MANILA, Philippines 鈥� City of Manila mayoral candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso is calling for a campaign that prioritizes accomplishments and concrete plans over political attacks, arguing that voters deserve to hear what candidates can deliver.
鈥淟et鈥檚 not waste the time people have given us to be heard. Let鈥檚 use it as an opportunity to tell them what we plan to do (Huwag nating sayangin ang oras ng tao na binigay sa atin para tayo ay mapakinggan. Gamitin natin 鈥榶on as an opportunity to tell ano ang gagawin mo),鈥� he stressed.
In an interview following his appearance before thousands of supporters at the Kaagapay convention at Quirino Grandstand, Domagoso called for a more meaningful electoral discourse.
The former mayor lamented the increasing negativity in Manila鈥檚 political scene, something he claimed was not as rampant in previous elections.
鈥淚鈥檓 really surprised because that didn鈥檛 happen in Manila before鈥攖he mudslinging. It鈥檚 too much. If Chichi [Atienza] and I had walls for faces, they would probably be covered in mud by now (Nagugulat nga ako ngayon, dati hindi naman nangyayari sa Maynila 鈥榶on, 鈥榶ung mudslinging. Sobra. Grabe. Kung pader lang 鈥榶ung mukha namin ni Chichi, malamang kulay putik na 鈥榶ung pader),鈥� he added.
Despite this, he remains committed to a campaign focused on results, urging fellow candidates鈥攅specially those seeking reelection鈥攖o let their work do the talking.
鈥淎nd if you鈥檙e a reelectionist, I say, just report to the people what you鈥檝e done. Let鈥檚 not preempt their decision. Just lay out what you plan to do for our city, for your district, and let the people decide in the end (At kung ikaw naman ay reelectionist, sabi ko, kung ano ang ginawa mo. Mag-ulat ka na lang sa taumbayan. Huwag nating pangunahan ang magiging desisyon ng taumbayan. Basta tayo, maglahad ng mga ninanais mong gagawin para sa ating lungsod, para sa iyong distrito, tapos hayaan natin ang taumbayan ang magdesisyon kalaunan),鈥� he further said.
For Isko, politics should be about public service, not personal attacks.
He believes that every candidate given the platform to address voters has a responsibility to use that opportunity respectfully鈥攂y presenting real solutions rather than engaging in negativity.
This belief is deeply personal for him, shaped by his own improbable rise from poverty to public office.
Having grown up in Manila鈥檚 slums, scavenging for food to survive, Domagoso sees his political career as nothing short of a blessing.
The fact that he now has the chance to serve the same city where he once struggled fuels his commitment to a campaign based on substance rather than spectacle.
鈥淚 have nothing more to ask from God. If you knew where I came from鈥攊magine, literally from the garbage. Yet here I am, given the chance to serve our people in the very same community where I grew up. What are the chances? I am truly grateful for the simple things and everyday situations (Wala naman na akong hihingin pa sa Panginoong Diyos na mga bagay-bagay. Kung alam ninyo kung saan ako nanggaling. Biruin mo, literal sa basurahan).