This is Romeo Tandoc Jr. He’s one of our engineers in ABS-CBN. He’s also the man who literally had to the press the “off switch” button and kill our transmission for TVPlus. He had tears in his eyes when he was about to shut down the signal. (1/4)
His hands were shaking. I asked him what was going through his mind. He told me that for 16 years, his main job was to make sure that our signals were alive and well. And to be the one to kill the TVPlus signals tonight, it was hearbreaking. (2/4)
“Ito na ba?,” he asked his boss. “Isasara ko na?”
“Oo.”
“Ngayon na?”
“Oo.”
(3/4)
“Oo.”
“Ngayon na?”
“Oo.”
(3/4)
When he pressed the button, the screens turned black, one by one, and a small text flashed dead-center: No Signal. The green wavelength in one of the monitors suddently flatlined.
“Araw-araw ko binantayan ‘yan. Ang sakit na makitang isa-isang mawala.” (4/4)
“Araw-araw ko binantayan ‘yan. Ang sakit na makitang isa-isang mawala.” (4/4)
“Pero pinagdarasal ko na darating ang araw na ako sana ang magbukas ulit.”