Anselmo Hermenegildo Joaquin Atienza (April 21, 1909 – circa 1989) was a Filipino politician. He served as 13th Mayor of Manila (1944–1945) and as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives (1946–1952). His term as mayor coincided with the Liberation of Manila. He was previously the Vice Mayor of Manila (1940–1944) and a member of the Manila Municipal Board (1934–1940).

Hermenegildo Atienza
Atienza official portrait during the 2nd Congress.
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Manila
In office
December 30, 1949 – February 9, 1952
Succeeded byGavino Viola Fernando
Constituency4th district
In office
May 25, 1946 – December 30, 1949
Preceded byAlfonso Mendoza
Succeeded byArsenio Lacson
Constituency2nd district
13th Mayor of Manila
In office
July 18, 1944 – July 18, 1945
Preceded byLeon Guinto
Succeeded byJuan G. Nolasco
9th Vice Mayor of Manila
In office
August 29, 1941 – July 17, 1944
Mayor
Preceded byCarmen Planas
Succeeded byCarmen Planas
Member of the Manila Municipal Board
In office
January 1, 1934 – January 4, 1940
Personal details
Born
Anselmo Hermenegildo Joaquin Atienza

(1907-04-21)April 21, 1907
Manila, Philippine Islands
Died1989(1989-00-00) (aged 81–82)
Manila, Philippines
Political partyLiberal (1946-1989)
Other political
affiliations
Nacionalista (1934-1942; 1945-1946)
KALIBAPI (1942-1945)
RelativesLito Atienza (nephew)

Career

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Atienza topped the Philippine Bar Examination in 1932 as a student at the University of the Philippines. During World War II, he was imprisoned by the Japanese in Fort Santiago, alongside guerilla leader Guillermo Nakar. After the war, he was elected to the 1st Congress of the Philippines for Manila's second district. He became a strong opponent of the amnesty granted to collaborationists with the Japanese occupation.[1] In 1949, he introduced House Bill No. 2613, the Reciprocity Immigration Bill, which would have barred Australians from the country in response to the treatment of Lorenzo Gamboa under the White Australia policy.[2] He was re-elected in the same year, this time representing the newly-established 4th district of Manila. However, he was unseated in 1952 upon the annulment of his election due to an electoral protest.

Personal life

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His nephew Lito Atienza also became Mayor of Manila.[3]

Legacy

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An elementary school of the Division of City Schools - Manila (under DepEd) located in Baseco Compound, Port Area, Manila was named after him.

References

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  1. ^ Kerstin von Lingen, ed. (2017). Debating Collaboration and Complicity in War Crimes Trials in Asia, 1945-1956. Springer. pp. 112–113. ISBN 9783319531410.
  2. ^ Varma, Ravindra (2003). Australia and South Asia: The Crystallisation of a Relationship. Abhinav Publications. p. 234. ISBN 9788170170105.
  3. ^ "GMA urges Liberal Party to start 'new politics'". The Philippine Star. October 9, 2002. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by Vice Mayor of Manila
1940–1944
Succeeded by
Carmen Planas
Preceded by Mayor of Manila
1944–1945
Succeeded by
Juan Nolasco
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by
Alfonso Mendoza
Member of the House of Representatives
from Manila's 2nd district

1946–1949
Succeeded by
New district Member of the House of Representatives
from Manila's 4th district

1949–1952
Succeeded by
Gavino Viola Fernando