Jan Angelo Batongbakal

Kim Atienza recalls sneaking out from class to read books in a library: ‘I filled my head with trivia’

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Long before he became the well-loved “Kuya Kim” known for sharing trivia and knowledge on television, veteran broadcaster Kim Atienza was already pursuing learning in his own way. In his interview with Gary Valenciano on<em> Unshaken With Gary V</em>, Kuya Kim looked back on the years before he became one of the country’s most recognized infotainment personalities.  </p><p>After the passing of veteran broadcaster Ernie Baron, Kuya Kim eventually stepped into the role of an infotainment host and broadcaster. Asked whether he had always known he would become one or if he believed it was guided by faith, Kuya Kim said he saw truth in both. </p><p>“I was put in a position of being the walking encyclopedia. That&#x27;s so hard to fill ah,” he said. </p><p>“[For] Ka Ernie Baron, [it] took him three decades to build that image, that icon image, that he&#x27;s the walking encyclopedia and I had to be that. But I realized that I had so much knowledge in my head [and] that I was so ganado to be able to say it and share it in an entertaining way.” </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSOb0bNksRk/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=845&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2999720.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="877" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>For the veteran broadcaster, his fascination for facts and eagerness to learn beyond the classroom was shaped in childhood. </p><p>“The knowledge came from; I&#x27;ve always been a trivia fanatic,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/4/22/kim-atienza-discovers-more-letters-left-at-emman-s-resting-place-we-see-you-and-we-hear-you-0906" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Kim Atienza discovers more letters left at Emman’s resting place: ‘We see you and we hear you’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>He then shared that during his high school years, he sometimes cut classes, not to wander around malls or get into trouble, but to visit a nearby library that became one of his favorite places. </p><p>“I would cut class not to go to the mall... but to go to a library called Thomas Jefferson Library.” </p><p>“I would cut class to be able to go to that library because the librarian was [a] beautiful American, it smelled like the [United] States, and the books were new, and I would read books that I wanted,” Kuya Kim recalled.  </p><p>Kuya Kim shared that he immersed himself in books such as<em> The Book of Lists, Guinness Book of World Records,</em> and titles by Erich von Däniken, including <em>God from Outer Space</em> and <em>Chariot of the Gods,</em> among many others.  </p><p>“I filled my head with trivia. And then, I guess it&#x27;s that love for trivia and the love for expression [that made me who I am].” </p><p>“I think I&#x27;m a good storyteller,” he added.  </p><p>Eventually, that love for storytelling and knowledge found its place on television. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV-Le5UiSYQ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=845&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3089369.4000000358%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="877" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>During the interview, Kuya Kim also recalled that his initial entry into broadcasting and entertainment stemmed from a desire for exposure on TV while he was preparing to run for office in Manila. He reached out to former ABS-CBN News executive DJ Sta. Ana and pitched an idea that reflected both his personality and passion for wildlife. </p><p>“The Philippines has no Steve Irwin. I can be Steve Irwin,” he recalled telling DJ. </p><p>“Dressing up like him... I have his hat, I like animals, and this is my rendition of Steve Irwin. That’s what I did.” </p><p>He soon landed the <em>Animalandia </em>segment on <em>Magandang Umaga Bayan, </em>where Manila Zoo served as his studio and animals became his co-stars. Looking back, Kuya Kim described the experience as a joyful chapter, saying he was “having the time of his life.” </p><p>After a year of his rising TV career, former ABS-CBN news and current affairs head Maria Ressa offered him a contract that would allow him to continue broadcasting but would prevent him from pursuing politics. Coming from a family deeply rooted in public service, making a decision carried weight. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/5/16/kim-atienza-opens-up-about-healing-i-find-joy-in-being-able-to-reach-out-1042" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Kim Atienza opens up about healing: ‘I find joy in being able to reach out’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Kuya Kim said he turned to faith, asking for guidance and a sign on whether he should continue doing what he loved on television or follow the political path expected of him. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL6Noh1hhXf/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=845&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A3168689.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="743" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Then came a moment he would never forget. </p><p>During one <em>Magandang Umaga Bayan</em> encounter, he finally met Ka Ernie, known as the “Walking Encyclopedia of the Philippines,” who led programs such as <em>Knowledge Power</em> and <em>Itanong Kay Ka Ernie. </em></p><p>Kuya Kim recalled how Ka Ernie suddenly spoke words on live TV that deeply struck him, as if it was a sign to pursue his TV career instead of politics.  </p><p>“Ka Ernie Baron was so stoic and quiet that morning. And then, he told me, ‘Bata, upo ka dito. Alam mo, ang buhay may hangganan. Si Ka Ernie Baron, puwede na akong mamatay kasi meron na akong kapalit. Ikaw ang papalit sa akin,’” Kuya Kim recalled Ka Ernie saying. </p><p>The moment stunned Kuya Kim, as he described it felt like a possible answer to the question he had been praying about. Still seeking certainty, he asked for a &quot;stronger sign.&quot;</p><p>On January 23, a day before his birthday, he was once again assigned to visit Ka Ernie. This time, however, the visit was to cover his wake and report on the veteran broadcaster’s passing. </p><p>Kuya Kim took the experience as confirmation to remain in television rather than enter politics, a decision that eventually gained his parents&#x27; support and shaped the next decades of his career. </p><p>More than 20 years later, Kuya Kim remains one of the country’s most recognized broadcasters, admired not only for his trivia and storytelling but also for his ability to make learning engaging and accessible with programs such as <em>Matanglawin, TV Patrol, YSpeak, </em>and <em>Umagang Kay Ganda</em>, among many others.</p>

<p>Kim Atienza shares an unusual chapter of his youth, admitting that he used to cut classes—not for mischief, but to spend time reading books in the library out of a love of knowledge. </p>

Kim Atienza shares an unusual chapter of his youth, admitting that he used to cut classes—not for mischief, but to spend time reading books in the library out of a love of knowledge.