Body Talk with Atom Araullo

Flirting with…no, not girls but…danger and death has become, well, a piece of cake for Atom Araullo, the daring ABS-CBN host-reporter who was hailed as an “unsung hero” when he braved the storm surge that wiped out Tacloban City. Half-submerged in floodwaters, Atom did a minute-by-minute account of the devastation wrought by Supertyphoon Yolanda, all by himself.

“That was one of my three most memorable coverage,” Atom told Funfare. “The two others were Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking and the sinking of M/V Princess of The Stars.”

We see him reporting for the early-morning show Umagang Kay Ganda and once a week hosting Hiwaga, both on ABS-CBN. Atom has been so devoted to his work that he must have forgotten to attend to his love life, not having had another girlfriend in five years, never mind if women of all shapes and sizes from all levels of the social ladder are ready, willing and able to, well, you know…(One celebrity is rumored to have tried winning Atom’s attention and affection by sending him, uhm, “foods” [as Deniece Cornejo famously put it], to no avail.)

You wonder, how does Atom keep a balance between work and personal time (if he has any)?

“Honestly, work consumes most of my time these days, including weekends (and encroaching on sleep). This is not a good thing, and I’m still finding ways to live a more balanced life. I try to cheat a little bit by integrating some of my passions in my work flow: Reading, taking pictures, listening to music. When I do have personal time, I try to relax my mind as much as my body.”

How would he describe a typical workday in his life?

“I usually wake up at 3 a.m. to be in the studio or on location by 5 a.m. for Umagang Kay Ganda. If I have time after the show, and if I’m not too sleep-deprived, I try to sneak in 30-60 minutes of exercise. By 9 a.m., I am in the field to gather news. We usually finish producing stories for our different platforms by duty 7 p.m. After that, I have around two hours for other obligations, errands and responsibilities. I try to sleep by 10 p.m.

A Libra (Oct. 19), Atom stands 5’10”; weighs 155 lbs.; and wears medium-size shirt and size-9 shoes.

Now managed by STAGES, Inc., he gives Funfare readers an idea of what stuff he’s made of.

What’s usually for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

“No patterns, really, except perhaps for coffee in the morning, and maybe another one in the afternoon. And yes, I eat a lot of rice.”

What food do you always crave for, what food do you avoid?

“I have different favorites at any given time. Fruits in jello, sweet and sour pork, and salmon sashimi are some recurring favorites. I try to regulate my sugar intake but it’s so hard!”

Any snacks between meals?

“I love banana cue.”

How much water do you take per day (soda, coffee, tea or energy drinks)?

“I don’t keep track.”

What vitamins do you take?

“I don’t take vitamins regularly, except perhaps Vitamin D from the sun, hehehehe!”

What workout do you do?

“A little bit of running and light resistance training. I play football when I can, but that’s not very often.”

What part of your body needs improvement?

“I could always improve my endurance, which is to say my cardiovascular system. It comes in handy for many situations, especially in the off-chance of a zombie apocalypse (pop culture reference right here).”

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

“Stomach, perhaps. My nemesis is dairy products (I’m lactose intolerant).”

What part of your body is your favorite?

“Facial hair. I want to grow a handlebar mustache one day.”

What part of a woman’s body do you notice first?

“Her eyes.”

What else in a woman turns you on?

“A healthy appetite.”

And what’s in a woman that turns you off?

“Excessive vanity.”

Do you have a nightlife?

“Zero.”

How much sleep do you get per night?


“Four to five hours on the average.”

Favorite sleepwear?


“T-shirt and shorts.”

Do you snore?


“Not that I know of.”

Do you talk in your sleep?

“In Mandarin. Kidding.”

Do you sleepwalk?

“I moonwalk, hehehehe!”

How many pillows do you sleep with?

“Only one.”

Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

“Set my alarm.”

First thing that you do as soon as you wake up?

“Turn off my alarm.”

How do you unwind, cope with stress?

“I look at nice pictures. I daydream. I knock down a drink or two with friends.”

What sport do you play?

“I used to be a tri-athlete in my college days, but my only sport now is tapping away on a smart phone.”

Favorite city?

“I dislike cities in general.”

Favorite hideaway?

“Anywhere quiet and secluded, like the bathroom.”

How long does it take you to fix yourself?



“Not very long. Fifteen minutes.”

Name three men and three women that you think have nice bodies.

“Athletes in general have nice bodies. And professional dancers.”

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