Happy 100th episode!
Ang ating surprise guest ay ang 2024 New York Festival gold awardee para sa dokyumentaryong ‘Child’s Game’ at silver awardee para sa ‘One Deep Breath."
Alam n’yo bang hindi Mass Comm ang course ng award-winning journalist na si Atom Araullo? Iyong nag platform diving siya? All these and more interesting stories straight from Atom, only here in Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel!
Ang ating surprise guest ay ang 2024 New York Festival gold awardee para sa dokyumentaryong ‘Child’s Game’ at silver awardee para sa ‘One Deep Breath."
Alam n’yo bang hindi Mass Comm ang course ng award-winning journalist na si Atom Araullo? Iyong nag platform diving siya? All these and more interesting stories straight from Atom, only here in Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel!
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NewsTranscript
00:00Surprise everyone! And welcome to the 100th episode of Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel.
00:08We have a big surprise for you today because this is the 100th episode.
00:14And as usual, I will receive a set of clues to find out who our surprise guest is.
00:21And we will guess her identity today.
00:24Okay, first clue.
00:26Recently won at the New York Festivals.
00:29And then, oh my, that's a lot.
00:31This is from GMA for sure. Public Affairs.
00:34He makes documentaries from outlining to editing.
00:38Journalist who moved from ABS-CBN to GMA7.
00:44Okay, I am guessing.
00:46I am guessing that our surprise guest for today is none other than Mr. Atom Arawlyo.
00:53Because the New York Festival winner is already a dead giveaway.
00:56Is that you, Atom?
00:57This is so easy. It's so easy to lose.
01:02Are you frustrated because it's so easy?
01:04It's too easy.
01:06I hope you'll have a hard time.
01:10Yes, I'm having a hard time, Atom. I'm sweating here.
01:14How are you, Atom? Good to see you. You look like you're ready to go for your newscast this evening.
01:19Not yet.
01:20Of course, I'm wearing a necklace for you.
01:23Oh, I thought that was for your house.
01:27Good. I thought earlier that I would be given a clue.
01:32I was thinking of a clue for you, but it's also a dead giveaway.
01:35What should be your clue?
01:37I would say, success!
01:41Perfect clue. That's a perfect clue.
01:44Let me explain to our listeners.
01:46Because when Atom is a witness, his statement of success is a given.
01:50With matching hand movement.
01:52Thumbs up! Thumbs up!
01:54Thumbs up!
01:55Success!
01:57I thought…
01:58Actually, Atom, to make it harder for me, the clue is, I used to make you up.
02:04Do you remember that?
02:05In Archangel?
02:06Yes!
02:07Yes! Do you remember?
02:09Yes!
02:10Wow, that must have been more than 10 years ago.
02:13Just 10? Maybe more.
02:16Yes, more than.
02:17Yes, more than.
02:18It would be more shocking if it was only last week.
02:2120 years ago? It's possible, right?
02:23Yes, because I stayed in the art industry until 2010.
02:27So, almost 15 years ago.
02:30It's possible. Oh my gosh.
02:32Yes, it's possible.
02:33I said, this baguette is so cute.
02:37You even have makeup on.
02:41It's still a baguette.
02:43Baguette at heart.
02:45Atom, tell us.
02:47Since I mentioned your recent win at the New York Festival,
02:51do you still count your wins in one or two hands?
02:56In the international award-giving bodies?
03:00Oh, you're too much.
03:02Actually, I'm so thankful that our documentaries were recognized this year.
03:07It sounds like lip service,
03:10but these documentaries are the product of so many people
03:16who contribute from the researchers to the producers,
03:21to the PA, of course, the EP, the AP.
03:25It's not a joke what they're going through.
03:28They have to deal with me.
03:30They have to deal with me.
03:32Why do you make it sound difficult?
03:35Because sometimes I can be demanding.
03:38Also, when I really like the story,
03:42I really believe that we can go the extra mile to make this a special story.
03:48So, I mean, they're used to it.
03:51How hands-on are you when it comes to your documentaries?
03:55I'm very hands-on.
03:56I don't know, maybe to a fault sometimes.
03:59Because from the selection of the stories,
04:02you already know the process.
04:04Of course, you have to choose a topic.
04:07So, it's like back and forth.
04:09Because you have to pick a topic that's kind of timely
04:12or something that you can say is something new.
04:15Or, you know, hopefully, something that's also interesting for the audience.
04:20Then, you have to choose case studies.
04:22So, the research stage, the pre-prod, is long.
04:26And then you decide on the topic.
04:28You go on field.
04:29In the field, it's also a great collaboration.
04:32Because you can talk to your director.
04:34What are the shots that are needed?
04:36What are the good framing of the interviews?
04:40What are the materials?
04:42Then, post-prod.
04:43Oh, my.
04:44This is where my head hurts most of the time.
04:46When I'm with the team.
04:48Because I'm also very particular with the look that I want for a particular story.
04:54Even down to the scoring and also the graphics.
04:56So, you know, it can be quite tedious.
04:58But I think, at the end of the day, it's also enjoyable.
05:01And when we get recognized, of course, everything is worth it.
05:04I can justify it to them, right?
05:07It's worth it.
05:09The reward is also sweet.
05:11Because you were very hands-on from the beginning, right?
05:14Absolutely.
05:15And at the end of the day, these awards are only important to us.
05:20Because it gives us the fuel, the motivation to keep getting better.
05:26Because it's kind of a demanding job, right?
05:30So, sometimes, it can be tiring.
05:32It can be very stressful.
05:34But when you get that kind of recognition, you'll feel like,
05:37Wow, I want to get another award.
05:39I want to do better.
05:41You know, Atom, when you describe the way you do your work,
05:44and when I see the way you work also,
05:46you're really the typical journalist, the super hardcore journalist.
05:52I had always thought that this was something that you had planned from the very beginning.
05:58Because you're watching TV, right?
06:00When you were young, you were doing Five and Up.
06:02And then you became a news correspondent.
06:04So, I was so surprised to find out, when we were talking,
06:07that your course in college wasn't a mass comm or broadcast.
06:11Not really.
06:12Actually, everything began with Five and Up.
06:15So, I was a child when I started working on TV.
06:19And I guess, I got bit by the production bug or the media bug early on.
06:27But I never really wanted or didn't really dream of working for TV.
06:33Because after Five and Up, everyone moved on again.
06:37We had our own lives.
06:40I studied in Philippine Science.
06:42So, my focus suddenly became more science, research, technology, etc.
06:47And then I studied applied physics in UP.
06:50But it's the kind of job that keeps pulling you back.
06:53It's like, you think you're done, but all of a sudden,
06:57your friends and others are still working in television,
07:00still working in broadcasting.
07:01It's like, hey, Ato, we have a project like this.
07:04Do you want to be a guest on Art Angel?
07:07So, that's what attracts you back, right?
07:10Yes.
07:11And then when I graduated, I got tired of my course.
07:15Because applied physics is five years.
07:17And then you go through a very intense thesis process.
07:21But usually, people who study in the sciences,
07:25their immediate next step is to get a master's degree,
07:28then get a doctorate, etc.
07:30So, I imagined, oh my God, I still have a decade in academia.
07:34Maybe I can take a break first.
07:36So, when I was on that break, I gravitated naturally.
07:41Because of course, I didn't want to just stay at home.
07:43But I gravitated naturally towards doing work for TV.
07:46So, I hosted morning shows.
07:49And then there was an opening for A Researcher.
07:52Then I thought, I already know this.
07:55Maybe I want to go back.
07:57But this time, as somebody who works behind the scenes.
08:00And then, enjoy.
08:04After everything, after all of the hard work,
08:08I don't want to kind of sugarcoat it.
08:10It's glamorous enough as it is.
08:12So, I always tell younger generation of journalists and students
08:16to be prepared to work hard.
08:18But at the end of the day, it's really enjoyable.
08:20You have a lot of adventures.
08:22You meet a lot of interesting people.
08:24So, I would recommend it highly.
08:27So, the whole time that you were studying applied physics,
08:31imagine of all the STEM courses,
08:33you only studied bio or chemistry.
08:36This is applied physics?
08:38Yes.
08:39So, when you were studying applied physics, what was your plan?
08:42I mean, what career path were you looking at?
08:44To be honest, before getting into college,
08:49there's a process of discernment.
08:52Everyone who studies or wants to study in college,
08:55will go through that.
08:56Which is, what do I want to study?
08:58For others, part of that discernment is
09:02imagining what they want to be in the future.
09:05Meaning, what is the job they want to do in the future.
09:07But for me, I removed that pressure early on.
09:10Because I said, I really don't know.
09:12I'll just choose a subject that I really want to study.
09:16Because nothing, it just sounds interesting.
09:19And I was watching documentaries.
09:21You know, I have an interest in documentaries.
09:24But I was watching documentaries about Stephen Hawking,
09:27about the universe, about black holes, and all of that.
09:32So, I said, hey, this physics is fantastic.
09:34You should try it.
09:35So, that's what I was thinking when I started studying at UP.
09:40But of course, that whole process,
09:42it's a very rigorous process.
09:44And it really trains you to become user-critical thinking.
09:49Because a lot of people think that
09:51when you get into a science course,
09:53it's about memorizing what are the different phylums,
09:57different parts of the body for biology or chemistry.
10:01What are the chemicals, organic, inorganic.
10:03So, physics, memorizing the formulas
10:05to get the speed, the force, the acceleration.
10:07But honestly, it's not that.
10:09Science is about teaching students
10:12the process of understanding how to solve problems.
10:16So, for me, when I learned that,
10:20actually, my world opened up.
10:23I thought, I can apply this anywhere.
10:26So, I wasn't afraid to step into broadcasting.
10:30Although, to be honest,
10:31I told you earlier,
10:32I thought I would stay in academe for a long, long time.
10:35So, you went straight to master's, doctorate, and so on.
10:38Then, I started teaching.
10:43So, it's hard.
10:44It's like you're teaching now,
10:45but in a different way, in a different manner, right?
10:48Yes, it's true.
10:49But academe is also hard.
10:50I have a lot of friends who continued in their academe journey.
10:54It's really, gosh, I'm so glad I didn't continue that.
10:58Do you remember what your thesis was?
11:00Single Molecule Detection Through Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.
11:06Wow!
11:07I just understood that as a single molecule.
11:10So, basically, actually, it's a modeling thesis.
11:13So, I used a computer to kind of simulate
11:16the process of identifying molecules using a laser.
11:20That's what fluorescence correlation spectroscopy means.
11:23So, you aim a laser in a sample, in a solution.
11:26Then, when a molecule passes through it through random motion,
11:29it gives off light.
11:31Then, it's detected by a sensor.
11:34Then, when that signal is processed by a computer,
11:37you'll know what kind of molecule it is,
11:39just based on the signal that it gives.
11:42Something like that.
11:43Wow!
11:44You know, Atom,
11:45with just one answer, your fan base grew even more.
11:50I'm sure your fan base multiplied by four,
11:53with that answer alone.
11:55I wish my former physics professors didn't give me that.
11:59Because, for me, all I know about physics
12:01is from Big Bang Theory or Young Sheldon.
12:05I didn't think of that.
12:08But, that's great, right?
12:09So, now, because you said you get to apply
12:12a lot of different stuff that you learned.
12:15Maybe the critical thinking process and all that,
12:17you were able to apply that in your field now.
12:19And you say that you see your friends in the academia,
12:21it looks very, very difficult.
12:22So, it's safe to say that there are no regrets for you,
12:24that this is the path that you took.
12:26Of course.
12:27Actually, I'm very lucky.
12:29I feel like I'm very lucky that I'm doing something
12:32that I really like, something that I enjoy.
12:35I feel like I'm competent at this job.
12:38And, you know, I'm getting paid to do it.
12:42And the world needs it.
12:43So, there's a concept in Japanese called Ikegai,
12:46which is the intersection of those four things.
12:49I feel like, you know, I'm very lucky.
12:52So, you're knowledgeable in the sciences.
12:54And then you're abreast with news and current affairs, obviously.
13:00But I remember also that when you were starting in GMA,
13:04this is before, I guess it was, maybe you were still studying,
13:07you were still in college, you were doing a sports segment.
13:09And I remember you were doing a sports segment
13:11because you were also an athlete at the time.
13:13Is that right?
13:14Yes, correct.
13:15What is it that you cannot do at all?
13:19What was your sport?
13:21I'm strong-willed.
13:22If there's something new that I can try,
13:26I'll do it, even if I'm not good at it.
13:29I'll just figure it out later.
13:31But when I was in college,
13:33so sports was a big part of my life, still is.
13:37But I started training for sports when I was very young,
13:41like three years old.
13:42We were already swimming.
13:44We learned how to swim.
13:45We were competitive in the junior division.
13:49But at that time, for me, it was just a game.
13:52My sister was hardcore, really a breaker of records.
13:55I was just there to make people laugh,
13:58just to play in the pool.
14:00But eventually, we used our swimming training
14:05because when I was in high school to college,
14:07we decided to get into this emerging sport back then,
14:11which is triathlon.
14:13Now, triathlon is popular, but at that time,
14:16I couldn't wrap my head around the concept of
14:19swimming, then swimming, then running.
14:21How are you going to do that?
14:23So we went to Sobik for one of the competitions.
14:26And then I remember thinking,
14:28there's no way I can finish this race
14:31because each leg in itself makes me tired.
14:36But that is a testament to sport, the discipline of sport.
14:40I feel like it was a big influence in my life
14:44that even if it's hard, just apply yourself
14:48and then just be consistent and just believe in the process
14:51and then you'll get there.
14:53So, triathlon, we did it for a long time.
14:56It was crazy.
14:57Every summer, we didn't rest for like six days a week.
15:00We would bike hundreds of kilometers,
15:03then swimming until noon.
15:05So, our skin was really burning.
15:07We would run in the U.P., in the academic oval.
15:10Sometimes, we would reach up to 30 kilometers.
15:13Wow!
15:14Isn't the oval only 2.2 kilometers long?
15:17No, no.
15:18So, it's like 15 rounds.
15:2015 minutes of running.
15:22Wow.
15:23I think I was traumatized.
15:25I still remember that.
15:26But yeah, I enjoyed it.
15:28Do you still do it?
15:30No, not anymore.
15:32But you're still, I mean, you're still active in other sports.
15:36I try to, not as much as I would like,
15:39but I try to keep fit in a way,
15:41like, you know, jogging here and there,
15:43going to the gym,
15:45so that I won't get sick.
15:47Maybe you can jog for 20 kilometers.
15:51Wow!
15:52I'm getting old now.
15:54Wow!
15:55So, at least, there's a form of exercise.
15:58But you mentioned that,
16:00you said that we would swim,
16:02we would run.
16:03When you say, we, you mean you and your sister?
16:06Yeah, yeah.
16:07My sister.
16:08And some of my cousins,
16:10also family friends.
16:12We have a small team.
16:14Oh, okay.
16:15Were you very close to your sister growing up?
16:17Yeah.
16:18Until now.
16:19We did most things together.
16:21You know, in sports.
16:23We did swimming together,
16:25triathlon together,
16:26even platform diving, would you believe?
16:29What?
16:30Wow!
16:31You can do that, Atom?
16:33I tried it for a summer.
16:35I didn't become good at it.
16:37But you can do the flip?
16:39Yeah, yeah, yeah.
16:40Wow!
16:43And then, we also did theater together.
16:46My sister, some summers,
16:48we would enroll in workshops.
16:51So, yeah.
16:52Still, I'm very close with my sister.
16:54And I'm very thankful because it's just the two of us.
16:57So, you really need that kind of support system.
17:01Are you older or are you the youngest?
17:03I'm the youngest.
17:04Ah, okay.
17:05Check range.
17:07But the age gap is just close?
17:09One and a half years.
17:11But when we were young, we fought a lot.
17:14And it's typical.
17:16As in, we're at the same level.
17:20I can imagine.
17:21Because the age gap is just one and a half years.
17:23When you're young, it's annoying.
17:25But when you're old, you'll appreciate it, right?
17:28A lot.
17:29I'm thinking about when the transition happened.
17:32Because it's like from worst enemies to best friends.
17:36That's so sweet.
17:38That's so sweet.
17:39But even with your parents,
17:41were they very active?
17:43Would they join you in all these?
17:45Did you have a lot of family bonding?
17:48Our activities,
17:50especially training for sports, triathlon,
17:54became a bonding activity.
17:56So, both my mom and dad were very supportive.
18:00My dad, in particular,
18:02he was the one who drove us.
18:04For example, we would ride a bike in Rizal.
18:07Usually, from Morong, Rizal to Rial, Quezon.
18:10Wow.
18:11They were in a convoy with us the whole way.
18:14And then, when we got to Quezon,
18:16we would rest.
18:17So, he would drive.
18:18We would go back.
18:19We would sleep at the back of the car.
18:21So, really,
18:23if it wasn't for the support
18:25and the way they pushed us,
18:27I wouldn't be able to do all of that.
18:29So, I really owe a lot to my folks.
18:32You know, I would wake up early.
18:34Even in high school, it's hard to wake up, right?
18:38I would wake up at 5 o'clock.
18:40Sometimes, there's an early riser.
18:41He would also prepare the equipment,
18:43all the water,
18:44the uniform, the bike.
18:45You would just ride in the car.
18:47I can't imagine the amount of work that required.
18:50Wow, you were juggling a lot, right, Atom?
18:53So, you had your sports,
18:55and then you had, of course, your academics.
18:57I remember you said before that
18:59you were also part of the student council, right?
19:02In college, yeah.
19:03So, how did you balance all of that?
19:04I don't know.
19:06I think it just came from the belief.
19:09You know, when I was young,
19:12I had the idea that you had to be well-rounded.
19:16I think because of my teachers in Ateneo,
19:18I studied in Ateneo Grade School,
19:20there was a message to the students
19:23that excellence is not just confined to a singular pursuit
19:29of just being good at one thing,
19:31but actually, again, being well-rounded.
19:35So, when I was in UP,
19:37I felt like I would miss out on the college experience,
19:41college life,
19:42if I wasn't active in student organizations
19:45and student politics.
19:47I felt like my UP experience might not be complete.
19:53But again, because of that experience,
19:56I learned a lot.
19:58So, I'm very thankful that I went through all of that.
20:00All four years of college, you were in the student council?
20:03Just two years.
20:04But when I wasn't in the council,
20:07I was very active in other student organizations.
20:10I was in UP Mounties,
20:11I was in a football club.
20:13Wow!
20:15Even a football club?
20:17Yes, ML. Enjoy it.
20:19That's a lot.
20:20So, did you have a girlfriend at that time?
20:23No, I didn't have a girlfriend.
20:26Wait, were you the student who would go to high school prom
20:30or graduation ball?
20:32Of course.
20:33Wait, maybe you were also a prom king?
20:36No.
20:38I wasn't a prom king then.
20:41Maybe you were Mr. Pisay or Mr. Pogi in school?
20:47No.
20:48In college, I was a member of the National Institute of Physics.
20:54It was a cross-dressing competition,
20:57which I won.
20:59I was going to ask that.
21:00First place?
21:01Of course.
21:03I was the winner.
21:05Is there a picture of that?
21:07Hopefully, there isn't.
21:08No, there is.
21:09It's somewhere floating around the internet.
21:11Was there a YouTube video of that?
21:13No, there wasn't.
21:14It's a good thing.
21:15It's a good thing that you're still alive.
21:17Atom, this is so amazing.
21:18We can spend the entire show just talking about everything you did,
21:22even before you became a journalist.
21:25But, of course, that's not possible.
21:28I'm curious also about,
21:31you said that you wanted to take a breather from studying,
21:34which is why you started doing television work.
21:36And that continued.
21:38When you first started doing television work,
21:39you said you started with a morning show.
21:41Were you inclined already to do news
21:43or was it just purely lifestyle at that time?
22:13You said you started with a morning show.
22:15Were you inclined already to do news
22:17or was it just purely lifestyle at that time?
22:19You know, I was at a crossroads at that time.
22:21I remember thinking,
22:23where will this go?
22:25Because I was at a morning show,
22:27I think, for a good two years already.
22:29Then I thought,
22:31what else can I do?
22:32What else can I do?
22:33And then I thought,
22:34what else can I do?
22:35And then I thought,
22:36what else can I do?
22:37And then I thought,
22:38what else can I do?
22:39And then I thought,
22:40what else can I do?
22:41And then I thought,
22:42what other options do I have?
22:43And then I thought,
22:44what other options do I have?
22:45Am I going to be a host?
22:46Am I going to be a host?
22:47A TV host forever?
22:48A TV host forever?
22:49That was one path.
22:50And then, of course,
22:51there's a path of doing entertainment.
22:53I'm not saying there were offers,
22:55but when you're on TV,
22:57that's what you need to think about.
23:00You have to figure out what your identity is,
23:03what you want to do,
23:04what you enjoy.
23:06I feel like because of my experience
23:08with Five and Up,
23:09because of my experience as a student leader,
23:12and as a fan also of documentaries,
23:15because I watched a lot of TV back then.
23:17TV is still popular now,
23:18maybe not anymore,
23:19but back then,
23:20you had five channels
23:22with different documentary programming.
23:25I settled on trying to produce stories
23:28about real life.
23:30So that was the family of
23:32news and public affairs.
23:34I didn't know what I was getting into,
23:36but I just wanted to give it a shot.
23:38Of course, everything that I learned,
23:41I learned on the job.
23:43The first few months,
23:45first year,
23:46it was really a struggle.
23:47Because it's different.
23:48I didn't know how to write for TV.
23:51I didn't know how to voice over.
23:53It was that simple.
23:55But yeah,
23:56when I had momentum,
23:59I said,
24:00this is what I really want.
24:01And would you say that,
24:02because I remember in particular
24:04your coverage of Yolanda.
24:07I think everybody remembers
24:08your coverage of Yolanda.
24:10Whatever network you were watching,
24:12we all knew of your coverage of Yolanda.
24:14Was that your first big story?
24:16I think in a way,
24:18it's what a lot of people remember
24:20from my news gathering days.
24:23It wouldn't be a stretch to call it
24:25my biggest story to date.
24:27But to be honest,
24:28I always say,
24:29it was a culmination of years.
24:31A lot of experience covering extreme weather.
24:34That wasn't the first typhoon I covered.
24:36By that time,
24:37I could say that I was a veteran
24:39in that kind of coverage.
24:40I already knew what to do,
24:42where to go,
24:43how to prepare the logistics.
24:46I think all of those experiences
24:48played into that moment.
24:50Although, of course,
24:51nobody expected that scale.
24:53We knew it was going to be
24:54a powerful storm.
24:55But no one was prepared
24:56for what it actually did.
24:58The impact it had on
25:00Eastern Visayas and other provinces.
25:02But thankfully,
25:03because of that experience,
25:05we were able to kind of handle it
25:07relatively well.
25:08And I'm happy that
25:10people still remember it.
25:12Is my memory correct, Atom?
25:13You had a string, right?
25:16You had a string
25:17and you were the one
25:18helping people cross it.
25:20Is my memory correct?
25:21Oh, you remember that?
25:22That's a shock.
25:23Because I don't see it online anymore.
25:25But what happened was,
25:27there was a storm surge.
25:28And I knew what a storm surge was.
25:30But my idea of a storm surge,
25:32from my previous coverage,
25:34when you're in Dalampasigan,
25:36essentially, the waves get stronger.
25:38And it's kind of like
25:40extreme high tide.
25:41So, the areas along the coast
25:42get flooded.
25:44But in the case of Tacloban,
25:45because it was so low-lying
25:47and the storm surge was so high,
25:49essentially, the whole city
25:50got flooded.
25:52So, we were all surprised by that.
25:54When I looked,
25:55because we were in the 3rd floor,
25:56when I looked at the road,
25:58all the cars were submerged.
25:59So, I remember thinking,
26:01oh, a lot of people will be trapped.
26:04Or, I hope people are in higher ground.
26:07But obviously, a lot of people
26:08also didn't expect that.
26:10So, we ran downstairs.
26:12And true enough,
26:13people were already kind of
26:14tied to the ropes.
26:16Then the people near our building,
26:18we helped them.
26:19We tied a line
26:20from the staircase
26:22to outside the door.
26:25Then we helped the people
26:27because a lot of mothers
26:28with their children
26:29didn't know where to go.
26:30But yeah, actually,
26:31that part wasn't part of the coverage.
26:33I think my cameraman
26:35was amazing.
26:37He thought to kind of
26:38take a few shots
26:40while he was on the staircase.
26:41That's why that was recorded.
26:43But yeah,
26:44those are the moments
26:45where the line really blurs
26:47between your job as a reporter
26:49and your job as a human being.
26:51And many times,
26:52there's an overlap.
26:54The decisions are not hard to make,
26:55I feel,
26:56because you're both a human being
26:58and a reporter.
26:59So, you kind of have to
27:02fulfill your obligations
27:04to both worlds, right?
27:06Don't you experience fear too?
27:08Because I know sometimes,
27:10if the cameras are rolling,
27:11it sort of eliminates the fear,
27:14at least for me.
27:15Because I'm thinking,
27:16I'm doing my job,
27:17the camera's rolling.
27:18Nothing can happen to me
27:20while the cameras are rolling.
27:21But I mean,
27:22in a situation like that,
27:24anything can happen.
27:25So, does the fear ever set in?
27:27It does.
27:28But you're right.
27:29When the camera's on you,
27:30it's like you're being swept away
27:31by some kind of invincibility.
27:33And then,
27:34everything kind of,
27:36you get tunnel vision.
27:37It's like you're doing a vignette.
27:38You're just doing your job.
27:39So, for example,
27:41while we're doing a live report,
27:43I'm just thinking,
27:44I have to get this footage.
27:46I have to report at this time.
27:49I have to compose my spiel
27:51so that my relay to the audience is clear,
27:54et cetera, et cetera.
27:55It was only when things started
27:57to kind of settle down,
27:59when I say settle down,
28:00the communication was cut off.
28:01So, we couldn't report anymore.
28:03And then, you'll think,
28:04gosh,
28:05if it rains here,
28:06it'll probably rain in the hotel.
28:08Where are we going?
28:09It's like,
28:10it's like it's all over the place.
28:12Because when we got out,
28:13all of our equipment in the car
28:16got damaged, got wet.
28:17And then, you look around,
28:18and then you realize,
28:20wow, this is really, really bad.
28:22It's so bad, in fact,
28:23that even the team,
28:24I'm now worrying about our own safety
28:27and survival.
28:28Because true enough,
28:29when we went back
28:30to where we were staying,
28:32the hotel was devastated.
28:34So, there was really nothing
28:35on the front desk.
28:36People were milling around.
28:37And then,
28:38there was a funny moment.
28:40I don't usually share this,
28:41but you're stronger than me.
28:45But because of the flood,
28:48the packets of food,
28:50there were fruits
28:53that were floating around
28:54in the flood.
28:55And my team,
28:57sometimes,
28:58when they saw floating fruits,
28:59they'd pick them up.
29:01And I'm Mr. Straight Shooter.
29:04I told them,
29:05don't pick them up.
29:06It's not for us.
29:07It's like,
29:08it might have an owner.
29:09Actually,
29:10if you think about it,
29:11it's so dumb.
29:12It's like,
29:13who would claim that?
29:15But after a while,
29:16even us,
29:17we really started looking
29:18for a place
29:19where we could get food.
29:21We climbed up a coconut tree.
29:24We didn't have any equipment,
29:26but I'm glad I was there.
29:27It's easy to climb up a coconut tree,
29:29right?
29:30We didn't have any bags.
29:32So, we were pushed
29:33to the side of the road.
29:35As in,
29:36almost every man
29:37for himself
29:38in the first few hours.
29:39So, that's where
29:40the fear kind of set in.
29:42I think,
29:43because of the experience
29:45and because of the team,
29:46you know,
29:47you become clear-headed.
29:49And then,
29:50you just decide
29:51on what you need to do next.
29:53Is there ever a time,
29:54like,
29:55of course,
29:56if you have that much coverage
29:57and you're stuck for how many days,
29:58right?
29:59When you come back,
30:00it's like you need
30:01some sort of recovery,
30:02right?
30:03Or like a debriefing.
30:04That's right.
30:05Actually,
30:06debriefing wasn't a thing before.
30:07I admit,
30:08that even though
30:09our other covers were traumatic,
30:11traumatic events also,
30:13natural disasters,
30:14even conflict,
30:15we didn't think of
30:16debriefing before.
30:17But I think,
30:18Yolanda really changed everything,
30:20even for local media.
30:22So much so that
30:23when we got back
30:24from Tacloban,
30:26they really arranged
30:27that kind of debriefing.
30:29And that's when I realized,
30:30it's a good thing
30:31that there's something like this.
30:32It should really be done.
30:34Now,
30:35I think,
30:36we're more aware.
30:37But back then,
30:38everybody was kind of
30:39in the dark
30:40about that whole process.
30:41So,
30:42when you come from
30:43a particularly
30:44tough coverage,
30:45do you have like a routine?
30:46Do you need a massage?
30:47Do you need to sleep?
30:48Do you need to watch a movie?
30:50Good question.
30:51I don't realize it,
30:52but I think,
30:53my stress reliever
30:56is also Borgis.
30:58But,
30:59I go for a really good
31:01cup of coffee.
31:02I have spots around,
31:04and I just sit down
31:06and observe people.
31:08That's how I kind of de-stress.
31:10Of course,
31:11the typical
31:13go-to for us is
31:14watching movies.
31:16There's a pandemic,
31:17so I can't really do that
31:18right now.
31:19But,
31:20of course,
31:21streaming is there.
31:22Your favorite streaming service,
31:23you name it.
31:24I listen to audiobooks
31:26more than physical books
31:28nowadays.
31:29But from time to time,
31:30I also like
31:31picking up an actual book
31:32to read.
31:33What else?
31:35I listen to a lot of music,
31:36and I play with my
31:38our dog.
31:39It's not just my dog,
31:40but the family's dog.
31:42Snoopy.
31:43It's a special mention.
31:44Snoopy.
31:45What's the name of your dog?
31:47It should be Snoopy,
31:48but
31:50everyone calls him
31:52Snoopy.
31:53Snoopy.
31:54So,
31:55I named him Snoopy.
31:57Please spell.
31:59I-S-N-O-W-P-E-A
32:03Okay.
32:04So, it's not Snoopy,
32:05it's Snoopy.
32:06It's okay.
32:07Borgis has a name for coffee.
32:08Your dog's name
32:09is Snoopy.
32:10Correct.
32:11It's Snoopy.
32:12It's Snoopy.
32:14Snoopy.
32:16Okay.
32:17That's fine.
32:18It's fine.
32:19I'm curious also
32:20because, of course,
32:21when you're
32:22like when you're out in coverage,
32:23you're in the zone,
32:24you're trying to cover.
32:25But, of course,
32:26when you're not out for coverage,
32:27when you're just out in public,
32:28maybe perhaps
32:29while having your cup of coffee,
32:30right?
32:31Of course,
32:32people recognize you
32:33because they see you
32:34not just as a journalist,
32:35but also as a celebrity.
32:36Is it hard for you
32:38to reconcile?
32:39Especially if you're like
32:40trying to do a story,
32:41a serious story?
32:43Hmm.
32:44Is it you?
32:45It's embarrassing.
32:46No, no.
32:47It's the other way around.
32:48I'm the one who's asking.
32:49In no nowhere first.
32:51I understand it.
32:52I understand
32:53the celebrity side of it.
32:55Especially working for TV,
32:57we're really surrounded
32:58by some kind of mystery.
33:00And I'm the same way.
33:02When I see people
33:03that I only see on TV,
33:05and then,
33:06I see someone like that.
33:07I'm like,
33:08he's an artist, right?
33:09Even if it's me,
33:10I get confused.
33:11So I understand it,
33:12the fascination.
33:13But at the same time,
33:14it's like
33:15in congruence
33:16with how I feel about myself.
33:18Because it's like
33:19I also don't know how to act.
33:20And I think
33:21some people
33:22don't necessarily get that.
33:24And I have to remind myself
33:26that people can't
33:27read my mind, right?
33:29So you have to
33:30be a good example.
33:31You have to
33:32be accommodating,
33:33et cetera, et cetera.
33:34But yeah,
33:35I still get surprised sometimes.
33:37It's very flattering
33:38when people recognize me.
33:40But as an introvert,
33:41there are moments
33:42that you really just want to
33:43kind of space out.
33:44You just want to
33:45stare into space
33:46and just
33:47like
33:48decompress.
33:49But, you know,
33:50it's part of the job.
33:51So,
33:52you just have to
33:53be aware
33:54of that.
33:55People do recognize you
33:56and they watch what you do.
33:58Yes, exactly.
33:59But you said
34:00you were trying
34:01to choose between
34:02being a TV host.
34:03This is after college,
34:04between being a TV host
34:05or doing the news.
34:06How about entertainment?
34:07Was that ever an option for you?
34:09Is it true that
34:10Mr. M was asking you to be,
34:12I don't know,
34:13part of the entertainment industry?
34:14Is that right?
34:15Who said this?
34:16I feel like I don't know.
34:19My phone-in,
34:20phone-in message,
34:21phone-in question.
34:23I don't want to misrepresent
34:25what they wanted
34:26at the time.
34:28So it's better to ask them.
34:29But I remember
34:30when I was still in high school,
34:32I was invited to
34:33audition for a program
34:35on TV.
34:36But it was,
34:37it's really entertainment.
34:38It was a teleserye,
34:40if I remember correctly.
34:41I don't recall
34:43which particular one.
34:44But even then,
34:46I felt discomfort.
34:48I felt like
34:49they believed me
34:50and they didn't.
34:51People are really shy.
34:55The idea of acting,
34:58although I had some experience
34:59when I was a kid,
35:00but that was just theater.
35:01I was overwhelmed by it.
35:05And when I watched
35:06the lives of the actors,
35:08I felt like
35:09I wouldn't be able to do it.
35:10I went through the motions
35:12because I was also
35:13kind of interested in it anyway.
35:15But when it came to
35:17decision time,
35:18I think what clinched it is
35:19I didn't want to have
35:20to stop studying
35:22because I felt like
35:23I might reach that point
35:24where I need to choose
35:25between doing a show
35:27and finishing my studies
35:29in PISAI.
35:30So I said,
35:31if this is what I really want to do,
35:33maybe even after college.
35:36But I never went back.
35:39Wait, so you're a
35:41self-proclaimed introvert?
35:43I wouldn't have thought
35:44that you're an introvert
35:45because when we talk,
35:48you don't really keep to yourself.
35:50Or it takes a while
35:51for you to warm up?
35:52I think it's very fashionable
35:53nowadays to call yourself
35:55an introvert.
35:56But I knew already
35:58way back that
35:59I had that kind of tendency
36:01because I get tired
36:03very easily
36:04when I'm interacting with people.
36:06And I get overwhelmed,
36:07especially when
36:08it's a party,
36:09it's a big crowd.
36:10Before, I couldn't understand it.
36:12Why all of a sudden
36:14I wanted to hide in the bathroom?
36:16Or I wanted to leave
36:18and not say goodbye to anyone?
36:20Things like that.
36:21I don't believe
36:23that people are divided between
36:25introverts and extroverts.
36:27Maybe that's too simplistic.
36:28I think all of us have
36:29some introverted
36:31quote-unquote tendencies
36:32and extroverted tendencies.
36:34I think that because of my job,
36:36I also learned how to
36:38how to be funny, essentially.
36:40Some people say
36:41there are extroverted introverts.
36:43But for me,
36:44that's kind of convoluted.
36:45It's like,
36:46I just know how to
36:48be funny to people.
36:49And I'm also very interested
36:51in people anyway.
36:52So I like talking to people.
36:54I like asking them about
36:55what they're interested in.
36:57And, you know,
36:58compare obsessions
36:59and things like that.
37:01So I think that helps a lot.
37:03So in a party,
37:04are you the first one to go home?
37:07Not really?
37:08Not really.
37:09But I have a hard time
37:11with small talk.
37:13Especially in the beginning,
37:14I don't know what to say.
37:16And I really get annoyed, literally.
37:18Especially when
37:20I meet somebody famous.
37:23I'm not like this.
37:24Like,
37:25shucks, I'm normally
37:27engaging and cool.
37:31What is this?
37:32I don't know how to
37:33answer questions.
37:34I feel like a lot of
37:35listeners can relate.
37:36Then when you go home,
37:37I should have said this.
37:38I should have been,
37:39you know,
37:40I should have done that.
37:41Things like that.
37:42But when I get to know them,
37:43it's kind of okay.
37:44So you're also in Starstruck?
37:46Of course.
37:47Okay.
37:48When was the last time you were
37:49in Starstruck?
37:50Recently.
37:51Recently or
37:52the most Starstruck ever?
37:53Artists in general.
37:55So that's why I said earlier,
37:57I understood the fascination.
37:59Because even me,
38:00when I watch TV,
38:03even journalists,
38:05when I first moved to
38:07GMA,
38:08when I first met
38:09Sir Mike,
38:11even Tita Mel,
38:13and Vicky in 24.
38:14For example,
38:15I had to do a pin shift.
38:16I was so nervous.
38:17It's like,
38:18I just watch them on TV.
38:19It's a classic, right?
38:20And now,
38:21I'm with them.
38:22Actually,
38:23Tita Mel,
38:24until now,
38:25I'm still nervous.
38:27Because there are some people also
38:28who have such a presence about them
38:30that you can't help but be
38:32super in awe of them
38:34when you're with them.
38:36Absolutely.
38:37But you don't realize, Atom,
38:38that you also have the same
38:39affect on other people.
38:42Maybe.
38:44I understand it.
38:45I think
38:47what some people don't realize,
38:49I guess,
38:50is that we're also
38:51interested
38:52about them.
38:53Like,
38:54our go-to now is
38:55let's take a picture together,
38:56let's take a selfie together,
38:57etc.
38:58But,
38:59more often than not,
39:00what I appreciate is when
39:01I get to talk to them.
39:03Like,
39:04they ask
39:05about something,
39:06we find the common interest
39:07as well.
39:08Of course,
39:09it's not easy
39:10when it's just chance encounters.
39:11But yeah,
39:12I enjoy it
39:13when I get to meet new people.
39:14Do you know who's like that?
39:16Howie.
39:17Howie is so good.
39:18When someone takes a picture of him,
39:19they can't just take a picture,
39:20they have to talk to the person
39:21who took the picture of him.
39:23Where does he ask?
39:24How are you?
39:25What's your name?
39:26What do you do?
39:27Where are you from?
39:28Right?
39:29Very engaging.
39:30I should learn.
39:32Me too.
39:33Because sometimes,
39:36we don't always ask
39:37the right questions
39:39or enough questions.
39:40So yeah,
39:41it's something
39:42to keep in mind.
39:43But,
39:44so you said, Atom,
39:45that you have always been
39:46an introvert, right?
39:47Yes.
39:48So how is that?
39:49What I'm thinking is,
39:50when you were in high school,
39:51when you were in college,
39:52how can you get courted
39:53if you're an introvert?
39:54That's why I didn't get courted.
39:57So in other words,
39:58you were the one who got courted.
39:59It's a corpse.
40:02The half-court,
40:04for example,
40:05it's not really a court,
40:06but that's it.
40:08I think it's like,
40:09among Filipinos,
40:10right?
40:11Actually, a lot of people
40:12complain about
40:13not being clear
40:14about their intentions.
40:16Guilty as charged.
40:17Guilty as charged.
40:18Especially when I was in,
40:19when I was a lot younger,
40:20in college.
40:22So,
40:23in other words,
40:24in today's parlance,
40:25situationship,
40:26like that.
40:27Situationship is different.
40:29Situationship is like,
40:30it's like you're already there,
40:31but you're not.
40:33So what's yours?
40:35It's like you're just
40:36going to be friends.
40:37It's like you want to
40:38get their attention.
40:39It's like that.
40:40Maybe you'll be friends.
40:41When you're friends,
40:42it's like,
40:43you know,
40:44right?
40:45It's like that.
40:50Wait, so you didn't have
40:51a girlfriend in high school
40:52or college?
40:53None.
40:54None.
40:55None.
40:56I thought,
40:57none.
40:58Because,
40:59I can't imagine
41:00Atom Torpe.
41:01Torpe,
41:02but at the same time,
41:03I do a lot of other things
41:04so I don't,
41:05especially during my
41:06idol times,
41:07so it's okay.
41:08Why is it like that?
41:09Who's more handsome,
41:10he's Torpe.
41:13Wow.
41:15You're so good to me,
41:16Atom.
41:18But I have a phone-in
41:19question again.
41:20You already know
41:21who this came from.
41:22I'm feeling it.
41:23I'm feeling it.
41:24I'm feeling it,
41:25you know.
41:26Please describe
41:27Atom's dream girl.
41:28What's Atom's dream girl?
41:29What's that?
41:32You know,
41:33now?
41:34The one that's
41:35for a long time.
41:36For a long time?
41:38Not just for one date,
41:39but for,
41:40for a long time.
41:42Yes.
41:44You're just stumped here.
41:49Because it's hard.
41:50I think what I find
41:52attractive,
41:53especially,
41:54you know,
41:55at this stage of my life,
41:56the people that,
41:57you know,
41:58are very passionate
41:59about something
42:00and it's infectious,
42:01and they already
42:02know themselves,
42:03and people who are
42:04really kind.
42:05You get an understanding
42:06of what genuine
42:07kindness is.
42:09Especially when you're
42:10older.
42:13It's no longer
42:14the beyond the facade,
42:15or the people
42:16you can show off.
42:18You get an understanding
42:19for who has
42:21true empathy.
42:22Even if you're
42:23a bit harsh on the outside,
42:24it's like you're
42:25able to hide
42:26your heart.
42:28What else?
42:30Somebody who's really
42:31curious about the world.
42:33I feel like
42:34when it's like that,
42:35there's a lot
42:36you can talk about.
42:38There's a lot
42:39you can do together.
42:40That's it.
42:41That's what I feel.
42:42You know, Atom,
42:43I really believe
42:44that the kindest,
42:45most passionate,
42:46most curious people
42:48are journalists.
42:50Yes.
42:51I know.
42:54But because you're
42:55strong with me,
42:56I will leave it at that.
42:59I know where you're
43:00coming from.
43:01I will leave it at that.
43:02Because you're
43:03strong with me.
43:07Okay, let's go with this.
43:10Because you were
43:11so kind as to tell us
43:12what your dream
43:13girl is.
43:14I move on to an
43:15easier question.
43:16Tell us about your
43:17dream story.
43:18What would your
43:19dream story or
43:20dream coverage be?
43:21And that's my last
43:22question for you.
43:23It's hard to answer
43:24those kinds of questions.
43:25It's hard for me to answer
43:26those kinds of questions.
43:27Because now,
43:28I enjoy doing
43:29so many different
43:30stories.
43:31Maybe if I'm a
43:32general family of
43:33stories that I want
43:34to do,
43:35thorough investigative
43:36stories about
43:37the environment.
43:38I feel like we need
43:39more of that,
43:40especially for the
43:41Philippines.
43:42We're so blessed
43:43with so many natural
43:44resources.
43:45You wouldn't believe,
43:46especially when you
43:47talk to foreigners
43:48from other countries
43:49that are not like
43:50the Philippines,
43:51where there are
43:52so many beautiful
43:53beaches,
43:54so many fish,
43:55so many trees,
43:56so many fruits,
43:57and all of that.
43:58Very, very
43:59bountiful.
44:00But unfortunately,
44:01there's so many
44:02problems attached to
44:03it, social,
44:04political.
44:05And moving forward,
44:06especially with
44:07what's happening in
44:08the world,
44:09climate crisis,
44:10et cetera,
44:11it's going to be
44:12one of,
44:13if not the
44:14biggest challenge
44:15of our times.
44:16So, I want to
44:17apply myself in
44:18that area,
44:19really understand
44:20what the problems
44:21are, and hopefully
44:22finding solutions
44:23in a thorough
44:24manner, not just
44:25the surface level
44:26that,
44:27this beach is
44:28beautiful,
44:29but there's
44:30garbage,
44:31but what's
44:32behind it?
44:33How can we
44:34change that?
44:35My answer is
44:36so sexy,
44:37but that's it.
44:38How about a
44:39dream interviewee?
44:40Do you have one?
44:41Dream interviewee?
44:42International?
44:43Local?
44:44I thought of that already,
44:45because it keeps
44:46getting brought up.
44:47Yeah, because it's
44:48always asked.
44:49But I forgot.
44:50Maybe somebody like,
44:51you know,
44:52like Christopher Nolan.
44:53I'm a fan of
44:54his work.
44:55I like how he thinks.
44:56That would be a
44:57swell interview,
44:58I think.
44:59Great.
45:00Based on our
45:01conversation,
45:02Adam, your interests
45:03are so varied,
45:04which means you're
45:05also a naturally
45:06curious person.
45:07It's seen in
45:08your storytelling,
45:09right?
45:10The stories you
45:11release are so
45:12beautiful,
45:13because they're
45:14all interesting
45:15for you.
45:16Yes, that's where
45:17it starts.
45:18You have to be
45:19interested in it
45:20so you can make
45:21it interesting
45:22for others.
45:23Exactly,
45:24exactly.
45:25Because you're
45:26the one who
45:27tells the story,
45:28so you should
45:29be interested
45:30in the story.
45:31Yeah.
45:32Yay!
45:33Adam, thank you
45:34so much for
45:35being our
45:36guest.
45:37Thank you for
45:38being kind,
45:39Tia.
45:40Because I know
45:41why.
45:42Because I know
45:43we'll meet again
45:44later.
45:45Maybe you won't
45:46notice me anymore.
45:47But no,
45:48thank you, Adam.
45:49Thank you so much.
45:50And of course,
45:51congratulations again
45:52on your most recent
45:53NYF Win,
45:54New York Festival
45:55Win.
45:56Congratulations.
45:57Before we leave,
45:58maybe just a
45:59parting message
46:00from you for
46:01all your supporters,
46:02people who listen
46:03to you,
46:04who admire your
46:05work,
46:06who want to
46:07find you on
46:08social media.
46:09Well,
46:10thank you so
46:11much for
46:12watching our
46:13documentaries,
46:14the Atamarayo
46:15specials,
46:16Eyewitness,
46:17and watching
46:18the newscast,
46:19State of the
46:20Nation.
46:21I wouldn't be
46:22able to do
46:23all of this
46:24without you,
46:25without the
46:26audience,
46:27and I feel
46:28like it's a
46:29privilege to
46:30do what I
46:31do,
46:32so thank you
46:33for the
46:34opportunity.
46:35I don't
46:36watch TikTok,
46:37but honestly,
46:38I use it.
46:39But yeah,
46:40thank you,
46:41and I hope to
46:42see everyone
46:43online sometime.
46:44Thank you,
46:45Atom!
46:46Thank you!
46:47This surprise
46:48was planned
46:49by the team
46:50of Niki Del Mundo
46:51and Aubrey de las Reyes,
46:52edited by
46:53Shirley Paghiligan,
46:54with the amazing
46:55people of GMA
46:56Integrated News.
46:57Don't forget
46:58to like and
46:59subscribe.
47:00Till the next
47:01surprise!
47:04Thank you.