Atayde won as a congressman in the district in last May’s elections, running as an independent with support from the Joy Belmonteled Serbisyo sa Bayan Party. Garnering 66.85 percent of the vote, he defeated incumbent Anthony “Onyx” Crisologo.

Founded in 1907, the Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

From 1935 to 1946, during the administrations of Presidents Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña, from 1953 to 1961 (Presidents Ramon Magsaysay and Carlos P. Garcia), and from 1965 to 1972 (President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.), it was the ruling and dominant party.