Tondo-born Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate Isko Moreno is going back to where it all started for the Manila Mayor, as he announced that he will be holding his miting de avance in Moriones, Tondo on Saturday in order to honor neighbors, friends and residents in the area where he started his journey as a public servant.
“Utang ng loob ko sa mga tiga-Tondo kung nasaan man ako sa mundo ng public service. Doon ako nagsimula, doon ko tatapusin yung laban. I started there (as a councilor) and I’ll end (my presidential campaign) there,” said the 47 year-old, who once worked as a scavenger in the now closed landfill, Smokey Mountain
When he became mayor in 2019, Moreno’s major projects focused on services and programs needed by the poor: mass housing projects, modern and fully-equipped hospitals, and more public schools for the benefit of school children.
“Yun man sukli ko na maibigay sa mga tiga-Tondo. Yun ang reason behind. Gusto ko man lang makita nila.”
According to Moreno: “Moriones kasi yun ang common eh. Madaling masakyan ng jeep yung northern part ng Tondo. Kung dito naman sa southern part ng Tondo, pwede mo naman lakarin yun pa-Zaragoza. Malapit yan sa sentro kasi, yung ginawa nating garden.”
As a young boy, Moreno began working as a “basurero” or scavenger and later a pedicab driver, exposing him to the realities of growing up poor in the Philippines. Being born poor, however, did not prevent the Manila chief executive from getting an education.
After joining the entertainment industry, Moreno became Manila councilor in 1998. He followed the advice of his mentor and second father, then vice mayor Danny Lacuna and obtained his college degree.
When he became mayor in 2019, Moreno’s major projects focused on services and programs needed by the poor: mass housing projects, modern and fully-equipped hospitals, and more public schools for the benefit of school children.
As Manila Mayor, the multi-awarded LGU chief broke ground on six major housing projects. These include (1) Basecommunity, (2) Tondominium 1 and 2, (3) Binondominium, (4) San Lazaro Residences, (5) Pedro Gil Residences, and (6) San Sebastian Residences.
The former scavenger from Tondo has frequently emphasized the importance of low-cost housing, and has regularly referred to a lesson he learned from his mother, who often told him in a Waray, “aso nga naghahanap ng masisilungan kapag umuulan, tao pa kaya?”