What started as a shared passion for sports between television host Kim Atienza and Santé Barley CEO Joey Marcelo has blossomed into a 13-year partnership that now feels more like family.
Their journey began as triathlon buddies, biking and running thousands of miles together, and eventually led to Kim becoming the brand ambassador for Santé Barley, one of the pioneers of barley-based health products in the Philippines.
Joey Marcelo, at the recent contract signing at Pandan Asian Cafe in Quezon City, said Kuya Kim embodies what Santé stands fora – health, vitality, and resilience.
Santé Barley’s mission to promote health and wellness is deeply aligned with Kim’s active lifestyle and advocacy. Marcelo noted that their advantage lies in their commitment to affordability and quality, made possible by their factory in New Zealand and partnerships with organic barley farms in Canterbury, Christchurch.
“Kami ang pinakamura kasi nagkataon kami ang may ari ng planta. Ka-partner namin ang mga may-ari ng farms sa New Zealand – ‘yun ang advantage ng Santé.
“We have more or less 20 products out now and next, we will launch Santé beauty which features moisturizer, toner, and sunscreen,” Marcelo shared.
Reflecting on the partnership, Kim expressed gratitude for his long-standing relationship with Santé and the opportunities it has brought him. “I feel blessed… God is good. I’m feeling good.”
Kim’s dedication to health remains unwavering. He revealed that he has been focusing on weight training and circuit training as part of his fitness regimen.
During the event, Kim was asked about his personal life, including his love for tattoos. His tattoos hold special meaning, from the names and birthdays of his children to symbols of his passions, including his enthusiasm for motorcycles.
When asked about retirement, Kim said, “I don’t want to stop working when I retire. I still want to be on television and in the public eye in my waning years. Maybe I’ll lessen the frequency … but I keep doing this. I love television and I still want to be on television as long as I can.”
Politics is not his cup of tea, Kuya Kim made it clear. “When people ask me whether I want to be in politics, I do not like. I come from a family of politicians. Yeah, I like to watch politics, I can be a good political analyst because I come from a family of politicians, I know how things are going to go because I was once immersed in it, but I don’t want to get into it again. I’d rather be your Kuya Kim than your Mayor Kim or Congressman Kim or Senator Kim. Mas masarap at mas tulay.”
Santé, which now has a presence in countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Qatar, is set to expand to new markets in 2024, including the United States, Indonesia, and Italy. Soon, the company will launch a beauty line featuring moisturizers, toners, and sunscreens.
