Family Man
Evelina or Beng took up her bachelor’s degree at the Philippine Women’s University in Manila, where the Bayanihan Dance Company was based. After their trip to Hong Kong in 1966, Lito finally decided that he had fallen in love with Beng, who had become his constant partner in Jota Caviteña and Binasuan. He did not ask her to be his girlfriend, he offered her marriage and asked her if she agreed to have a dozen children with him. Beng, who secretly had a crush on Lito, readily said yes.
He believed that everything was happening on purpose. Lito being a talented and disciplined dancer, analogized his life to be like a dance number, where the accompaniment is like God’s divine will, if you dance against the music’s tempo, the dance would be so wrong. And he believed that Beng would be the perfect partner in dances as well as God’s given better half with whom he would grow old with.
- Lito and Beng – Meant To Be
In May 1966, they tied the knot in a civil ceremony at the Manila City Hall (which apparently became his office for 30 years serving as a PR Officer, Vice Mayor and Mayor eventually). But Beng’s father disapproved of their marriage because she was barely 18 and he was just 24 and did not have a very stable income. So, they eloped the next month. But he did not stop proving to Beng’s father that they were meant to be together.
(1) Lito with his children Lani, Maile and Ali, as they open their Christmas gifts.(2) Lito and Beng with Chichi relaxing near the bay with friends.
Finally, they had a church wedding in July and a year later, Matanglawin – Kuya Kim was born. The next year, Analei was born. A year after came Lani and after one year, Maile. The fifth child was their second son Ali, whom Lito named after the famous boxer Muhammad Ali because his built looked like he was going to be an athlete someday. After the sixth baby Chichi, the stork stopped visiting. They wanted 12 but they only had six. So they still adopted two special children, one blind and one mentally challenged. Little did they know that Lito will be the Father of the City of Manila, a family two- million strong.
As promised, Lito passed on the heritage to his children.
“One could not be an effective public servant if he couldn’t support, instill good values and manage his own family”, Lito would always tell his children.
Lito and Beng see to it that they always spend quality time with their kids, most especially with their 14 grandchildren.
He would always make it a point to bring his children to Sunday mass and spend quality time with them. Up until now that Lito and Beng already have 14 grandchildren, they would spend Saturday evenings and Sundays with their children and their own families updating each other with recent happenings in their lives. The children look up to Lito and Beng as their role models but still consider them as their very best friends.
It is indeed true that one could see a great leader through his own home. Home-for this matter is not the structure, but the family one has successfully built.
- The Atienza Family
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