THEY say that “the only way to know the true character of a person is know where the person came from” and that is why we feel that no matter how much we know or have heard about this person, we cannot help but over-emphasize his past because it is such that would allow us to know his story and determine what character he is truly made of.
Sino pa nga ba ang ti-nutukoy natin kungdi ang mahal nating si Francisco Domagoso, mas kilala natin as Isko Moreno na nagsimula bilang basurero sa Smokey Mountain, who rose to become the second most important political figure in the country’s capital city. Bongga, di ba?
Isko was born on Oct. 24, 1974 in Parola, Tondo, Manila to Joaquin Domagoso na tubong-Antique na dating arrastre or stevedore and his mom Rosario Moreno of Samar na dating labandera.
Tumira sina Isko sa isang maliit na barung-barong where eating three times a day was considered a luxury. Para makatulong sa kaniyang hikahos na pamilya, he decided to work as a basurero habang nag-aaral sa Rosauro Elementary School.
Upon reaching high school at the age of 12, he promoted himself by working as pedicab driver and bravely battled the streets of Manila hanggang makapagtapos ng high school.
At dahil naniniwala siya na ang edukasyon lang ang pwede niyang ma-ging sandata para matulungan ang kanyang pamilya, he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a seaman by enrolling at the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI). Ito rin yung panahon na na-discover siya ng isang talent scout who eventually introduced him to showbiz, putting a temporary stall at his tertiary studies.
In 1998, determined to help his kababayans in Tondo, Isko run for the City Council of Manila at the young age of 23 and was then elected as their youngest councilor and his reelection in 2001 garnered the most number of votes in terms of percentage in all six districts of Manila, making him the number one councilor.
Sa kabila ng kanyang busy schedule as a councilor, nagawa pa rin ni Isko na tapusin ang kanyang tertiary education with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Management sa International Academy of Management and Economics.
Kumuha rin siya ng crash course sa local legislation and finance sa UP and even enrolled at the Arellano College of Law and was on his way to becoming an incoming third year when he decided to go full time as Vice Mayor of Manila.
He was also able to obtain an Executive Education program training at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University and was part of the International Visitors Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC in 2010.
What I am saying here is that nagsilbing napakalaking inspirasyon para sa mga ka-tulad nating mahihirap ang buhay ni Isko Moreno – na hindi hadlang ang kahirapan para makamit natin ang ating mga munting pangarap – basta ba’t masipag ka’t determinado.
Natutuwa kami sa anumang narating niya sa buhay at pulitika – and hindi pa natatapos ang pangarap niyang ito. He is now eyeing for a se-natorial seat dahil in fairness to him, magaling na public servant ang kaibigan nating ito.
Napakabait and very generous indeed! He has so much for the country in his heart at marami siyang gustong gawin para makatulong sa pag-unlad ng bansang ito.
Kasi nga, he knows how it is to be poor and he doesn’t want people to settle for that. Gusto niyang iangat ang buhay ng bawat isa sa atin, lalo na ang mga kapuspalad.
“Ayokong maranasan ng mga susunod na henerasyon ang naranasan kong paghihirap sa buhay. Sa maliit na kakayanan ko ay nais ko silang tulungan, kailangang mag-aral sila kaya ang main focus ko ay ang edukasyon ng mga kabataan.
Basta ba merong willingness sila to study and finish school, I will always be here for them,” ang simpleng pahayag ni Isko. Yes, katiket ni Isko si Sen. Grace Poe. Mapalad siyana mapabilang sa prime block na ito.
“Ayokong mangako nang mangako, kung ano ang kaya kong gawin ay gagawin ko na lang. Kung sa tingin nila ay nagawa ko ang aking trabaho nang maayos when I was still councilor and vice mayor of Manila, tiyak na hihigitan ko pa iyon.
“Kasi nga, next to showbiz, this is the thing that I’ve always enjoy and wanted to do, to serve. Sarap maging public servant – dami kong natutunan sa buhay. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat at sa Poong Maykapal dahil dinala niyo akong lahat sa lugar na gustong-gusto kong gawin,” Isko added.
Tumanggi namang mag-react si Isko sa viral interview ng kapwa niya artista at senatorial candidate na si Alma Moreno sa show ni Karen Davila na Headstart. Maraming nanlait at nambastos kay Ness dahil sa panayam na iyon.
Ayon kay Isko, maraming nang nasabi against Alma at Karen, kaya hindi na maganda kung magsasalita pa siya, basta ang sinabi niya, naranasan din niya ang malait at mahusgahan. Pero sa halip na ma-discourage, ginawa niya ang lahat para patunayang may kakayan din siyang maglingkod sa bayan.
Oo nga, naalala namin, matindi rin ang mga ginawang paninira at black propaganda laban kay Isko noong panahong tumatakbo siya sa Maynila. May pagkakataon pa nga na ipinakalat ang mga sexy pictures niya noon para lang ipahiya siya pero wa epek iyon sa kanyang pagkandidato dahil nanalo naman siya.