Kim Atienza on being more empathetic to others: 'Little kindness can actually save lives'
Kim Atienza reflected on how he has become more empathetic to others' struggles, inspired by the passion of his late daughter, Emman.
Speaking with Dani Barretto on The Bare It All podcast, the TV personality looked back on meeting kids during Emman’s wake whom she had helped through their mental health struggles.
"I found out after she passed, she was reaching out to kids, despite the fact that she was ill," he shared. "Dini-DM niya 'yung mga bata na humihingi ng tulong. I met a lot of them during the wake and nagulat ako, naging malalim ang relationship nila with Emman, because she was listening to them."
Inspired to continue Emman’s purpose of helping others, Kim previously went viral after replying to a Threads user who hinted that he was struggling and invitied the individual to watch his noontime show live.
“There was a kid who said ‘Mama, Papa, pagod na ko. Ayaw ko na.’ I’m very sensitive to these posts eh. Pwedeng pagod lang siya physically, pero posibleng pagod din siya sa buhay. So all I said was, ’I’ll see you later. Would you like to watch TiktoClock?’” he shared.
“I figured [he] was depressed tonight, if he sees my post, Wednesday pa ’yon, I have a few days. I was told by my psychologist that whenever a person is suicidal, you don’t have to give therapy. I don’t have to lecture [him] about the value of life. I just have to snap [him] out of that night. And then when [he] wakes up in the morning, it’s a reset until the next trigger,” he continued.
“I figured if I invited this person to TiktoClock, [he] has something to look forward to, and then reset. And then he came, he watched the show. He brought his mom, and then I was able to refer him to a psychologist,” he added.
He then reflected on how his brief comment was able to create a ripple effect, encouraging others to express their empathy as well.
"It's Emman's purpose, and I think it's a privilege for me to be able to continue what she started, what she's passionate about," Kim said. "...which goes to show that a little kindness goes a long way."
Kim went on to say that his love for Emman grew stronger over time, that it made him become more empathetic, more attentive, and more sensitive to people’s needs. “That’s what happened to me,” he added.
"I can see that people are struggling and I understand their struggle, and I understand the harm that it can do, and how little kindness can actually save lives," he added.
Emman passed away in her home in Los Angeles, California, in October 2025. She became known online for her content and for candidly speaking about her experiences with anxiety and cyberbullying to help promote mental health awareness.
Kim recently earned his certification as a mental wellness facilitator.
