IT’S been five years since Atom Araullo returned to GMA to make documentaries for the network's Public Affairs team. Since then, Atom has produced compelling stories that have made a mark on Philippine viewers and received international acclaim. Atom Araullo’s work as a Kapuso continues as he signs a brand new exclusive contract with GMA Network on December 17.
Present during the contract signing were GMA Network Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group, and President of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes; First Vice President of Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon; First Vice President and Head of GMA Regional TV and Synergy, and Acting Head of GMA Integrated News Oliver Victor B. Amoroso; and Atom’s manager Noel Ferrer.
Also in attendance were GMA Integrated News Vice President Michelle Seva; Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Angeli Atienza; and Senior Program Managers Joseph Conrad Rubio and Kate Robledo.
Atom only has good words for his home network and expresses his gratitude to the viewers as well.
“I’m so happy. I feel so welcomed in GMA so parang nabibigyan ka ng energy to do more in the following years. [I am thankful to the viewers, too] Sobrang taos-pusong pasasalamat kasi kung wala sila, wala tayo. Honestly what we do is for the viewers – para sila ay ma-entertain, matuto at ma-inspire,” he said.
Atty. Gozon-Valdes says she could not be any prouder of Atom’s wide range of work as a journalist.
“We’re very happy that he is a Kapuso and he will remain a Kapuso. His body of work speaks for itself. He’s been acknowledged not just here but internationally. I hope he continues to do in-depth and ground-breaking documentaries with us – ‘yung mga documentaries that will challenge people not only to think but to act as well,” Atty. Gozon-Valdes shared.
Considered as one of this generation's greatest documentarists, Atom returned to GMA in 2017 and since then has further proven his mettle in an industry that continues to be challenged by fake news and misinformation.
Together with Maki Pulido, Atom co-anchors GTV’s flagship newscast State of the Nation. He is regularly seen as a guest anchor for GMA’s 24 Oras. He headlines the bi-monthly The Atom Araullo Specials and is one of the hosts of the long-running documentary show I-Witness. Atom previously anchored the pioneering mobile journalism newscast Stand for Truth and hosted the Adulting with Atom Araullo under GMA Online Exclusives.
Philippine Seas, his first-ever documentary as a returning Kapuso, took home a Gold Medal at the 2018 U.S. International Film & Video Festival and won at the AIBs in London. This was followed by numerous accolades for his various work as a news anchor and a documentarist.
This year alone, The Atom Araullo Specials has been reaping recognitions from some of the world’s prestigious award-giving bodies. Atom’s “Munting Bisig” documentary won the Gold World Medal at the 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Award; Silver Award at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards, and was named the Best Asian Documentary at the Asia Contents Awards (ACA) in Busan. The Atom Araullo Specials is also this year’s National Winner for “Best Documentary” at the Asian Academy Creative Awards for “Mata sa Dilim.”
His work for I-Witness likewise continues to bring honors to the country. The documentary “Koronang Tinik (Crown of Thorns)” won a Bronze medal at the 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Award.
The Kapuso broadcast journalist also took home the First Prize in the Essay Writing competition at the 70th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature for his "Letter from Tawi-Tawi." He was named Journalist of the Year by Esquire Philippines and recently won the Male News Personality of the Year at the 2022 RAWR Awards.
Atom humbly offers these awards back to the people who made each story with him.
“Achievement talaga 'yun ng organization. TV is a team effort. I’m just so lucky to work with some of the best in the industry– very talented, very dedicated people, hosts on camera, especially people behind the camera. For us it’s a great validation of the work that we do. But ultimately, at the end of the day, maliit na bagay lang yun—ang importante nakikita namin na may impact sa mga tao ‘yung mga istorya na ginagawa namin," he shares.
He further commits to continuing doing stories and documentaries that impact more people.
“Gusto ko yung tsina-challenge ‘yung sarili ko. To take on more complicated stories that require deeper investigation and also commitment to find out what’s happening and to get to the bottom of things. That’s the kind of story I like doing,” he adds.
Atom, who bannered the first leg of the Kapuso Campus Tour: The Regional Masterclass Series at Silliman University in Dumaguete in 2017, is currently an Advocate for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Philippines. (PR)