As a Manileño who has seen three mayors at its helm — Mel Lopez, Fred Lim and Lito Atienza — there was no doubt that Atienza built on what Lim has started and brought Manila back into the tourist map and initiated cultural revival and urban development.
I once thought that Manila was a lost cause because of urban decay but I was surprised by the transformation of the city — Roxas Boulevard, the city’s plazas and the public wet markets in particular. There is one thing that I disliked during Atienza’s term — it’s the proliferation of pedicabs along national and city roads.
I hesitantly voted for Ali Atienza, not because I did not appreciate his father’s accomplishments, but because of too much politicking and overexposure (like riding on the popularity of Pacquiao who is also losing in his congressional bid). To me, the accomplishments, which are obvious, should speak for themselves.
Now that it was clear that Senator Lim is set to take over the governance of Manila and after the Atienzas have accepted the defeat, these are the questions that are bugging my mind and given a chance, I would like to ask Mayor Lim personally:
- What will happen now to Baywalk and the other projects that beautify Manila?
- What will happen to Unibersidad de Manila (formerly City College of Manila)? Will it go back to the old PNB building along Escolta?
- Are we going to see a radical change in governance?
I have high regards for Senator Lim because he changed the image of Ermita and addressed the garbage problem of the city. I also voted for him in his bid for the Senate in the last 2004 elections. Am hoping that he will not be like some of our national leaders whose first project in office is to “undo” what his/her predecessors have accomplished, even if these projects have been beneficial.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
I Just dint get it!!!
He close down the baywalk that was one of the most visit places from Tourists and we enjoy the atmosfar there,,WY?? it also let some people get the income tru restaurants and artists and so on,,,,,
I dont get it,,,,he wants more people live in street with no jobb??? wy not let the business go on and get taxmoney to get this poor mothers with babys living in street a life DIBA“
I just dont get how the goverment people think in the Philipines.
I love the country,, i love the people Filipinos are among the most humble people in the world
MAKE SOME RADICAL CHANGES FOR THE SMALL PEOPLE ,,they earned it!!!!
Lars from sweden
July 12th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Sandy
i wonder why some of my posts were not posted when I only stated facts….
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admin:
please update your blog as often as possible……
ty
July 9th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
i wonder why some of my posts were not posted when I only stated facts…. hmm.. I guess this blog is also politicized.. o well, I guess the Philippines is just bound to really stay as is.. with people being so negative about everything and the media only showing what they want to show… o well… I wonder what the next generation would inherit from this generation….
July 6th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
tulad ng mabini noon, baywalk is history……
avenida, mukhang padadaan na sa mga sasakyan, inaalis na yung mga harang yata………
concern ako sa mendiola, puede na raw mag rally tuwing weekends and holidays basta may permit, ok lang yon, para hindi naiistorbo ang mga studyante……
mukhang titignan ng mga militante si lim, magrarally yata sila ng walang permit at itataon pa sa weekdays…….
ay naku, talaga naman o, ibinigay na nga ni lim ang kamay niya, ngayon gusto na siyang lamunin ng buo……..
sa mga militanteng grupo o sino man, huwag na ninyong antayin pang mag kahiyaan pa ni mayor lim, mahirap na, let it be, sunod na lang kayo sa batas……
ok……
July 5th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
This reply is for SHIKAMARU
One sad fact about filipinos is that when public officials do good things, they are always doubted to do it because of a self-serving motive. In the Philippines, it is either damn if you do and damn if you dont.
People like YOU causes the downfall of this country.
First and foremost if you truly believe in your heart that each lampost in Manila costs 400k then why dont you come up with documents that really states that fact and show it to the media?? The media blatantly exposes those things and they may even pay you just to get those facts out.. the thing with you is that you make generalizations and you pair it up with your “position” in the government … that is the perfect ingredient for WRONG PERCEPTIONS regarding reality.
Since you stated so clearly that you were for your BELOVED mayor Lim and that you know how much of a better mayor he is , then how come you dont even know that he also has his share of CORRUPTING the city once upon a time… Do you know that Manila was almost indebted when he gave the city to Atienza.. and do you know how much each elevator in the city hall cost? — he pegged it for 10 million each… the worst part there is that it never got fixed! How about what he did to
June 27th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
THIS IS FOR SANDY!
Before you refer to other bloggers of being a bunch of so called stupid idiots, kindly be civilzed enough to understand the point of this subject. It is not to determine who is right or wrong nor who is the best or the worst. The matter is about politics, and whether you accept it or not, it is DIRTY! I would stand behind Mayor Lim, and again Sandy, I am a pure blooded Manileno, Ive seen how Manila transformed from different Mayors. I know, cause I also worked for the City Government of Manila and worked closely enough to know these Mayors. Let me tell you something, during one brief formality dinner, a respectable Civil Service Official once uttered that “Manila is a highly politicized city, and Atienza is redifining the CITY by POLITICS.” And i agree with that, i hope you’re intelligent enough to understand the phrase, to know WHO, HOW, WHEN and WHAT FOR? will someone sue Atienza. Nobody, as in nobody can touch the Atienza’s during their leeching term alongside with SOME Filipinos President?, GMA. I bet every possible means has been tried out to sue your “Honorable Mayor”. But Atienza knows politics better than most politicians do, and if you are thinking that he cant be a “Manager Material”, well, for the Atienza’s benefit, better think again. You never know how employees of the City Hall suffers during his term due to tremendous pressure and politics, you never even feel the fear of the small merchants and vendor that was being extorted on daily basis. Have you ever realized how much income that was being loss on the pockets of the poor driver in divisoria? If you might say it was a reality eversince, then wake up, it might be true but not to the point as aggressive and as unforgiving like now. If your “Honorable Atienza”, didnt not spare this humble people, how much more on the bigger meal? Got my point? And with Lim back on the seat, rest assured you will hear, watch and might read a lot of expose about your “Honorable Mayor”. I appreciate the good things he has done for MY CITY, but looking on how he made it and by looking underneath….ITS NOTHING BUT SUCH A DISGUSTING REALITY OF HOW TAXPAYERS MONEY WAS BEING DIVERTED AND CONSUMED AND EMPTIED IN FAVOR OF YOUR “HONORABLE ATIENZA”. MAGANDA LANG SA MATA, PERO MASAKIT SA BULSA! NA DAPAT SANA SA SERBISYONG BAYAN NILALAAN.
THANK YOU BLOGGERS! CIAO!
June 8th, 2007 at 5:31 am
are the bars and restaurants now closed on the baywalk
May 24th, 2007 at 9:25 am
I salute Fred Lim’s comeback in Manila, but I hope he should not ruin Lito Atienza’s good projects in Manila just because of dirty politics or revenge. Lito Atienza achieved alot for Manila than Mel Lopez who just talks alot. And I hope Fred Lim will be busy cleaning up Manila of criminals rather than just portray an stooge for ERAP. In this point, he is a failure because a man of principle like him who is anti-gambling doesnt fit his support for the number one GAMBLER , ERAP!
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
It seems to me that all of you are a bunch of stupid idiots, prying on the Atienzas as if they never did anything right. If the lamposts were truly bought at that price and you have proof then sue the man…. obviously you all base your own beliefs in hearsays.. it seems to me that it would be damn if you do and damn if you dont. During Lim’s term, there were no order in Manila.. only publicity stunts to show off an image that the city is in good hands… in fact, teh crime rate was so high that even the police men were criminals coz Lim was getting money from them..your claim that Manila was in good state then is such a big lie. If Lim was truly the righteous man that you all claim him to be, why dont you ask him first to put his sons in rehab! Before a leader leads, he must first clean his own backyard. The only thing that I dislike about Atienza is that he does not know how to market himself the way Lim does…he does not show off his acts if service the way Lim does… i bet that all of you dont know that in a lot of the poor areas in manila, the prices of goods have been totally pulled down to help the poor people in the city be able to afford to eat… Prices of medicines have gone low… coz the middle men who sells medicines have been asked to go…Lito Atienza gave houses to people in Baseco and other poor areas in his area of his circumference. It is so sad to see people who seem smart, fall into accusations and believe mere hearsays that pulls good men down… All I can say is that in time, Manila will suffer coz it is in Alfredo Lim’s hands. Yung pagiging anti criminals na nga lang ang nag pa ok sakanya tapos hindi nya maayos ang sarili nyang anak, pano pa kaya ang buong lungsod ng Maynila. Good luck sa inyong lahat.. at magsama-sama kayong magsisi sa mali nyong mga kuro-kuro.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:53 am
for sure Fred Lim has INTEGRITY, HONESTY and PASSION. Even more than that. In the first place, how come he have received alot of awards? just check this site :
http://www.fredlim.com/mga_karangalan.html
have you guys heard of anything about graft and corruption that links to Fred Lim? maybe you have heard of him being linked to violation of human rights when he spray painted the houses of all drug-addicts in Manila, right? well the cases files against him are all dismissed simply because he didn’t violate any human rights. right? wih in the first place violates human rights? is it Fred Lim or those drug-addict that victimize youth and others?
May 21st, 2007 at 9:01 pm
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May 21st, 2007 at 7:23 pm
If Fred Lim will behave like trapos, he will undo what has been done by the previous Mayor. If he wants to be remembered a ONE of tthe GREAT MEN the will bring MANILA to its former GLORY he will work relentlessly to do that.
My only concern is whether he is still in touch with the latest Managerial skils and (whether) his foresight is far enough to crystalise VISION for MANILA and not ONLY Portray as the Dirty Harry. DIRTY HARRY is an OLD MOVIE, he Need Create a new Story LINE and Record.
I sincerely hope that as a Mayor, He should work for the benefits of MANILA, think independently and able to identify issues rather than just party loyalty. He owed his position to his constituents.
We hope that FRED LIM live the challenge to serve his constituents with INTEGRITY and HONESTY and PASSION.
LET US SEE WHETHER THIS LATEST MOVIE OF HIM is A BLOCKBUSTER or a POOH POOOh. ANY WAY, ALL THE BEST TO FRED LIM-Ang Mayor ng Maynila.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:40 am
I thought Manilenos would vote for Atienza because Manila indeed came alive. People knew their taxes were being spent well. You can’t blame Atienza though for riding on the popularity of Pacquiao because of his popularity with the masses. But I guess since Manila has come alive once more, people there have shifted their concern of cleaning up the city of vices, of which Lim is well known to address.
To Gilbert Agor,
It’s a racket alright but moral of the story is to keep within the bounds of the law. Should you be gone only for a few minutes, then make sure you have a spare driver.
May 21st, 2007 at 8:03 am
Manila is in good hands, Mayor Atienza really made alot of good changes. Mayor Lim, no one can end criminality best but him.
Ang masasabi ko lang, nagwoworry ako sa ating bayan ngayun. Parang halos lahat ay talagang magpapakamatay para lamang makakuha ng pwesto sa gobyerno. I feel the reson why our country cease to develop because of these adversities. Sana magkaisa na tayong lahat. Aminado ako, halos lahat ng Pinoy ay magagaling, kaso halos lahat din ay may “yabang” kaya’t di tayo magkasundo. So lets start work on being one.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:39 am
TO KINGKOY and to all other Manileños:
how would manila be a progressive city in terms of crimes and beautification if the incumbent Mayor(Atienza) is doing nothing but to fill his pockets? Didn’t you know that each lamp posts that are erected along Baywalk costs P400,000 a piece? try to drive by Baywalk and count how many lamp posts that are in there and multiply it by 400,000. It’s very impossible for a lamp post to cost that much. It’s like you’re buying a car!!! How would the city be progressive if Atienza is selling schools and lots in Manila? What about an historical site near the Central station of the LRT, it was gone because atienza put up a school in there(currently Unibersidad de Manila –which is known as CCM or central colleges of manila). CCM is originally located near Escolta. The former PNB building was bought by Mayor Fred Lim years back so that students that could not pay for an education can learn without paying a single centavo.
FYI: i have a friend who’s studying in UDM and whenever Atienza has some projects and needs a crowd to attend to him, he’s threatening the students through the President of UDM that if they do not attend they will fail their subjects and will eventually lose their scholarship. How rude can he (atienza) get?!
Atienza is doing all these projects for him to get rich!!! How could he produce a multi-million peso campaign for his party? How come he’s able to have their Grand rally aired on National Television? It all came from the taxes of Manileños! Simple graft and corruption! I will not be surprised if in the near future Lito Atienza will replace former Pres. Estrada in Tanay, Rizal.
Let’s just hope for the future that Fred Lim could solve the crime and prosperty in the city and pay all the debts of Manila because of Atienza, and hopefully have Atienza behind bars!
May 20th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
biktima ako noong “towing racket” ni Mayor Atienza. Minsan napagawi kami sa Maynila and then parked our van in front of those fastfood eatery near the Manila Cathedral. Mayroon naman kasi ng mga naka paradang sasakyan although mayroong naka lagay na “tow area”. We were thinking that it will only 15 minutes and we will be back and get our car. Pag balik namin…na i tow na iyong sasakyan namin…and we have to pay for the tow services of 1200 pesos. Nagka tawaran pa at nakuha namin ang van for the amount of 1000 pesos. Iyon pala ay racket sa Maynila…mayroong isang pick up na mag sisimulang mag parked doon sa mga “tow area” zone…since mayroong naka parked, susunod ka rin…iyon pala iyon pick up na iyon ay PAIN lang and once nakita na nila na marami na ang naka park sa likod nila…the business will start…they will tow ALL those cars that parke behind them. That is big money di ba?
May 20th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
im not from manila i’ve read a lot of article about mayor lim and lito atienza..they are both doing good governance in manila..like lim hes wiping all criminals in manila and lito atienza is doing some modifications in manila..for me either lim or atienza will win manila would be ok….and hope that in the future they would unite together so that manila will be more progressive in terms of crimes and beutification…….
May 20th, 2007 at 9:07 am
I have been reading all the comments regarding the newly elected Mayor of Manila Alfredo Lim. I really do hope that he can continue the positve changes that has been going on around Manila, My family visited the Philippines last December and there was some great progress we have seen with our own eyes. The biggest factor that the mayor along with other city officials need to focus their energy on is the traffic congestion and the squatter areas. It seems it gets worst and worst every year and that is one of the the main reasons why most tourist avoid the city and just go straight to Palawan, so to avoid the traffic and not so pleasant areas around the city. The only tourist I saw in Manila are mostly the pedophiles who prey on the poor children and young women who hang around the bars. Hope great changes are to come after the election but maybe I am just asking for to much… “Mabuhay pa rin ang Pilipinas”!!!!
May 20th, 2007 at 5:19 am
Congratulations to Mayor Lim!!! No one deserves the seat of being the Mayor of Manila not unless its Fred Lim. Manileños are so intelligent when they have voted the right person–and that is Mayor Lim. Pres.GMA once told in the news before the campaign period started that “no opposition member will ever be elected as the Mayor of Manila.” What does that mean ladies and gents? Will the election for the Mayoralty of Manila has already been won by the Atienza’s before Manileños cast in their votes? hmmm…unfortunately for PGMA and the Atienza’s, they did not prevail.
Fred Lim is the best! Why? simply because in his time as the Mayor of
Manila, holduppers, kidnappers, drug dealers and users as well as prostitutes are all scared to go to Manila because of him. The shame campaign of Fred Lim gives him the title “Dirty Harry”. Remember the time when he spray painted the houses of those drug users and close all the bars that are giving “panandaliang aliw” to their customers? All of these were done by Lim. And without him there would be alot of children hooked up with drugs, victims of human trafficking and women as sex slaves.
BOOO FOR LITO ATIENZA FOR BUYING THOSE LAMP POSTS THAT COSTS P400,000!!!
BOOO FOR LITO ATIENZA FOR USING THE TAXES OF MANILEÑOS FOR HIS SON’S CAMPAIGN AND PERSONAL USE!!!
HOORAY FOR FRED LIM WHO WILL SAVE MANILA AND ITS PEOPLE!!!
HOORAY FOR FRED LIM WHO WILL CONTINUE THE CASES FILED AGAINST LITO ATIENZA ON THE OMBUDSMAN!!!
May 20th, 2007 at 1:46 am
i voted for mayor lim bec. i know he will be best for manila but pls. continue the free livelihood program of atienza cause i was one of them that was helped by that program so many manileneos have been helped also by that program. i think it will be one of your legacy that you supported education and livelihood programs to uplift life of manilenos
May 19th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
congratulations to mr. lim for the city of manila.
i am from capiz but took my college studies in san beda. i left the country in 1974. one thing i really appreciate all these years is when manila was freed from most of the vices by then mayor lim. now he is again mayor of manila. i would like to see manila clean of all criminals- give not once chance for them. criminals don’t respect people, why should they be respected? rid of them all whatever the their motives are. eye for an eye. thanks. hurrah for mayor lim.
pete
May 19th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I heared Fred Lim says he want to reopen Avenida to traffic again. The Avenida who’s now a plaza, tiangge, and a place for a public will be once again a busy street for jeepneys, taxis, cars, and commuters going to monumento and baclaran. Another project that will costs million of pesos to undo this project. What a waste of money..
May 19th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
sana masama sa programa ni mayor lim yung pag-kontrol sa mga junkshops kasi isa rin ito sa dahilan ng pagdami ng pagnanakaw ng mga sari-saring gamit na yari sa bakal o yung mga kable na may tanso at iba pang metal. pati na yung gamit sa sasakyan tulad ng side mirrors atbp. at sana isa-programa ni mayor lim kahit magsimula lang sa maynila yung pagkuha ng identification cards bago makabili ng sim ng celfon para sa record ng celfon company. t.y.
May 19th, 2007 at 7:02 am
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May 18th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Watch out criminals, get out of Manila!
Dirty Harry Part2 is coming.
I wonder, who is to judge, who are the criminals. I hope, not by another criminal.
May 18th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
My wife and I were government employees in the Philippines who had our early retirement and came to the US in 1999. We now live here in Arizona and together with other Filipino friends and relatives, we rejoice and applaud the victory of Gen. Lim who will be Mayor again for the city of Manila.
The name ALFREDO LIM is enough to speak for the man who owns it. There are no further credentials needed.
We need you Mayor Lim .Thank you for being there still.God Bless you.
Dave
May 18th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
sana po maayos na ni Lim ang Delpan sa Binondo super sa dami ang squatter at dami mga addict mga akyat truck at jumper ng kuryente bumalik sana sa dati ang ganda ng lugar namin can you pls. send me the email add. of Mayor Lim. Tnx.