PHOTO from Comelec
MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza is the running mate of Senator Manny Pacquiao for the 2022 elections.
Pacquiao and Atienza filed their certificates of candidacies together at the Sofitel tent in Pasay City.
Atienza previously served as mayor of Manila before becoming the party-list representative for Buhay.
Why Atienza?
Asked by reporters why he picked Atienza as running mate, Pacquiao pointed to the congressman’s long years in public service.
“Pinili ko po si Cong. Atienza dahil unang-una po yung pagseserbisyo niya sa taumbayan ay ilang taon na po, more than 50 years ang kanyang pagseserbisyo’t paglilingkod sa bayan,” Pacquiao said.
(I picked Cong. Atienza because first of all, he has served the Filipino public for more than 50 years.)
“Nakita ko yung sinseridad niya at eksperto niya at hangarin na makatulong,” he added.
(I saw his sincerity and expertise and desire to help.)
Atienza, for his part, said he was honored to run alongside the boxing champ-turned-politician.
“Naniniwala po ako na si Manny Pacquiao ang tanging maaaring makapagbago ng pamumuhay ng Pilipino. Kung paano niya binago ang kanyang kalagayan sa kahirapan, magagawa niyang baguhin ang kalagayan natin,” Atienza said.
(I believe that Manny Pacquiao is the only one who can change the lives of Filipinos. If he was able to rise out of poverty, he would do the same to change our situation.)
“Ang kahirapan ay laganap magmula nung ako’y batang lumalaki sa Maynila, mahirap na ang buhay, lalong pinahirap ng mga dumaang administrasyon,” he added.
(Poverty is widespread even from when I was growing up in Manila, life is poor and it became worse with the administrations that have come and gone.)
“Si Manny Pacquiao ay pinanganak na mahirap, nakita ko ang kanyang pagsisikap, nakita ko ang kanyang determinasyon,” he further said.
(Manny Pacquiao was born poor, but I saw his hard work and his determination.)
/MUF
