Plaza Asuncion in Malate, Manila. Photo by Kit Cruz of Manila City’s Department of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
MANILA, Philippines — Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has inaugurated the newly-refurbished Plaza Asuncion in Malate and took pride in the fulfillment of his promise during the 2019 election campaign.
Moreno said Thursday that the modernized Plaza Asuncion — now free of garbage and obstruction and upgraded with fountains — is proof that he walks his talk.
“Masaya ako para sa inyo. Nagbitaw ako ng salita sa inyo and today there is a proof for it,” said Moreno, who in 2019 pledged to rehabilitate the park.
“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,” added the presidential aspirant in the coming May elections.
Aside from Plaza Asuncion that was inaugurated on Monday night, Moreno also enumerated other infrastructure projects that were completed or soon-to-be-completed under his term such as the newly-rehabilitated Manila Zoo, Bagong Ospital ng Maynila, socialized housing units in Tondo and Binondo, and school buildings, among others.
He also cited his other programs like allowances and services for senior citizens, public school students, and teachers — which are all part of his campaign vows in 2019.
“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,” Moreno stressed.
“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,” he added.
Plaza Asuncion in Malate, Manila. Photo by Kit Cruz of Manila City’s Department of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
Based on the latest Pulse Asia survey, Moreno placed third if elections were held during the survey period December 1-6, 2021, garnering eight percent of the respondents’ approval
READ: Pulse Asia’s December survey: Marcos and Duterte-Carpio team is top choice
Still, Moreno’s party Aksyon Demokratiko remained thankful for the public’s trust, noting that he is still regarded as the top second option according to the same survey.
READ: Aksyon Demokratiko thankful despite Isko’s slide in rankings: Many still pick him as 2nd option
Despite the odds — and despite stopping his tour of the country to focus on fighting the latest COVID-19 surge — Moreno believes that God would have mercy on the country, and would not provide the Philippines with a bad leader.
“May awa ang Diyos. Hindi naman siguro makasalanan ang bansang ito para parusahan tayo ng Diyos na bigyan tayo ng mga lider na makakaperhuwisyo sa atin. Wala namang perpekto. I am not perfect. I am no angel. Hindi ako anghel, pero ako, patuloy na naniwala sa Diyos, hindi tayo pababayaan, hindi ipapariwara ang bansang ito,” he said.
“Kaya kung gusto ninyong maiba naman, gumawa tayo ng kakaibang bagay,” he added. “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.”