NTC gives Villar-led Advanced Media Broadcasting System provisional authority to operate Channel 16 and Channel 2

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Channel 2 frequency on free TV will no longer belong to ABS-CBN. It will soon be operated by the Villars. The Channel 2 frequency formerly under the ABS-CBN Corp. has been given by the National Telecommunications Commission (NYC) to the Villar-led Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. The NTC has confirmed that Villar's Advanced Media Broadcasting System has been given a provisional authority to operate Channel 16, and Channel 2 (temporarily until 2023).

It is unclear how exactly a 16-year-old application was revived, let alone be granted a PA over a highly controversial frequency. In 2020, AMBS struggled due to the pandemic. Villar group's Planet Cable came in. The transaction is subject to legislative approval.

In a September 2021 Senate hearing, Senator Grace Poe questioned AMBS what it intends to do in TV.

AMBS answered to "venture into 'TeleRadyo' type."

Poe: So news?

AMBS: It could be.. but more of music, which is the core mission of the station.

In the NTC order, it said that it sought the legal opinion of the DOJ and the Office of Executive Secretary. Villar's daughter-in-law Emmeline Aglipay-Villar is DOJ undersecretary.

In the middle of news about the elections—specifically, presidential debates and interviews—Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc., a Villar-linked company, has been granted a "test broadcast" permit to take over ABS-CBN's previous Channel 2 frequency. 

From Kapamilya to Kacamella. The Villars truly has got no delicadeza.

Interestingly, it must be noted that Villar's son, ex-DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, is a senatorial aspirant in the upcoming 2022 elections. 

The implications of this in the future reach far and wide. We will never know until then.

Channel 2 is Kapamilya no more. Sad but we have to remember that its the Kapamilya branding that sells. Audiences follow & look for relevant and progressive content, which iWantTFC and other streaming partners offer. 

Nakatatak sa pusot isipan namin na kapag channel 2 is ABS-CBN. Malungkot man ngayon. Alam ko na sa mga susunod na panahon, bibigyang-kasiyahan muli tayo ng ABS-CBN sa mga posible pang sorpresa.

This is not the first time that Channel 2 frequency was taken out from ABS-CBN. During the 70s, it was awarded to a Marcos crony to used for BBC 2. But despite of all those challenges in the past, ABS-CBN was still able to return years after. They can do it again. Just be patient.

Hindi man natin sila makikitang magbalik sa Channel 2, alam nating babalik ang ABS-CBN.

Mind you that all analog channels on free TV will be shut off soon. Note that AMBS’s assignment of Channel 2 is only until the PH analog shut off originally scheduled in 2023, after which all TV will switch to digital. 

Mawawala rin ang nakasanayan nating channel designations.

So even if Channel 2 frequency was given to its new owner, it will only last for a short period of time. There are lots of frequencies available in digital TV. There are still more space for ABS-CBN return.

Kaya hindi parin panalo si Villar khit nakuha nya yung frequencies ngayon. Baka makipag blocktime pa si Villar sa ABS-CBN kung mangyari yun. 18 months lang naman pinahiram kay Villar yung frequencies.

But the deadline of the analog shutoff might be pushed back much later, esp. following the shutdown of ABS-CBN, which was one of the biggest proponents of digital TV in the Philippines with its TVPlus.

Originally 2015 dapat naka migrate na sa digital ang TV sa Pilipinas, pero dahil hindi pa handa ang lahat, nausog ito sa 2019 at ang huling deadline na inilabas ay 2023.

Pero gaya ng dati, posibleng mausog pa ito dahil titingnan pa rin ang kahandaan ng mga TV networks.

As far as streaming services, iwantTFC has also expanded, and they have even partnered with VIU. I do not think that they have any desire in the near future to apply for a new franchise.

Perhaps they've already settled with the reality that their direction now is towards content creation. 

Oligarchs replaced by oligarchs. ABS has already adapted well to the digital content creation and production landscape. Their blocktime agreements with TV5 and A2Z seemingly suffice for free TV.

ABS-CBN may no longer have the Channel 2. But it's not the frequency that matters and what makes it best; it's the network, the management, the programs, the staffs and the artists that makes it.

Hey Manny Villar, do you really think that even if you already have the Channel 2 frequency you will get the same strong support of the people that ABS-CBN had enjoyed for the past decades until now. You will never be like ABS-CBN. 

Channel 2 will never be the same anymore. I'm so dissappointed to NTC sobrang unfair. And to AMBS (Villar-affiliated channel), hindi kayo magtatagal. 

Iba man ang mag may-ari ngayon, iba pa rin ang Kapamilya.

I'll just move on and say that I was once an avid watcher of Channel 2 wayback 2000s. End of story.

Boy Abunda One-on-one Presidential Interviews: Bongbong Marcos and his generic and vague answers

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I find it hard to get impressed with Bongbong Marcos' interview with Boy Abunda. Maybe it was the beating around the bush, lack of direct answers to How and What questions, or Ping Lacson just performed better and the standard was set high.

I don't like BBM at all, but decided to give him a chance just to hear If I can get a peek at his platform. But all I got were generic filler type of answers. I wanted to hear his side talaga kaso redundant and lengthy lang answers niya pero no substance. Walang alamano moment haha pero seriously I tried very much talaga makinig ng taimtim, pero waley. It's so all over the place. Although it went better than what I expected, that doesn't mean he is competent. Gusto ko talaga makita kung bakit siya laging leading sa surveys at baka naman may point pero wala talagang kasubstance-substance.

Albeit the ambiguity of his responses, some still refer to it as "articulate." Kahit ako, di ko na naiintindihan yung points due to his voluminous and digressing statements . I hope these people reconsider their decisions. They should know that they deserve better.

I hope our loyalty remains with the Filipino people and not to one person only. Our country has terrible education system just for the fact that Marcos Jr. is even an option for presidency. As much as possible, let us make knowledge more accessible. So these interviews are still a big help for us to be somehow enlightened or get a glimpse of the leaders we are about to vote for.

After all, the point of politics is to mediate decisions for society and its betterment. 

Ping Lacson's answers, if we are to compare, on the other hand gave me points to think about., and his interview left me feeling intrigued.

Also, Bongbong Marcos and his red flags (or why he won't be an accountable president) are just too alarming to ignore.

Aside of refusing to disclose his SALN, he denied knowledge of human rights violations during martial law and though he did not categorically say he rejects any ICC investigation but instead raised the issue of sovereignty considering we have our own judicial system that works...or does it really? Highly doubtful. That answer is a classic dodging style sa mga yes or no questions.

The reason why we don’t buy his unification stance is because they’re all motherhood statements. Empty. His stance on the WPS is vague and very China. 

Sabaw din mga sagot, walang detalye kung paano makakarecover ang bansa sa covid. "Revitalize the economy" napaka generic ng sagot. 

Hindi concrete plans kundi puro general idea. The answers are nothing but generics. Mema lang talaga. You can never trust what BBM says, hence his interviews are irrelevant.

What will you do with those hungry people? Feed them. Or those who doesn’t have a job? Give them. Parang tanong nung elem bakit gusto mong makapagtapos ng pag-aaral? Para makatulong sa kapwa.

It would have been good if Boy Abunda asked specific follow-up questions regarding the candidates’ general answers. We all know we need to stimulate economic growth and strengthen our healthcare system, etc. The problem is HOW, and this should be the meat of the conversation.

There was no follow-up questions from Abunda regarding the stolen wealth and human rights violations of the Marcoses.

It may seem he is saying the 'right' things (e.g. 'no to negative campaigning', 'I'm all for unity', 'allow abortion for rape victims', 'support for OFWs'). But he won't be an accountable president.

Easy to say the right things. Drawing lang yan, theory. Pero may track record ba na kayang mag-commit doon sa RIGHT things na yon? Doon nagkulang sa questioning si Boy Abunda. 

I was hoping for a follow up question about his diploma and credentials when boy abunda brought up the basic qualifications of being a president - it's a mismatch to the job role. If Bongbong can lie about his educational attainment, ano pa ang pwede niyang itago?

It was obvious Marcos merely answered questions but obviously they were merely statements. He gave wholistic answers but did not give concrete answers as to the HOW. Pakiramdam ko kinopya lang nya sagot nya pero hindi nya talaga naiintindihan ang sinabi.

Boy Abunda's questions weren't even hard-hitting. In fact, halos i-feed na nga kay Bongbong yung sagot, and yet your favorite cocaine addict was still struggling to give us anything specific.

It’s super funny everytime Boy Abunda is trying to guide Bongbong on his statements but Bongbong is still messing up!

Abunda has never been an insightful interviewer. He just "acts" intense when interviewing. Kapag si Boy ang nagbigay ng exam, walang babagsak kasi binigay na lahat ng facts at hints. Daig pa open notes. That's why these kind of interviews should be hosted by journalists, not just mere interviewers. Watching the interview only made me realize how big a difference an interviewer makes. Leave it to the real journalists please.

Boy Abunda is not Jessica Soho. He doesn't have that in-depth grasp of the issues. Though both Jessica Soho and Boy Abunda are the embodiment of the Filipino people wanting to know the Presidentiables' platforms and capabilities, if we try to base it on their set of questions rather than their media stands. Boy is too far From Jessica. He was trying to help BBM to come up with the good answer kaya nga kung minsan sina summarized pa niya ang sagot ni BBM na ewan at puro lang basic question yong tinatanong niya at wala man lang follow up question. 

I refuse to think Boy Abunda is the best person in ABS-CBN to interview candidates for the most important position in the country. Jessica Soho is a category of her own, obviously, but there has to be someone else in ABS-CBN. Christian Esguerra or Karen Davila sana.

At the end of the day, these interviews still didn't answer my question s about BBM. Bakit mo naman iboboto ang taong nang angkin ng pera ng taong bayan. Nasaan ang logic doon?

SC ruling G.R. 152154. Mismong SC ay tinawag ang administration ng Marcoses na KLEPTOCRACY.

Even if you set aside Martial Law and every sin that his father has committed against the nation, you can still give several reasons why he's not fit for the position.

And that is what makes him, like his father, a dangerous man.

The State of Qatar Supports the Republic of the Philippines with 50,000 Doses of Sinovac Anti-Covid-19 Vaccine

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Qatar Fund for Development, on behalf of the State of Qatar, has provided financial support to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, to purchase 50,000 doses of Sinovac anti-Covid-19 vaccine for the cost of $450,000, to the people of Philippines, as a continuation of Qatar's response to provide a wider access to Covid-19 vaccine.

This assistance is an extension of Qatar's commitment to stand with the brotherly and friendly countries affected by the pandemic, by providing appropriate medical supplies to cope with the repercussions of Covid-19 and to provide health support to the people of the affected countries.

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Malki, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of the Philippines, said that the support "comes within the framework of humanitarian action, and the extended Qatari giving to relief friends in the Philippines, and also comes as a commitment from the State of Qatar to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the health crisis, and to strengthen international efforts in the field of emergency aid".

His Excellency Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, said, “This support is an affirmation of Qatar's active role and efforts in contending the Covid-19 pandemic, which represents a common threat to the whole world, and as a matter of shared international responsibility, as well as Qatar’s position in support of friendly and fraternal countries and its assistance to overcome this crisis."

Qatar Fund for Development efforts is continues to support countries around the world with emergency response aid to defeat Covid-19 and enable access to safe and effective vaccines and medical aids.