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.

Atienza to Lim: My Son Is Not A Drug Addict, Yours Was

Mayoralty candidate Alfredo Lim was cornered at the Polo Club Mayoral debate hosted by the Rotary Club of Manila last April 22, 2010. Various social issues were tackled by the competing candidates during the debate. When the drug problem of Manila was tackled, Lim outlined his strong campaign to prevent the rampant drug trade and use in the city; stating that he incessantly ceased the existence of drugs in Manila during his reign as the city's Mayor. Lito Atienza, Lim's opponent for the election, was unconvinced of Lim's statements following the arrest of Lim's son for 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. Lim, current Manila mayor, did admit that his son was caught by the PDEA, but claimed that he did not lift a finger to help 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. The young Atienza who was in the audience called Lim a liar, as it was impossible for a former athlete like him, who competed in international games, to be a drug addict.

Lim, embarrassed with his allegations, pointed the blame to former vice mayor Lacuna, claiming that Lacuna was the one who said the gossip. Ali in defense of himself outlined to Lim his clean track record.Lim, at that moment, humiliatingly yield to the fumes of the young Atienza, as the moderators of the debate took control of the situation. 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. He might have dug his grave for he forgot that the audience was a 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 discouraging to see candidates speaking ill about their competitors. 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. 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. The young Atienza also pointed out that it was really impossible for an athlete to compete if he has been found using illicit drugs, making Lim's accusations a look more like fabricated story. He also added that he will push the charges even after the election.

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, it should be realized that as public leaders, this practice clearly sends out the message to the voters that what candidates are capable of doing just to be in the position. 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.

The son of mayoralty candidate Lito Atienza is planning to press charges against his father's opponent Alfredo Lim after the current Manila mayor accused him of being a drug addict. The incident took place during the Mayoralty Debate last April 22, 2010 at the Manila Polo Club. Lim dropped the allegations when the topic of drug abuse was tackled. The young Atienza insisted that he would continue the charges even after election 2010 has ended.

Vote Lito Atienza: What He Plans To Do If He Wins

Former Manila mayor Lito Atienza is hoping for another three-year mandate as city mayor of the nation's capital in a courageous effort to continue 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 has plans to continue pushing for the improvement and effective delivery of basic social services to the residents of the city.Moreover, Atienza will continue his programs against poverty and has vowed to pour in 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 penciled a number of programs and priority projects, all of which are designed to meet 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 lives of the city's poorest residents, Atienza will launch 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 reinvigorated, 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 avail during Atienza's term 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 allow hospitals to purchase new 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 provided 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 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.

Former Manila mayor Lito Atienza is seeking another three year mandate to continue his commitment in uplifting the lives of the city's impoverished residents. If Manila residents Vote Lito Atienza, he will continue improve the local government's delivery of basic services and creating livelihood and employment opportunities which he views as the solutions to the poverty incidence in the city. Atienza has vowed to continue his beautification projects just like what he did in he now infamous baywalk.

Lito Atienza For Manila Mayor - Making Prolife A Centerstage

In the forthcoming Manila elections, a nominee with supreme pro life advocacy has indicated his desire to lead Manila to a new beginning. Lito Atienza for Manila mayor is a slogan which represents a proper chapter to the vast history of Manila. His base in Philippine politics is a soaring one, and this he shares with his family background. In the upcoming Manila elections, it would be hard to go against this man.

Lito Atienza is a pious Roman Catholic, who's also President of Pro-Life Philippines. Collectively with his spouse, this candidate for the Manila elections acquired international prominence in Rome as an official delegate in the Pontifical Council for the Family. He was honored with a standing ovation for emphasizing that the Philippines has the highest percentage of citizenry who values life, family and the elderly. Lito Atienza for Manila mayor thinks of pro-life measures in our society.

Even on his former term of office in Philippine politics in the City of Manila, he opposed all forms of contraception or abortion or sex education programs. Lito Atienza for Manila mayor would stand for an administration that will be perfectly pro-life from top to bottom. We ought to vote for this man during the Manila elections if we oppose abortion or those who are opposed to natural conception. The state of Philippine politics would for certain need a religious drawing card who has values such as him.

To bolster the Lito Atienza for Manila mayor certification, he conceived Rachel's Support Group, a group of volunteers who suffered post abortion syndrome. This group of this astonishing nominee for the Manila elections held counseling to women contemplating abortion and aimed at discouraging them from doing so. Because of his drives in Philipine politics, thousands of women represented given the right perspective and thousands of babies were saved. These are merely few of the grounds why Lito Atienza for Manila mayor should be a battle cry.

Lito Atienza for sure belongs to the old guard of Philippine politics. But he belongs to the good side of this vein of the political population. He has a secure educational scope, with kin who are responsible public servants like himself. Aside from this, he has the core values of pro-life precepts which makes him a morally good potential mayor.

Come ballot day, these achievements of Lito Atienza are placed at the forefront of our consciousness. We have a potential mayor who is pro-life, who is socially conscious, and who is helpful. We have a potential mayor who grew up in the city, and whose most expansive aspiration is to make it great. If you are a member of the electorate of the City of Manila, the most logical thing is to go for this man.

Lito Atienza for Manila Mayor - this is a slogan that is apt for what the city of Manila needs nowadays. The Manila elections are coming and the carnival has started again. Philippine politics will have its share of reliable ones while also giving its population of looney and wrong choices. Lito Atienza belongs to the latter and there is no further proof of this other than his pro life advocacy.

-Joel Dumayog

Lito Atienza 2010: A True Statesman

The Manila Elections has turned into a more interesting and intriguing one as a lot of political heavyweights have thrown their hats into the battle of becoming the all powerful Mayor of Manila.Among these political heavyweights who joined the mayoralty race for the city is former Mayor of Manila and DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and his Lito Atienza 2010 platform. Under his banner Lito Atienza 2010, the former Mayor of Manila is starting for a comeback bid at the mayoralty seat after serving a full term as City Mayor and a brief stint as DENR secretary.

The former Mayor of Manila who owns the record as the only mayor who has served a full term, is one of the most revered leaders in the city's rich political history. Atienza has years of experience in public service, political will, wisdom, leadership stature and proven and unblemished track record which makes him one of the expected frontrunners in this coming Manila Elections. His resume consists of volumes of achievements and countless completed projects that have benefited the city residents particularly those who are impoverished.His political career spanning for more than four decades now is a clear indication on how the former Mayor of Manila has lived his life as a statesman, serving selflessly for the people.

Atienza's early political career started in 1968 as the leader of Democratic Youth Movement, (DEYMO) wherein he became one of those who survived the infamous Plaza Miranda bombing during the Liberal Party's political rally in 1971. Since then, the former Mayor of Manila had been a staunch critic of the Marcos administration. When the country was under the Martial Law, Atienza was put under arrest for his role as the leader of Metro Manila Jeepney Drivers Organization, which was the first ever organization of Jeepney Drivers.Atienza fought against and exposed several cases of human abuse of the Marcos regime including the proposed abolition of jeepneys plying the avenues of Metro Manila as part of Imelda Marcos' beautification drive.

Despite voicing out his dissatisfaction with the Marcos administration, Atienza held the position as Barangay Captain for ten years after serving as a tanod before which enabled him to hear the voices of ordinary people more. The former Mayor of Manila later worked at the Information Office of Manila City Hall under former mayor Ramon Bagatsing and later resigned due to conflict of principles and his work.Atienza would later decide on embarking on a bold journey as he seek a Parliamentary seat despite having no financial support at all.Instead, Atienza relied on his principles and support from his family and friends which were enough to win him a seat in the Parliament at that time.

His tenure as a Parliamentary member of the Batasang Pambansa started in 1984, representing the then vast Congressional District of Manila which include the districts of Paco, Pandacan, San Andres Bukid, Sta. Ana, Santa Mesa.He was known as an ally of Sen. Ninoy Aquino and one of the opposition stalwarts who convinced Cory Aquino to run for president. After Marcos was repulsed during the People Power Revolution of 1986, the former Mayor of Manila agreed to lead the National Housing Authority where he promoted affordable housing for teachers and policemen.After a brief career at the NHA as General Manger, Atienza opted to join the 1988 mayoralty race of Manila where he lost to his then rival Mel Lopez who was supported by President Aquino.Despite losing, his spirit and will to serve was never conquered as he would later run and win as Vice-Mayor in 1992 and 1995.

In 1998 Manila Elections, Atienza finally won mayoralty seat and placed his name in history as the only Vice Mayor who got elected as city mayor As the Mayor of Manila. Atienza was renowned for expressing his strong opposition in the reclamation of the city's part of Roxas Boulevard/Manila Bay. The former Mayor of Manila was also able to change and has given a face-lift to much of entire city's former tourist attractions along with the lives and welfare of the city folks.Atienza also spearheaded major projects which were aimed to benefit the poor, the older citizens, women and children.

After serving full term as Manila Mayor, Atienza was appointed as the DENR secretary under President Arroyo.As DENR secretary, Atienza started substantial effort to execute the ill- executed Clean Air Act.Atienza also paid attention on giving a new life to the country's rivers and lakes, partnering with several environment groups including the Laguna Lake Development Authority and ABS-CBN Bantay Kalikasan. He has also gone after illegal logging operations in the countryside and has also ordered the closures of open dumpsites as part of his drive in protecting our country's natural resources.

Former Mayor of Manila Lito Atienza's unblemished political stint and achievements are clear testaments to his passion in being a public servant and being a true statesman. Atienza deserves to win the Manila Elections anew due to his outstanding achievements as a public servant and his vast experience and knowledge on being a true statesman who works for the greater good of people. Under his banner Lito Atienza 2010, Atienza hopes to continue his work for Manila's folks.

-Joel Dumayog

Lito Atienza - Best Of Ignored Children

Lito Atienza is presently a part of the number of candidates who will take part in the elections for Manila mayor. These Manila elections, yet once again, would be a proof of the aptitude of the discernment of the electorate to pick a candidate who is worthy of the demanding needs of the colorful city. In terms of qualifications, maybe there is no one else who conforms to the post more other than Lito Atienza. And among those who will vie for mayor in the Manila elections, no one probably has helped more.

In 1992, just as a Vice-Mayor, Lito Atienza constituted with his wife Beng the "Home for the Angels," a child care center for abandoned and abused infants. He created this out of his absolute belief that nobody should feel unwanted. He also acknowledges that some conditions might forcefully break up a parent from his child and this is why he created this shelter for them. The center provides nourishment and all the love which these children could ever need.

This center is the epitome of the good heart of Lito Atienza. This is what electors should be cognizant of during the Manila elections. To a certain sense, we are all youngsters of the city, needing somebody like Lito Atienza to conduct us in a city in which himself saw burnt to ashes and which he wants to see rise again to elusive prominence. Such efforts should not be blanked out and should be at the centerpiece during the elections for Manila Mayor.

It would be virtuously good if voters during the elections for Manila mayor would pick someone who was vocally against abortion. The stance of Lito Atienza as one of the fathers of Home for the Angels has consistently been that abortion is the ultimate child abuse and must be stopped at all costs. The Home of the Angels is a center entailed to be action oriented and attends to as the back up resolution to anti-life challenges. It is a concrete symbol and source of hope at the same time for many people.

During these Manila elections, let us not forget that the Home for the Angels has been a logical crisis home for abortion survivors and has helped many neglected, abused and exploited infants ever since it was founded fourteen years ago. It has helped many victims and potential victims have a new set of lives and all of these is due to the kind heart of Lito Atienza. The elections for Manila mayor would certainly be a half-baked race if it did not include an option such as him. The post of Manila mayor is a position of action conjugated with great hopes.

A total of 301 babies were serviced and accommodated for case management and crisis intervention from year 1996 to the present and a total of 4,371 men, women and teenagers were helped and touched on through crisis intervention by phone and walk-in referrals from 2006 to the present in the center. A total of 356 students and private individuals were served well and supplied with Respect for Life Orientation while a total of 314 children ages 0-6 years old for Early childhood care and Development were served in alternative Day Care services through the Learn and Play Outreach Program. These are deeds of a man who certainly deserve to win in the Manila elections. In the elections for Manila Mayor, these are deeds of a man that had better be up there when we apply our discernment.

These elections for Manila mayor should be a culmination in the life and career of service of one man. This great man is Lito Atienza. When he set up his center, The Home For The Angels, he had a vision to help all abandoned and neglected children. During these Manila elections, we can actually give him a chance to expand more his vision that no person should be deprived of shelter, sustenance, caring and of love.

-Joel Dumayog