Mayor Lito Atienza: We Support You - INC

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: The Most Accomplished City Mayor Of Manila

Actions echoes louder 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 true to his words and fulfilling his promise of providing his beloved Manilenos with a city that they can truly call their own and which they will care for, Lito Atienza has done more things than any of his immediate predecessors.

One of the most accomplished mayors in Manila's rich political history Lito Atienza's mayoralty stint is highlighted by numerous completed projects and other countless achievements no other city mayor of Manila was able to achieve.No one needs to go the distance in grading 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 best described by the dramatic 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 real statesman and public servant serving selflessly for the good of many, Atienza provided almost everything what was needed by many of his impoverished city folks. It was also under his leadership that the city's delivery of social services was at its best. Atienza launched pro-poor programs and priority projects which have benefited and improved the lives of thousands of impoverished Manilenos. He was able to address almost all the social needs of his people through the creation of programs for housing, healthcare, peace and order, education, sports, arts and culture, nature and environment and welfare of senior citizens.

Atienza was able to create livelihood programs and employment opportunities for the unemployed by injecting life into the city's economy.He launched training programs and vocational courses 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 launched affordable housing and land acquisition projects for the homeless, which were able to benefit many of the city's poor residents and even the middle class.

The city's healthcare services and public hospitals were also enhanced under his leadership.Atienza provided additional funds to 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 was able to bring 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 also provided free access to education and school supplies to 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 provided with greater benefits under 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 outstanding 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.

The most eligible person to vote for mayor in this coming Manila election, Lito Atienza is one of the most accomplished mayors in Manila's rich political history. The Atienza administration is characterized by the dramatic improvements 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

Alfredo Lim Lose His Cool, Accused The Son of Lito Atienza As Drug User

The Rotary Club of Manila held a Polo Club Mayoral Debate last April 22, 2010, participated by mayoralty candidates Lim and Atienza. The debate paved way for the candidates to tackle various social issues that concerns the city of Manila. 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.

It could be recalled that the son of Lim, Manuel Lim was apprehended in 2008 for selling illicit drugs, a nonbailable offense that also carries life imprisonment. Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, admitted that his son was busted by the PDEA in 2008, but denied helping his son. As Lim was placed in the hot seat, he strained the topic by accusing the son of Atienza, Ali Atienza, a national athlete and a gold medalist of the taekwondo Asian games, of being a drug addict himself. Ali Atienza, who was in the audience, said to Lim that his accusations was impossible considering that he was an international athlete who complied with the strict drug testing procedures prior to competing in the taekwondo arena.

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 defended himself by bespeaking to Lim about his accolades as an athlete.The mayor, humiliated by his actions, spoke no further as the moderators of the program appeased both parties. Amidst the heated situation, Lito Atienza managed to stay calm and shrug off the issue, and continued with 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. Lim usually gets away with his mediocre style of campaigning when he is facing customary crowd of tricycle drivers, vendors and the likes, but he must consider that he was facing professionals. It is just sad to see how a low and unintelligent debate like this can go. Considering that these candidates are educated, people were expecting an intellectual discussion from them to prove their capabilities to lead.

Ali Atienza will not easily let go of Lim's allegations, stating that he would be filing a libel case against the mayor. The son of Lito Atienza noted that it pained him, as a former athlete, to be accused of being a drug addict. Ali Atienza also said during the interview that Lim's allegations against him were impossible, as he have been compliant with the strict drug testing procedures imposed for competing athletes. 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. This practice has been around for ages, and has since served as a means to drag their competitors down. 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. For the record, the public is now tired of drama, what is important is to walk the talk, and not just to talk and talk.

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

Vote Lito Atienza: Why Should He Win Another Term

Former Manila mayor Lito Atienza is looking for another three-year mandate as city mayor of the nation's capital as part of his efforts in continuing his commitment in serving his beloved city and the Manilenos.Atienza, one of the most loved leaders of the city vows to continue his flagship programs and priority projects which he was able to successfully launch during his tenure. If all things turn out well and if the majority of the Manilenos are wise enough to Vote Lito Atienza, the former mayor will continue to push for the improvement and efficient delivery of basic social services to the residents of the city. Moreover, Atienza plans on continuing his crusade against poverty and has promised to invest 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 give him another three-year mandate, Atienza will launch his platform dubbed as "Buhayin Nating Muli Ang Maynila" which is centered on continuing 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 plans to continue his programs for livelihood and effective delivery of basic social services which has been beneficial 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 hopes to bring in investors into the city by improving the city's infrastructure and peace and order situation. In this way, economic activity in the city will be put back into life, which can result into job creation for the city's unemployed residents. Livelihood programs and skills trainings will also be continued to serve the city's unemployed and out of school youth to provide them with a decent livelihood and source of income. Moreover, Atienza will also create employment opportunities for the city's senior citizens who would still want to work.

Apart from creating jobs and employment opportunities, Atienza plans to continue addressing the needs of the residents by including almost all social aspects in his platform. Atienza will be launching and continuing programs and projects that will cover 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 enjoy during Atienza's tenure will be continued and sustained for good.

If granted another three-year term as city mayor, Atienza hopes to continue providing 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 improving the city's healthcare services, Atienza plans to provide more financial resources to the city's public hospitals and health centers.This will enable hospitals to acquire new medical equipment and medicines to be able to provide the Manilenos with quality healthcare and free medicines. Healthcare services will also be delivered to every barangay via the "Sama sa Masa", a major project of Atienza where in doctors conduct free medicines and checkups to every barangay of the city. Atienza also plans 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 further improved.Livelihood programs and skills trainings like vocational courses will also be presented to Manila's unemployed and out of school youth.

Atienza plans on extending support to 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 plans to continue transforming and beautifying 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