I want my Kim TV
MANILA, Philippines - Kim Atienza admits that he initially used TV to gain more exposure, since he was running for public office.
“It my dad’s (Lito Atienza) last term as mayor — and nobody wanted to replace him. I was a only a councilor at that time, how could I win as mayor? So, I volunteered to work at the ABS-CBN morning show in 2004 — for free. I hosted a segment called ‘Animalandia.’ Buhay pa si Steve Irwin noon. That’s the reason for the hat.”
Kim’s stint was impressive. His boss offered him a contract — provided that he should quit when he finally decided to run for a political post.
“Eh na-in love na ‘ko sa TV noon. Pero mabigat ‘yung desisyon kasi tatalikuran ko tatay ko eh. Ilang henerasyon na pamilya ko sa pulitika. Nakalabas na ‘yung mga (campaign) posters. I said, ‘Lord, give me a sign.’”
Thusly arrived the sign in dramatic fashion.
One time Kim and Winnie Cordero interviewed Ka Ernie on TV. The man formerly known as “The Walking Encyclopedia” motioned to Kim to sit beside him.
Atienza recalls, “Sabi ni Ka Ernie, ‘Alam mo, Kim, ang buhay may hangganan pero ako maari na ako mamatay. On live TV ‘to ah. We have tapes of this. Sabi ko ‘Ka Ernie, huwag ka naman ganyan.’ Sagot niya, ‘Nakakita na ako ng kapalit eh. Ikaw.’ On my birthday, mamatay si Ka Ernie Baron.”
Kim has never looked back. He has fallen on love with tracking weather, hosting stints, and being an all-around expert on animals, natural history and assorted esoteria.
“Write this down: I don’t want to go back to politics. I’d like to retire as ‘Kuya Kim’ more than as a congressman or senator. Sa pulitika, kailangan mong gumawa ng kalokohan para kumita. Sa TV, naglalaro lang ako.”
The man has gone the gonzo route in the experiential Matanglawin program: he dove down the septic tank and swam the Pasig River from Jones Bridge to the San Juan side.
“Wala kasing dating kung nasa bangka ka lang, so my cameraman and I swam for a kilometer. After that, I had LBM for almost a week. That episode won so many awards.”
Kim’s wife Fely says, “He didn’t tell me about it. And then I saw the episode on TV. ‘Oh! You swam in the Pasig River!’ Then I started thinking, ‘Where did he take a shower? What towels did he use?’ It’s the element of surprise.”
What takes the cake is the live endoscopic procedure that Kim agreed to.
“I asked the doctors to not knock me out, para maikuwento ko. Sabi ng doctor, ‘Yung mga Marines sa America kaya nila ng walang anesthesia.’ Hindi ko rin naman na-annotate kasi may tubo sa lalamunan ko (laughs). Hindi ko na uulitin ‘yun.”
You could say Kim Atienza is also a collector of experiences.
