What Kuya Kim gave up for TV

Now it can be told: Late last year, Kim Atienza found himself in a dilemma. That is, whether to run or not to run for Mayor of Manila in last May’s elections. His father, Lito Atienza, was on his third and last term as mayor of the city and somebody from the family had to step into his shoes.

Kim, the weather man of Umagang Kay Ganda (formerly Magandang Umaga Pilipinas) and TV Patrol World, both on ABS-CBN, admits that he ventured into television to gain exposure and therefore up his “market value” in the political arena.

“But there was a conflict of interest,” Kim told Funfare.

Maria Ressa, SVP for News and Current Affairs, made Kim choose: Politics or TV?

“I didn’t have any second thought,” said Kim who has learned to enjoy his TV work. “I sacrificed politics for TV.”

And he did not  regret it.

His younger brother Ali was pitted against then Sen. Fred Lim who eventually got back the position he lost to Lito in the 1998 elections.

The election result sort of vindicated Kim who began his stint on TV as host of MUP’s Animalandia, showcasing his menagerie of pets (his house is a virtual zoo), a taped segment which was retitled Animalandia Live  when it started going “live.” Before long, Kim was not just “petting” around but also tracking the weather.

The reformatted MUP, retitled Umagang Kay Ganda, premiered last June 25 (still on the 5:30-8:30 a.m. slot), now with Edu Manzano, Pinky Webb, Rica Peralejo, Alex Santos and Donita Rose as new hosts. (Julius Babao and wife Tintin Bersola were the casualties of the reformatting but Ogie Diaz was retained as showbiz reporter and Bernadette Sembrano as news anchor.)

Kim took over as weather man for TV Patrol World early last year after Ernie Baron died on Jan. 24 which happened to be Kim’s birthday.

“A few days before he died,” recalled Kim, “the MUP gave Tito Ernie a tribute. I remember him saying, ‘Now I can die; may papalit na sa akin,’ referring to me. His advice to me was, ‘Love your job.’ I keep that in mind.”

A UP Communication Arts graduate, Kim said he realized that television can be more powerful than any political position. Now a very popular/familiar well-loved figure in his wide-brimmed hat, he’s fondly called Kuya Kim by everybody, including kids who look up to him as some kind of a hero. He’s also known as the new Dean of Useful Trivia.

When he drops by the Chinese International School of Manila at The Fort of which his wife Felicia is the president & CEO, and where their three children (Jose, Meimei and Eman) are studying, the other kids casually address him as “Kuya Kim” and it warms the cockles of his heart.

“It makes me realize what a great responsibility I have to the public, especially the children, who tend to believe in every word that I say on TV.”

And the winner is...

The first-ever Mister Philippines pageant was held at the posh Palacio de Maynila in Roxas Blvd. last July 8.

Nueva Ecija’s Ian Leonel Porlayagan, chosen Mister Philippines International, will represent the country in the Mister International pageant in Mexico City, Mexico, this October.

Filipino-Chinese athlete-model Michael Raymond Lim of Binondo, Manila, Mister Philippines ExpoWorld-International, will represent the country in the Mister ExpoWorld-International pageant in Guatemala this November. 

Former 604 vocalist Nino Sazon, representing the Filipino communities in Canada, won the International Man-Philippines title. The German delegate took runner-up honors. Crowd favorite Michael Koegel, 19, finished first runner-up and took home the Best in Swimwear and Best in Casual Wear awards. Carsten Ertel, second runner-up, charmed the audience with his pop-rocking dancing skills while Nino provided the back-up music. Both Carsten and Nino shared the Best in Talent award.

Rounding up the finalists were Jose Bernardo Roa of Cagayan de Oro and Joaquin Cazado of Cebu. Comprising the board of judges were world bowling champion Paeng Nepomuceno, Star columnist Juliana Palermo, fashion designer Paul Cabral, model-beauty queen-actress Bing Pimentel, singer Lovi, Manila Times Lifestyle editor Ricky Gallardo and Cherry Pie Picache. 

Fr. Corsie’s healing sked

Here’s Fr. Corsie Legaspi’s healing schedule for the rest of July:

• Today, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite;

• July 16, Monday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Concepcion, Marikina City;

• July 19, Thursday, 1 to 6 p.m., at Sta. Monica Parish, Mexico, Pampanga;

• July 20, Friday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the San Sebastian Parish, San Sebastian Village, Tarlac City;

• July 21, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Medication Center, Binakayan, Cavite; and

• July 23 to mid-August, healing sessions in the US.

(Note: For more information, call Andy at 046-4348759 or 046-8780069, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.)

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