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.
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?