Former employees at old ABS-CBN building nostalgic and sad over news of its demolition

a basketball tournament at ABSCBN. Another unforgettable experience was when their radio station DWOW became number one in the ratings.

Racpan felt so sad at what happened to the network in the last years and in hearing that the old building to going to be demolished.

“I felt so bad as I treated ABS-CBN really as not only a home but a learning institution. That is where I started in broadcasting. Too bad it became a victim of lies and revenge,” believed Racpan who is now based in Canada.

Former employees and talent of ABSCBN who are now based in Northern America but spent much of their professional life in the premier broadcast network of the Philippines for many decades before migrating to the present abode expressed shock and disbelief over reports that their “second home” would be demolished .

The Lopez family reportedly decided to demolish iconic old building that stood proud since 1968 the 3-4 hectare property along Sgt. Esguerra and Mother Ignacia in ue on City to pay off operational cost. The operation management and employees have been notified that they were to move to the nearby 15-story Eugenio Lopez Jr. (ELJ) Communication Center before the end of 2023.

Balitang America anchor Gel SantosRelos admitted that, with the news, “.... it feels like the “home” where my dreams were fulfilled would be gone forever.

“All the memories I have made thereall the dreams and struggles and aspirations and victories and epiphanies that have been part of who I am now would cease to have their “home”…I am broken. I mourn inside. A part of me has died...again and again...” remarked Relos

Relos also admitted that ABS-CBN has been a big part of her childhood growing up in the Philippines and waxed nostalgic and emotional in recalling that she was ust when first set foot in the studios as a fan girl of the iconic channel’s television program. This was when my dream to work in the broadcasting industry started to take root.”

“Little did I know then that I would work there, that I would realize my dreams as a child there, over and above what I could ever wish for. It was there that my sense of purpose became clear to e and had been so blessed to fulfill that through my radio and television programs produced by ABS-CBN,” Relos shared. “It was through ABS-CBN that I was able to make a name for myself that made my family proud. It was through my job at ABS-CBN that I was able to help my husband raise our children while he was pursuing his medical degree that has now been providing us well in our new life in the U.S.”

Relos added that it was through her career in the company that has ade her earn her ualification to be granted a green card by the United States as an “Alien with Extraordinary Ability”.

“It was through ABS-CBN that I was again been able to continue fulfilling my sense of purpose despite living in the United States, through The Filipino Channel,” Relos stressed

“And even when I have retired, my heart continues to have the love and gratitude for ABS-CBN and I still cry inside me for what has happened to the franchise of this iconic and historic company that has propelled the broadcasting industry to higher levels in the service of the Filipinos around the world.”

Backtracking, topnotch radio and TV entertainment program host Eddie Ilagan or Edilat to his avid patrons at the original DWOW Radyo of the 1960s who just came from the Philippines did not hear about the news until he got back to the U.S.

“I’m sad of course. You’re right, I worked, toiled, spilled blood sweat and tears at the ABS-CBN building. I am a very sentimental person. In fact, I am thinking of re-purchasing our old house in Philam Life Homes where I grew up in. That’s how sentimental I am,” Ilagan imparted. he

Ilagan was hired as a radio announcer in ABS-CBN in 1968 and regarded the building who he worked in every day for 16 years as his second home where he worked long enough to feel that his coworkers are “family”.

“As a radio talk show announcer, every day is different which ade life exciting for me. I cater showbiz news which has a lot of ‘intrigues’ and ‘controversies’. ondest e ories were taff Christ as Parties and other special occassions. It was so much fun in the entertainment world. I also appeared on television and I was a radio drama talent for soap operas too. I learned and gained experience in broadcasting as I go along each day,” recalled Ilagan.

Ilagan sadly recalled when good friend Roger Confessor, who is also a radio announcer, dropped dead in the opening of

“The take away (from what happened to ABS-CBN) is... when you demolish ABS-CBN you are not just demolishing a building. You will be demolishing lives of so many people who will have nothing to look back to what they use to call home,” mused Ilagan who migrated to the US in 1984.

He was with a known tabloid journalist before Eric Racpan of the so-called night patroller of TV Patrol and DZMM radio when he ventured to broadcast the news instead instead at ABS-CBN.

Rapcan started as a reporter and eventually a news editor but remembers vividly the moment when a gun was rudely pointed at him after he reported on an alleged incident of police brutality and when his o cial vehicle turned upside down while trying to catch a story.

From what has happened with ABSCBN, Racpan learned there that a good man (station in this case) cannot be really brought down but it is hard to reason out when you are being shown the door.

Currently with Corporate ffairs and PR of ABS-CBN International Pia Lopezbaños-Carrion echoed Relos and Ilagan in saying that they are all Kapamiiya o about family at ABS-CBN.

“I met my husband in that building in 1992 when he was a new hire. He was with the other artists in our Graphic and Design Department. In January 1998, we got married.

(Continue on page 26)

Congratulations!

The Friends of the Filipino American Community and San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce CONGRATULATE the 16 Filipino American winners at the 2022 Elections. Their victory brings diversity and representation of our heritage and community. As a way of saying THANK YOU, we are holding a reception to honor our Filipino American electeds

YOU are Invited to join us

When: Wednesday March 22,2023

Where: Philippine Consulate Building 447 Sutter St. San Francisco, Ca Dynamico Space, 3rd Floor

Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00PM

Program starts at 4:30PM

SPECIAL FEATURE: Women’s Forum with Bay Area Filipina Leaders in Government