Kim Atienza on exploring Antarctica, initial calling to be a politician

Kim Atienza (right) with wife and kids in Antarctica —photos from KIM ATIENZA/INSTAGRAM

Only TV host and weather anchor Kim Atienza would choose to go on a holiday break in Antarctica on board a ship called the Nat Geo Explorer that he said aimed to “collect fecal samples from whales and place tags on sea lions and penguins,” among other things.

To celebrate the new year, Atienza, along with wife Fely and their children, hopped on a “cruise ship” to Antarctica, hosted by the National Geographic Channel. For nine days, the Atienzas participated in an “exploration trip” to Earth’s southernmost and least-populated continent.

“The trip was a bit expensive because Nat Geo used our funds to finance its studies. We could observe whatever they were studying on that trip. It’s actually a learning experience and also a good way to detox from social media because there was zero signal and wi-fi for almost nine days,” he told Inquirer Entertainment over lunch recently.

In a series of videos Atienza posted on TikTok, he is seen kayaking or swimming on icy waters, participating on trips to see humpback whales and killer whales, and communing with the rarest breed of penguins.

Prior to this life-changing vacation, the Atienzas spent Christmas in New York City. “I was scheduled for a midterm break in 2023, but my show ‘Dapat Alam Mo’ got transferred to primetime, replacing ‘Family Feud.’ I had to cancel my Germany trip, so I said I’d just make up for it during the Christmas holidays,” the TV host said. Aside from “Dapat Alam Mo,” Atienza also hosts “TiktoClock” and reports in the evening news program “24 Oras” on GMA 7.He said that while his transfer from ABS-CBN to GMA 7 in 2021 was a “major decision,” everything happened in just a matter of two weeks.

‘Keep working’

“When it’s God’s will, everything is easy. When it isn’t, things are all hard. I’m so thankful that at this point in my life—I’m already 57—and on my 18th year on television, I was given a second wind. After 17 years, you would think of slowing down already, but not me. “My career was given a boost at a time when many people were jobless and most of my colleagues were slowing down. It’s like I’ve gotten a newfound passion and new breaks because of my Kapuso family.”

Netizens didn’t take his leaving ABS-CBN, the company he worked for since the 1990s, lightly. “I got bashed. Kapamilya fans felt hurt. I didn’t take this against them—only to realize that ABS-CBN and GMA 7 would be working together. Eventually, people realized that some people just have to do certain things that they have to do, just like the network that they love so much has to do what it has to do to survive. We just have to keep working,” he pointed out.

‘God-ordained’

Atienza also described his whole career in television as “God-ordained.” He explained: “Initially, I was on television for exposure because my dad (then Manila mayor Lito Atienza) had termed out and I was supposed to replace him. Like any politician, we wanted to use television for mileage and exposure. That’s how I got into TV. In the beginning, I worked on TV for free; I just offered my services. I realized only after a few months that it was my passion. After all, I took film and audiovisual communications at UP (University of the Philippines). I was active in theater, especially in dance. I’m an actor, a performer. All these got stalled because of politics.”

Atienza then recalled a fateful meeting he had with broadcaster Ernie Baron a few days before the latter passed away.

“It was while working on a segment called ‘Señorito Lakwatsero,’ where we go around different homes of ABS-CBN icons, that I got to meet Ernie Baron. He told me, ‘I’m ready to die now because I’ve found my worthy replacement.’ Exactly two weeks later, on my birthday, he passed away. I prayed to God about this because He made it very clear to me that I’m meant for television. The next thing I asked from Him was to give me the courage to tell my dad that I will be replacing Ernie Baron on TV, and not him in politics.”

Atienza continued: “This was a tough thing to do because the family had already organized and spent for my campaign, only for me to not push through with it. I stuck with television and it’s been 20 years. I have no regrets at all. I think I’m now doing more service as Kuya Kim on television than as Mayor or Senator or Congressman Kim.”