Kuya Kim, binalikan ang hindi malilimutang coverage ni Atom Araullo sa Typhoon Yolanda

• Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo sat down with 'Kuya' Kim Atienza on the podcast 'Ano Ba Talaga?' to revisit his iconic reporting during Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013
• Kuya Kim commended Atom's field reporting as "stellar," calling it one of his most significant disaster coverages during his time working with ABS-CBN before
• Atom humbly downplayed the hero label, describing field journalists as a unique breed
• Atom stressed the vital importance of risk management, noting that once a reporter is on the scene, tunnel vision kicks in simply to get the job done which many praised

Atom Araullo’s ground reporting in Tacloban remains one of Philippine television's most memorable field coverages, and more than a decade after Typhoon Yolanda battered the country, Atom looked back on his viral moment.

Sitting down as a guest on Kuya Kim Atienza’s podcast Ano Ba Talaga?, Atom looked back on that harrowing assignment. Kuya Kim, who has worked with Atom across both ABS-CBN and GMA Network over two decades, openly praised Atom's courage:

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"Ang galing mo nga sa disaster, Atom, eh. I think your most important disaster coverage was one of the last ones that you covered in ABS-CBN... Haiyan, Yolanda, oo. That was stellar. Ang ganda nung report mo dun, bro."

Despite receiving widespread acclaim at the time for braving whipping winds and storm surges on live camera, Atom remained remarkably modest about it:

"I feel like anyone who was there would have done the same thing. Mga reporters are kind of a... it's a crazy breed, I would say. Some people run away from danger. Reporters run towards danger and we like it."

He explained why he never viewed it as a heroic act:

"Kaya ang sinasabi ko, there's really nothing heroic about it kasi alam namin na yun yung trabaho. In fact, we want to be where the action is unfolding."

Describing what went through his mind in the middle of the storm, Atom explained what happened:

"Pag andun ka na, magkaka-tunnel vision ka, eh. Just do your job... It wasn't so much na parang, 'Oh, I want to do a good job here.' It's just like, ito yung nangyayari, ang daming nangyayari sa paligid. It's managing risk."

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Eventually, he also acknowledged the delicate balance between reporting the truth and staying alive:

"Maraming mga bagay sa mundo na mas safe, pero we kind of put ourselves out there because it's important to see things on the ground and what's happening... Delikado, pero importante na marunong ka ring mag-manage ng risk."

Kuya Kim agreed wholeheartedly, noting, "We owe it to the network also and to the public. Pag namatay tayo run, yari tayo, diba?"

Writing in his caption, Kuya Kim celebrated Atom as "one of the most awarded broadcast journalists, a documentarist, and TV host" while giving audiences a peek into his lighter, grounded personality away from the cameras.

Kim Atienza, popularly known as 'Kuya Kim,' is a Filipino television host, weather presenter, and public figure. He first rose to fame as a host and segment anchor on ABS-CBN's Matanglawin, an educational program focused on science, nature, and animals. He also became widely recognized as the resident weather presenter of TV Patrol, where his informative yet friendly delivery made him a household name. Aside from weather and science segments, Kuya Kim has hosted and appeared in numerous TV shows, showcasing his versatility and charisma. In 2021, he transferred to GMA Network, where he continues to host lifestyle and informative programs such as Dapat Alam Mo! and appear on 24 Oras as one of the show's segment hosts.

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As previously reported by KAMI, during a visit to his daughter Emman's memorial, 'Kuya' Kim Atienza found handwritten notes left by strangers. One note shared that Emman continues to inspire others to choose to fight in life even though she is gone. Another visitor from Las Piñas City wrote that they head straight to the memorial after school just to 'spend time' with her. He expressed his gratitude online, telling those who left the letters, "You are seen and you are heard."

Meanwhile, Kuya Kim Atienza shared an AI-generated video of his late daughter Emman delivering a message about mental health. The video showed a simulated version of Emman speaking from heaven encouraging people to seek help. Her message focused on hope, self-worth, and the importance of not facing struggles alone. The emotional post resonated with many.

Source: KAMI.com.gh