23 Facts About Lito Atienza

Lito Atienza unsuccessfully ran for vice president of the Philippines in the 2022 elections as the running mate of Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Lito Atienza is well known for hosting the drama anthology television series Maynila, which aired on GMA Network from 1999 to 2020.

Lito Atienza took up his primary and secondary education from Ateneo de Manila University's Basic Education Unit and completed a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas.

Lito Atienza started his political career in 1968 when he organized the Democratic Youth Movement.

Lito Atienza was one of those who survived the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971.

Lito Atienza later became a barangay captain in 1972, serving in this capacity for 10 years.

Lito Atienza remained with the opposition even if he was on constant threat of incarceration for opposing Marcos.

Lito Atienza was first elected as Member of Parliament in the then At-large Congressional District of Manila under the Batasang Pambansa in 1984 and served until Marcos was peacefully ousted during the People Power Revolution of 1986.

Under the administration of President Corazon Aquino, Lito Atienza was appointed general manager of the National Housing Authority in 1986 and he promoted low-cost housing for teachers and police officers.

When Lim resigned to run for President of the Philippines in 1998, Lito Atienza was elevated to mayor to finish Lim's second term.

Lito Atienza won his first full term in 1998 and took his oath of office on June 24.

Lito Atienza was again re-elected in 2001 and finally in 2004.

The Supreme Court ruled on April 17,2007, that Franklin Drilon was the real president of the Liberal Party and not Lito Atienza and has approved the Daza-Drilon Amendments to the LP's Charter.

In 2010, Lito 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.

In 2013, Lito Atienza became the representative of Buhay Partylist in the House of Representatives.

Lito Atienza opposed the divorce bill and tried to oppose the anti-discrimination bill as well, but withdrew after seeing a massive backlash against him.

Lito Atienza opposes the department of culture bill and the civil union bill.

Lito Atienza expressed his intent to campaign for the withdrawal of the reproductive law that was passed in 2013, or if not possible, he intends to minimize the funding of the law's programs.

Lito Atienza is an investor in the mining industry in the Philippines, and has been blocking the national land use bill since his stint as representative.

On October 1,2021, Lito Atienza filed his certificate of candidacy for Vice President for 2022 Philippine presidential election under PROMDI together with Senator Manny Pacquiao for President.

Lito Atienza underwent knee replacement surgery in February 2022 days after spraining his foot, making him unable to join Pacquiao in his campaign sorties, as well as the vice presidential debates.

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 Welton Beckett.

Lito Atienza hosted the Philippine television drama romance anthology, Maynila, broadcast by GMA Network from December 13,1999 until its hiatus on August 1,2020, due to the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in the region, where sometimes he acted for some cameo role, who gives advice to the characters.