Atom Araullo in the lead

A pair of specs and a work suit: these are the only protection Clark Kent has from people finding out that he’s also Superman. Yet as much as Kent is a persona he has to maintain in public, nowhere else does Superman—Kal-El, to be exact—seem more of who he really is than when he’s playing the part of the quiet reporter.

Now, there are parallels that can be drawn between this part of Superman’s mythology and TV reporter Atom Araullo. There’s the journalistic angle, of course. There’s the pulchritude (of course), the kind of good looks who can make someone seem trustworthy, the kind that makes news of its own. And then there’s the double life that is led, along with the inevitable blurring of the lines between the public personality and the individual within.

Araullo is no superhero (his fans might disagree), but for someone whose face and voice greet how many millions of viewers first thing in the morning through ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda and whose weekly Red Alert, both a TV show and a radio program about disaster and risk reduction, are relied on by the public for accurate and relevant information, the establishment of a distinct, other, more public identity is a necessity.

“When people see me, they expect to see Atom, the journalist. I’m expected to act a certain way, which is a little tough, sort of like a discipline,” he admits.

And much like how Kent remains as Kent until the villain strikes and the world is suddenly in need of a superhero, Araullo is pretty much the newsman 24/7, on call for work all of the time and very rarely off-duty from being the young voice of reliability he has come to be. Even in this interview, in fact, where he gets quite candid about certain things, the measured way he gives his answers indicates his inner wheels working to provide a true but still fair opinion. “I’ve learned to live with that expectation,” he continues. “It’s actually helped me think twice, thrice about the things I do or say, even on social media.”

Where the parallels between Araullo and Kent diverge, though, is in the identity that each of them feels more comfortable with. Shedding his clothes to reveal the bodysuit underneath should feel liberating to Kent, yet he’s just about the most morose superhero there is as Superman—as if the immense power he has is too heavy a crown to bear. For Araullo, the credibility he has gained from his journalistic work is a weighted reward. As much as it is a boon when it comes to work, how pleasurable would clout really be to someone who identifies as an introvert, who savors his solo Sunday lunches after doing radio work when he doesn’t have to engage anyone in conversation?

But despite the weight of the role he was thrust into, Araullo knows it’s a privileged one; he is, after all, a very smart man. With awards such as Most Trusted TV Personality and Most Trusted Field Reporter handed to him by younger generations who see him as a guiding voice—who love ­to watch him be their guiding voice—he knows he’s been bestowed a rare honor.

“Influence is influence, whether you’re a journalist, a politician, an activist, or a celebrity. Regardless of how people [came to] trust me, that kind of influence is a huge deal. Some people work for that their whole lives yet still fall short. I’m kind of lucky, actually.”

 If there’s an Atom, the journalist, then who’s the real Atom? What’s he like?

“If I were allowed to do my own thing—makawala sa hawla, ‘ika nga (to break free from the cage, so to speak)—I’d be more relaxed and laid-back. I’m kind of a goofball, really. Non-confrontational for the most part. I like to keep things small and private.”

How does that work when the profession you’re in requires you to be able to call out someone when they’re telling you something that’s obviously bullshit?

“Having that no-nonsense, get-the-job-done attitude is an asset for journalists. Unfortunately, I wasn’t born or raised that way so I kind of had to learn how to be more aggressive. I take a deep breath when I know I need to ask an interviewee something that might be controversial or upsetting. It’s a bit of a struggle, so I really do my research. That way, I feel more confident asking tough questions, because I know they’re backed by facts. Normally, though, I’m not really the person to confront people in authority.”

Weren’t you known for being an activist back in college?

“Yes, I was a bit of a student activist. That was also a strange situation to be in. When I was starting in activism, I was the one writing the statements, doing work behind the scenes. But for some reason, I was kind of thrust into the role of the leader [of the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights – University of the Philippines (STAND-UP)]. I had to learn then how to shed my inhibitions.”    

Do you think part of the reason for that was, well, given how you look…

“Oh. Haha.”

I mean, you do have a face that’s very friendly to the camera.

“Well. (Pause.) It’s a great asset to have, I suppose. I don’t want to appear like a reluctant TV personality, but it goes both ways. The advantages are obvious: People give me extra attention, and they’re bound to trust someone they recognize. For the most part too, I guess people listen [to me] a bit more intently.

“But that’s just a small part of the job, especially in journalism. Sometimes, that advantage becomes a hindrance to becoming better because you rely on it too much and it becomes a crutch. You enjoy success quite early that you don’t aspire to be better anymore, be somebody who can really do the dirty work. I try not to forget that I still have so many things to learns as a journalist, that I have to be self-critical.”

Which of your stories are you proudest of, where you really had a hand in their development?

“I can’t claim any particular story as my own. Other people have really been the ones able to push the agenda as far as news content, and that’s one of the things I have to develop still.

“Well, most people remember my coverage on the typhoon Yolanda [in 2013]. While that wasn’t necessarily an investigative report, I was able to follow the story from start to finish. We were in Tacloban before Yolanda hit, we reported live as it was happening, we witnessed the immediate aftermath and the ensuing situation for the next two weeks. We’d also been able to go back and forth between Manila, Tacloban, and nearby municipalities to see how everything was progressing. From that experience, I became more aware of the need for better disaster and risk reduction [measures] in the Philippines, for getting people to understand why a culture of readiness is important. That assignment really affected my work and my attitude toward preparing for disasters—kind of a watershed moment.”

How mindful are you about not becoming the news?

“A reporter becoming the news can be because of several factors, one of which is if you make yourself the focus of the event. That’s problematic but not uncommon, especially here. I just tell myself that the stories of other people are more interesting than mine.”

I bring this up because of the whole Anderson Cooper thing that happened when he came to the country to cover the same typhoon.

“That’s a controversial subject, and people have a lot of things to say about that. Now, opinions will never go away in journalism, especially in the milieu we’re in, as people like hearing what people on TV have to say. The important thing is to base everything on facts and embrace the fact that journalism isn’t objective; it’s not an ivory tower, as they say. Journalists have their own biases that get reflected in their news reports. This is important to recognize so we can elevate the standards of journalism in the country. But if you have a position on an issue that’s balanced, accurate, and fact-based, then it becomes more relevant to the people watching. Aside from knowing what’s going on, they can now decide what to do [after listening to you]. So I’m really okay with that, as long as there’s full disclosure, transparency, balance, and accuracy.

“Anyway, policing journalists is now easier with social media, so media people are now wary of what they’re saying, how they’re reporting. Which is great, because at least there are checks and balances.”

You were awarded by the University of Santo Tomas as Most Trusted TV Personality and by Trinity College of Asia as Most Trusted Field Reporter. Whom do you trust in turn? As a communicator of information, how do you pick which sources to listen to?

“To start, I wasn’t really trained to be a communicator; I was trained as a scientist, which really helps a lot. The scientific process and critical thinking are important in all aspects of society, not just the sciences. Even in communication, having the capacity to do scientific thinking is quite an advantage.

“In terms of looking for people who could influence my working style and communication skills, it’s a broad range of people: journalists, scientists, even comedians. Locally, there’s Ted Failon who’s very effective because he does his research and is very courageous with his radio program. Tony Velasquez as well, one of our main anchors in ANC, who has a mastery of the language and is very strict when it comes to the way news is presented. John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, and Jon Stewart who are all comedians, and scientists like Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye.

“I also have an awesome app, Pocket, which downloads articles and is like a read-me-later thing. I follow Vox, The Verge, the New York Times, The Atlantic…I’m just downloading things. Now I’m stuck with a backlog.”

Since this story is for a grooming-themed issue, I have to ask: What is your grooming routine like?

“Not a very good one. It could be improved. I’ve been told to wear sunscreen since I like being outdoors, but I don’t really do it—although yes, I know I should. My routine is basically washing my face with what used to be just soap and water, which, I’ve learned, isn’t ideal pala. Now I have a facial wash at home, though I don’t even know the brand. I use it only when I feel like it. I still don’t get why the facial wash [when there’s soap available]. Wala, matigas ang ulo ko, eh (I’m just stubborn about it). All those other stuff, the toners…I don’t understand them; they take too much time to use.”

So when it comes to skincare, would you say you’re #blessed?

“Haha, yes, I guess so.”  

This feature is the cover story of Garage Magazine’s November 2015 issue. Photography is by Cyrus Panganiban and styling is by Edlene Cabral, Jerico Villamonte, and Yzza Hablado.