What Manila needs most is an ever-reliable mayor, one who always has his constituents’ welfare at heart and will be ready to genuinely serve them in every way---and that mayor, according to former President Joseph Estrada, “is former environment secretary Lito Atienza, who has carried out that role before in a record three consecutive terms.”

To rousing cheers from a crowd of thousands in a kickoff rally of the Buhayin ang Manila ticket in Manila’s San Andres district recently, Estrada said, “like me, Lito has his heart for the poor. Hindi siya nang-iiwan, siya’y tunay na kaibigan, laging maaasahan [He doesn’t abandon people, he’s a true friend, and an ever-reliable person].”

After raising the hands of Atienza and running mate Ma. Lourdes “Bonjay” Isip-Garcia, Estrada addressed the crowd to thank Manilans for their continued support for him and his Partido ng Masang Pilipino, and promised them he would in turn compensate that love with ever greater public service “in coordination with an Atienza administration in Manila,” continuing where he was disrupted in his two-year term in 2001.

Earlier in the evening, Buhayin ang Maynila candidates, including vice mayoral bet Isip-Garcia, congressional candidate Amado Bagatsing, and councilors, also addressed the rally, which came on the first day of the official campaign period for local positions, amid fireworks and confetti.

“Alam ko ang pagkatao ni Lito. Subok na siya sa pagtulong sa mga mamamayan, lalo na sa mga mahihirap [His record in helping people is solid, especially with the poor],” added Estrada. Atienza was one of the few public officials seen by Estrada’s side as he left Malacanang in January 2001.

Estrada said he never held it against Atienza for joining the Arroyo Cabinet, because, he said, the former environment secretary never abused his power and stayed loyal to his friends “like me.” The two have been friends since the seventies, when they shared the common advocacies of caring for the elderly and providing housing for the poor. Both had similar records as mayor in terms of giving priority to these two areas. Estrada was San Juan’s mayor for 16 years before he ran for senator in 1987.