PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso led the inauguration of the newly-refurbished Plaza Asuncion in Malate, one of the many projects promised and fulfilled by the 47-year-old local executive for the people of the city when he campaigned for the mayorship in 2019.

“Masaya ako para sa inyo. Nagbitaw ako ng salita sa inyo and today there is a proof for it,” Moreno told Manileños as he inaugurated the fully-lighted public space that is now replete with fountains, quality benches and speakers for background music.

Moreno has promised to rehabilitate the once-drab and blight public plaza when he becomes mayor as part of his goal to open green spaces for Manileños where they can rest and relax not only physically, but also mentally, after a grueling day.

“Matagal na itong inasam ng mga taga-Leveriza na maibalik sa kanila, vice mayor pa lang ako. Ginawa na itong tupadahan, may aso, pusa, tambay, solvent boys, bulok na kotse. Ang sabi ko noon, pag nag mayor ako, may awa ang Diyos, aayusin ko yan. Nabawi natin, tapos nagka-pandemya, pero nagawa natin,” said Moreno.

But Moreno does not contend himself by just keeping a promise, as he always strived to deliver the best for the people, in both infrastructure and services.

And the best for him means world-class, like the newly-rehabilitated Manila Zoo, the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila, vertical housing like Tondominium and Binondominium, modern 10-story fully-airconditioned public school buildings like the new Manila Science High School, social services for senior citizens, and assistance to public school students and teachers in the form of allowances, tablets, and free bandwidth, among other countless accomplishments that he had delivered.

“Sa awa ng Diyos, at sa tulong ninyo, tumayo ako sa entablado diyan, nangako ako noon sa inyo, may binitawan akong salita na kung minsan nga ‘totoo pa kaya ang sinasabi ni Ko-Is?’ Allowance sa estudyante, allowance sa senior citizen, Ospital ng Maynila, pabahay… di ba naaalala ninyo yan, ang dami kong sinasabi sa entablado. Ngayon mga kababayan sa awa ng Diyos, matangos ang ilong kong haharap sa inyo. Lahat ng ipinangako ng 10 taon, naganap ng dalawang taon lamang,” Moreno pointed out.

“Pwede palang gawin ng gobyerno ang labis, kasi maraming nagsasabi na sobra-sobra naman. Bakit kailangan ba kulang? Hindi ba karapatan ng tao na iyong serbisyong makukuha niya, sobra? Hindi yung pwede na, huwag tayong makuntento roon. Kailangan first class, pera naman ng taongbayan yan,” said Moreno.

The 47-year-old presidential aspirant said his overriding ambition to give the best for the people was born out of his love for the people, for them not to experience what he had experienced as a poor boy in the slums of Tondo.

Mayor Isko’s love for the people and leadership style was affirmed by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, who described Moreno as a man of action and an epitome of solid rock reliability in these trying times.

“Siya ay patuloy na nangangarap para sa kabutihan ng bawat batang-Maynila. Walang tulugan at tunay na mabilis sa pag-kilos at pagtugon sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng kapwa tao at nagsisilbing sandigan natin, lalong-lalo na nitong panahon na may kinakaharap tayong pandaigdigang krisis pangkalusugan,” Lacuna said.

And this kind of leadership is what Moreno wants foremost for the Filipino people to have when he applied for the highest position of the country, campaigning on a “Buhay at Kabuhayan” platform that places the welfare of the people above all else.

But while he had set aside his “Listening Tour” to focus all his efforts in fighting the Omicron surge gripping the country, Moreno said he still believes that destiny and the people’s will deal him a good hand.

Be that as it may, Moreno said that wherever fate takes him in his journey, his head will always remain high if only for delivering on his promises, and delivering what is best, for the people of Manila.

“Saan man ako dalhin ng tadhana, saan man ako dalhin ng pagkakataon, at least makakapaglakad ako saan mang sulok ng Maynila na naka-level ang noo. Sapagkat ang laway ko nasanla ng mga taga-Maynila. Dahil yun lang ang meron ako, laway ko nasasanla,” he said.

“Kaya masaya akong natutupad ang mga bagay na nasabi ko and going beyond what I promised,” said Moreno.