ABS-CBN TRANSMISSION TOWER OFFICIALLY DEMOLISHED: AN END OF AN ERA

The iconic ABS-CBN transmission tower, towering over Quezon City for decades and once considered a symbol of free Philippine broadcasting, was officially dismantled this week, nearly four years after the media giant was shut down following its franchise denial in 2020.

The moment marked not just the physical destruction of a tower, but a deeply emotional and symbolic moment for millions of Filipinos who grew up watching ABS-CBN — and especially for the artists, journalists, and crew who once called it home.

“It’s not just metal and concrete. That tower was part of who we were,” said one longtime ABS-CBN employee.

📍 A Symbol Silenced

The ABS-CBN tower, first erected in the 1960s, stood as one of the tallest broadcast towers in Asia. It survived martial law, natural disasters, and even political pressure — until Congress denied the network’s franchise renewal in 2020, forcing it off free TV and prompting massive retrenchments, the loss of regional stations, and a drastic shift to digital-only platforms.

Its dismantling signals the final closure of a physical chapter, despite the network’s survival online.

🛠️ Why Was It Demolished?

ABS-CBN released an official statement saying the demolition was due to:

Safety concerns from deterioration

Loss of operational purpose, since free TV frequencies have been re-assigned

Ongoing redevelopment of their Quezon City compound

“We carry the legacy in our hearts, even if the tower is no longer there,” the network said.

🎭 Celebrities Pay Tribute: “We Cried Watching It Fall”

As the tower came down piece by piece, former and current Kapamilya stars took to social media to express their grief, gratitude, and nostalgia.

Vice Ganda wrote:

“Nung una akong pumasok sa ABS-CBN, ‘yan agad ang nakita ko. Akala ko, pangarap lang. Pero doon pala ako mabubuo.”

Angel Locsin shared a throwback photo beside the tower with the caption:

“Diyan ako natutong manindigan. Hanggang ngayon, Kapamilya ako.”

Kim Chiu tweeted:

“Hindi ko mapigilan ang luha. Doon ako unang nag-audition, doon din ako unang nangarap.”

Gary Valenciano posted a video saying:

“This tower helped millions connect, hope, and dream. Its fall reminds us of what we’ve lost — but also of what we continue to fight for.”

📸 Other Stars Who Shared Tributes:

Lea Salonga – “That tower was our North Star.”

Kathryn Bernardo – “Maraming salamat sa pagliwanag ng pangarap namin.”

Coco Martin – “Hindi ito ang katapusan — kundi paalala kung saan kami nagsimula.”

Melai Cantiveros – “Dito nagsimula ang Melason. Dito rin kami umiyak nung nawala.”

🙏 Fans Light Candles, Share Stories

Across social media, fans posted photos of their homes with candles lit at 6PM, the old timeslot of ABS-CBN news. Others dug up childhood memories, sharing how the network shaped their upbringing, from cartoons to teleseryes to breaking news.

“Dito ko napanood ang unang teleserye na kinilig ako.”
“Kasama ko sa hapunan ang TV Patrol, gabi-gabi.”

📣 Public Sentiment: Bittersweet but Still Hopeful

While many mourned the loss of the tower, others said it’s a symbol of resilience — not defeat.

“Kahit giniba ‘yan, hindi nila mabubura ang iniambag ng ABS-CBN sa kultura natin.”
“Tore lang ang nawala. Ang puso ng Kapamilya — buhay na buhay.”

🔚 Final Word: A Tower Falls, But the Legacy Stands Tall

The fall of the ABS-CBN transmission tower is more than a demolition. It is the collapse of a symbol — but not of the spirit it carried.

For those who worked, watched, and believed in what it stood for, the tower will remain forever upright in their memories.

Because you can bring down the steel… but not the stories.