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Splitting the Atom:
An Interview with
Atom
Araullo
In an interview with schoolmate
Mia Ramos, triathlete Atom Araullo proved that there are many parts to
himself -- not just one whole, much like the basic particle which is his
nickname, once thought indivisible.
I. Basics
Mia Ramos: What is
your real name?
Atom Araullo: Alfonso
Tomas P. Araullo. Atom, Pong
or Porotong for short.
M: Birthday?
A: October 19, 1982
M: Birthplace?
A: Hospital? Manila.
M: Schools attended?
A: NS Montessori,
Ateneo de Manila, Pisay
(Philippines Science
High School -ed.)
II. Stats
M: Height?
A: 5'8" or more...
M: Weight?
A: About 128 pounds.
M: What have you done
in your life, like as an actor or sportsman
or student?
A: I've done several
plays in the Ateneo Children's Theater,
Several plays in
UP -- Ang Kaniyang Anak Jose Rizal (sic),
Macbeth, Eliza at
Salome, and a few more.
5&Up and commercials,
like for Ovaltine.
I've also won some
competitions in sports, in Taekwondo, Soccer,
Tennis, Swimming,
and Triathlons for
the National Team,
where I was a junior champion.
III. Personal
M: What are your hobbies?
A: Hmm...Read, play
the computer, watch TV, wander around
wherever, do stuff
like Billiards and Ping-Pong.
M: What are your general
plans for the future?
A: None! Errr...either
become a physicist, a musician or
a sports guy? Pero
sana I can do all of it.
M: What about other
stuff?
A: I also play the
flute and I write for whatever purpose.
M: Which do you like
best? Why?
A: Sports. It takes
a lot of discipline and is very fulfilling.
I think it contributes
a lot in the forming of character.
M: Would you prefer
to be a big TV, movie or theater star,
a sports icon, or
something completely different? Why?
A: Hmmm...One of the
things I'd like to become is a traveler or an
adventurer; the Indiana
Jones type of cliché.
M: What's the funniest
moment of your life?
A: 'Can't think of
a particular moment in my life. I regard myself as a
fun-loving person
and I like kidding around and being creative
and unique.
M: What's the most
memorable moment of your life?
A: I guess it was
the moment I was chosen as the lead character in
my first play.
Not in a billion years did I expect it.
M: What do you hate
the most?
A: People who exploit
our country. Lalong-lalo na yung mga
hipokrito!
People who pretend to be good and clean but in fact
are greedy sons...
M: What are you scared
of?
A: That this is as
good as it gets and so far I've done nothing
to make a difference.
I'm afraid that there's nothing left in store
for us.
M: What do you look
for in a girl, seriously?
A: Aware, open-minded,
happy, fun, not afraid of being different.
M: What's your favorite
color?
A: I'd choose black,
but that is the absence of all colors.
Siguro yellow or
blue.
IV. Sports
M: What are your sports?
Which do you engage in professionally?
A: I've been in several
sports which I considered seriously, like
Taekwondo, Swimming,
Soccer and Triathlon.
M: How did you get
into Triathlon?
A: My dad pulled me
into it.
M: Could you describe
the mechanics of the sport?
A: You swim, then
bike and then run a particular distance one
after the other.
It's basically a race.
M: What are your goals
in the sport?
A: First of all, (it's)
to finish! If you are more ambitious (then it's to)
finish first!
M: Who are your sports
idols? Why?
A: Pele! Mark Allen,
Kasparov, Popov... there are so many,
ang gagaling kasi
nila.
M: What is the most
memorable sports event for you?
A: When I finished
and won a Half Iron Man last year.
2 kilometers of swimming,
90 kilometers of biking and
10 kilometers of
running!
M: What's the hardest
part about competing in sports?
A: Training. Competing
is just showing what you have achieved in
your training. It's
hard to wake up every morning to push my body.
M: Hmmm...The easiest?
The most fun?
A: Finishing is the
most gratifying experience in triathlon.
In other sports I
guess it's winning. But just finishing is good
in this sport.
M: Would you rather
compete or play for fun? Which do you
enjoy more?
A: I don't see the
two as separate entities. When I compete
I have fun. Competing
is a natural step when you engage in sport.
It does not mean
you don't have fun when you take a sport
seriously.
V. School
M: What is your current
school?
A: Pisay (Philippine
Science High School -ed.).
I got past the two
screening exams.
M: Initially did you
want to leave the Ateneo?
A: No. After 8 years
in the school, who could blame me?
M: What was your first
impression of your school now?
A: A place where I
can learn more about people and situations
in the real world.
M: Describe life as
a student in your school.
A: Ang daming requirements,
all of which I postpone until the
last moment. You
are expected to allot at least an hour a day
for studying a particular
subject...something which I have a
hard time doing.
M: Were your first
impressions right?
A: Well, yes. In the
Ateneo, we were sheltered and placed in
a glass bowl, if
you know what I mean. Now I am actually learning about my surroundings.
M: What's the hardest
part about being a PSHS scholar?
A: The problem with
Pisay is that they give so little attention to
the other stuff like
sports and arts. I think we need these.
M: The easiest? The
most fun?
A: All the people
and happenings. It's fun in the campus.
M: If given a chance
to do it all over again, would you still have
gone to PSHS, or
would you have stayed in the Ateneo?
A: I'd go here. I'd
rather be outside the bowl, you see?
Mas marami akong
matututunan dito na hindi necessarily
learned in class.
M: Subject you excel
in?
A: Ewan. Social Sciences?
Physics? Depende siguro. A subject
I take interest in
generally. When I get fascinated about a subject,
I get good grades.
M: Subject you don't
like?
A: Hmmm... Values
Education perhaps?
VI. Miscellaneous
M: If you were an
animal, What would you be?
A: Tiger!
M: If you could change
one thing about you, it would be...?
A: Corny naman kung
wala, pero wala akong maisip.
M: If you had your
way, what would your name be?
A: I'm quite happy
with Atom. I think it's cool and unique.
Pero siguro Silangan
would be a candidate. It's so Filipino.
It reminds me of
the sun.
M: What's the first
thing you do when you wake up,
and the last thing
you do before you sleep?
A: Hilamos, brush
my teeth.
M: Any words of wisdom?
A: For aspiring athletes:
That which does not kill you
makes you stronger.
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