Lito Atienza's Blog
A MASTER PLAN FOR MANILA
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A MASTER PLAN FOR MANILA
BIG DEAL by Dan Mariano, Manila Times, March 1, 2010
From the moment the issue was brought to the magistrates’ attention, it was already clear how the Supreme Court would rule on whether or not government appointees should resign once they launch their candidacies.
It would have been entirely unfair if, say, a Cabinet member were allowed to hang on to his post—with all its attendant resources and perks—while simultaneously going on the proverbial stump.
For one thing, Lito Atienza told a group of newsmen the day he announced he was quitting his Cabinet post last December, “the official in question would not be able to carry out his duties properly.”
Thereafter, Atienza immersed himself in his campaign to regain the mayoralty of the Manila—against an increasingly unpopular incumbent whom many Manileños blame for the rapid deterioration of their beloved city.
Months before the Supreme Court ruled that appointive officials who are running for elective office in May were deemed resigned Atienza had already cleared his desk and said his farewells to his coworkers at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
For a gentleman of the old school like Lito Atienza who still abides by the oft-cited, but rarely observed, principle of delicadeza, “it was the decent thing to do.”
He added: “I have to be fair to the office I occupied. I was especially mindful not to use its considerable powers in order to boost my candidacy.”
Lito Atienza, of course, was not the only Cabinet member who did not need to be shown the door by a ruling from the high tribunal no less. Gilberto Teodoro left the Department of National Defense and Bayani Fernando the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority soon after they unveiled their respective bids for elective office.
Several other members of President Arroyo’s official family, however, chose to hang on as long as they could—despite their well-known plans to run for congressional seats. Whether or not their temporizing would affect their campaign is debatable.
In Atienza’s case, however, his early anticipation of the Supreme Court ban has proved to be a real boon. Quitting his Cabinet post last year allowed Atienza to move quickly in order to consolidate his forces and win fresh supporters.
Opinion polls in December showed Atienza lagging behind incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim and even ex-police chief Avelino Razon. By February, however, surveys showed Atienza erecting a strong lead, causing his rivals to resort to all manner of gimmickry and strong-arm tactics.
Recently, for instance, the ex-DENR chief’s sportsman-son, Ali Atienza, denounced what he described as Lim’s roving band of “goons” who have been illegally tearing down campaign materials displayed in the private homes of Atienza supporters.
Displaying campaign materials within the confines of private residences is allowed by law, but the goons the younger Atienza referred to were reported to have harassed several homeowners in the districts of Tondo and Quiapo—with total impunity.
Complaints to city police were reportedly met with blank stares from the officers—which indicates either their ignorance of Republic Act No. 9006, otherwise known as the “Fair Election Practices Act,” or their partisanship for Lim, himself a former cop.
Ali Atienza, who is the campaign manager of his father’s Buhayin ang Maynila ticket, assured the harassment victims that volunteer human rights lawyers were preparing appropriate charges against the “goons” who were seen using vehicles with government license plates.
Widespread disenchantment with the incumbent city administration has caused the ranks of Atienza’s camp to swell beyond his loyal following of longtime Liberal Party comrades and ward leaders in all of Manila’s six districts.
For instance, organizers of a fundraising dinner last February 19 at Century Park Hotel restaurant had reserved 100 tables. But the gathering soon developed into a standing-room only affair—causing one observer to describe it as a “howling success.”
The dinner was attended by leaders of street-vendor groups and associations of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as representatives of Big Business. From all walks of life they came for Atienza.
The campaign donations raised that evening, Buhayin ang Maynila officials said, were duly documented for the purposes of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
The actual donations and pledges were a big boost to Atienza’s war chest, said one coalition insider. The campaign donors’ enthusiasm was fueled by the come-backing mayor’s presentation of his platform, including a plan to revitalize the Baywalk project, which Lim had ordered dismantled in 2007.
Atienza also gave a general overview of his plans for the controversial oil depot in Pandacan, which he had ordered shut down while he was still mayor—an order that was quickly reversed by Lim as soon as he took office three years ago.
Atienza pointed out that the 36-hectare depot in the middle of a heavily populated district—far from being a gold mine for the city as Lim claims—contributes just P200 million in fees and taxes to the city’s coffers.
He reminded his audience that a similar depot had once stood in what is now the Rockwell complex in Makati.
“Rockwell is far smaller in size than the area now occupied by the oil depot in Pandacan,” Atienza said. “But it now generates far more funds in terms of tax collections—not to mention investments, businesses and jobs—for the City of Makati.”
He explained; “The Pandacan depot, if properly developed, would become our version, not just of Makati’s Rockwell, but also of Quezon City’s Eastwood in Libis.”
As a licensed architect, Atienza knows of what he speaks—and his audience at the Century Park fundraiser was aware of his reputation and record as an urban planner.
One enthusiastic contributor was overheard saying: “With this plan, investors will finally return to Manila.”
Across the Pasig River from the depot is a former industrial estate, which has gone to seed. Once the site of busy factories and thriving businesses, Atienza said, the so-called NDC compound could be revived to suit the requirements of domestic and foreign investors.
Lito Atienza said, City Hall should not merely be a collector of rent and taxes, which Lim fears would be lost if the oil depot is closed down.
The city government, Atienza stressed, needs to have a vision for business growth, a master plan for generating businesses and, consequently, employment—and from there the resources to upgrade civil works and other infrastructure.
Above all, City Hall needs to have tried and tested leadership for urban renewal, said Atienza whose various projects from 1998 to 2007 south of the Pasig led to the gentrification of Ermita, particularly the Remedios Circle. Yet, this effort too was reversed by the Lim administration.
If the eager support Atienza got at the February 19 fundraiser were any gauge, he has apparently succeeded in getting Manileños eagerly anticipating his return to City Hall. Their excitement was palpable, to say the least.
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Lito Atienza’s ‘House of Angels’
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Lito Atienza’s ‘House of Angels’ by Ducky Paredes Malaya February 26, 2010
WHAT surprised attendees at a fund-raiser held in a hotel in Manila for the campaign of former Mayor Lito Atienza who is returning as Manila Mayor on a campaign to bring life back to the city (Buhayin Muli ang Maynila) were young performers – ballet dancers, singers and modern dancers, many of whom showed great talent. They were abandoned children who had been taken in by the former mayor’s private initiative which he calls “House of Angels,” Lito’s personal effort at saving crisis babies.
Atienza is a devout Catholic and strictly follows Church doctrine on the sanctity of life: “There are no unwanted children,” he says, “only selfish adults.” Crisis babies are those their own parents regard as inconveniences that they are better off not having.
His “House of Angels” began on his last term as vice mayor. Attending an El Shaddai prayer-rally, he told Mike Velarde about his idea of setting up a crisis center that would take in children who would otherwise be abandoned or, worse, women who would abort the pregnancy. This was then still just an idea and Lito was even in doubt about its viability, when Velarde announced at the Luneta before the El Shaddai’s horde of thousands that the vice mayor would take in any babies. The very next day, a woman was at the Atienza apartment where the Atienzas had their own six children living in a two-room residence.
Now, there is a two-story House of Angels in Sta. Ana, Manila, that takes in unwanted babies. Some 300 babies have gone through the House of Angels which is not an adoption house or an orphanage, just a place that will temporarily save babies from worse fates. From there, they will move to other institutions or will be adopted by parents looking for children to love. Based on the performers at the fund-raiser, many of these children are potential world-beaters.
Lito says: “Life comes only from God. Life is not man-made. Who knows, that child may become a Jose Rizal, a Manny Pacquiao, a Charise Pempenco, an Ariel Pineda, Nobody but God knows the future of every child.
“One couple’s unwanted baby can be the most wanted one in another family.”
***
One thing that distinguishes Lito Atienza from most politicos is that he is consistent in what he believes. For instance, he is against the Reproductive Health Bill and sticks to the language and spirit of Catholic Doctrine. Thus, he argues that our large population is not the problem.
Look at China, he says, it has the highest population and is among the world’s leading economies.
In politics, he has also always been faithful to the Constitution. Thus, he was against the unconstitutional ouster of President Erap in 2001 just as he disagreed with segments of his Liberal Party, which he then headed, who wanted to unconstitutionally depose President Gloria Arroyo in 2005.
Because of his stand against the moves to unconstitutionally remove Gloria, Lito was removed as chairman of the Liberal Party which was ordered by the Courts to unite the factions of the party. Instead the LPs, under Franklin Drilon, who was invited into the party by Lito who also made him chairman, unceremoniously removed Atienza from the LP.
Will his removal work for the LP in Manila or will it work against it in the May election. My reading is that the LP could lose Manila and most of Metro Manila precisely because, for the first time in a long while the LP has national candidates; yet, this time around, Mr. Liberal Party in Manila (Lito Atienza) is not backing the candidacies of Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas, the official LP candidates. For a long time, during the dark days when Martial Law ruled, Atienza was the only LP in national office.
The leadership of the Liberal Party has changed – perhaps, not for the better.
***
What was different about Manila in the years when Lito Atienza was mayor is that he had a plan for the city that consisted of urban renewal and the rebirth of Manila as the wondrous city that made the Philippines, the pearl of the orient. Manila was a beautiful city before it became the most bombed-out major city in World War II. Sadly, while the rest of the world’s cities have grown as human habitats, Manila wallowed in the sewers olf politics, greed and incompetence.
During his time as mayor, Lito Atienza worked on his dream of a Manila resplendent again: “My vision is to catch up with the great cities of Asia in urban development, but a development that is more people-oriented and more attuned to the quality of life we all dream of. It’s not a development that only wants to see an impressive collection of skyscrapers. More than that, Buhayin ang Maynila, the battle cry of our administration, expresses our goal of improving community life and services and the environment, developing the facilities in the public areas, preserving the city’s links to its glorious past, and ultimately reviving Manila’s soul and spirit and traditions.”
He started with what was called “Bay Walk” that gave Roxas Boulevard a life of its own but which was immediately shut down by the next administration and condemned to oblivion.
Atienza was a different mayor because he had a philosophy and searched for the soul of the city in order to grow it and nurture it. He is a rarity in politicians who seek the nuances and the secret life force of the city and country they live in. Most politicos only want to control and exploit.
Seeing the former mayor campaigning in his signature flower print Hawaiian shirts, Manilans can look forward to again having someone in City Hall who knows what living in Manila means and how it can improve for the better.
COMEBACKING MAYOR LITO ATIENZA IN THE RACE FOR MANILA’S TOP SEAT
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IN THE RACE, WINNABLY by Willie Baun, People’s Journal
Monday, 22 February 2010
Lito Atienza, former three term Manila mayor and Environment secretary, has been declared legally and politically fit to run anew by the Commission on Elections.
In the February 11 resolution of the Comelec, the petition to bar Atienza from retaking City Hall “is not meritorious,” according to the Second Division of the poll watchdog — citing Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code.
Thus, in dismissing the charges that Atienza lied in his certificate of candidacy, Presiding Commissioner Nicodemo Ferror said:
“In the case at bar, Atienza’s declaration in his CoC that he was nominated by the Liberal Party-Atienza Wing, cannot be considered as a material misrepresentation within the contemplation of Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code.
“The nomination extended by a political party does not relate at all to a qualification to run for public office. There is no provision in the law that requires one to be nominated by a political party before he can run for a public office.
“As a matter of fact, even independent candidates or those nominated by two or more registered political parties can still run as long as they possess all the qualifications stated in the law.”
Pardon the extensive quote, folks, but we have to be sure nobody can fault us for partisanship. We take note of the fact that the petitioner is a certain Atty. Nicolas R. Nicolas even as we swear to be absolutely clueless of his connection, if any, to incumbent Manila Mayor Fred Lim: iconic “Dirty Harry” of law-and-order enforcement in the capital.
As Hizzoner certainly can stand for the record of his handling of City Hall affairs, so can Atienza fall confidently back on his remarkable three-term feat as Buhayin ang Maynila pro-life and environment crusader.
Crime-free slums and streets are one thing but, hey, criminal neglect of the Manila Bay, Pasig River and the capital’s water and sewerage system can’t be sneezed at either. Ecology-related ailment and disease kill more citizens than guns and goons do anywhere in the world.
Not to mention, to belabor the obvious socio-economic gains that the Atienza administration doggedly enhanced via the Buhayin program. Urban renewal, business resurgence, and employment, to my mind, are the more enduring solution to crime in the city.
And if that’s a pitch verging on a pro-Atienza throw, let it be said nonetheless that a sense of community or common interest is a test of good politics. I reckon it will define the Atienza-Lim battle zone in the run-up to mayoral balloting in May 2010.
Put simply, the bottom line, courtesy of the Comelec promulgation, is that Lito is in the race and winnably so — with all due respect to Lim’s bid for re-election. Atienza is in the Pwersa ng Masa slate behind Joseph Estrada as standard bearer as he was with the ousted president to his last day in Malacañang.
Like Lito has famously said: “I don’t jump ship.” Manila-born, raised in Sampaloc, lifetime family man in San Andres and voter — Lito is in the mayoral race, winnably.
A SHOW OF FORCE: article taken from the Manila Standard Today
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A SHOW OF FORCE
by Fel Maragay
Former President Joseph Estrada and his followers flexed their muscles and demonstrated their strength when a mammoth crowd, estimated at 15,000, showed up at the opening rally of Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino-United Opposition at the historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila on Feb. 10. The gathering signaled the start of the election campaign. The crowd was composed of delegations from various cities and towns in Metro Manila.
Estrada says huge crowds like this, a familiar sight in his campaign sorties, have inspired and emboldened him to pursue his wish to recapture power, although his political adversaries continue to peddle the rumor that he would soon chicken out of the fight and switch his support to a fellow presidential contender from the opposition. To the deposed president, such yarn is a cruel joke because this is his last chance for ultimate political vindication, which has been his obsession since he was thrown out of Malacañang and detained about a decade ago.
Former Sen. Ernesto Maceda, PMP-UNO campaign manager, says this impressive show of force “only proves that the public welcomes Estrada’s intent to return to his post in Malacañang and his vow to finish all the pro-poor programs he had initiated” during his interrupted presidency. “The sheer number of people here dwarfs those in our opponents’ rallies and surely belies the results of those surveys claiming the other candidates are ahead of Erap,” the former Senate president and ambassador to the United States adds.
I caught the last hour or so of the rally when Estrada was delivering his speech and I saw that the city square was indeed packed with his partisans. Even after the last candidate had spoken and the event was over, swarms of spectators stayed put, not wishing to leave while entertainer Faith Cuneta was rendering a few more songs, including “Handang Magtiis,” the lyrics of which were crafted by Estrada.
Former Manila Mayor Joselito Atienza,Jr., who is running anew for mayor of the nation’s capital city, and his team of local candidates, notably running mate Councilor Bonjay Isip-Garcia and the aspirants for councilor, were largely credited for mobilizing their constituents into attending the rally.
Earlier in the day, an unfavorable news filtered out from the Commission on Elections related to Atienza’s candidacy. The poll body issued a ruling that Atienza could not run under the banner of the LP-Atienza wing. It declared Atienza as an independent mayoral candidate in Manila and incumbent
Mayor Alfredo Lim as the LP official candidate. The decision was in response to a petition from the LP led by Sen. Mar Roxas (president) and former Sen. Franklin Drilon (chairman) asking the Comelec to disallow Atienza from running under the party.
Recall that the Atienza faction had fought bitterly with the Roxas-Drilon faction for control of the LP since 2005, The party was split into two after the Drilon wing withdrew its support from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the wake of the
Hello Garci scandal. Atienza and his group stuck it out with the Arroyo administration but in April 17, 2007 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Drilon as the duly-elected LP president. Nonetheless, the high court ordered a new election of party officials. But in what Atienza branded as a treacherous act, the Drilon faction expelled him and other members of his wing from the party on the eve of the election held at the Club Filipino in San Juan City in November 2007.
The latest Comelec ruling came as a letdown for Atienza although he had anticipated it. To him, it was a Pyrrhic victory for his opponents because Manilans know how to distinguish the genuine Liberals and from the pretenders and usurpers. Regardless of the ruling, he said “I will remain a Liberal despite what Drilon is claiming. Nobody can take away my identity of my being a Liberal. I am a true Liberal.”
As far as Atienza is concerned, it is simply ridiculous to strip him of his party membership because he has always been identified as a Liberal since he became a party volunteer in his youth. His father, Jose Atienza, Sr., distinguished public servant to three Philippine presidents, was one of the original members of the LP which was founded on November 24, 1945.
Atienza, now 68, rose from the ranks, beginning as barangay tanod (watchman) and moving up steadily to kagawad (councilman) and chairman of his barangay in San Andres Bukid. In 1968, he organized the Democratic Youth Movement, the youth arm of LP. He was among the LP leaders who were injured and survived the Plaza Miranda bombing on August 21, 1971. He was then running for councilor.
During the martial law period, Atienza was arrested twice for denouncing human rights abuses under the Marcos dictatorship. He was elected as member of the Batasang Pambansa in 1984, representing the San Andres Bukid-Sta.Ana-Paco-Pandacn-Sta. Mesa district in Manila.
He won as vice mayor of the city in 1992 and 1995. He was elected mayor for three consecutive terms—in 1998, 2001 and 2004.
Atienza is probably the only survivor of the Plaza Miranda carnage who is still active in politics. During his presidency of the LP, he invited Drilon, then Senate president, to join the LP. It never entered his mind that his recruit would one day instigate his expulsion from the party he has so painstakingly nurtured and kept alive.
This account of the LP’s internal discord explains why Atienza, despite being a dutiful Cabinet member and staunch ally of President Arroyo, was forced to strike an alliance with Estrada and was adopted as PMP-UNO mayoral candidate in Manila. The Estrada-Atienza partnership is a phenomenon that has puzzled the electorate.
In response to calls for party unity, leaders of both factions explored ways to resolve the dispute. Despite deep-seated differences with the rival group, Atienza was prepared to bend over backwards to patch up the feud. He really entertained the possibility of reconciliation especially when Mar Roxas yielded to the clamor to give up as party standard bearer in favor of Sen. Benigno Aquino III.
Unity talks were conducted but alas, they proved too late and doomed from the start. The Roxas-Drilon faction had already committed itself to supporting Lim as LP candidate for Manila mayor. They could not accommodate Atienza without junking Lim, which was no longer possible.
Aside from this, the Roxas-Drilon faction imposed demands that Atienza thought were unreasonable. For instance, he was being asked to make a public apology to his antagonists in the LP leadership squabble and to re-apply for party membership. But the biggest stumbling block to the unification effort was the conflicting positions between the two factions insofar as dealing with the Arroyo administration was concerned. This difference could only be reconciled if Atienza and his faction would break away from, and declare war with, the administration, which of course was totally unacceptable to the former environment secretary.
Atienza found it more convenient to ally himself with Estrada who was then looking for a candidate to support for the mayoral race in Manila. Unknown to many, the two are long-time friends who have helped each other in their political careers in many ways. Estrada during his presidency infused funds into Atienza’s projects during his stint as Manila mayor. As a gesture of gratitude, Atienza did not abandon Estrada up to the last days of his stay in Malacañang before his downfall.
The former president had a falling out with Lim, whom he backed in the 2004 mayoral contest against Ali Atienza, son of the three-termer mayor. Estrada trounced Lim in the 1998 presidential election. In a magnanimous act, he appointed Lim as secretary of interior and local government secretary in his Cabinet. A crack developed in their relations when Lim abandoned Estrada during the crucial hours of the January 2001 Edsa revolt and defected to the enemy forces. The Estrada camp has been saying that Lim could not have won the 2004 mayoral contest over Ali Atienza without the backing of the ousted president.
Sometime in 2008, Lim fired former Police Supt. Roberto Calinisan, an Estrada man, as his consultant for security for alleged involvement in a fund anomaly. Calinisan’s removal angered Estrada and this proved to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back. In reprisal, Estrada had Lim removed as president of Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino. They parted ways. But insiders said there were deeper reasons behind the Estrada-Lim rift.
Lim’s departure from the Estrada camp gave Atienza a fall-back position to challenge Lim in the political battle in Manila. But this also gave Estrada a beachhead in the presidential contest in the vote-rich premier city.
Lito Atienza Pursues Dream By Running For Mayor Of Manila
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When Lito Atienza announced that he would quit the Cabinet in order to run for Manila Mayor in the upcoming elections, voters were certainly gifted with a great choice for leader of the City. Lito Atienza is for sure a force in Philippine politics and is gifted with a formidable family background. A lot of his kin are themselves prominent members of the history of Philippine politics. Because of this, it could be rightfully declared that Lito is truly a prime choice for the post of Manila Mayor.
The father of Lito Atienza, Jose Atienza Sr, or Pepe was the head of the Department of Public Services of the City of Manila. He was a distinguished public servant who would even get up in the middle of the night just to help troubled neighbors. His uncle, Herminigildo Atienza, was appointed Manila Mayor himself right after the liberation of the city. He was a very good mayor who was considered as one of the biggest influences in the founding of the legendary Liberal Party of Philippine politics.
Lito Atienza grew up amidst the ruins of the City of Manila, walked through the neighborhoods that was but a collection of debris and even swam on the waters of Manila Bay. He would make a great Manila Mayor because he grew up in the city which he aspires to lead. He dreamt that would be a part of Philippine politics, elevate the City of Manila into a bastion of power which will make the ashes of the war a mere afterthought. By gunning for the post of Manila Mayor, he can now engage in his dream task of trying to place Manila back to the high status where it belongs.
Lito Atienza is certainly very qualified to become Manila Mayor. He had his primary and secondary education in the Ateneo de Manila University and added a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas. Even though their family was not wealthy, Lito’s parents were hardworking and this enabled Lito to enter into formidable schools. The Atienza family are also very faithful and God fearing. Core family values and religious competence such as these are certainly very important for the position of public servant in Philippine politics.
Perhaps the best qualification of Lito Atienza is his untarnished name. His father Pepe firmly believed that no wealth could ever match the reputation of the heritage of good name backed up with a good education. Lito also had lots of peers and always persevered in order to reach his goals. He would take menial labor positions and even rode along the cars of his more well to do classmates because he firmly believed in hard work as the bridge to our goals.
Lito Atienza would certainly add to his colored history in his participation in Philippine politics by running for mayor. By all accounts, being the Manila Mayor would be best for him and for the city of Manila given his heritage with the place. He experienced not only his life here, but also lived it in community with his family in the city which he envisions to prosper. If chosen with the honor, it will truly be for everyone’s benefit if we give him a chance to fulfill his ambitions of the city for us.
Lito Atienza is the most deserving to become Manila’s mayor. He grew from a revered family in Philippine politics and already has vast experience himself as a politician. If elected, he would be living out his dream of becoming Manila Mayor, and leading the city to success. The inhabitants of the city would certainly be rewarded if they decide to make him the next mayor.
– Joel Dumayog
Thrilla in Manila (The 2010 Manila Mayoralty Race)
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Thrilla in Manila
FROM A DISTANCE By Carmen N. Pedrosa (The Philippine Star) Updated January 31, 2010 12:00 AM
While attention at the moment is riveted on the presidential contest, the mayoralty fight in the country’s capital promises to be just as exciting. It promises to be a rematch between two erstwhile rivals.
With former DENR Secretary Lito Atienza’s return to the ring, incumbent Gen. Alfredo Lim faces a formidable contender. Manilans are happy with the return of Atienza, Lim’s nemesis. They now have a clear choice.
It must be remembered that Atienza’s name for nine years was a byword in Manila politics. He won three terms but had to step down because of term limits.
The Atienza-Lim electoral contest may not be about boxing but it is also a Thrilla in Manila as the bout was between Ali and Frazier in the 70s. The stakes are great, and its results go beyond the contest for the post of mayor of the country’s capital.
The rivalry is enhanced with two candidates representing two wings of the Liberal Party. On one side is the Noynoy-Roxas wing which refers to itself as “pedigreed” (a fatal mistake, if you ask me). Atienza, a Liberal since he was a young man, has turned the tables around to put the snobs in their place and called his wing “askal” (short for asong kalye). These are overtones of a class war that Noynoy and Roxas would be well advised to avoid. It makes them vulnerable since both come from super-rich dynastic families. By implication candidate Lim becomes the “bodyguard of the pedigreed.”
On the other hand, Atienza feels quite at home among the masa and has waded right into the ring with hard punches to knock down his pedigreed opponents. His campaign office is not far from the neighborhood where he was born, grew up and learned the ropes of constituency politics from his father, Jose Atienza Sr. who is considered one of the founding fathers of the Liberal Party.
* * *
At a recent press conference, he pointed to the almost empty restaurant where it was being held. The restaurant was forlorned. In his time, the same restaurant was a thriving, bustling place. People came to Manila from all over to dine in the Malate area that became a gourmet’s paradise. Then it was fun and fashionable to be in Manila with the young buying up old houses and apartments for a song that they then refurbished.
Manila as an old city has character and history that Makati or Fort Bonifacio cannot match. Indeed it is or should be the center for tourism in the country. As an architect, Atienza recognizes the possibilities of reviving the city to its former glory. But he has to be assisted by a competent group that will guide him through the history of the landmarks of Manila.
Atienza’s Buhayin ang Maynila has great potential and should be supported by the national government and those who live outside Manila. It is true of all great cities and country capitals. Think of a clean Pasig River and a roads built around it like Paris’s Boulevard Peripherique or London’s embankment. Think of monuments and landmarks that could be revived to tell the story of how and why it became the capital of the country. That Atienza has pledged to do.
As a foreigner in the travel business in Manila told me it is hard to sell tours if all we have to offer are the condos and brand shops and malls of Makati. These are bigger and better in other countries. We have to offer something unique about the Philippines and one of them is Manila and its history. A revived Manila reconstructed according to its history would be a boon to the historical consciousness of Filipinos and generations to come.
Atienza laments that under Alfredo Lim some of the improvements he began have been neglected. Among Atienza’s projects were the renovation of Plaza Miranda, the Andres Bonifacio monument, Rajah Sulayman and Binondo. There are others — the creation of a Linear-Park in Pandacan, Carriedo and the R. Hidalgo streets in Santa Cruz. Atienza’s idea of Buhayin ang Maynila is laudable. It should be supported by the national government and other cultural groups. It needs a comprehensive approach to be meaningful.
Having been in exile for many years during martial law I was not aware of Atienza’s role with the opposition in those days. He was arrested twice when he exposed human rights abuses under the Marcos dictatorship. Isn’t it strange that this means nothing to Noynoy, the supposed heir to Ninoy’s legacy?
* * *
Atienza has not been immune to attack. Critics claim Manila was bankrupt when Lim took over as mayor of Manila. Atienza’s answer: Of course, it will be bankrupt if you do not know how to make it work and manage its resources well to bring in revenues. That he did during his term.
He, too, inherited a poor annual collection of P2 billion in 1998 but he was able to bring it up to P8 billion when he took over. This he did through reforms and programs for the city. “The proof that I did the right things was the people elected me for three consecutive terms,” Atienza said. This is a feat. He is only mayor of Manila to achieve that.
Manilans would not have reelected him if had not done the right things. What he did is for Manilans to see and experience: health centers and well-equipped hospitals, cheap medicines and nutrition programs.
When he says young Manilans, especially the poor were given quality education, he can point to the schools he set up during his term and how the students were able to compete with students elsewhere in the country.
Having been experienced in constituency politics he understands the needs of the people. High sounding rhetoric about caring for the poor will just not do. They will want concrete things done like the collection of garbage and the maintenance of roads. They want businesses to thrive to give them jobs and livelihood opportunities.
“They vote for you because it has made life more comfortable and not because you say you are good,” adds Atienza.
If he wins in this election, Lito Atienza has a hard job ahead of him with so much of what he began left to waste. No wonder Manileños want him to return and restore his urban renewal and sustainable development program for the city. It was neglected under Lim’s tenure.
Lito Atienza + Erap Estrada = Manila?
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Lito+Erap=Manila?
“Apart from their mutual admiration and endorsements, both Atienza and Estrada believe in helping the poor – Erap para sa Mahirap; Atienza para sa Masa.”
by Ducky Paredes
Columns from Malaya and Abante – Edition 2010 – 31
The mutual endorsements of former President Joseph Estrada and former Manila Mayor and former Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza for each other are potent and natural. Erap’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and Atienza’s Liberal Party in Manila have teamed up.
This could win Manila for both Erap and Lito. The two have always been friends. In fact, when Estrada was forced to leave Malacanang during Edsa Dos, Atienza was there up to the end.
Atienza believed then as a lot of others did, that deposing Erap outside of a successful impeachment was unconstitutional, which it is. Estrada thought the same way which is why he agreed to an impeachment trial which was taken over by mob rule and a conspirator – the Supreme Court — that ruled Erap as having virtually or “constructively” resigned. There is no such thing. Yet, Erap was removed from the presidency.
In contrast, incumbent Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who has been endorsed by the Liberal Party of former Senate President Franklin Drilon, was at the time of EDSA Dos, an Erap cabinet member. Excusing himself from an ongoing cabinet meeting, Lim surprised everyone, including Estrada, when he was shown on television as having joined the Arroyo uprising.
But, Erap is not anything if he is not big hearted. He apparently forgave Lim because Estrada endorsed Fred Lim and included him in the PMP senatorial ticket in 2004. Lim won. Erap supported Lim again in 2007 against Lito Atienza’s son.
Mayor Atienza, for his part, headed a faction of the Liberal Party that pledged support to the Arroyo administration amid the “Hello Garci” controversy in 2004.
Lito was, of course, only being true to himself. Like Estrada he is a stickler for following and protecting the Constitution. Thus, he supported Erap when they booted him out in violation of the Constitution and supported Gloria from those who would also unconstitutionally depose her. For that, Lito was kicked out of the LP.
More than 5,000 supporters cheered Estrada’s announcement of the coalition between the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino and the Atienza Liberal wing.
Ranged against them is the coalition of the Drilon Liberals and Lim’s KKK party (Kapayapaan, Katarungan at Kaunlaran).
Lim, who, as a PMP elected mayor, headed PMP in Manila, began losing Erap’s support as early as 2008, when retired Gen. Roberto Calinisan of the PMP, resigned as Lim’s consultant for security and police affairs. Calinisan and Estrada got Lim elected in 2007 under the former Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino. Calinisan told the press then: ““Mayor Lim did not resign from the PMP. The PMP leadership removed him as president of the party.”
The official PMP announcement says that Estrada has accepted the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)-LP Atienza wing coalition because Erap feels it is Atienza who will be able to carry out Estrada’s pro-poor program in Manila.
PMP spokesman lawyer Ralph Calinisan, said: “There is an urgent need to effect change in Manila. The residents of Manila deserve better governance.”
According to the PMP, over the past couple of years, it has received numerous reports of Lim’s transgressions with the poor while serving as Manila mayor. Calinisan noted that Lim totally forgot about the common people after he was elected into office.
Reports state, among others, that under Lim’s watch, housing projects in Baseco in Tondo and the housing project intended for teachers were discontinued. Also, hospital machines were ill maintained and medicines were utterly lacking. Vendors also pay stiff “fees” just to do business.
Calinisan says: “It is thus necessary to support a mayoralty candidate who has his priorities straight. Mayor Lito Atienza has proven many times over that he has what it takes to uplift the lives of the masses. We welcome Secretary Atienza’s bid to work with the PMP.”
For his part, Atineza says: “Former President Estrada’s intense adherence to the rule of law, even allowing himself to be prosecuted and jailed for almost seven years made him the victim of the Constitution.”
Atienza adds “that having bowed to the canons of the nation’s charter, and by standing firmly by the language of the rule of law at the height of his power as a sitting President, Estrada gave himself the noble and distinguished mark of a leader.”
Apart from their mutual admiration and endorsements, both Atienza and Estrada believe in helping the poor – Erap para sa Mahirap; Atienza para sa Masa.
That should produce synergy, which happens when the effect of the whole is greater than what the different parts could have produced when working alone. Certainly, with Erap for him, Atienza would be doing bettering places like Tondo where Erap has a good following and Erap would do better in Manila as a whole where Atienza still has substantial support.
Who will win in Manila? The main contenders are Noynoy for President and Fred Lim for mayor; Lito for Mayor and Erap for President; and Gibo for President and Razon for mayor.
It should become interesting when the campaign for LGU positions begins in March.
MANNY PACQUIAO ENDORSES MAYOR LITO ATIENZA FOR MANILA
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Filipino boxing hero and Manila’s most favorite adopted son Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (2nd from left) formally endorses his “second father” Lito Atienza’s (2nd from right) comeback to regain genuine progress, under the successful Buhayin ang Maynila urban renewal and sustainable development program, for the capital city and its residents who were neglected by the present Lim administration during a grand gathering of almost 2,000 past and present Barangay Chairmen (lower photo) at the Manila Pavillon. According to Pacquiao, Atienza remains to be the best Mayor Manila ever had for the effective and efficient delivery of basic services for Manilans, especially the poor and other marginalized sectors, during his record-breaking undefeated three consecutive terms (1998-2007) as father of the capital city. With Atienza and Pacquiao in photo is Manila Vice Mayoralty candidate, Councilor Bonjay Isip-Garcia (left), and former President and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer, Joseph “Erap” Estrada (right), who earlier also endorsed Atienza for Manila Mayor anew.
ERAP ENDORSES ATIENZA FOR MANILA
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Former President Joseph “ERAP” Estrada (left) formally endorses his trusted friend Lito Atienza (2nd from left) to be the next Mayor of Manila anew in 2010 for bringing genuine progress to the capital, especially the poor and other marginalized sectors, during his undefeated three consecutive terms (1998-2007) as father of the city under the successful Buhayin ang Maynila urban renewal and sustainable development program. At the same time, Estrada expressed the commitment of his party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) to solidly support Atienza’s reelection to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of basic services to Manilans who were neglected by the present Lim administration. With Estrada and Atienza in photo during the momentous event at the AWU Compound in Port Area, Manila attended by more than 5,000 residents (lower photo) led by their Barangay officials and organization leaders are Manila Vice Mayoralty candidate and Councilor Bonjay Isip-Garcia (center), Vice Presidential candidate and Makati Mayor Jojo Binay (2nd from right) and Senatorial candidate and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (right).
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