Kim Atienza keeping doors closed on politics: ‘I’ll always be your kuya, never your cong’

Kim Atienza (Image: Instagram/@kuyakim_atienza)

Television personality Kim Atienza maintained that he will never return to politics, but promised fans that he will always be their “Kuya Kim” no matter what happens to ABS-CBN.

Atienza, who previously served as councilor of Manila’s 5th district for three terms, shared his stance after a fan asked him to run for Congress should ABS-CBN’s franchise not be renewed, “para naman mapasahan mo sila ng katalinuhan mo po (so that you can pass your intelligence onto them).”

“I will always be your kuya kim. I’ve long said no to politics. With or without ABS, [I’ll] always be your kuya never your cong. #kuyakimtrivia,” Atienza posted on Twitter yesterday, July 9.

I will always be your kuya kim. I've long said no to politics. With or without ABS, Ill always be your kuya never your cong. #kuyakimtrivia https://t.co/nessLv0rSy

— kim atienza (@kuyakim_atienza) July 9, 2020

Atienza has been using “#kuyakimtrivia” to answer ABS-CBN’s bashers on Twitter for the past few days, earning him praise from netizens for his creativity and intelligence.

In one of his trivia yesterday, Atienza called out a “troll” who replied to his tweet in which he prayed for ABS-CBN’s fate: “Lord we are in despair. We pray that you soften their hearts. We pray for a miracle. Our company is on its knees. We worship you in the light and we worship you in the dark. You are sovereign.”

“Kung ung legit na Lord ung sasagot sigurado denied kayo (If the real Lord will answer you, he will surely deny your request),” the said “troll” with the handle @RemyAndres1 replied.

Then came Atienza with his trivia after looking up the Twitter account’s following: “Alam mo ba pag 5 lang ang followers malamang ito ay isang troll account. Ang troll ay mula sa salitang Danish na Trold na ang ibig sabihin ay ugly dwarf. #kuyakimtrivia.”

(Do you know that if an account only has five followers, it is most likely a troll account. Troll came from the Danish word ‘Trold,’ which means ugly dwarf.)

Alam mo ba pag 5 lang ang followers malamang ito ay isang troll account. Ang troll ay mula sa salitang Danish na Trold na ang ibig sabihin ay ugly dwarf. #kuyakimtrivia https://t.co/Q1CZ5Up2WD

— kim atienza (@kuyakim_atienza) July 9, 2020

Another Twitter user with the handle @jhedrielmarcus, meanwhile, defended the supposed troll account from Atienza, replying: “Di bali nang troll account., anu naman tawag sa tatay mo? Bayarang mambabatas?”

(So what if it is a troll account. What do you call your father? A paid lawmaker?)

Atienza, son of Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, in true Kuya Kim fashion answered the basher with another trivia earlier today, July 10: “Alam niyo ba na lahat ng mambabatas ay bayaran? Meron po silang salary grade na 31 at may yearly salary na 257,000. (plus allowances) Bayaran po lahat sila. Hindi po sila libre.”

(Do you know that all lawmakers are paid? They are entitled to salary grade 31, which amounts to a yearly salary of P257,000 [plus allowances]. They are all paid. They are not free.)

Alam niyo ba na lahat ng mambabatas ay bayaran? Meron po silang salary grade na 31 at may yearly salary na 257,000. (plus allowances) Bayaran po lahat sila. Hindi po sila libre. #kuyakimtrivia https://t.co/Dc99gwfQe7

— kim atienza (@kuyakim_atienza) July 10, 2020

After another basher stressed that Atienza is just like his father, “kamote,” the educational TV host gave a lesson on how the term, when used as an insult, is anti-farmer.

“Alam niyo ba na ang pagtawag ng Kamote ay (anti-farmer)? Noong 1970s inabot ko pa, pag mali o Bobo ang sagot ng estudyante sinasabihan ng guro ng ‘Go home and plant Kamote’ kaya naugnay ang kamote sa hindi matalino,” he tweeted earlier today.

(Do you know that to call someone “Kamote is anti-farmer? Back in the 1970s, I still remember, when a student’s answer was wrong or stupid, a teacher told him to “go home and plant kamote,” which is how kamote was linked to not being smart.)

Alam niyo ba na ang pagtawag ng Kamote ay anti farmer? Noong 1970s inabot ko pa, pag mali o Bobo ang sagot ng estudyante sinasabihan ng guro ng " Go home and plant Kamote" kaya naugnay ang kamote sa hindi matalino. #kuyakimtrivia https://t.co/aFdUPB1QC1

— kim atienza (@kuyakim_atienza) July 10, 2020

Atienza, among many other celebrities, lawmakers and groups, for the past few months has been fighting for the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, which was shut down on May 5 by the National Telecommunications Commission.

Following 12 hearings, a technical working group (TWG) formed by the legislative franchises committee chairman, Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz Alvarez, will be presenting their recommendations on the media giant’s franchise application today.

It is not clear, however, if the voting on whether or not the franchise bid of ABS-CBN will pass the committee level will also be conducted during today’s meeting.  Only the members of the legislative franchise committee and House officials considered ex officio members will be able to vote.

The TWG is composed of Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia, Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo.  /ra

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