Pacquiao: Video of ‘transfer’ wasn’t supposed to be shown

MANILA, Philippines – Apparently, it was a statement and video that weren’t supposed to be released at all.

Manny Pacquiao on Monday clarified that he did not give his go-signal for ABS-CBN to air the footage announcing his controversial decision to rescind his live contract with Solar Entertainment Corp. and hook up with the network.

In a phone patch from LA, the boxing superstar claimed he only agreed to do the video for ABS-CBN and issue the statement of transfer on condition they would only be made public if he were to find contractual violations on the part of Solar.

But the thing is: he didn’t find any.

“Ang usapan kasi namin ng ABS ay huwag muna tayo maggawa ng footage o video. Susuriin ko muna ang kontrata ng Solar kung may breach of contract at saka tayo maglabas ng ganoong videos. And then sabi nila sa akin, itatago muna namin, hindi namin ipapalabas, gawin mo na lang ito, sasabihin namin pag papalabas na, kaya ginawa namin," he narrated.

As it turned out, Pacquiao found nothing that would merit the rescinding of his contract with Solar.

“Wala namang nakitang breach of contract at wala namang kasalanan, wala namang nilabag ang Solar so dapat hindi maipalabas ang video na iyon na hindi naman karapat-dapat.," he said.

The recorded video was shown on ABS-CBN last Wednesday, drawing protests from Solar, which reiterated its legal rights to air Pacquiao’s fights. The contract of Pacquiao’s MP Promotions and Solar is still good up to May 6, 2011, which covers the May 2 title fight with Ricky Hatton.

In a letter to Solar, Pacquiao had cited the company’s “failure to fulfill its financial obligations." Solar officials had denied such allegation and maintained all financial matters have been settled.

Pacquiao bared that it was ABS-CBN itself that prepared the contents of what he said on the video. “Yung statement na iyon actually hindi naman ako ang gumawa nun; ang gumawa nun mga abogado rin ng ABS. Sila ang nagturo sa akin, sila ang may idea nun na gawin ko ang sasabihin ko," he disclosed.

Pacquiao eventually retracted the controversial video and statement he made on ABS-CBN after meeting personally with Solar executives over the weekend.

“Ang pinagbasehan lang doon (video) ay breach of contract, pero wala namang naganap at siguro mali yung naging desisyon ko nun na padalos-dalos ako. Pero ako naman ay talagang umaamin na nagkamali dun sa ginawa ko. Pero sana ay itigil na natin yung pagpapalabas sa video na yun," the world’s top pound for pound fighter said.

Solar officials were shocked by this new revelation from Pacquiao. “These come as a shock to us," said Solar chairman William Tieng.

Tieng refused to give further comments on ABS-CBN’s alleged actions but said “we’ll study our options."

Pacquiao cleared the air during a press conference attended by Solar officials Tieng and chief operating officer Peter ChanLiong and GMA Network, Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer Felipe Gozon and executive vice president and COO Gilberto Duavit.

During the same press con, Pacquiao apologized to everyone who was confused and inconvenienced by his actions, including his legions of fans, and vowed to fully concentrate on his training for the Hatton. The Pac Man and Hatton are slated to slug it out on May 2 in Las Vegas, with the fight to be aired locally on Solar and GMA in the morning of May 3. –GMANews.TV

Ex PBB housemate now a Kapuso and Geoff Eigenmann signed an EXCLUSIVE Contract with GMA Network

From ABS-CBN ay nasa GMA-7 na ngayon ang panganay na anak ng aktor na si Tirso Cruz III - si Bodie Cruz. Mahigit isang taon ding nagtagal si Bodie sa bakuran ng Kapamilya network mula sa pagiging housemate sa Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Season 2.

"I stayed there for a little over a year. Bale yung contract ko with them is one year. My contract with ABS ended March last year," pagbibigay-impormasyon ni Bodie sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

Ngayong nasa GMA na siya, paano niya ito ikukumpara sa isang taong ipinamalagi naman niya sa ABS-CBN?

"Before kasi, sumas ama na kami sa mga taping... Sina Tita Redgie Acuña Magno [GMA-7's senior program manager], nakakasama ko na. Masaya ako dito kasi parang pamilya na yung turing nila sa akin. Kakulitan ko na sila nung lumalaki ako. Masaya po ako dito."

Exclusive ba ang contract ni Bodie sa GMA-7?

"Per project po ako dito," sagot niya.

Bakit per project siya at hindi exclusive?

"Siguro pag-uusapan po 'yan in the future. Pero ngayong bago pa lang, per project muna."
Bakit siya umalis sa ABS-CBN?

"They have more projects po dito [sa GMA]," mabilis niyang sagot. "And tulad po nung nasabi ko kanina, sina Tita Redgie, sina Tita Winnie Reyes, nakakasama ko na before."

Pero gustong linawin ni Bodie na wala siya kahit na kaunting sama ng loob sa ABS-CBN.

"Wala naman pong galit," aniya. "I'm very thankful sa chance na ibinigay nila sa akin. I think it's just time to move on to more projects, and I think ibinibigay po sa akin yun ngayon ng GMA."

THEN DECISION. Ang ina niyang si Lyn Ynchausti-Cruz ang tumatayong manager ni Bodie. Ang ina rin niya ang nagma-manage ng career ng ama ni Bodie na si Pip.

Pinag-usapan daw nila ng kanyang mga magulang ang tungkol sa paglipat ni Bodie sa GMA-7.
"We talked about it, kami po ng parents ko. And yun, sabi nga po nila, it would be nice to try out other stuff kaya po nandito ako ngayon."

Kung talent fee naman ang pag-uusapan, halos pareho lang daw ang natatanggap niya mula sa dalawang giant networks.

Samantala, ganap na uling Kapuso ngayon ang heartthrob na si Geoff Eigenmann matapos itong pumirma ng exclusive contract sa GMA Network.

Naging mainit ang pagtanggap sa pagbabalik ni Geoff sa GMA Network kung saan kabilang sa mga dumalo sa contract signing niya sina GMA Chairman, President at COO Atty. Felipe Gozon; GMA EVP and COO Gilberto Duavit, at SVP for Entertainment TV Wilma Galvante.

Nandoon din sa contract signing ang manager ni Geoff na si Perry Lansigan at ina niyang si Gina Alajar, na isang premyadong aktres.

“I’ve been waiting for this day talaga. So, it's good to be back finally, ready to do best, ready to prove that I belong here,” pahayag ni Geoff sa Chika Minute portion ng "24 Oras" nitong Huwebes.

Unang magiging project ng guwapong aktor ang drama anthology SRO cinema serye kung saan makakasama nya sina Marvin Agustin, Maxene Magalona at Sheryl Cruz. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV

ABS-CBN STATEMENT ON PACQUIAO TURN AROUND

ABS-CBN has released a statement after Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao announced through his lawyer Franklin Gacal that he was honoring his contract with Solar Entertainment Corp. to air his fights in the Philippines.

In response, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. said it has a signed contract with Pacquiao for the airing of his next fights in the Philippines, but that it would respect his decision if he changes his mind.


Below is the statement by ABS-CBN:

"Manny Pacquiao approached ABS-CBN to be his media partner in airing his next fights. We thank him for trusting us. He signed a contract with us, but we will not stand in the way if he decides to change his mind," ABS-CBN Corp. said. "We respect it, wish him good luck and we wait to hear from him."

Pacquiao back to Solar Sports Agreement

MANILA, Philippines – Now Manny Pacquiao can get back to training after he finally came to terms with Solar Entertainment Corp. on the issue of who has the right of airing his May 2 (May 3 in Manila) bout against Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao, in a GMA "Flash Report," ended his four-day stand-off against Solar in Los Angeles on Friday (Saturday in Manila) saying that he would honor his contract with the sports network.

Solar Sports holds the exclusive rights of airing Pacquiao’s fights in Manila and buys block time from GMA Network. Pacquiao, on Tuesday, announced that he was rescinding the last two years of his contract with Solar Sports and was giving ABS-CBN the rights to air his match against Hatton.

Pacquiao’s decision to change media partners prompted Solar Sports president and chief executive officer Wilson Tieng and chief operating officer Peter Chanliong to fly to Los Angeles to meet with Pacquiao.

After the meeting, Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, read a statement in which the Filipino boxing icon apologized to the public for the confusion brought out by the misunderstanding between him and Solar.

In a statement read by his lawyer, Pacquiao said:

"Ang inyo pong lingkod, si Manny Pacquiao, ay nais iparating sa lahat na matapos ang masusing pag-aaral at pagtimbang-timbang namin ng Solar Entertainment Corporation napatunayan na ang kontrata tungkol sa TV rights ng aking mga laban ay valid and binding at hindi nilabag nino man.

"Dahil po dito ay taos puso akong humihingi ng paumanhin kung kayo man ay naguluhan kung saan ipapalabas ang aking darating na laban kay Ricky Hatton. Ito po ay resulta lang ng hindi pagkaka-intindihan sa pagitan ng Solar Entertainment Corporation at MP Promotions. Sana ay maunawaan ng lahat."

[Yours truly, Manny Pacquiao, wants everyone to know that after our close study and consideration with Solar Entertainment Corporation we have proved that the contract over TV rights of my fight is valid and binding, and nobody violated anything. In light of this, I'm asking with all my heart for forgiveness from anyone who might have been confused as to which network would air my coming fight with Ricky Hatton. This was merely the result of a misunderstanding between Solar Entertainment Corporation at MP Promotions. May everyone undertstand.]

Pacquiao then asked for his fans support and prayer as he set out to intensify his training for his May 2 fight against Hatton.

"Simula sa araw na ito ay nais kong mag-concentrate nang husto na lang sa aking training para sa aking darating na laban ngayong Mayo 2 [From this day on I wish to fully concentrate on my training for the May 2 bout]," he said.

Gacal added that GMA would remain as Solar’s media partner in the Pacquiao-Hatton fight.

"Yan po ang mangyayari po. Ang laban po ay nanatili sa Solar Sports at ipapalabas sa GMA 7 [That's how it's going to be. The bout would remain with Solar Sports and GMA 7 would air it]," he said. - GMANews.TV

GMA-7, nag isyu ng statement sa pagtalikod ni Pacquiao sa Solar

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

GMA Network disappointed over Pacquiao’s decision to ditch Solar

MANILA, Philippines - GMA Network said in a statement Thursday that “it is very disappointed with the reported decision of Manny Pacquiao to transfer from Solar Sports to ABS-CBN the rights to broadcast his fight with Ricky Hatton on May 2, 2009 and his other fights."

The network also clarified that the existing contract for the airing of Pacquiao’s fights in the Philippines is between the boxer and Solar Sports and not between Manny and GMA Network.

It said Solar Sports just enters into blocktime agreements with GMA Network for the airing of Pacquiao’s fights in the country.

GMA Network also cited Beth Celis column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last March 18, 2009, which revealed, “The network (ABS-CBN) is said to have offered Manny full media support in the next election to ensure victory in the next year’s congressional elections."

GMA Network said it did not offer the same to Pacquiao because the Omnibus Election Code prohibits television networks from doing so. Section 95 of the code states that “no contribution for purposes of partisan political activity shall be made directly or indirectly" by grantees of franchises such as television networks.

It was also reported that Pacquiao favored the other network because of ABS-CBN’s dominance in Sarangani and the international presence of their reporters. GMA Network’s news teams and existing contributors in key areas worldwide adequately cover important events like those of Pacquiao’s activities. GMA also has superior signal quality in General Santos City and environs.

The network said that aside from Pacquiao’s two existing programs, “Pinoy Records" and “Totoy Bato," GMA Entertainment offered projects to Manny as soon as his schedule allows. These include his own sitcom, a drama series, concerts in Las Vegas and Los Angeles in the United States and in key cities in Canada and boxing clinics around the Philippines. The network may have to review these now in light of the recent developments, the statement said.

Moreover, according to GMA’s legal counsel, Dick B. Perez, Manny Pacquiao has a separate contract with GMA Network, which prohibits the boxing icon from appearing on “any television program, show, promotion or event of any other broadcast media entity other than GMA and its subsidiaries and affiliates without the written consent of GMA." GMA has not given him its consent to appear in ABS-CBN. - GMANews.TV