MANILA, Philippines — Manila Vice Mayor Angela Lei “Chi” Atienza has received national recognition after being named the 3rd Outstanding Vice Mayor in the Philippines at the Gawad Pilipino Awards, adding another accolade to her first year in office.
The recognition was presented during an awarding ceremony at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club House in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, where local government officials and lawmakers were honored for their work in public service, governance and community-driven legislation.
Atienza dedicated the recognition to the people of Manila, emphasizing that the award was not an individual achievement but a reflection of the collective work of the city government.
“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa Gawad Pilipino Awards sa pagkilalang ito bilang 3rd Outstanding Vice Mayor in the Philippines,” Atienza said, according to reports.
She also credited the Manila City Government, the City Council and Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso for their support and partnership in serving Manileños.
Recognition comes during her first year as vice mayor
Atienza currently serves as vice mayor and presiding officer of the 13th Manila City Council. The official City Council website lists her as the city’s vice mayor alongside Domagoso as mayor.
Her latest recognition follows another award earlier this year. In February, Manila Bulletin reported that Atienza was named one of “People to Watch 2026” by Rising Tigers Magazine for what the organization described as her commitment to inclusive leadership and public service.
That recognition highlighted her stated advocacy for giving different sectors of Manila society a voice, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, single parents, workers and other marginalized communities.
City Hall says recognition strengthens push for legislation
The latest award comes as the Manila City Council continues its legislative work under Atienza’s leadership.
Reports on the Gawad Pilipino recognition said the Manila leadership intends to continue coordinating between the executive and legislative branches, with proposed measures focusing on areas such as healthcare, social welfare and livelihood support.
The recognition also comes after Manila’s local government received other public-service accolades and recognition throughout 2026. In June, Atienza joined Mayor Domagoso in the Gawad Manileño 2026, a city program recognizing outstanding Manileños, institutions and taxpayers.
A strong electoral mandate
Atienza’s national recognition comes just over a year after she won the Manila vice mayoral race in the 2025 elections.
Based on partial, unofficial election results compiled by Rappler from the Comelec Media Server, Atienza received 582,510 votes, or 51 percent, defeating then-incumbent vice mayor Yul Servo Nieto, who received 249,419 votes.
She subsequently assumed the vice mayor’s post and became presiding officer of the 13th City Council.
For Atienza, the latest award now adds a national distinction to a political career that has moved from media and public communication into Manila’s local government.
But the bigger test may come after the applause.
As the city’s legislative leadership pushes measures involving healthcare, social welfare and livelihood, Manileños will ultimately judge whether the recognition translates into policies and programs that produce tangible results on the ground.
For now, Chi Atienza has secured a place among the country’s recognized local government leaders — and the spotlight on Manila’s vice mayor is only getting brighter.
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