Lito Atienza Is Thankful For All The Endosement

Various religious groups, including the influential Iglesia ni Cristo have endorsed the candidacy of comebacking Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

Apart from INC, Atienza is also being supported by Brother Mike Velarde of El Shaddai, Ustadz Ahmad Barcelom of the Manila Muslim community, Parish Councils of Manila as well as the majority of the city’s barangay chairmen, barangay councilors and watchmen and the pro-poor organization People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP).

It is widely known that the Iglesia ni Cristo has a huge following in the city. With the endorsement of the group, Atienza gains another 5 percent solid votes.

Based on the survey conducted last April 29, Atienza gained a 7 percentage lead against his toughest rival, incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim. With the INC votes, it can now be considered that Atienza is 12 percent leading against his opponent.

Meanwhile, El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde earlier said Manila needs a pro-life mayor.

“Lito Atienza is not only pro-life, but also pro-good government,” he added.

According to Msgr. Mel David, one of Atienza’s spiritual advisers, he knows the former Environment secretary too well. “He has a good heart and he is very sincere in wanting to uplift the lives of Manilans. He is pro-God and represents good governance.”

On the other hand, PMAP president Ronald Lumbao said he endorsed the candidacy of Atienza because apart from being a God-fearing person, he believes that the former Environment secretary has a genuine concern to help and improve the plight of the poor.

“His programs answer the needs of the poor community of Manila. He’s very much unlike the incumbent mayor who doesn’t care about the less fortunate,” Lumbao said.

The Muslim community also back Atienza’s candidacy, saying he maintains friendship and communication with them despite the difference in belief and religion.

Meanwhile, 650 out of the 897 barangay chairmen, and most of the barangay kagawads and tanods said that they witnessed how the former and present mayor managed the city. They claimed that they were able to prove that Atienza is the one who has a genuine heart to help the people, especially the poor.

Atienza said he is grateful for all the endorsements. He thanked all those who believe in him and his programs and vowed to do his best to improve the quality of life of the Manilans by creating jobs and provide livelihood and other opportunities for all.

Lito Atienza And What He Has Done

Actions are more important than words.In the case of former Manila mayor Lito Atienza he had both. One of the most revered leaders of the nation’s capital, the former mayor was able to back up his strong words with actions. Staying committed to his words and fulfilling his promise of giving his beloved Manilenos with a city that they can truly call their own and which they will care for, Lito Atienza has accomplished more things than any of his immediate predecessors.

One of the most accomplished mayors in Manila’s rich political history, Lito Atienza’s profile as city mayor is decorated with numerous completed projects and other countless achievements no other city mayor of Manila has accomplished. No one has to go that far in evaluating Atienza’s performance as the city mayor of Manila for an unprecedented three consecutive three-year term, we just have to look back at how Manila looked and
the living of conditions its residents were three years ago. The Atienza administration is characterized by the radical transformation in the city’s economy, tourism, peace and order and education. Moreover, it was during Atienza’s leadership when thousands of poor families were uplifted from poverty and enjoyed improved living conditions.

Being a true statesman and public servant serving selflessly for the good of many, Atienza was able to deliver what was needed by many of his impoverished city folks.It was during his mayoralty stint that the city’s delivery of social services was at its best.Atienza outlined pro-poor programs and priority projects which have benefited and enhanced the lives of thousands of impoverished Manilenos.He addressed almost all the social needs of his people and has created programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, arts and culture, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens.

Atienza provided livelihood programs and employment opportunities for the unemployed by reviving the city’s economy. He created training programs and vocational courses intended for the out of school youth and unemployed to provide them with a decent livelihood and a stable source of income. Atienza together with other non-government organizations have provided affordable housing and land acquisition programs for the homeless, which have benefited a lot of the city’s poor residents and even the middle class.

The city’s healthcare services and public hospitals were also improved during his term. Atienza enriched the coffers of the city’s public hospitals and health centers which allowed them to purchase new medical equipment and medicines for enhanced healthcare services and to be able to provide free medicines to the city’s impoverished residents. Atienza has provided free medical services and medicines to far-flung areas and barangays.

Manila during the Atienza administration has experienced the best peace and order situation in many years.In support of Manila’s budding athletes and promising talents, Atienza created sports-culminating activities and provided free training and development programs to harness their skills and talents. In addition, Atienza has launched programs for the free access to education and school supplies of Manila’s public school students. Manila’s colleges and universities were also enhanced during his term, as part of his efforts in providing quality and affordable college education to Manilenos. Furthermore, the city’s senior residents were also able to enjoy greater benefits from the former mayor’s program for the senior citizens which included special services, big discounts and other freebies.

The former environment secretary also fought for the relocation of the oil depot in Pandacan which he believes is a serious environmental and safety threat. Manila
was also able to enjoy a major facelift as Atienza pushed forward for the beautification and enhancement of the city’s old and deteriorating parks and other tourist attractions. One of the most notable projects of the former mayor is the improvement of the city’s bay area commonly known as the “Baywalk”, which has allowed city residents, as well as local and foreign tourists to enjoy alfresco dining and listening to fine music while watching the world-renowned Manila Bay sunset.

Atienza’s unsurpassed accomplishments during his term make as the most eligible person to vote for mayor in this coming Manila elections. If he secures another three-year term in this coming Manila elections, Manila along with its residents are set to enjoy another three glorious years under the leadership of Lito Atienza.

Lito Atienza is the best person to vote for mayor in this coming Manila election. Atienza is one of the most accomplished mayors in Manila’s rich political history and has done more things than any of his predecessors. The Atienza administration is best described by the dramatic transformation in the city’s economy, tourism, peace and order and education. He succeeded in addressing almost all the social needs of his people by creating programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, arts and culture, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens.

-Jimmy Reyes

Vote Lito Atienza: These Are The Things He Will Do If He Wins

Former Manila mayor Lito Atienza is seeking another three-year mandate as city mayor of the nation’s capital in a bold attempt to continue his commitment in serving his beloved city and the Manilenos. Atienza, one of the most admired leaders of the city plans to continue his flagship programs and priority projects which he was able to successfully launch during his term.If all things turn out well and if the majority of the Manilenos are wise enough to Vote Lito Atienza, the former mayor has plans to continue pushing for the improvement and effective delivery of basic social services to the residents of the city.Moreover, Atienza has vowed to continue his fight against poverty and has promised to concentrate all of his efforts in uplifting and developing the lives of the city’s impoverished residents.

If Manila residents would Vote Lito Atienza and would grant him another three-year term,
Atienza plans to launch his platform dubbed as “Buhayin Nating Muli Ang Maynila” which is centered on sustaining what he has started during his tenure. In light of this, Atienza has outlined several programs and priority projects, all of which are dedicated for addressing all the basic social needs of the city and its residents. Atienza will continue his livelihood programs and efficient delivery of basic social services which has been very helpful to many of the city’s impoverished residents during his tenure as city mayor.

To achieve his goal of uplifting the living conditions of the city’s poorest residents, Atienza will be launching programs that would stimulate the city’s once-vibrant economy.Atienza will try to lure in investors into the city by upgrading the city’s infrastructure and peace and order situation. In this way, economic activity in the city will be revived, which can result into job generation for the city’s unemployed residents. Livelihood
programs and skills trainings will also be provided to the city’s unemployed and out of school youth to provide them with a decent livelihood and source of income.Moreover, Atienza will also provide employment opportunities for the city’s senior citizens who would still want to be employed.

Apart from providing jobs and employment opportunities, Atienza has also vowed to continue addressing the needs of the residents by including almost all social aspects in his platform. Atienza will launch and continue programs and projects that will include a wide array of social areas including programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, culture and arts, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens. If the Manilenos will Vote Lito Atienza, the benefits and the services they were able to avail during Atienza’s term will be continued and sustained for good.

If given another three-year term as city mayor, Atienza plans to create more affordable housing programs and land acquisition programs both for the homeless impoverished residents and even to the middle class. As part of his efforts in upgrading the city’s healthcare services, Atienza has vowed to enrich the coffers of the city’s public hospitals and health centers. This will allow hospitals to acquire modern medical equipment and medicines to be able to provide the Manilenos with quality healthcare and free medicines.Healthcare services will be delivered to every barangay via the “Sama sa Masa”, a priority project of Atienza where in doctors conduct free medicines and checkups to every barangay of the city. Atienza has also vowed to continue providing free education and school supplies to the city’s public school students.In addition, as part of his efforts in providing quality and affordable college education, Manila’s colleges and universities will also be enhanced.
Livelihood programs and skills trainings like vocational courses will also be presented to Manila’s unemployed and out of school youth.

Atienza will also continue to support Manila’s budding athletes and talents through the promotion of sports-culminating activities and free training and development programs. The city’s peace and order situation will also be enhanced and perpetrators of crime and big time drug or crime syndicates will be put into justice. As a former environment czar, Atienza plans to continue pushing for the relocation of the oil depot in Pandacan, which he deem as a serious environmental and safety threat to the people residing in the area. Furthermore, Atienza will continue his beautification projects to put Manila back into the tourists’ maps and top destinations in the country. Furthermore, Atienza will push forward his beautification projects to put Manila back into the tourists’ maps and top destinations in the country. Atienza has
promised to enhance and beautify the city’s old and deteriorating parks and tourist attractions, just like what he did in Manila’s bay area or commonly known as the baywalk.

If Manila residents Vote Lito Atienza, the former Manila mayor plans to continue his dedication and commitment in uplifting the lives of the city’s residents. Atienza’s platform is centered on improving local government’s delivery of basic services and creating livelihood and employment opportunities as a way of addressing the poverty incidence in the city. Atienza also plans to continue his beautification projects just like what he did in he now infamous baywalk.

-Francis Go

Lito Atienza and Alfredo Lim Debate: What Went Wrong?

The Rotary Club of Manila held a Polo Club Mayoral Debate last April 22, 2010, participated by mayoralty candidates Lim and Atienza. Various social issues were tackled by the competing candidates during the debate. When the discussion went to the issue of drugs, Lim noted his accomplishments against drug trade and use during his tenure as the city mayor. Yet, his opponent Lito Atienza was in doubt of Lim’s statements due to the involvement of the mayor’s son in selling drugs.

In 2008, the authorities apprehended Lim’s son, Manuel Lim for selling illegal drugs, an offense that is nonbailable an carries with it life imprisonment. Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, admitted that his son was busted by the PDEA in 2008, but denied helping his son. Lim, feeling cornered in the discussion, showed resistance to the topic by accusing the son
of his opponent, Ali Atienza, a drug addict. Ali Atienza who was in the audience cried foul and called Lim a liar, saying that how can a national athlete, who competes in international games with strict drug testing procedures, be a drug addict?

Turning red with embarrassment, Alfredo Lim who had no proof about his accusation, tried to cover his statement by pointing to former Vice Mayor Lacuna as the one who stated it. Ali then went on the stage and lectured Alfredo Lim about his track record as a national athlete.Lim spoke no more about his allegations against Atienza, while the moderators of the debate take over to calm down both parties. Lito Atienza remained calm despite the events and managed to continue the debate.

Manila mayor Alfredo Lim tried his best to redeem himself from the humiliating accusation he dropped; however, the program ended with antagonism in the air. As hard as he might have tried though, Lim have already left an
impression toward the thinking crowd of professional Rotarians. Usually Alfredo Lim can get away with lies when he is facing the city’s customary street crowd of vendors, tricycle drivers and the likes; appearing in Tondo one and two with his usual mediocre style of campaigning. It is just disheartening to see how this form of unintelligent debate can take place. As professionals, people were expecting a more academic and intellectual discussions from the candidates.

Soon after, Ali Atienza brought the incident to the media saying that he would be filing a libel case against Lim. During an interview, the son of Lito Atienza said that as an athlete who has represented the Philippines in many international competitions, it was hurtful for him to be accused of being a drug addict. He also said that he worked hard to be on the top of his game, and it was really foul for a mayor to come into a ridiculous accusation against a former athlete, who before competing,
needs to comply with strict drug testing procedures. Even after the election, Atienza is decided to file charges against Lim to protect his reputation.

With election 2010 almost near, it has been a normal practice for competing candidates to speak ill against each other. These ill comments is one way for the candidates to pull down their opponents. However, those who wish to run for office must also realize that speaking ill against opponents is not the right means to win the votes of the public. This is because the public has already given up with the ongoing political drama, and prefer leaders who knows how to walk the talk over those who talks and talks.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is caught under public scrutiny after he accused the son of Lito Atienza
for being a drug addict. The incident took place during the Mayoralty Debate arranged by the Rotary Club of Manila last April 22 2010. The allegation dropped by Lim angered Ali Atienza, and told the media after the debate that he is ready to press charges against the Mayor even after election 2010 is over. This event could seriously affect Lim’s candidacy.

-Joel Dumayog