Atom Araullo on Einstein, Edjop, Hemingway, the Beatles & craft beer

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. — Stephen Hawking

The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for. — Ernest Hemingway

One popular TV journalist seemingly out to prove that television isn’t just “an idiot box” is the 30-year-old University of the Philippines (UP) B.S. Applied Physics graduate Alfonso Tomas “Atom” Pagaduan Araullo. He is ABS-CBN TV host of Hiwaga every Friday at 4:15 p.m., which tackles mysteries and paranormal phenomena, and also field reporter for the daily morning show Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG).

Atom is a lover of science and books. He studied elementary at the Ateneo de Manila, high school at Philippine Science High School and was a student leader and activist at UP Diliman. He was member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS), chairperson of the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights - UP (STAND-UP), editor in chief of the College of Science publication Siyensya and won as councilor in the UP Student Council.

As a sports buff, Atom was a champion triathlete in his teens; he has trained in soccer, tennis, volleyball, taekwondo, platform diving, mountaineering and underwater diving. He has done theater acting and loves music — he plays the flute, guitar and an Australian folk instrument called the didgeridoo.

His mother is UP cum laude graduate, medical doctor, 2012 UP Distinguished Alumni awardee and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) chairperson Dr. Carol Pagaduan Araullo. While Dr. Araullo was UP Student Council vice chairman and an activist imprisoned for opposing martial law, Atom was also a UP activist leader in protest rallies and was once briefly detained at the Pasay City Police District station. Here are excerpts from our recent interview:

PHILIPPINE STAR: Your new TV show Hiwaga will explore mysteries and ghost stories ba?

ATOM P. ARAULLO: The show will explore and try to understand the unexplained, the paranormal and even various natural phenomena. Our topics will range from sleepwalking, kulam (a “hex” often associated with witchcraft), hypnosis, etc. We shall tackle these topics in an entertaining way and also try to demystify things too. 

Are you still teaching an introductory journalism course in De La Salle University-Dasmariñas?

No more, due to my lack of time. I was only a part-time lecturer, but it was a great experience. Being around young, eager minds is very inspiring. I would love to teach in the future again, time permitting.

You’re an applied physics major. Is Albert Einstein your idol?

Oo naman (Yes, of course). I idolize Einstein. I also admire Stephen Hawking, naturist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, the physicist and author Alan Lightman and science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.

What have you learned from your new show Hiwaga?

The biggest thing I learned is to keep an open mind. I used to be the biggest skeptic — some of the topics or phenomena are believable, but others I just can’t believe — but now I’m more open-minded about many things.

Can you cite an example of an unbelievable phenomenon?

The most remarkable was this eight- or nine-year-old boy in Parañaque City who has this seeming ability to set things on fire without any fire starters. His family approached us because his parents worried about their son, because sometimes the boy would just (set) on fire their TV set, pillows, etc. He’s a pyromaniac, he has pyrokinesis. When we visited their home, there were a lot of burnt things outside the house. We did research and we asked a paranormal consultant to talk to the family.

Maybe the boy is like those people with superhuman powers in X-Men?

The mutants? (Laughs)

Will you go overseas to Asia and other places to cover paranormal phenomena abroad?

Maybe in our next season.

Did you expect before that you would end up with a show like Hiwaga?

Not in a million years did I expect that I could get this kind of TV show. 

You became more famous in 2010 when online magazine Spot.ph of Summit Media SPOT.ph declared you the “No. 1 Cutest TV Newsman in the Philippines.” Some of my female college students asked me to tell you they find you sexy. Your reactions?

Siyempre (Of course), I’m flattered, but I don’t see myself as a sex symbol or sexy. In fact, when I was growing up, I always felt a little awkward… Siguro (maybe) in the spectrum of cute and sexy, I think I’m more (towards) the cute. (Laughs)

As a journalist always on TV, are you very conscious about your looks like actors or actresses are?

Being conscious about my looks, that’s only a secondary consideration for me, actually a far second in importance. It is not so much the looks that I am more conscious of, but more physical fitness and if I’m maayos (neat). But more important than the looks, how good we are in delivering the news, that is more important for us TV journalists.

Is it true you’ve received movie offers?

I’ve been offered to act in indie films. I used to act on stage and have friends in both theater and film, but I cannot be an actor, that’s not allowed by our station. It’s not only a rule of ABS-CBN; generally speaking as a profession, people like to see their journalists as journalists, while their entertainers are entertainers.

Who do you consider the most beautiful female TV journalists of the Philippines?

That’s difficult… (Laughs) Of course, there’s Korina Sanchez, Karen Davila, Ces Drilon and Bernadette Sembrano.

Is it true you’re dating your Umagang Kay Ganda co-host Zen Hernandez?

That’s not true, we’re just fairly close.

If you’d not become a TV journalist, what do you think would have been your profession?

If not on TV, I think I’d be in the field of physics or molecular biology and biotechnology.

If in the future you’d go into business, what ventures would you be interested in?

I would prefer something related to my interests, like books, coffee or craft beer.

I heard you really love to read books?

Yes, I love books and my favorites are mostly classical fiction. My favorite authors are Ernest Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Ian McEwan.

Aside from reading and various sports, what are your other hobbies?

I have a lot of interests, they range from science, the arts to music, photography and documentary filmmaking.

Your favorite kinds of music? Favorite artists or songs?

I have many favorites. My taste in music is very eclectic. Growing up, I used to listen to the Beatles all the time, and they still are my all-time favorite. I rotate from classic rock groups like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and CSNY to more modern acts like Bon Iver and Passion Pit. I also like jazz and classical music. I played the orchestral flute for many years.

As a former student activist, what socio-political reforms do you want for the country?

Reforms are one thing, but if I may be bold, I think what the country needs is radical change in the socio-political system. I believe it has many inherent defects that allow for the exploitation and oppression of many people.

For example, although we produce many brilliant engineers and scientists, there doesn’t seem to be a serious push toward national industrialization, something that is key to growth and development.

Your mother Dr. Carol Pagaduan Araullo was a former student activist and still is politically active, how did her advocacies influence you?

Both my parents are huge influences in my life, quite naturally. My father is a hardworking and extremely resourceful engineer, who is totally devoted to our family. My mother is a sharp and passionate social activist who has dedicated her life for the betterment of our country. She was jailed for opposing martial law. Her idealism has made me more politically aware, more idealistic.

Who are the activists you admire the most, whether past or present?

I admire Edgar Jopson, Emman Lacaba and more recently, I admire Satur Ocampo. One of our great leaders of the past was Senator Claro M. Recto, he was one of the first nationalists.

How did you become interested in math? It seems a lot of people in our society dislike math. What advice do you have for students and others to enjoy mathematics?

Actually, I’m not really exceptional in math unlike many of my former colleagues in the National Institute of Physics, UP Diliman. I consider myself very imaginative though, and I appreciate math in relation to the physical phenomenon it describes. This is not always easy especially when the equations get complicated.

Science does not seem a top priority in our society compared to politics and entertainment. How can we promote more interest in science?

Like I mentioned earlier, government has to lead the way in promoting a scientific culture. Popular media should follow, emphasizing the importance of science and technology in our daily lives. Admittedly, we falter at this occasionally. Times are tough, and politics and entertainment seem to be convenient distractions for many.

Aren’t they quite far apart, the fields of science and TV journalism?

I started young on TV, I was 10 years old when I started to be one of the hosts for the youth-oriented TV program 5 & Up. Journalism is supposed to be scientific. Being scientific is important in journalism, because we need to break down problems to more manageable portions and we need to be systematic in answering many of life’s ills.

What are your success secrets as a student and now as a top TV journalist?

Just work hard, stay curious, and do things with a smile.

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