Alfonso Tomas "Atom" Pagaduan Araullo (Tagalog:[ʔaˈɾaʊljɔ]; born October 19, 1982) is a Filipino broadcast journalist and television presenter. He currently hosts documentary programs such as The Atom Araullo Specials and I-Witness, and is serving as the anchor of newscast State of the Nation.
Araullo is a national Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and was conferred the title after undertaking missions to visit displaced families in Mindanao, Bangladesh, and Jordan.[3][4]
He is also an advocate for environmental conservation, notably in marine ecosystems. He received a star on the Eastwood City Walk of Fame on November 21, 2017.[5]
Early life and education
Alfonso Tomas Pagaduan Araullo was born on October 19, 1982,[6][7] the youngest child and only son of Miguel (nicknamed "Mike")[8] and Carol Araullo (née Pagaduan).[9] He has an older sister, Alessandra "Sandra" (née Araullo) Gonzales, who is a triathlete as well. Being the son of an activist family, Araullo spent most of his early childhood days with his parents battling it out during the Marcos dictatorship. This has exposed him to the political struggle in the country. During his early elementary school days, his parents exposed him to sports and the theater. As a result, he became part of several plays and has joined various competitions as a triathlete.
During his childhood years, Araullo was part of 5 and Up (produced by Probe Productions, Inc.). He also used to host the Studio 23 morning show Breakfast, The National Quiz Bee, Probe Media Foundation Inc.'s Kabataan Xpress, Basta Sports and Kalye: Mga Kwento ng Lansangan with Anthony Taberna and Sol Aragones.[citation needed]
2004–2017: Beginnings as GMA News reporter and transfer to ABS-CBN
Araullo in 2009
Araullo started his news-reporting career with GMA Network where he featured in the "ATOMic Sports" segment of 24 Oras. He moved to ABS-CBN in 2005.[11] He hosted Red Alert and Umagang Kay Ganda.
Initially rumored, Araullo confirmed his resignation as a news reporter of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, specifically from his reportorial duties on TV Patrol, Bandila, and the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) in late August 2016. He explained that he wanted to explore opportunities and pursue other interests, debunking the rumor that he opted for resignation because of his strong opinions.[12]
2017–present: Return to GMA Network
In September 2017, Araullo left ABS-CBN.[13] He returned to GMA Network that same month, where he focused on making documentaries, starting with Philippine Seas.[11][14] Months later, Araullo joined the longest-running documentary program i-Witness, and also became the host of his own monthly documentary program The Atom Araullo Specials in 2018.[15]
"Munting Bisig", an episode from the Atom Araulo Specials, won a silver award in the human concerns and social issues category at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards. The episode also won in the social issues category at the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards 2022 and best Asian documentary at the Asia Contents Awards.[16]
Araullo wrote and starred in Mike de Leon's Citizen Jake (2018), playing a son of corrupt senator-turned-citizen journalist Jacobo "Jake" Herrera Jr.[19][20][21]
^Lo, Ricky (March 27, 2017). "The 'baptism' of Atom Araullo". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
