Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza has his son, Kim Atienza’s, back.
Atienza, at the recent press con with showbiz media at SuperSam in Quezon City, said he and Kuya Kim discussed the latter’s to transfer from ABS-CBN to GMA.
He related his conversation with Kuya Kim: “Sa ABS-CBN binigay ko ang lahat ng aking panahon. Hindi ko sila iniwanan sa gitna ng digmaan. I gave it all pero wala na pupuntahan ang career ko. I’m a professional media man. ‘Yan ang pinag-aralan ko sa UP. ‘Yan ang aking ginagampanan ngayon. Mayroon namang pagkakataon naman sa let’s face it, the biggest network, GMA network, kaya tinanggap ko na. Tama ba ‘yung desisyon ko?”
He gave his full support behind his son’s decision to switch networks. “Alam mo Kim, as your father, and I also am a firm believer in loyalty, napakita mo na ‘yan. It’s about time to think of yourself: saan ka pupunta? Magbabago ka ba ng career o ipagpapatuloy mo ang linya? Kung ipagpapatuloy mo, inaanyayahan ka ng GMA at gusto mong sumapi na, sundin mo ang iyong kunsensiya. I support you.”
Atienza, who is the running mate of presidential hopeful Senator Manny Pacquiao, also belied the comment that Kuya Kim abandoned ABS-CBN.
“Kung si Kim umalis nung kalagitnaan or umpisa ng giyera, ang tawag dyan deserter. Pero lumaban si Kim,” he insisted.
“Ako naman,” he continued, “nasaksihan nyo ang pagtatanggol sa tama. Mali naman talaga ang ginawa sa ABS, pero anong magagawa mo sa administrasyong ito? Labintatlong hearing ginanap, walang napatunayan.”
In a previous interview, Kuya Kim also claimed that he did not “leave ABS-CBN at its darkest hour.”
“I am leaving now when there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” he added, hinting of a major development that his former network will soon announce.
Meanwhile, the senior Atienza, a veteran of public service for five decades, said his son has no interest in politics.
“Tumatama mukha sa pader sa pag hindi,” he said. “[He told me] I need the rest of my life for those who believe in me in show business and to my family whom I love most.”
Atienza also revealed that he was surprised at Senator Pacquiao’s offer to run as his vice president. “Ako’y nagulat, [ang sabi ko] why me? Bakit ako pinipili mo, ang daming malalaking senator pwedeng imbitahan? [Sabi nya] pinagdasal ko, at ikaw ang kailangan pakiusapan”
He has such respect and admiration for Pacquiao, he said, that’s why he put retirement on hold. “Pa-retire na sana ako. Fifty years active. Nilabanan ko Martial Law, nilabanan ko mga Marcos, nagwagi naman ako. Nilaban ko higante ng Maynila, Maceda, Bagatsing, Lopez, tinalo ko. My point is I have given enough years to politics and public office, I was ready to retire. Naka schedule na kami misis ko magbabakasyon kami e nabago direksyon kaya andito ako ngayon, still active. And I thank God for the opportunity because I am able to say my own version of history.”
