Actress-comedian Tuesday Vargas has expressed her support for ABS-CBN employees affected by the company’s latest retrenchment program, recalling the people who were part of some of the earliest milestones in her career.
In a Facebook post on September 18, Tuesday shared a message of sympathy for her the Kapamilyas, many of whom she said had been with her since she started out as an artist.
“Sa aking mga kapamilya sa ❤️💚💙 Lubos puso po akong nakiki-isa sa 230 nawalan ng trabaho noong nakaraan,” she wrote.
Tuesday looked back on the projects and experiences she shared with the employees, writing, “Marami po sa inyo ay naging kasama ko sa aking pagsisimula bilang artista at naka-buo po tayo ng maraming magagandang palabas. Pero higit pa doon, marami po tayon [mga] alaala na nabuo rin na napaka ganda.”
She added: “Unang abroad ko bilang performer ay kayo ang aking kasama, unang teleserye, unang album. Sa mahigit na dalawang dekadang yun ay masasabi kong nahubog ng network ang aking husay pero kayong mga tao sa loob ang tunay na gumawa ng magic na yun.”
She also thanked them for the years of work and dedication they gave to the network and expressed hope that their paths would cross again in future productions.
“Salamat po sa pagod, puyat, pagmamahal at dedikasyon. Hindi ito ang pagtatapos, magkikita po tayo sa iba pang produksyon.
“Salamat po sa serbisyo at gabayan nawa kayo ng Diyos sa susunod na chapter. Kapit lang po tayo,” she continued.
Drawing from her own experiences, the actress-comedian encouraged the Kapamilyas to remain hopeful as they navigate the difficult period.
“Ako man na minsan nadapa naka-bangon din. Tayo rin po ay makaka lampas dito. Padayon kapamilya,” she ended.
Tuesday has been part of numerous ABS-CBN film and television projects, including the Star Cinema films Here Comes the Bride; Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo; Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo; and Mr. Suave, among many others.
Her message came days after ABS-CBN announced that it would implement a retrenchment program affecting around 200 employees, or approximately 7% of its workforce.
In an official statement released on September 15, the company said the decision came after a difficult year for the content industry and cited factors including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, high inflation, and low economic growth, which it said have contributed to weaker advertising and consumer spending.
“These events have affected our recovery efforts and we expect these challenges to continue,” the company said in a statement.
After careful review, ABS-CBN said it made the decision to implement the retrenchment program as part of efforts to keep the company on “strong financial footing.”
The company also acknowledged the impact of the retrenchment on its employees and their families, saying it intends to handle it “the way we have always done—with compassion for our Kapamilya.”
“We are truly grateful to all our Kapamilyas for their dedication, passion, and service to the company and the Filipino people,” the statement ended.