From delivering straight news to hosting morning shows, Kapamilya news reporter Atom Araullo has been exploring the paranormal and supernatural world via Hiwaga. Since December 7, 2012, his show has been airing every Friday on ABS-CBN.
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press last Tuesday, August 6, at ELJ Communications Center in Quezon City, Atom shared that his show explores the truth behind supernatural phenomena. Hiwaga highlights the Filipino belief system touching on topics such as love potions, doppelgangers, spirits, among others.
“Hiwaga is a show that talks about the paranormal, the unexplained, and the mysterious,” Atom said about his show that airs every Friday at 4:15 pm.
“We try to present it in such a way that people will be entertained and also will learn about something about what basically scares them.
“Marami sa mga Pinoy, naniniwala sa mga bagay na hindi napapaliwanag ng Siyensiya.
“Pero minsan meron din silang mga pinaniniwalaan na meron namang malinaw na paliwanag pagdating sa Science.
“So, bukod sa pag-entertain sa tao, you also want to demystify some of these phenomenon and in the process, make the audience more intelligent and more aware.”
THE SUPERNATURAL. For his new show, Atom shared that he has been doing research about the supernatural and paranormal world to educate himself about the topics featured on their show.
Atom revealed, “I read a little bit, yes, lalo na sa mga topics na very interesting kasi importante rin na mag-develop ng vocabulary sa show, e.
“Kasi minsan may kausap kang mga expert tapos sasabihin nila ganito, ‘o yung ganito fire elemental…’
“So, kung gusto mo magtanong ng intelligent questions kailangan medyo aral ka rin, e, so I try to be more learned about the topic.
When asked whether he had encounters with supernatural and paranormal entities, the UP Diliman Applied Physics graduate said that he is lucky enough not to experience such encounters.
Atom admitted, “Mahina ang radar ko diyan, e, yung mga third eye na tinatawag.
“Pero marami akong mga kakilala na merong ganung karanasan na naririnig ko rin.
“So, yun ang mga pinaghuhugutan namin sa mga istorya namin.”
However, the reporter-TV host admitted that he still gets scared everytime he watches their program.
“Sabi ko nga, e, ako hindi talaga ako matatakutin sa ganyan.
“Natatakot ako pag napapanood ko na, which is a good thing kasi at least habang ginagawa namin, hindi ako masyadong natatakot.
“Pag nagsisimula na akong matakot, parang mabilis ko ire-remind yung sarili ko na walang masamang mangyayare.
“Pero pag napapanood ko yung buong istorya tapos siyempre, pag nilapatan na yan ng mga re-enactments, yung tamang musical scoring.”
THE YOUNG ONE. Among the five anchor-hosts of ABS-CBN News team given an afternoon public affairs program, Atom is the youngest to have his own show. The Kapamilya talent feels grateful to be given this kind of opportunity, this early in his career.
“I’m relatively young in this industry,” Atom said.
“I’ve been around for only six or seven years.
“So, I’m just making the most out of it. I’m making the most out of the opportunity given.
“Hopefully, perform well and learn new things and become better at the craft.
“And constantly, become a better journalist.”
The Umagang Kay Ganda host feels challenged to host this kind of public affairs program, which he described as “outside the realm of his experience.”
Atom confessed, “To be honest, in the beginning I had a lot of questions.
“Especially since yun na nga, it’s something new.
“It’s definitely something outside the realm of my experience pero tinake ko siya as a challenge.
“Na kailangan mai-presenta natin to sa paraan na merong matututunan yung audience pa rin kahit na gusto rin natin silang, you know, kumbaga pakiligin ng konti.
“Yung kilig na takot, pero at the same time gusto rin natin silang matuto…
“So, ako I’d never been one to back down from challenges anyway so I want to be able to do this and do well para masabi kong kahit ano, kahit saan niyo ako ilagay, I will do my best.”
Although he is best known for being an on-cam news reporter, Atom would also like try being the one behind the camera. In fact, he revealed that he aspires to become a photojournalist.
Atom narrated, “I’m just interested in so many things…
“On of my passions is taking pictures so gusto ko rin masubukan to be an embedded photojournalist.
“I’m not sure that is something we can do just yet in this organization or in the Philippines.
“But I admire a lot of those really great photojournalists who like live in a community for a long time and take beautiful pictures and tell stories through their pictures.”