ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation Channel 2 head Cory V. Vidanes is a self-professed TV addict. Starting as a production assistant in the old BBC 2 for her undergraduate practicum, she found herself totally immersed in her work and basked in the light of such adored stars as Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Aga Muhlach and the like.

When the Lopez family regained control of ABS-CBN in 1986, Vidanes applied and was accepted as associate producer to handle station-produced shows like “Triple Treat” and “In-TUX-icating,” among others. “Triple Treat” was headlined by Randy Santiago, Gino Padila, Keno and Regine Velasquez while a capella group Tux sang their way to viewers’ hearts in the other show.

She found herself in the company of now Senator Loren Legarda who was then producing “PEP Talk” and now chief correspondent Korina Sanchez who was then a news anchor and host of the morning show. When Federico M. Garcia joined ABS-CBN as general manager in 1987, Vidanes was assigned to be executive producer of six new shows to be co-produced with Regal. These included “Palibhasa Lalaki,” “Let’s Go Crazy with Jack & Joey,” “Always…Snooky” and “Rumors, Facts & Humor.”

She counts Garcia, who retired as ABS-CBN president in 2003 and is now a member of the ABSCBN board; the late Rolando V. Cruz; ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III; and ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio among her mentors.

“You will not last in this kind of work if you don’t have mentors who have the experience and wisdom to guide you and support you, especially during your most difficult moments. Charo has always been my direct boss and I really learn a lot from her. I kind of followed her career because when she was production manager, I was assistant production manager; when she became program director, I became assistant program director; when she became Channel 2 head, I was head of Entertainment Production; and now that she is president, I am Channel 2 head. We are very good friends but when we work, we work,” Vidanes says.

Her greatest challenge in a career spanning over 25 years came when ABS-CBN Channel 2 lost the TV ratings lead in Mega Manila in 2004. “For 15 years we were number 1, and then suddenly, we became number 2. But failure actually made us better and stronger. It led us to go back to our core. Sometimes in this business, you are so overwhelmed with getting things done so fast, with staying on top. We began looking into ourselves, our organization, our mistakes. And that’s when we revisited our values. These lessons brought so much change in the organization. We discovered that the values we held as an organization were the same values we had as individuals,” Vidanes recalls. She doesn’t consider TV production as a glamorous job but as a calling.

“It’s not a 9-to-5 job. You work late hours from taping to editing. But if I started here just fascinated by the stars, I have grown with the network and imbibed its service philosophy. It’s actually a calling to serve. We are here not just to inform, entertain and educate people but to be of service to the Filipinos worldwide by creating excellent programs that inspire and show the best of the Filipino,” says Vidanes. It is this sense of mission that has kept Vidanes resolute in her work.

For LopezLink readers, Vidanes says, “The Lopez Group of companies has taken care of all of us. I believe in the corporate values of the Lopez Group. I know that there will be challenges and difficult times ahead but these very values will be the compass that will guide us in making the best decision for our organization, our people and our customers. It is my pride to be with ABS-CBN.”