If a person who has lost a spouse is called a widower or widow, and children who have lost their parents are called orphans, then what do we call parents who have lost a child?
In a heartfelt and emotional interview with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, GMA Network’s trivia master and television host Kuya Kim Atienza opened up about the recent and controversial passing of his daughter, Emman Atienza, a social media personality and mental health advocate.
Netizens were moved as Kuya Kim, despite visible exhaustion and grief, faced award-winning journalist Jessica Soho with calmness and quiet strength. “At that moment, I was okay,” he said, managing a faint smile even as his eyes revealed nights of tears.
Emman passed away on October 22 in Los Angeles, California, where she had been living. Her cremated remains have since been brought home to the Philippines. Jessica’s visit to the Atienza residence was shared through touching clips aired on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, showing the family’s tender remembrance of Emman.
During the interview, Kuya Kim revealed that he and his wife, Felicia Atienza, had long been aware of their daughter’s struggles.
He shared, with painful honesty, that Emman had already made “a few attempts” in the past. Despite this, he emphasized their continuous love and support for her as she battled her inner storms.
“And my prayer to the Lord every single day was for this not to happen. For Emman to be safe, for Emman to be happy, for Eman to heal. Yet this happened,” he said.
Kuya Kim also recounted the final days leading up to Emman’s passing, expressing both the heartbreak and the acceptance that came with it.
Known to many as a man of science and faith, Kuya Kim showed that even in the face of unimaginable loss, his belief in God’s greater plan remains unshaken.
“I’m good, kasi nandiyan ka, may mga bisita kami ngayon sa bahay. I’m good. Pero grief kasi comes in waves eh. Minsa biglang bumabagsak, ngayon okay ako,” ani Kuya Kim.
“Ayokong mag-isa kasi ‘pag mag-isa ako, medyo mabigat… I look at social media because I get inspired. Sabi ng mga kaibigan ko, e, ‘Huwag ka tumingin.'”
“Yung mga comments, hindi ko binabasa, pero yung mga post binabasa ko because I can see that Emman’s death has touched a lot of lives.”
“At nagugulat ako, eh. Even Americans, even people from out of the country are making comments about Emman and about how she’s touched their life,” he said.
Kuya Kim also shared the day they discovered that Emman was struggling with a problem, which stemmed from her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Emman texted her mommy. Sabi niya, ‘Mom, I’m in an emergency right now but worry not. There’s no self-harm. But I need to go to a therapy center.'”
“So iyon ang message namin. So we knew there was something wrong. We tried calling her, hindi sumasagot. And then the next day we tried calling her again, hindi na naman sumasagot. So I knew. I was in the Philippines, Fely was in Florida. Mayroon siyang pickleball championship, eh. Buti nasa America na siya when that happened, ‘no? But I was waiting here.”
“And then on the second day, I woke up in the morning, may message si Fely. ‘I have terrible, terrible news.’ I knew already. Napaluhod ako, nanlambot ang tuhod ko. Sabi ko, ‘Lord, heto na.’ So I called Fely, and Fely said, ‘Emman’s gone.'”
“Nanlambot ako, nanlamig ako. And ang nasa utak ko, ‘Lord, dasal ko sa yo ‘to araw-araw. Why?'” Kuya Kim shared.
Emman’s ashes will be open for public viewing from November 3 to 4, as family, friends, and followers gather to celebrate her life and the light she shared with others.
In a world often quick to move on, Kuya Kim’s story stands as a poignant reminder that behind every smile on screen lies a story of love, faith, and the enduring strength of a parent’s heart.
