Noli de Castro, Bernadette Sembrano, and Henry Omaga Diaz returned to TV Patrol yesterday, May 5, 2021.
The anchors and production team of TV Patrol went through a self-quarantine period after their exposure to COVID-19.
Bernadette herself contracted the virus, and gave an update about her conditions on April 22, 2021.
Their comeback to TV Patrol also coincided with the first anniversary of the ABS-CBN shutdown.
It was on May 5, 2020 when the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against the Kapamilya network following the expiration of its congressional franchise. The franchise expired on Monday, May 4, 2020.
ABS-CBN stopped its broadcast at exactly 7:52 p.m. on May 5, 2020, with TV Patrol as the last program airing on the network.
Subsequent hearings were then held in Congress.
On July 10, 2020, however, 70 congressmen voted to kill the franchise of ABS-CBN.
TV PATROL ANCHORS WEARING ABS-CBN COLORS
For TV Patrol's broadcast on May 5, 2021, Noli, Bernadette, and Henry did their anchoring duties in different areas of the ABS-CBN compound, in adherence to safer and stricter precautions on the set.
Noli remained in the TV Patrol studio, while Bernadette and Henry were in an outdoor location, still within the premises of the Kapamilya network.
When their frames were put together in the last part of the broadcast, it was evident that elements in their clothing represented the ABS-CBN colors.
Noli wore a red necktie, Bernadette wore a green dress, while Henry had a blue necktie.
They also introduced ABS-CBN’s new campaign at the time of the shutdown’s anniversary, called “ANDITO KAMI PARA SA ‘YO, KAPAMILYA.”
The campaign showed how ABS-CBN was able to find ways to continue its service to the Filipino people through different broadcast platforms despite its absence on free TV.
Noli told the audience, “Kapamilya, mga kabayan, nandito kami para sa iyo. Sa haba po ng ating pinagsamahan, napatunayan natin na wala tayong iwanan.”
Bernadette said, “Nais po naming malaman ninyo na kami ay nananatiling tapat sa aming pangako na maglingkod sa Pilipino.”
Henry added, “Kapamilya, nandito kami para sa iyo araw araw po para ihatid ang balita at impormasyon na makakatulong sa iyo at sa iyong pamilya.”
Bernadette then mentioned ABS-CBN’s broadcast platforms where TV Patrol can be seen: Kapamilya Channel, ANC, and TeleRadyo on cable; and Kapamilya Online Live, ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel, and iWant TFC online.
Noli emphasized the network’s efforts to continue finding ways of giving information and entertainment to Filipinos.
Noli remarked, “Asahan po ninyo mga kabayan na lagi kaming hahanap ng paraan para patuloy kayong mapaglingkuran. Nandito kami para sa iyo, Kapamilya.”
Before ending TV Patrol’s May 5 broadcast, Noli reiterated ABS-CBN’s mission to serve the Filipino people all over the world despite its limited reach.
“Limitado man ngayon, nananatili pong buhay ang layunin naming makapagserbisyo sa bawat Pilipino saan man sa mundo.”
TV Patrol ended with a short recap on what happened in the last few hours of ABS-CBN’s broadcast on May 5, 2020 before completely signing off the air.
It ended with the words “Magpapaalam pero hindi magpapatalo.”
