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.
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