SOP's tribute to Marky Cielo

Was channel surfing at noon today when the remote control brought me to GMA 7. There were lighted candles and all of those singing on stage were wearing white. As if someone has just died. Add to that the song, which was "Paglisan", a song meant for those who will be going somewhere far or for those who have just died.

I paused for a while to find out what was it all about. And then it hit me. It was SOP's tribute to the handsome, young actor who had died just a couple of days ago - Marky Cielo. Everyone on stage was on grieving mood. Everyone was crying. I even saw Janno Gibbs wearing black shades trying to hold back his tears.

"Sayang talaga". That's what I can say to the young actor. Whatever caused his death, it was very untimely. It happened when he was still on the infancy of his career.

According to reports, his mom tried to wake him up for an appointment at around six in the morning. After the young actor failed to answer the door, it was forced open. Marky Cielo was found lifeless inside and was declared dead when he was brought to the nearby Antipolo hospital.

The cause of death is still unclear at this point, but acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, locally known asbangungot, may have been the cause. This was also the cause of death of another young actor, Rico Yan, many years ago.

ABS-CBN statement regarding the GMA libel suit

This is ABS-CBN's official press statement regarding the libel charges filed by GMA-7:
"We are waiting for a formal copy of GMA-7's complaint so our lawyers can evaluate its merits.
We are disappointed but not surprised by GMA-7’s reactions to the discovery of TV ratings manipulation.

We continue to stand by our earlier news reports that AGB-Nielsen Media Research General Manager Maya Reforma identified GMA-7 as the broadcast network behind the efforts that compromised panel homes in Bacolod.

Furthermore, in the attachment to Reforma's affidavit submitted to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, she admitted that "79 of the 532 homes interviewed from the 6 cities were confirmed by panel homes to have been exposed to efforts by GMA."

Let's remember that the issue here is about having a clean TV ratings process, the reason we filed a civil case against AGB-Nielsen Media Research. Filing defamation charges against ABS-CBN diverts attention from the real issue. We are confident that the truth will come out."

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GMA 7 files P15-million libel case vs. ABS-CBN

A multi-million peso libel suit was filed yesterday morning by GMA Network against ABS-CBN, its executives and talents. The libel case was filed at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

The filing of the case was prompted by alleged erroneous and malicious news reports and commentaries aired by ABS-CBN that pointed to GMA Network as responsible for the alleged TV ratings manipulation in Bacolod.

Among those sued for libel were DZMM station manager Angelo Palmones, DZMM news manager Alona Magtalas, DZMM reporter Junrie Hidalgo, DZMM hosts Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito, Bandila over-all in charge of production Luchi Cruz-Valdes, Bandila Executive Producer (EP) Boyet Agustin, legal department head Atty. Maximilian Uy, Bandila host Korina Sanchez, "Entertainment Live" overall in charge of production Malou Santos and Luis Andrada, "Entertainment Live" EP Lani Gutierrez, "Entertainment Live" and "The Buzz" headwriter Romer Gonzales, "The Buzz" EP Nancy Yabut, and " The Buzz" headwriter Ian Reyno.

GMA Network is asking for a total of P15-million in damages.

In its complaint, GMA Network said ABS–CBN made it appear in its TV and radio programs that GMA "rigged and manipulated the ratings in Bacolod and that Ms. Maya Reporma admitted in that (DZMM) ambush interview that GMA 7 was behind the ratings manipulation."

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