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| Because of the enhanced community quarantine imposed over Metro Manila and Luzon for a month, Filipino viewers won't be able to see Ricardo Dalisay for a while. For now, they have to satisfy with the boy wonder Santino and Bro for only a few weeks. (Image Source: Definitely Filipino) |
One case in point is having some of our favorite television shows on hold while the quarantine is in effect. Prior to the implementation, as mandated by the state of public health emergency declared by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, ABS-CBN issued a statement that it will not accept live studio audiences for its entertainment shows including It's Showtime, ASAP, Magandang Buhay, Banana Sundae and I Can See Your Voice. A few days later, the network temporarily halted the airing of live entertainment shows and even tapings for forthcoming episodes of its teleseryes as an essential measure to prioritize its stars, their fans, production crew and employees. In their place, ABS-CBN brought back three well-loved dramas - 100 Days To Heaven, May Bukas Pa, On The Wings Of Love - and an iWant original series every week to fill up the void in its primetime block for the meantime.
Aside from its live entertainment shows and teleserye productions, ABS-CBN's iWant and ABS-CBN Films have also put their original series and film productions on hold as well. Even the highly-anticipated return of the hit 90s weekly youth-oriented drama Tabing-Ilog as a musical is not safe as it is officially cancelled until further notice. On the other hand, the first Metro Manila Summer Film Festival, which is supposed to take place on April 11-21 in all cinemas nationwide, has been officially postponed and is slated to reschedule to a later date when the COVID-19 situation in the country is normalized. Speaking of cinemas, the enhanced community quarantine has pushed cinema exhibitors to temporarily close their movie theaters in Luzon which leads to the delay of blockbuster movies from Hollywood.
Among the events that are postponed and slated to reschedule in the foreseeable future are the Binibining Pilipinas 2020, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 and local and international concerts among others. These incredibly unexpected number of postponements announced literally created an impactful event on Filipino culture and society considering that these are part of social distancing which involves distancing one from another by at least two meters anytime, anywhere keeping him or her safe from being affected by the virus. It may be saddening for us not to see Vice Ganda, Ricardo Dalisay and LizQuen on our television sets for a month, but it is all for the best and we hope that everything will be fine and dandy once the dust has been settled and the quarantine over Metro Manila and Luzon is lifted.
