‘FEAR TURNED TO THANKS’: Former ABS-CBN reporter shares story one year after closure

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

It was a usual day for Joyce Clavecillas on May 5, 2020, filling in as director for the edition of ABS-CBN Iloilo’s flagship newscast, TV Patrol Panay.

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, personnel at the station, like everyone else, had to make alternative work arrangements.

That included taking over assignments which were not regularly theirs before the pandemic, like Clavecillas’ directorial stints.

She was usually in front of the cameras to report for both regional and national editions of TV Patrol, and sometimes local reports for other ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs programs and ABS-CBN News Channel.

There was already a feeling of dread lingering in the air at the station, given that ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise was in danger.

They thought they could heave a sigh of relief, but they didn’t expect the axe to grind down on them so soon.

“TV Patrol Panay usually airs 5:10 to 5:15 pm. But as soon as we were about to start, we were advised to delay since there was breaking news coming out of Manila. When the breaking news came in, we saw it, and that was it. It was a bit long for a breaking news bit, since usually they’re not that long,” Clavecillas told Daily Guardian.

As all stations switched to the national News Patrol, the newsroom in La Paz fell silent.

That afternoon, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a Cease-and-Desist Order against the network due to its expired franchise.

As a result, ABS-CBN Channel 2 in Manila, its sister channels on free TV, AM radio station DZMM, as well as ABS-CBN TV-10 in Iloilo and all other regional TV and radio stations, ceased broadcasting after the national TV Patrol aired.

Clavecillas shared the feeling of “cold silence” when the news came out, that feeling of dread coming true for her and the rest of their team in Iloilo.

“We were all silent when we learned about that on the breaking news, but you can feel that eeriness in the silence, like there was some looming uncertainty and fear. I couldn’t concentrate that time because I was thinking of the possibilities after the news. We were thinking about our families’ futures amid this pandemic. We were all scared,” she said.

It wasn’t until halfway into the regional newscast when she was told via phone that it would be their last broadcast on television as the local network and FM radio stations had to shut down.

They were told to bring their essential things as well as equipment which they could use should they be able again to make news reports.

At the time, Clavecillas was awash with a variety of emotions, but that had to come second over directing the newscast.

She described a “heartbreaking feeling” hearing Noli De Castro, Ted Failon, and Bernadette Sembrano via the national simulcast over their FM radio station MOR.

“In the middle of the program, I received a call from our news chief to gather everyone in the newsroom after the program, then we would have the meeting right after [the national] TV Patrol. After the program, she instructed everyone via loudspeaker to pack our essential things first then bring our equipment home. We didn’t know what would happen next, so at least if we could go back, we could work from home. I remember all of us were crying hardly at that time,” she recounted.

ABS-CBN’s closure had an impact nationally and locally since many relied on its coverage of disasters, particularly during typhoons in the 4th quarter of 2020 in Luzon.

Here in Iloilo, ABS-CBN was a part of Ilonggo culture, with kids and their parents watching yearly for the ABS-CBN Interschool Newscasting Competition joined by representatives from elementary, high school, senior high school, and college educational institutions.

They continued to gather news despite having no word at the time whether these would air or not. But a few days later, they were able to return to the station to broadcast TV Patrol Panay via Facebook Live starting May 7, 2020.

That would be the state of things for them, until they were informed in late July that they were being let go by August 31, 2020.

This, after 70 members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Franchises voted to gut the network’s franchise application.

The committee’s members from Region 6, Representatives Janette Loreto-Garin (Iloilo-1st), Julienne Baronda (Iloilo City-Lone), Sharon Garin (AAMBIS-OWA Party-list), and Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod Party-list), all voted with the majority.

Clavecillas was working on news reports on July 10 but was also closely monitoring the proceedings in the lower chamber.

She shared feeling somber on that day, “crying for two days straight”, as she was set to celebrate her birthday on July 11.

She added that they already expected big changes since ABS-CBN Chief Executive Officer Carlo Katigbak had informed them beforehand that there may be retrenchments should the franchise not be renewed.

“I remember that day when we finally learned that the franchise was not going to be renewed. I clearly remember that day because it was a day before my birthday, so I celebrated a sad birthday. I received a lot of messages after that. It was a different feeling,” she said.

They all continued to work, with their human resources office facilitating paperwork for them until their last day.

She shared being touched and happy leading up to their final bow, since they had been receiving messages of support from friends, family, local officials, and people who recognized them on the streets.

She cited one instance where a resident who recognized her hugged her while out in Iloilo City, ignoring the ongoing pandemic, to console her, and gave words of encouragement to her and the people who were about to lose their jobs.

“It was really heartbreaking because sometimes you wouldn’t even be able to concentrate working, but you have to soldier on, not only for the company, but for your community, for all Filipinos. We’re happy somehow that up to the last day, we were able to serve the community in Panay,” she said.

TV Patrol Panay made its last online broadcast on August 28, 2020, mainly featuring the newscast’s near-20 years on the air, as well as messages from prominent people in the island.

On that day, ABS-CBN Iloilo personnel had a small gathering and joined other friends in local media to do a small candle-lighting activity outside the station.

“We felt happy having been sustained by ABS-CBN over these past few months despite that. I remember that episode was mainly about ABS-CBN’s role in the community and their feelings. It was very heavy on us, but we were still thankful because ABS-CBN became part of our lives, and of the community’s lives,” Clavecillas said.

She expressed her joy over her former colleagues from other regional stations who have continued to contribute news to the network.

In Iloilo, they have two correspondents contributing to the network, with some of them, including Clavecillas, still pitching in stories once in a while.

“All regional stations have closed down, and yet some members of the regional stations remained committed even if they have new jobs, they continue to contribute stories for ABS-CBN, because we all know that stories from the regions are very relevant,” she said.

Clavecillas still connects with her colleagues, going on meals together and talking to each other over social media.

Today, she works as the Executive Director of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), being key to holding “digital” editions of the Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta Festivals of Iloilo City.

She said that the skills she had learned at ABS-CBN were crucial in her current work, especially with connecting with people and maintaining their spirit.

Despite having been let go by ABS-CBN, Clavecillas believes that the network will “rise like a phoenix from the ashes”.

“Somehow after a year, we can see with the ones who remained, that they thrive and continue the mission of ABS-CBN which is to be of service to every Filipino worldwide, and even with limited resources and no television franchise, yet they are able to deliver and serve many. It’s very challenging, but given the drive and persistence of ABS-CBN, I know they will not disappear in just a click. They will remain true to their mission and vision for all the Filipinos,” said Clavecillas.