TODAY, we made history. I hope it’s destiny.”

Thus said Manila Mayor Isko Moreno as he and runningmate Doc Willie Ong filed their certificates of candidacy for President and Vice President, respectively at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday before noon. Both are running under the Aksyon Demokratiko party.

Before going to the Comelec, Moreno, his wife Dynee and Ong, with wife Dr. Liza, paid a visit at the Sto. Nino de Tondo Parish Church in Tondo, along with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna.

In his press conference following their filing of CoCS, Moreno thanked God and his parents Joaquin and Chayong –natives of Antique and Samar who squatted in the slums of Manila and whom he said did strive hard for him — teachers, classmates, fellow Tondo residents, Manilans for their contribution in making him reach the pinnacle of his local public service career when he got elected as Manila Mayor in 2019.

He made special mention of former Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, father of Vice Mayor Honey, whom he said is his mentor and who encouraged him to further improve himself as a public servant by going back to studies.

“Salamat sa mga taga-Tondo na mukha ng Pilipinas at aking pinagsimulan, sa mga taga-Maynila na salamin ng bansa, na nagbigay ng pagkakataon. I hope nagpalingkuran ko kayo ayon sa inyong kagustuhan at natugunan ayon sa inyong pangangailangan,” Moreno said.

“Ngayon mga kababayan, tanggapin nyo po ang aplikasyon ko buong kababang-loob… ako po ay tumatakbong Pangulo ng bansa at aplikante ninyo. ..sa dami ng ating suliranin, sa tulong ninyo, bigyan niyoo lang ako ng pagkakataon na kayo ay mapaglingkuran sa buong bansa at kababayan natin na nasa buong mundo…lahat ng oras, lakas ng pangagatawan na aking tanging puhunan, ibubuhos ko kayo paglingkuran maibsan ko man lamang ang ating dinaranas,” Moreno said.

He added: “Ako po ay magiging kaisa ninyo upang pigilan na ang pagkakahati-hati natin bilang mamamayan. We are too divisive and indecisive that caused the stunting of our economy on top of the pandemic. Now, bigyan po ninyo ako ng pagkakataon paghilumin natin ang ating bansa para sa magandang kinabukasan na ating inaasam.. Muli iniaalay ko ang aking sarili, let’us heal our country together for a better future for each of us. Pilipinas ,God First!!””

The mayor also took the opportunity to call on the voting public to choose him and Ong together and not to give him another Vice President.

“I encourage all of you.. mga kababayan ko.. huwag n’yo kami paghiwalayin ni Doc Willie. Pagod na kayo sa away, iba ang president iba ang vice president, tapos five years awayan nang awayan, nakalimutan na tao,” Moreno stressed.

He also explained that he opted for a doctor as his runningmate so that he can dedicate his time and effort focusing on economic challenges while Doc Willie can take care of the problems related to the pandemic which he said will still be around next year.

Moreno expressed hope that the Filipinos will also make another first next year, by choosing a President and a Vice President who are party allies and who do not belong to opposite sides.

The mayor cited as an example how his harmonious relationship with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, also a doctor, made the local government of Manila succeed in all its programs addressing pandemic-related problems.

Lacuna is running for mayor with third district Congressman Yul Servo as her vice-mayoral candidate.

Moreno assured that Lacuna and Servo will continue all the programs already started by his administration, speciall the social amelioration program for senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities and students.