The ‘natural’ public servant looks back on 50 years of commitment to country

THERE is no denying that Buhay Party List Representative Jose “Lito” Atienza Jr. is a hardcore statesman. After all, he has witnessed no other way of life but one that is devoted to public service, given his storied family background.

To begin with, his grandfather, Buenaventura Atienza—popularly known as “Tandang Tura” during his time—, was a political and civic leader in Malate, Manila. His father Jose Sr., on the other hand, also became a distinguished public servant with his government career spanning the terms of three Philippine presidents.

Moreover, Atienza’s uncle Herminigildo was appointed Military Mayor of Manila by American Gen. Douglas McArthur himself, thereafter emerging in 1946 as one of the founders of the ever active Liberal Party.

Serving still, decades before the future mayor and congressman, was another uncle named Rigoberto. He was a former Philippine Army commanding general who suffered the Bataan Death March, and eventually appointed Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces in the 1960 under President Diosdado Macapagal.

A third uncle, Ar turo, though

as a renowned lawyer in the country. Nationalistic nonetheless as his three brothers were, he always responded to the call of duty, serving the army with them in the Hunters resistance against the Japanese in World War 2. Thus, growing up in a very patriotic family, it did not take long for the third generation Atienza to join government as his uncles, father and -

arena in 1968 when he organized the Democratic Youth Movement. Only in his early 20s at that time, the University of Santo Tomas architecture student was quickly becoming part of a generation of young Filipinos who hungered for change.

After surviving the Plaza Miranda In 2005, Manila and Beijing signed a sister- city agreement to foster warmer relations and closer economic and cultural ties, represented by then Mayor Atienza and his counterpart Wang Qishan, who is now the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China.

Bombing in 1971, Atienza remained which enabled him to listen to the sentiment of the grassroots. He later

Manila City Hall under former mayor Ramon Bagatsing for almost a decade, after which—sans financial capability nor support from any individual or group—he sought a Parliamentary Seat.

true change, he was elected Member of Parliament under the Batasang Pambansa in 1984 for what was then called the Congressional District of Manila At-Large. This area clustered the districts of Paco, Pandacan, San Andres Bukid, Sta. Ana and Sta. Mesa districts.

Atienza served in the said position until the Marcos government was peacefully overthrown during the

People Power Revolution of 1986.

In recognizing Atienza’s unwavering efforts in improving the lives of Manileños and marginalized groups, the new Aquino government appointed him to manage the National Housing Authority where he promoted affordable homes for teachers and policemen.

Come the 1992 elect ions, he and former Manila Police General Alfredo

Lim teamed up and ran for vice mayor and mayor in Manila,

respectively. A winning tandem from the get go, they won a second term in 1995, and in 1998, when Lim ran for

how he went from student-leader to Manila City mayor and party list representative today, it was clear that his love and energy for country, its people and its future is far from running out.

TheSundayTimesMagazine: Did you go into public service because it was expected in your family?

Representative Lito Atienza:

No but it was just a natural thing that I was part of the political activities of my father. He was the president of the Liberal Party in our district. So during campaign season, he would assign me to put posters in the streets. At 12 years old, he already took me to political rallies and I watched intently how he serve the people.

There was no barangay chairman [post] at that time, but my father was a natural barangay chairman. He was always ready to help our neighbors. Even in the middle of the night, he would wake up to help them—take somebody to the hospital, pacify two fighting neighbors, and he even risked his life sometimes coming to their rescue.

I saw all of these, felt all of these, had all of it inculcated in me, so that’s why I also became a natural in public service.

I remember starting out, running for a city council seat in 1971. I was part of the Liberal Party bombed by the

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