Atom Araullo, Sol Aragones, and Anthony Taberna in "Kalye"

TV hosts Atom Araullo and Sol Aragones recently shared with Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online their unforgettable experiences on the ABS-CBN show, “Kalye: Mga Kuwento ng Lansangan,” which celebrates its first year anniversary today, Sept. 21.

Atom recalled the “Bakal Boys” segment that featured children who dive into the sullied waters of Baseco Bay in the hopes of finding scrap metals to sell.

“Ang dilim, wala kang makikita, tapos kailangan ka talagang maghukay. Kakapain mo lang talaga,” said he in an interview held at Proud Mary on Tomas Morato St. in Quezon City.

Although  physically challenging, Atom courageously followed suit, thinking that if the children can do it, so can he.

He added that his stint with “Kalye” teaches him that even the simplest things can be interesting.

“[We featured] yung mga gumagawa ng barbecue stick. Kapag kumakain tayo ng kwek-kwek o fishball, we take doing so for granted. Kuha ka lang ng kuha [ng stick] at kapag tapos ka nang kumain itatapon mo lang,” Atom cited.

“Until I learned in ‘Kalye’ that it takes about a week to make bundle of barbecue sticks that costs just about 10 pesos.”   

The show, however, does not limit itself to the intrepid presentation of the harsh realities of life.

“May balance pa rin ng heritage. [We once did an episode] of Hidalgo-- ngayon faded na yung beauty niya pero andiyan pa rin at naging haven [pa] for photographers,” said Atom.

Sol Araganos, on the other hand, considers  the “Black Nazarene” segment as her most memorable.

“Nasaktan kami nun.  Tatapakan ka, ibabalibag ka. Wala silang [the devotees] pakialam kahit babae ka,” said she of her experience during the recent Black Nazarene feast in Quiapo.

Atom said that as journalists, they are responsible not only for what they show on “Kalye” but on how they present these to the viewers.

“Binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na maikuwento sa iba ang istorya ng mga taong ito [featured subjects]  kaya hindi puwedeng papetiks-petiks lang. Kasi at the very minimum, nagtiwala sila sa’yo. Yung oras na dapat nagtatrabaho sila, pumayag silang ilaan para sa interview. Sakripisyo yun,” said Atom.

 Sol, meanwhile, wants viewers to be inspired by the stories on “Kalye.”

“May tendency tayong magreklamo sa buhay natin pero kapag nakita na natin ang kuwento nila, maiisip natin, ‘Buti pa ako,’” said she.

Atom attributes the success of “Kalye” to the maxim, “truth is stranger than fiction.”

 “Hindi ka na kailangang mag-imbento ng nakakagimbal para ma-attract yung audience mo. Tumingin ka lang sa paligid at nandun ang kuwento,” said he.

Sol added: “Kailangan naming ipakita ang realidad ng buhay kaya nga kung mapapansin niyo sa ‘Kalye,’ simple lang ang mga kuwento namin at hindi ganoon kalalim.

“Pero itong mga maliliit na kuwentong ‘to, malaki pala kapag nakita mo yung loob.”

"Kalye: Mga Kuwento ng Lansangan,” also hosted by Anthony Taberna, airs its first year anniversary special on ABS-CBN tonight.