[2] On March 28, 2007, he formally filed his papers as candidate for Mayor of the City of Manila during the May 14, 2007, mid-term elections.

On February 28, 2021, the Philippine Taekwondo Association conferred upon Atienza with a 5th Dan Blackbelt along with DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan.

First, with his fight against the Manila Bay reclamation and second for his firm stand against the 300% tax increase that the city council has approved.

Ali graduated in 2016 from National University of Singapore under the School of Public Policy in their Senior Management Programme.

He later headed Education, Ease of Doing Business, PWD, Senior Citizens, and Emerging Technologies in the Department.