Kim Atienza described his 59th birthday as his “toughest birthday,” as it was the first time he marked the occasion without his late daughter Emman Atienza.
Earlier this week, the veteran TV host was given a simple celebration by his fellow hosts on the variety show that he hosts. During the on-air moment, Kim was presented with a cake and asked to make a wish before blowing out the candle.
“Marami akong mga wish... Sana magpatuloy ang blessings natin. Pang-apat na taon na natin and may we go on strong,” Kim said, as he shared his first wish with his fellow hosts.
He then spoke about a more personal wish, one that reflected the weight of the day for him as a father.
“Then my personal wish for myself naman… This is the toughest birthday in my life because it’s the first birthday na wala ‘yung anak ko, wala si Emman,” he said.
Despite the pain, Kim expressed hope that his daughter’s memory would continue to live on through positivity and kindness.
“But I’d like for the memory of Emman to continue with kindness, good vibes. May people celebrate her life, and may my birthday be the start of this,” he added.
In a separate Instagram post shared on January 24 during his birthday, Kim reflected on his life, from growing up and building a family to facing the loss of his youngest child. Along with the carousel of photos were his childhood and teenage photos, moments with his family, and Emman’s wake.
“It's been a bittersweet 59 years dear Lord. Maraming Salamat sa lahat. Thank you for loving me and my family! You are a good good God,” he wrote.
The birthday reflection came just weeks after Kim also marked their first Christmas and New Year’s celebration without Emman. On December 24, he shared a throwback photo taken during Christmas Eve 2024, remembering the final time their family was complete with Emman physically present.
“This was the last photo of all of us together last Christmas eve. How we miss you dearest Emmansky. Thank you Jesus for being born to us amidst suffering and the grief. Thank you for the 19 years of Emman. We always trust your plan. Thank you to all our friends for being with us at our darkest moment.” he wrote in the post.
His wife, Felicia, also shared a family photo on January 1 showing how much they miss their youngest daughter.
“Welcome 2026. May we all be held in His grace. 🤍🤍🤍 #emmanatienza,” Felicia wrote.
Emman passed away last October 22 at the age of 19.
Since her passing, the Atienza family has continued to call for kindness, compassion, and courage, encouraging others to carry forward the values that Emman held close during her life.