MANILA -- Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo is set to make his movie debut, playing the title role in "Citizen Jake," the new film of multi-awarded director Mike de Leon, whose previous works include the critically acclaimed films "Kisapmata," "Batch '81" and "Sister Stella L."

"The central character is a person my age, more or less, and he is either part-time journalist or a full-time journalist but it's not clear yet. Actually I don't know what I can reveal lalo na at wala pang sigurado at sinusulat pa lang 'yung script," the 34-year-old Araullo told ABS-CBN News in an interview on Tuesday.

Araullo, one of the hosts of "Umagang Kay Ganda," admitted that he was surprised when De Leon approached him for the project.

"Siyempre nakakagulat kasi hindi naman talaga ako professional actor but dahil si Mike de Leon 'yon at kilala ko siya at alam ko ang dati niyang pelikula -- I am also a fan -- I agreed to a meeting and then they explained what was the project all about," he said.

"It's a risk. It's something I haven't done before but I don't think it's an opportunity I can let go of or I can reject because it's a once and a lifetime thing," added Araullo, who revealed that he is also helping de Leon in writing the script.

Araullo, who was part of the children's show "5 and Up," noted that acting is not new to him, pointing out that he has done projects before when he was younger.

At the same time, Araullo, who took up Applied Physics at the University of the Philippines, stressed that he has no plans to take up acting full time.

"That's not my job, that's not really my profession," he said.

"But sabi nga nila -- and I hope they are right -- acting daw is like learning how to swim. Once you learn, you don't forget but you have to kind of practice again."