast Ateneo Swimming Team are wearing ARN-6005M One-Piece Long Spats Nux-K Power Strush size O, color BLU.

Be a voice for smaller workers, Enchong urges Kapamilya stars still silent amid ABS-CBN retrenchment

Actor Enchong Dee is urging fellow Kapamilya stars to use their voice for smaller ABS-CBN employees, amid a wave of a retrenchment after the network was denied a broadcast franchise by the Duterte administration.

"I've been fighting for my country since I was 13," Dee, a champion swimmer who competed internationally, wrote on Instagram early this week. "Hindi madali at walang kasiguraduhan pero masarap sa puso."

"I will do the same for the company which I called home for 15 years. Hindi ako titigil sa pananalita laban sa kasamaan na pumapaligid satin. Being bashed is a small price to pay to be in the right side of history," he added.

Dee, 31, is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. He made his showbiz breakthrough in 2009, as one of the lead stars of the teleserye "Katorse."

He has been an outspoken critic of the Duterte administration, in the process becoming the target of mudslinging from loyal supporters of the president.

"Sa mga kasamahan ko sa ABS-CBN, kasama niyo ko hanggang muling magbukas ang tahanan natin," he said. "At sa mga kapwa ko artista, hindi ito ang oras para manahimik, maging totoo tayo sa salitang #kapamilya."

When a follower commented that Dee shouldn't "pressure" his fellow ABS-CBN artists to speak out, the actor highlighted the importance of representing employees whose voices don't have a wide reach, unlike those in front of the cameras.

At marami pang iba na kasamahan ko sa trabaho. Marami sila na kailangan ng boses ng mga kapwa ko artista. pic.twitter.com/A32rE1XI2f

— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) July 15, 2020

"We have to start thinking beyond ourselves, our voice is not for us but for the others who have nothing, those who live paycheck to paycheck," he replied.

ABS-CBN started this week its retrenchment process affecting thousands of workers and entire divisions, after Duterte allies in Congress voted, 70-11, to kill the franchise application of the network, shuttering it for good.

In the past few months, many ABS-CBN personalities, including Dee, have voiced their support for the network, with some even joining demonstrations to call for the restoration of the network on air. A number of its stars, however, have also noticeably kept silent.

"I am not shading, I am calling for their support," Dee said. "I can go on with my life without this job but I couldn't speak for the utility personnel, the wardrobe, the makeup artists, the staff, the crew, which all artists get to work with everyday."

"I'm calling for their support because I know that my colleagues have enough influence to make things right. Again, this is beyond oneself."

https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/17/20/be-a-voice-for-smaller-workers-enchong-urges-kapamilya-stars-still-silent-amid-abs-cbn-retrenchment

ABS-CBN lets go of S+A team

ABS-CBN made the tough decision to let go of its entire sports division team following the non-renewal of the station’s franchise last week. 

Thursday afternoon, the entire division met online with head of Integrated Sports Dino Laurena, who personally expressed his gratitude to each and every member of the team for telling the story of the Filipino athlete.

“And so ends this journey.

“I made the painful announcement to our beloved sports team today. I’ve been on this road before and I can assure you, it is not something I will swear even on people that I don’t like. It is heart-wrenchingly painful,” read Laurena’s Facebook post.

Over 70 regular employees from S+A were let go, including its TV production and digital team.

Besides them, independent workers like cameramen and crew, and talents like commentators and show hosts also lost their livelihoods.

Regular employees like the company’s editors, writers, and social media team will continue to chronicle the lives of the country’s athletes until August 31.

“In each of their eyes, I saw the eyes of their loved ones. I tried to hold back my tears as I hoped to be strong and give them comfort. I pray that God gives us the grace to weather the challenge that we will all face in the coming days,” continued Laurena.

With this, collegiate leagues like the UAAP, NCAA, and PVL will have to find new homes. Those leagues will now need a new station to house their events.

For now, and until this storm has cleared, Laurena is asking for prayers for each and every member of ABS-CBN Sports who are about to lose the place they called home.

“Please include our beloved ABS-CBN Sports team in your prayers. They have served our audience well as advocates of the best values in sports.”

https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/abs-cbn-lets-go-sa-team/186798

ABS-CBN is shutting down its sports department

Dino Laurena, head of ABS CBN Integrated Sports, confirmed the move to shut down its Sports + Action arm in an unofficial Facebook message.

“I made the painful announcement to our beloved Sports team today. I've been on this road before and I can assure you, it on people I don't like. It is heart-wrenchingly painful,” wrote Laurena in an unofficial statement on his wall.

With the fate of S+A, the production team behind the television coverage of numerous sports events are expected to be affected.

And this will include, the coming 83rd season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, Season 96 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and the Premier Volleyball League, among others.

“In each of their eyes, I saw the eyes of their loved ones... I tried to hold back my tears as I hoped to be strong and give them comfort. I pray that God give us the grace to weather the challenges that we will all face in the coming days,” added Laurena.

Over 70 regular employees from S+A will be affected.

More layoffs from within the network are expected to take place following the non-renewal of the ABS CBN franchise by congress last week.

The network is now implementing a retrenchment program that will take effect by Aug. 31.

“We are doing all we can to mitigate the pain that will be felt by those affected,” said network officials in an unofficial disclosure.

https://manilastandard.net/sports/sports-plus/328830/abs-cbn-is-shutting-down-its-sports-department-.html

ABS-CBN Sports shuts down amid massive staff retrenchment

Major sports leagues like the UAAP and NCAA now need to find other broadcast partners

More media practitioners stand to lose their livelihood as embattled media giant ABS-CBN officially shut down its Sports division on Thursday, July 16.

Integrated Sports head Dino Laurena broke the tragic news to his staff online as other departments like Current Affairs, Lifestyle, Research and MOR FM Radio prepare to shut down as well.

“And so ends this journey,” Laurena wrote in a Facebook post after a virtual meeting with his Sports staff.

“I made the painful announcement to our beloved Sports team today. I’ve been on this road before and I can assure you, it is not something I will swear even on people I don’t like.”

“It is heart-wrenchingly painful.”

With this, major sports leagues like the UAAP, NCAA and PVL will now have to find other broadcast partners.

Over the years, ABS-CBN Sports has been at the forefront of Philippine sports broadcasting and online media thanks to their hardworking team of journalists, producers and other content creators.

As the weight of Congress’ decision to deny ABS-CBN a franchise renewal continues to ravage through families’ livelihoods, Laurena is asking for prayers while they endure yet another dark chapter in their lives.

“Please include our beloved ABS-CBN Sports team in your prayers,” he wrote. “They have served our audience well as advocates of the best values in sports.”

“We are ABS-CBN Sports, in the service of the Filipino sports fans. Kapamilya Forever!” he concluded. – Rappler.com

https://rappler.com/sports/abs-cbn-sports-shutdown-staff-retrenchment

Final buzzer sounds for ABS-CBN Sports

The sports arm of ABS-CBN is among the departments affected by the corporation's on-going retrenchment.

ABS-CBN Corp. announced on Wednesday that it will cease the operations of some of its businesses and lay off workers effective August 31, 2020, following the non-renewal of its franchise.

Its sports unit is among those that will cease operations, with Dino Laurena, the head of Integrated Sports, confirming the development on his personal Facebook page.

"The final buzzer," he said. "So ends this journey… I made the painful announcement to our beloved Sports team today."

"I've been on this road before, and I can assure you, it is not something I will swear even on people I don't like. It is heart-wrenchingly painful," he added.

Laurena hailed his team, saying they "have served our audience well as advocates of the best values in sports."

Some of ABS-CBN Sports+Action's on-air talents have expressed their sadness over the retrenchment, including former volleyball star Gretchen Ho and former University of the Philippines basketball player Mikee Reyes.

It remains to be seen how this development will affect leagues that air on ABS-CBN Sports+Action, including the UAAP, NCAA, and the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), among others.

The NCAA and the PVL still have live contracts with ABS-CBN, while the UAAP's contract ended last May 31. 

The UAAP has called ABS-CBN Sports its home since 2000, and league officials said in June that they are in negotiations with the network regarding the broadcast partnership.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/16/20/final-buzzer-sounds-for-abs-cbn-sports

ABS-CBN shuts down sports department

ABS-CBN Sports will cease to exist effective Aug. 31 as a result of the non-renewal of the network’s franchise by the House of Representatives last week.

The network’s head of Integrated Sports Dino Laurena confirmed the sad news in a post on his personal Facebook page on Thursday, describing it as “The Final Buzzer” for their sports division.

“And so ends this journey… I made the painful announcement to our beloved Sports team today. I’ve been on this road before and I can assure, it is not something I will swear even on people I don’t like. It’s heart-wrenchingly painful,” read Mr. Laurena’s post.

On Wednesday, ABS-CBN released a statement that it will be implementing a retrenchment program covering its subsidiaries as well effective Aug. 31, 2020, following Congress’ non-renewal of its franchise.  

ABS-CBN said that while it hurts to implement the retrenchment program, it was something it had to do to keep the company going.

Over 70 regular employees from the sports division are expected to be let go, including members of its TV production and online team. Also affected by the retrenchment are independent personnel (cameramen and crew) and talents like game commentators and show hosts.

ABS-CBN’s S+A channel has been home to a number sports leagues in the country, namely the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Also shown on the channel are events of international mixed martial arts group ONE Championship.

Aforementioned leagues said they were weighing their options in the aftermath of Congress’ thumb-down of ABS-CBN’s application for renewal.

The NCAA and the PVL still have live contracts with ABS-CBN, while the UAAP’s contract ended last May 31. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

https://www.bworldonline.com/abs-cbn-shuts-down-sports-department/

UAAP's long television partnership with ABS-CBN may be at an end

FOR the first time since 2000, UAAP may no longer be calling ABS-CBN as its home network.

That's the tough reality the league is facing following the House of Representatives' decision to deny the television giant a new franchise on Friday.

UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag said that the UAAP will still continue its talks with ABS-CBN, although hopes of a renewal of partnership may be bleak at this point.

"We'll proceed as planned, conclude negotiations, and evaluate," he said in a short chat with Spin.ph.

The UAAP's current five-year deal with ABS-CBN expired last at the end of May. Negotiations for a contract renewal were subsequently stalled by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the network's franchise woes in Congress.

ABS-CBN has served as the UAAP's home network since 2000, with basketball and volleyball games preeminently carried by ABS-CBN Sports + Action (UHF channel 23), and some finals games finding their way to ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Before that, the UAAP games were shown on RPN-9 from 1989 to 1994 and on PTV-4 from 1995 to 1999. Those telecasts were produced by Silverstar Sports, owned by Louis Kierulf.

As of now, the focus for Saguisag and the UAAP is to strike a new deal, may it be with ABS-CBN or another TV network.

"We'll consider other parties if necessary. We'll choose what's for the best interest of the UAAP community," he said.

If the UAAP chooses to renew its partnership with the TV network, it will have to make do with its online platforms in the absence of the embattled media giant's franchise to its free TV and cable channels.

The possibility of block timing in another channel remains an option for ABS-CBN, in the event it retains the TV rights on arguably the most lucrative sports franchise in the country today.

Still, it's an open season for other TV networks, with TV5 poised to make a strong bid.

Ss much as Saguisag and the league feels for ABS-CBN, they know that at some point, life must go on.

"We commisserate with our long-time partner, but this is ultimately a business decision that the board will have to make using their best judgment," he said.

https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-men/denial-of-new-franchise-forces-uaap-to-rethink-its-partnership-deal-with-abs-cbn-a2437-20200711

Collegiate, semi-pro leagues left in TV limbo as House denies ABS-CBN franchise renewal

For almost two decades, ABS-CBN S+A, formerly known as Studio 23, has been the platform for dreamers and aspirants to showcase their god-given athletic skills. 

On one rainy Friday afternoon, that medium was shut down.

With a 70-11-1-2 vote, the House of Representatives denied the renewal of ABS-CBN’s re-application for the right to go on the air.

The resolution was named “Denying the Franchise Application of ABS-CBN Corporation to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate, and Maintain Radio and Broadcasting Stations in the Philippines”.

This covers all of ABS-CBN’s properties, including UHF channel 23.

With this, collegiate leagues like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines will have to have a new television partner.

The partnership between ABS-CBN and UAAP ended last May, while the NCAA still has five seasons left in its 10-year deal signed back in 2015.

In addition, the Premier Volleyball League was in its final year of partnership with the station, while the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League had just renewed its ties.

The eastern hemisphere’s largest martial arts promotion ONE Championship will also have to look for a new block time partner.

Besides the leagues, also affected by this are the sportswriters of leading Philippine sports news outlet ABS-CBN Sports, the crew covering the games, and the talents that bring life to the competitions.

https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/collegiate-semi-pro-leagues-left-tv-limbo-house-denies-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal/186529

Athletes slam Congress decision to shut ABS-CBN down

Some sports personalities reacted to the news of the House of Representatives' denial of franchise renewal of ABS-CBN on Friday.

Former volleyball star turned ABS-CBN host Gretchen Ho was among the first to express her opinion on the issue.

"Let us remember this day in history. Maraming salamat, Kapamilya," Ho wrote on Twitter.

Creamline Cool Smasher's Alyssa Valdez, whose league calls ABS-CBN home, summed up her feelings on the issue in a single world.

"Unbelievable," Valdez said.

Meanwhile, Valdez's teammate Jia Morado encouraged everyone in her platform to register and vote wisely in the next elections.

Former PBA player and coach Jason Webb also aired out his disappointment at the decision.

"What did we do wrong to deserve the leaders that we have right now? We are ruled by men driven by corruption and pure evil," he said.

National athletes Jamie Lim and Agatha Wong also didn't mince their words in reacting to the news on their Instagram stories.

"Anong nangyayari sa Pilipinas?," asked Karateka Lim.

For her part, Wushu darling Agatha Wong drew attention to the timing of the decision amid the ongoing crisis of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/07/10/2027048/athletes-slam-congress-decision-shut-abs-cbn-down