Lito Atienza
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Personal details | |
---|---|
Born | Jose Livioko Atienza Jr. August 10, 1941 San Andres, Manila, Philippine Commonwealth |
Political party | PROMDI (2021–present) |
Other political affiliations | |
Spouse | Ma. Evelina Ilagan |
Children | 6 (including Arnold)[2] |
Residence(s) | San Andres, Manila |
Alma mater | University of Santo Tomas |
Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr. (Tagalog pronunciation:
He is also well-known for hosting the drama anthology television series Maynila, which aired on GMA Network from 1999 to 2020.
Early life and career
Atienza was born on August 10, 1941, in the
He took up his primary and secondary education from
Political career
Atienza started his political career in 1968 when he organized the
During Martial Law, Atienza was arrested twice for exposing human rights abuses under the
Under the administration of President Corazon Aquino, Atienza was appointed general manager of the National Housing Authority (Philippines) in 1988 and he promoted low-cost housing for teachers and police officers.
Together with former Manila police general Alfredo Lim running for mayor, Atienza ran for vice-mayor of Manila. The two defeated the incumbent slate of then-Mayor Gemiliano Lopez Jr. The tandem won a second term in 1995.
Manila mayorship
When Lim ran for President of the Philippines in 1998, Atienza was elected mayor and took his oath of office on June 24, 1998. After former president
before its demolition.The
In February 2007, Atienza formally and officially announced that his second son, the Presidential Adviser on Youth Affairs and Manila's Chair of the Inner-City Development Committee,
Environment Secretary
Atienza, a staunch supporter of President
2010 mayoralty bid
In 2010, Atienza ran for a comeback as Mayor of Manila under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, with Manila 6th district councilor Bonjay Isip-Garcia as his running mate for vice mayor. However, he lost to incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim, who received 59.52% of the votes.
Representative
In 2013, Atienza became the representative of Buhay Partylist in the House of Representatives. He opposed the divorce bill and tried to oppose the anti-discrimination bill as well, but withdrew after seeing a massive backlash against him. He also opposes the department of culture bill and the civil union bill. Atienza supports the
2022 vice presidential campaign
On October 1, 2021, Atienza filed his certificate of candidacy for Vice President for 2022 Philippine presidential election under PROMDI together with Senator Manny Pacquiao for President.[9] Atienza underwent knee replacement surgery in February 2022 days after spraining his foot,[10] making him unable to join Pacquiao in his campaign sorties, as well as the vice presidential debates.[11][12] He lost the race with 270,381 votes, placing 5th behind Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Leadership style
Atienza's leadership can be described into three aspects; (1) social and community development – where he focused on improving the welfare of senior citizens and of children, especially for abandoned children, (2) improving living conditions by improving government services and facilities, and (3) simplifying the bureaucracy in dealing with the city government of Manila.
Social development
In almost forty years of Atienza's political career, he has established social development projects such as the "Mahal Ko si Lolo, Mahal Ko si Lola" (transl. I Love My Grandfather, I Love My Grandmother) foundation in 1976, a model for today's Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). In 1984, he also founded the "Kababaihan ng Maynila," (transl. The Women of Manila) a women's livelihood organization. In 1992 while serving as Vice-Mayor, he established the "Home for the Angels," a child care center for abandoned and abused infants.
Community development
In the areas of urban renewal for the City of Manila, Atienza implemented the "Buhayin ang Maynila" (transl. Revive Manila) program, renovating most of Manila's decaying public facilities such as lighting and improving the sidewalk by the Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard and the area is now filled with al fresco restaurants and coffee shops. Public places such as the Plaza Miranda, the Andres Bonifacio monument, Rajah Sulayman, the Binondo areas, the creation of a Linear-Park in Pandacan, renovating Carriedo and the R. Hidalgo streets in
Advocacies and issues
Atienza is a devout
Atienza's urban renewal programs also faced certain controversies when he decided to build a new campus for the
Historians also questioned Atienza's respect for historical architecture when the mayor ordered the demolition of the Manila Jai Alai Building along Taft Avenue to give way to the envisioned Hall of Justice to house the city's regional trial courts. The building, built during the American colonial period was one of the last remaining art-deco style buildings that survived World War II.
The mayor battled the country's three major oil companies, the partly state-owned and Saudi Aramco managed Petron, Dutch-owned Pilipinas Shell and Caltex-Chevron. Atienza and the
During the second week of December 2006, Atienza, in his show of commitment to "Pro-Life," terminated the Commander of the Manila Police District (MPD) detachment in Quiapo district for failing to rid the area of herbalists who are supposedly selling concoctions that induce abortion.
Lito Atienza had been severely criticized by cultural activists for his heavy-handed decision to demolish the famed Jai-Alai Building along Taft Avenue, designed by Hollywood architect
Barely days after Atienza stepped down from office, his successor, Mayor Alfredo Lim reversed several of the former's civil works projects such as the removal of the promenade along Rizal Avenue and the closure of the cafe and bars along the Roxas Boulevard Baywalk. In a separate development, the former Vice-Mayor Danilo Lacuna accused Atienza of selling out the property allocated for the Jose Abad Santos High School in the district of
Other ventures
Atienza hosted the
In 2002 Atienza, through the Metro Manila Mayors League, collaborated with children's cable channel Cartoon Network in a civic project entitled "Cartoon Network Mayors' Awards of Excellence" where youths aged 10 to 16 were nominated and awarded for their exemplary contributions to the community. Atienza appeared in a series of advertisements alongside the Mayor of Townsville from The Powerpuff Girls (voiced by Tom Kenny) to promote the campaign.[15]
Personal life
He is married to Evelina Ilagan with six children, including TV host Kim Atienza, athlete-turned newscaster Ali Atienza, and Manila 3rd district councilor Maile Atienza.[2]
References
- ^ "Atienza joins Buhay party-list". ABS-CBN News. September 8, 2012.
- ^ a b Lo, Ricky (April 13, 2019). "Maile, the silent Atienza". Philstar.com.
- ^ Olivares-Cunanan, Belinda (May 11, 2001). "No to house arrest". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A9. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
I cringed when I heard Atienza boast over the radio in those pro-Erap rallies at Edsa that among the Metro Manila mayors he brought the largest contingent from Manila.
- ^ ABS-CBN Interactive, SC rules 'with finality' on Liberal Party leadership row
- ^ Abs-Cbn Interactive, Roxas is new LP president, sets sights on 2010 poll[permanent dead link]
- ^ Abs-Cbn Interactive, Atienza questions Roxas' assumption as new LP prexy
- ^ ABS-CBN Interactive, Why Atienza son lost the Manila mayorship Archived June 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Inquirer.net, Palace defends Atienza appointment as environment chief[permanent dead link]
- ^ Maru, Davinci (October 1, 2021). "Pacquiao picks Lito Atienza as running-mate for 2022 polls". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Galvez, Daphne (February 8, 2022). "Atienza injures foot; skips proclamation rally with Pacquiao". Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ "VP candidate Atienza to skip CNNPH debate for surgery". CNN Philippines. February 16, 2022. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ^ "Duterte, Atienza absent in 1st PiliPinas Debates 2022 for VP bets". Manila Bulletin. March 20, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ^ "Filipino family values". BBC News. April 20, 2000.
- ^ Lalin, Jun. "'Maynila,' pahinga after 22 years!". Philstar. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- Philippine Star. Retrieved May 23, 2023.