Alejandro "Kim" Ilagan Atienza (Tagalog pronunciation:[ɐˈtʃɛnsa]; born January 24, 1967[1][2]), also called Kuya Kim, is a Filipino television presenter. Prior to becoming the resident weather anchor for TV Patrol, Atienza served as councilor of the 5th District of Manila for three terms.[3][5] He is known for his famous trivia stints on TV and radio, especially in his own show, Matanglawin. He is currently working at GMA Network as a segment presenter for 24 Oras, and as the host of daytime variety game show TiktoClock and infotainment program Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim!.
In 1983, Atienza entered University of Santo Tomas, where he took up Education as a freshman college student.[7] A year later, he transferred to University of Philippines Diliman, where he would earn his bachelor's degree in Film and Audiovisual Communication.[8] It was revealed that it took him seven years to finish college as he once despised school. However, he clarified that he loved learning so he ensured to do it himself.[9]
Career
Political career (1995–2004)
Atienza was in politics for twelve years. From 1995 to 2004, he served as councilor of Manila from the 5th district for three terms.[5] One of his notable resolutions that he filed to the city council is the resolution in 1998 declaring actress Claire Danes as persona non grata and banning her films after Danes criticized the state of Manila's cleanliness.[10] In 2004, he ran as representative of the 5th District of Manila but lost to Joey Hizon.[11] His father, then Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, asked him to run for Mayor of Manila in 2007, but he declined and retired from politics, calling the field and profession as "scary".[12]
Radio and television career (1987–present)
Kim Atienza at "The GOOD Run" event in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines in 2011.
He started his broadcasting career in the early 1990s, as the anchor of "Mata ng Agila", an early morning newscast of DZEC Radyo Agila 1062, together with Onin Miranda.[13]
Atienza started his stint on TV when he began hosting Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas' Animalandia as well as voice acting in the 90's. He is also best known for voicing Takeru (renamed as Michael Joe) which is portrayed by Japanese Sentai actor Ryousuke Kaizu from the Super Sentai series, Hikari Sentai Maskman and he also references this in later years when he was being interviewed by fellow celebrity hosts.[14] In 2023, during an interview with Boy Abunda on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, he revealed that he voiced Steve Armstrong in the Filipino dub of the 1999 Voltes V film.[15]
He returned to radio for the 2nd time in DZMM via Sakto with Amy Perez-Castillo, replacing original host Marc Logan who left the show.
On September 29, 2021, Atienza announced his departure from ABS-CBN, effective October 1, revealing his move to GMA Network. He made his final appearance on TV Patrol as a segment weather presenter on the latter date. He officially joined the competing newscast, 24 Oras, on October 4, introducing his eponymous segment, "#KuyaKimAnoNa," a week later on October 11. Additionally, he began hosting the talk show Mars Pa More on November 8 and a news magazine show titled Dapat Alam Mo! on GTV from October 18. The latter show served as pre-programming for 24 Oras and had a provisional simulcast on GMA from February 14 to March 18, 2022.[16][17][18][19] In July 2022, Atienza became one of the leading hosts for the noontime variety game show TiktoClock, along with Pokwang and Rabiya Mateo.[20]
Personal life
Family
Atienza is married to Felicia Hung,[3] and they have three children: Jose III, Eliana, and Emman. Felicia is the president and founding member of Chinese International School Manila (CISM). Kim Atienza is an avid marathoner, triathlete and cyclist. Politician Lito Atienza is Atienza's father, while politicians Ali Atienza, Maile Atienza, and Chi Atienza are his siblings.
Atienza told ABS-CBN News that Eliana is not “pro-Hamas but more of anti-genocide” and 'anti-war'. Further, he refuted the headlines, clarifying that Eliana is not "homeless" but was merely relocated from her boarding school dormitory. Finally, Atienza stressed that she was not expelled from her school. As fact check, the New York Post stated "she was one of six students suspended from campus on May 9."[23] Atienza said that Eliana was merely put on temporary leave of absence, prior to a school investigation set on May 10. "The only threat here is the power of the people and the students we have standing behind us," Atienza told KYW (AM). She then clarified to a newspaper that "she was the only one made "homeless" because of the "encampment ".[24]
Health and recovery
Atienza had a stroke in 2010.[12] In 2013, he was diagnosed to have Guillain–Barré syndrome, a rare disease that attacks the nervous system. Atienza totally recovered and has since finished several marathons, as well as Ironman 70.3 and full Ironman races. He continues to compete and lead his age group to this day.[25][26] Eliana informed GMA News Online that her father confirmed "she will be back in the next semester after their summer break."[27]
