ANG ABS-CBN ang dating nangungunang TV and radio broadcast sa Pilipinas bago ito nawalan ng prangkisa ng nagkaraang administration ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na naging daan ng pagsasara ng kanilang TV and radio network at pagkawala ng trabaho ng libu-libong empleyado ng kumpanya maging ang marami sa kanilang mga contract workers including production people (directors, writers, researchers, production assistants, radio and TV crews at marami pang iba) at mga contract artists. Nawalan din ng pagkakakitaan ang maraming mga kumpanya na may mga tie-ups with the former leading network. Nawalan din ng giya ng Bantay Bata Foundation ng ABS-CBN at iba nilang public service programs. Pero sa kabila ng mga pangyayari, hindi nawalan ng pag-asa ang pamunuan ng Kapamilya network at sila’y nakipag-alyansa sa ibang TV networks tulad ng GMA, TV5 at ang A2Z (Zoe TV) at lalo nilang pinalakas ang kanilang digital platforms.

Inaasahan na rin ang alyansa sa pagitan ng ABS-CBN at ang Advanced Media Broadcasting Systems (AMBS) ng pamilya Villar na nagkaroon ng pirmahan ng kontrata sa kanilang pagitan kahapon, April 23.

Ang AMBS ng mga Villar ang nakakuha ng prangkisa na dati’y hawak ng ABS-CBN. Although may pera ang mga Villar, hindi nila kayang patakbuhin ang kanilang network the way ABS-CBN used to run the network although ilan sa dating mga tauhan ng Kapamilya network ay kinuha ng ALLTV ng AMBS. Pero sa kabila nito ay hindi pa rin ito naka-take off dahilan para umalis si Willie Revillame at lumipat ng TV5 na nakatakda umanong magsimula ang kanyang “Wowowin” daily game show ngayong buwan ng Hunyo.

Kung ang “It’s Showtime” ay napapanood na sa GMA and GTV, hindi malayong mapanood na sa ALLTV ng AMBS ang iba pang mga programa ng ABS-CBN na hindi pa napapanood sa ibang TV networks tulad ng “TV Patrol” at iba pa at posible ring mag-create sila ng mga bago pang programa.

Since in place pa ang mga regional networks ng ABS-CBN, puwede nila itong buhaying muli.

Hindi nga lamang malinaw kung co-production ang arrangement ng ABS-CBN at AMBS or magiging blocktime ang kanilang kasunduan. Pero sa anumang paraan ay tiyak na magkakatulungan nang malaki ang dalawang TV network sa bago nilang kasunduan lalupa’t marami sa mga programa ng Kapamilya network ang hindi umaabot sa wider audience tulad ng “TV Patrol” at iba pa nilang mga programa.

Since iba na ang administrasyon ngayon at iba na rin ang namumuno ng Kongreso at Senado, hindi kaya posibleng mabigyan ng bagong prangkisa ang ABS-CBN na malaki ang naiaambag sa sambayanang Pilipino in terms of public service, news and information and entertainment?

Rachel matagal naka-move on sa ex

LAST April 9, 2024 ay nag-celebrate ng kanilang 13th wedding anniversary ang couple na si Rachel Alejandro and her Spanish husband na si Carlos Santa Maria. Ang mag-asawa ay naka-base na ngayon sa New York, USA.

In our recent interview with the singer-actress (who flew back to the Big Apple yesterday), inamin nito na hindi naging madali para sa kanya ang naging decision ng kanyang husband na sa New York na sila mag-base because of his work lalupa’t ang bulk ng kanyang trabaho bilang singer-performer ay sa Pilipinas maging sa ibang bansa.

“Dumaan din kami sa rough stage ng aming relasyon bilang mag-asawa,” pag-amin ni Rachel.

“Of course, he wanted me to stay with him most of the time in New York but my work requires me to perform in various places and countries, so we talked at naintindihan naman niya ang nature ng work ko at let him understand na hindi ko naman ito forever na gagawin. Darating din ang time that I will slow down and eventually retire,” aniya.

While Rachel entertained the idea of having kids, kabaliktaran naman ang kanyang husband na si Carlos na ayaw na magkaroon sila ng anak and the responsibility of having a kid around dahil mas gusto niya na silang dalawa lang umano.

Carlos is an only child of his parents na naka-base in Spain. Every once in a while they fly to Spain to visit his folks and relatives. Since matanda na ang parents ni Carlos, nabanggit umano nito that they might settle in Spain someday to spend more time with them.

Rachel who turned 50 (golden girl) last February 18 is open to the idea of exploring the possibilities of trying Broadway in New York where she is currently based and Hollywood for her acting career but each time na may opportunity ay may mga singing commitments na siya.

“Maybe I will need to take a break sa mga shows and concerts ko to give way to my Broadway and Hollywood dreams,” pahayag niya.

In two years, Rachel will be celebrating her 40th year in the entertainment business. It was in 1986 nang pumasok siya sa showbiz sa pamamagitan ng dating youth-oriented program on GMA, ang “That’s Entertainment” ng yumaong star builder ang Master Showman na si German `Kuya Germs’ Moreno at ito ang nagbukas ng maraming opportunities sa panganay ng OPM icon na si Hajji Alejandro who carved a name on her own apart from his father bilang singer, actress and stage performer and a songwriter as well.

Maituturing na signature hit song ni Rachel ang awiting “Mr. Kupido” but she has other hits tulad ng “Paalam Na” which he wrote together with her ex-boyfriend, singer-songwriter Dingdong Avanzado (na mister na ngayon ng isa pang singer-actress na si Jessa Zaragoza), “May Minamahal,” “Nakapagtataka,” “Don’t Know What To Do,” “Kay Tagal,” “Babalik-Balikan,” “Much Longer,” “Nananaginip ng Gising,” “Langit Na” at iba pa.

Bukod sa singing, Rachel was only 8 years old nang kanyang gawin ang musical play na “The Sound of Music.” She was 15 when she did “Peter Pan” at 18 naman siya ng kanyang gawin ang “Noli Me Tangere” and 21 naman siya nang gawin niya ang “Alikabok.” She also did “Larawan,” “Sino Ka Ba Jose Rizal,” “Fire Water Woman” at iba pa. Taong 2022 naman nang kanyang gawin ang hit primetime TV series na “Broken Marriage Vow” which obliged her to stay in Manila for 6 months away from her husband Carlos in New York City.

Tanggap ni Rachel na hindi madali ang LDR (long distance relationship) niya with her husband but they’re both adjusted to it now. She goes where the work is.

Samantala, inamin ni Rachel na matagal umano siyang nakapag-move on nang magkahiwalay sila ng kanyang longtime boyfriend, ang singer at dating actor na si Lee Robin Salazar na mahigit limang taon niya naka-relasyon. She thought it was the end of the world for her after their break-up but she was able to recover and discovered that the world has more for her. She focused on her career at doon nagtuluy-tuloy ang kanyang success as a singer-performer at bilang actress.

She met her husband na si Carlos Santa Maria through her sister Barni who hooked them up hanggang sa maging sila and eventually maging husband niya.

Since sa New York City (USA) na sila naka-base na mag-asawa, she makes it a point to visit her family in the Philippines at least twice or thrice a year at natataon naman na meron siyang shows dito.

Rachel was only four years old nang magkahiwalay ang kanyang parents and she has two other half siblings bukod sa kanyang full sister na si Barni. Her mom has a new family in the US habang ang kanyang dad na si Hajji Alejandro had several relationships including her late step-mom na si Rio Diaz kung kanino siya may half brother na si Ali who is now married with two kids.

The singer-actress considers singer-performer and actress Geneva Cruz as her best friend of all standing.

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