Two Ejercito Estradas running for senator, both sons of Erap, both senators (Jinggoy Estrada come backing, JV Ejercito running for re-election). Both failed to make it with 12 vacant positions available. Erap was running for a third term as mayor of the city of Manila but failed. His grandaughter (daughter of Jinggoy was incumbent vice mayor and was all set to replace third term mayor Guia Gomez, mother of JV) ran for mayor of the city of San Juan but also lost.

What happened? Erap and his relatives have controlled San Juan for 50 years until this turn of events, losing to their former allies, the Zamoras. In Manila, Erap lost to former ally, Isko Moreno. The Erap dynasty has produced four national personalities with Erap as senator, Vice President and President while wife Loi became senator and children Jinggoy (son of Loi) and JV (son of Guia) became senators.

After being found guilty of PLUNDER, post EDSA 2 and a prolonged HOSPITAL ARREST, Erap was PARDONED by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Erap ran for President in 2010 but lost to Noynoy Aquino. In 2013 and 2016, Erap won as mayor of the city of Manila in a classic expansion to an adjacent territory at the same time that the Gomez side of his family retained control of San Juan.

Jinggoy is currently facing graft and corruption charges and also spent years in detention but was able to go out on bail.

Political analysts were quick to point out that the Erap move to Manila divided their family and the inability to convince Jinggoy to run for San Juan mayor instead of having two Estradas in the Senate race doomed the fate of the Erap DYNASTY. Theoretically, since there were 12 vacant positions, both could have won but the entry of close allies of President Duterte (Special Assistant Bong Go, former PNP Chief Bato De La Rosa and National Political Adviser Francis Tolentino) who all won got their victories at the expense of incumbent or former senators (JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Jinggoy Estrada, Mar Roxas, Serge Osmena and Juan Ponce Enrile).

Is a comeback still possible? For Erap, it might be time for him to hang his political gloves as he is already in his eighties. For the city of San Juan an unlikely but possible alliance between the Jinggoy Estrada faction and the Guia Gomez – JV Ejercito branch of the Erap dynasty could put them back in the local government unit against the Zamoras. However, at this time outgoing mayor Guia Gomez may more comfortably work with the Zamoras than with Jinggoy.

With the possibility of ABS CBN not getting a franchise renewal from the House of Representatives, the giant radio and TV company may need to seek other sources of revenue for the corporation to survive. No one in his right mind can state that in the short term, without a franchise, ABS CBN can still command the same level of net profits but there are a lot of positives that ABS CBN can utilize to still remain as a giant media corporation.

The number one advantage of ABS CBN is its seemingly endless pool of talents. Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Koko Martin, Sarah Geronimo, Nadine Lustre, Angel Locsin, Kim Chiu, Kathryn Bernando, Daniel Padilla and many others are just the big names in the entertainment department. In the news category, Ted Failon, Noli De Castro, Julius Babao and Anthony Taberna are household names. Maalalala Mo Kaya is a top rated radio program.

With all that talent, ABS CBN must somehow find a venue or platform to reach their Kapamilya fans. Leasing or taking over (in whole or in part) a number of dormant, idle or marginal radio and tv stations may somehow comply with the amount of airtime that the current ABS CBN is consuming everyday. Obviously not all of the current programs can be accommodated from day one but from the management point of view, that situation could actually be a blessing as ABS CBN would be forced to let go of unproductive shows to concentrate on their blockbusters.

The internet is another area where ABS CBN already has a significant presence in Facebook (including FB live streaming), YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. The international market is a huge potential for ABS CBN to explore what with its library of programs that can achieve global distribution.

Realistically, the transition from having a franchise and losing it would be a difficult path to thread but it CAN be done.