Isko Moreno vows to make Manila different

Citing that he was once a garbage scavenger who never dreamed of one day becoming the mayor of the nation’s capital, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso urged the youth to work hard in pursuing and making their dreams a reality. “Study hard because you were blessed with parents who are able to send you to school. Not everyone is as lucky as you,” he said on Wednesday night as one of the awardees of the 2019 Gusi Peace Prize. “But do not just stand idly by. You must do something to achieve your dreams; it will not just come out of nowhere. You need to work hard for it,” Domagoso added. He was named one of the recipients for his untiring efforts, “working for people’s amelioration, to find peaceful solutions for the people’s welfare by promoting peace through statesmanship.” “I’m still far [from successful]. We’re just starting out in Manila but we are thankful to the Gusi Foundation for this award because we are again slowly gaining recognition as a city,” Domagoso said. The mayor added he could not guarantee success when it came to the city’s goals, aspirations and visions, but “the very least I can guarantee [is that] Manila will be different.” He also called on residents to help the local government in proving that Manila was truly the capital city of the country. “I am humbly asking you all to help us promote Manila and prove to everyone that Manila deserves to be the capital city of the Philippines, and that the title cannot be claimed by any other city,” he said.—MEG ADONIS