Manila Mayor and Aksyon Demokratiko presidential aspirant Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday night joined other recipients of the 2022 People of the Year award given by People Asia magazine in ceremonies at the Conrad Manila in Pasay City “for his stellar performance as chief executive of the capital.”
In his acceptance speech, Moreno said he was dedicating the award to his parents for molding and raising him to be a good person despite poverty and the challenges of growing up in the slums of Tondo.
Moreno was among the 13 People of the Year awardees for 2022, which include business tycoon Michael Tan, Nobel Peace laureate Maria Ressa, Dennis Uy, Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte, House Deputy Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, Senator Joel Villanueva, Korina Sanchez-Roxas, Dr. Regina Berba, actor John Arcilla, and Olympians Hidilyn Diaz, Eumir Garcia, and Nesthy Petecio.
“Iniaalay ko ang award na ito sa Nanay ko, sa Tatay ko, sumalangit nawa ang kanilang kaluluwa. Sila ay naging simbolo ko na huwag sumuko sa buhay, ” said Moreno.
The 47-year-old local chief executive also dedicated and shared the award with fellow city hall workers who have sacrificed their personal lives, with some even paying the ultimate price, so that others could survive the pandemic.
According to Moreno, “inaalay ko rin ito sa aking mga nakasama ko since day one. They left their families also and stayed with me for three straight months running the city government at the height of the pandemic, the very least, for our people to feel na merong gobyerno sa Lungsod ng Maynila sa kasagsagan ng kalituhan, pangamba at takot.”
“And I’m very proud of them at sumalangit nawa ang ilan sa kanila. They paid the ultimate price, and I share this award with them and their families, those who succumbed from the infection by doing public service, in taking care of others.”
Moreno also thanked his colleagues, especially Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, for their dedication and support in achieving their collective dreams for a better Manila in less than three years.
“Sapagkat yung aming pinangarap together on rebuilding Manila in 10 years, despite the pandemic, all happened in two years. So, puwede pala, posible pala. I owe it to them. Whatever naririnig niyo sa Maynila, hindi ko po kaya yoon na mag-isa. Nagawa po ‘yon dala ng pakikipagtulungan ng bawat isa,” he stressed.
Aside from the 2022 People of the Year Award, Moreno has won other distinctions, such as the Man of the Year in the 2020 Asia Leaders Award, the 2012 Most Outstanding Filipino in the Field of Public Service Award given by the Gawad Amerika Foundation, and one of the Top Ten Men Who Matter in 2011, also given by People Asia Magazine.
The tireless Manila mayor added that the People of the Year award, as well as all his achievements in the city, would never have been possible without the full support of his wife Diana Lynn Ditan Domagoso, and their five children.
“Sa aking pamilya, kay Dynee at yung lima kong anak, I am proud of them, they deserve this also. Because sila ang laging biktima o napagkakaitan ng oras ko. Because simple lang ang pananaw ko sa buhay, basta sila’y may masisilungan, may makakain, komportable ang buhay nila, I think they are okay,” he said.
Moreno was among the 13 People of the Year awardees for 2022, which include business tycoon Michael Tan, Nobel Peace laureate Maria Ressa, Dennis Uy, Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte, House Deputy Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, Senator Joel Villanueva, Korina Sanchez-Roxas, Dr. Regina Berba, actor John Arcilla, and Olympians Hidilyn Diaz, Eumir Garcia, and Nesthy Petecio.
Aside from the 2022 People of the Year Award, Moreno has won other distinctions, such as the Man of the Year in the 2020 Asia Leaders Award, the 2012 Most Outstanding Filipino in the Field of Public Service Award given by the Gawad Amerika Foundation, and one of the Top Ten Men Who Matter in 2011, also given by People Asia Magazine.