Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso will file his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for President Monday, Oct. 4, which is also the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
It was Mayor Isko’s decision to time his filing of COC with the feast day of St. Francis to which he was named after by his mother, the late Rosario “Nanay Chayong” Moreno, a native of Allen, Samar province.
Concern for the poor is a central theme in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. After renouncing his wealthy life, St Francis lived as one of the poorest and lowest in society and worked as a day laborer. This was hard menial, low-paid work yet he never passed a collection plate nor asked the public for money.
Pope Francis chose his namesake and beloved saint, Francis of Assisi, because he is “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.”
Mayor Isko’s life has been an open book. He and his Nanay Chayong lived as informal settlers in the slums of Tondo Manila.
Working as a “basurero,” the young Isko knew what it was to be dirt poor. But his being poor did not become a hindrance to his going to school and finishing high school.
After he became a councilor in 1998, Councilor Isko took the advice of his mentor and second father Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, and to finish college which he did six years later.
When he became mayor in 2019, Mayor Isko’s major projects focused on mass housing for the poor of Manila, building hospitals that are affordable, and building public schools for the benefit of school children.
These, the Manila mayor accomplished amid the Covid 19 pandemic in which saw Mayor Isko giving boxes of ayuda to Manila residents; free covid 19 swab tests, and continuous mass vaccination to both residents and non-residents.
Mayor Isko and his vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong are expected to file their respective COCs before 12:00 noon on Monday. (Office of Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso) – bny
