Kathryn Bernardo and Angel Locsin were among the stars who voiced out their support for ABS-CBN after the National Telecommunications Commission ordered its broadcast closure. FILE/ABS-CBN News
MANILA — As the National Telecommunications Commission ordered ABS-CBN on Tuesday to stop its radio and TV operations, entertainment personalities joined a chorus of online protest against the shutdown of the country's largest media company.
Within minutes of the announcement, the hashtag #NoToABSCBNShutDown topped Twitter's list of trending topics in the Philippines as Filipinos aired their reactions to the cease and desist order.
Celebrities echoed the concern of Filipinos over the prospect of eliminating a prime source of information amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the further loss of jobs — an estimated 11,000 — during a crisis that has already cost many of their livelihood.
Others pointed out the implications of ABS-CBN's closure on freedom of the press in the country, coincidentally in the same week as World Press Freedom Day.
ABS-CBN, they said, has also formed a vital part of Philippine society and culture over the past six decades it has been in service — and shutting its broadcast operations would have a grave impact on Filipinos who have depended on it as a source not only of entertainment, but information.
Angel Locsin, actress
Kathryn Bernardo, actress
Gary Valenciano, singer
Sharon Cuneta, singer
Regine Velasquez, singer
Ria Atayde, actress
Angeli Pangilinan, talent manager
Concerned Artists of the Philippines
Karen Davila, ABS-CBN News anchor
Bianca Gonzalez, TV host
Juan Miguel Severo, actor and poet
Ai dela Cruz, MYX VJ
Gretchen Ho, TV host
Leah Navarro, singer
Joshua Garcia, actor
Bela Padilla, actress
Julia Barretto, actress
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Angel Aquino, actress
Vice Ganda, comedian
Janine Gutierrez, actress
Liza Soberano, actress
Maine Mendoza, actress
Kim Chiu, actress
Anne Curtis, actress
Matteo Guidicelli, actor
Jericho Rosales, actor
Coco Martin, actor
Robi Domingo, host
Dimples Romana, actress
Kapag Ina ka, kapag magulang ka, anak, Hindi kailanman nawawala sa puso at isipan mo ang pangamba araw araw para sa mga taong umaasa sayo. Lalo na sa mga panahon ngayon na sinusubok ang ating katatagan ng epidemiang ito. Mas nadagdagan pa ito ng malungkot na pangyayari ngayong gabi. Mother’s Day sa Linggo, my heart bleeds para sa lahat ng ina , nanay, mommy, mama, lahat ng breadwinners who will not be able to sleep tonight thinking, worrying of how the coming days will be for their families who depend on them knowing our home network has signed off tonight. Mother’s Day sa linggo 💔
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Bela Padilla, actress
Pokwang, comedienne
Angeline Quinto, singer
Ruffa Gutierrez, actress
Erik Santos, singer
Elisse Joson, actress
Lara Quigaman, actress
Luis Manzano, host
Alex Gonzaga, actress
Maymay Entrata, actress
Zsa Zsa Padilla, singer
Vhong Navarro, actor-host
Daniel Padilla, actor
Piolo Pascual, actor
Bea Alonzo, actress
Lea Salonga, singer
😢
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apl.de.ap, singer
Billy Crawford, singer
Martin Nievera, singer
Ogie Alcasid, singer
Toni Gonzaga, actress-host
Angelica Panganiban, actress
John Prats, actor
Morissette Amon, singer
Carlo Aquino, actor
Yassi Pressman, actress
Richard Gutierrez, actor
Andi Eigenmann, actress
Pooh, comedian
Sarah Geronimo, actress-singer
Marco Gumabao, actor
Robin Padilla, actor