“Iba naman!”
This is the battle cry of Manila City Mayor and Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso as he offered himself as the best alternative in the May 9 elections.
“Wala tayong atrasan!” (We are not withdrawing!) he shouted to further fuel the crowd’s energy at the “Isigaw Mo, Isko!” concert-rally on April 10.
Thousands of his supporters gathered for the event and chanted “Isko naman! Isko naman!” (It’s Isko’s turn!). They echoed the 47-year-old mayor’s sentiment that it was time for someone else – not backed by the usual political colors – to take the reins of the presidency.
The event turned the usually busy intersection of Maria Orosa and T.M. Kalaw streets in Manila into a huge party of all ages cheering on the young blood that promises to bring peace of mind to every citizen in the country should he be elected.
To show their love as Domagoso finally made his entrance on stage in the early evening, the crowd raised their hands to form the “two joints” hand sign, which their candidate often flashed at rallies.
Isko said the old political colors have been given several years to address the problems of the country, yet much still needs to be done. It was now time for someone else to take over.
“Ang ibinebenta ko sa inyo, ang hinahain ko sa inyo, ang binibigay ko sa inyo: peace of mind (What I am selling to you, what I am offering you, what I am giving you [is] peace of mind),” Domagoso said.
And if more political unrest ensues, it will be people who are at the losing end. “Nasaan ang tao dun? (Where are the people there?) The crowd delightedly replied: “Nganga!” (Open mouth!)
He stressed what the government needs to provide are jobs, lower prices, socialized housing, better public schools, and hospitals. All these are outlined in his Bilis Kilos 10-point economic agenda.
Why they’re rooting for Isko
Anna Lopez De La Paz, a 62-year-old retired accounting clerk at the Aberdeen Court restaurant in Diliman, Quezon City, said she believes Domagoso will keep his promises to the Filipino people.
“Lahat ng sinasabi niya, ginagawa niya talaga. Sobrang bait ni President Isko. Yung ginawa niya sa Maynila posibleng gawin din niya sa buong Pilipinas,” she told VERA Files.
(He really does what he says. President Isko is really kind. It’s possible that he can do to the entire Philippines what he did in Manila.)
Eloy David, a 66-year-old retired worker who once worked for the National Power Corporation, showed up at the rally to express support for Domagoso despite needing a cane to help him walk and stand up.
“Sa tingin ko siya ang pinakamagaling na kandidato ngayon. Unang-una, maka-Diyos. Tsaka ‘yung mga nagawa niya dito sa Manila, maipagmamalaki mo,” David told VERA Files.
(I think he’s the greatest candidate now. First of all, he’s godly. And you can be proud of the things he’s done in Manila.)
He said that Domagoso built a new Ospital ng Maynila and a new, fully air-conditioned building for the Manila Science High School so the poor can experience these upgraded facilities.
“Kasi dati siyang mahirap, kaya binibigyan niya ng dignidad ang mga mahirap… Kasi nga, ang gusto nga raw niya, yung naranasan ng anak niya — yumaman na siya, eh — maranasan din ng mga taong mahihirap.”
(He was once poor, so he is giving dignity to the poor… As someone who eventually became rich, he wanted to let the poor people experience what his children have experienced.)
Fifty-year-old Carlito Soryo is one of the vendors affected by the City of Manila’s waves of street clearing operations led by Domogoso early into his term of office. He said they are constantly hiding from the local city government during clearings, but still return to their usual spot after the operation.
“I’m still undecided,” Soryo ultimately admitted in Filipino after previously saying he supports Domagoso.
Domagoso sold the 3,700 hectare Divisoria Public Market to Festina Holdings Inc. on Aug. 10, 2020 for P1.45 billion to help raise funds to battle the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
This was criticized by the members of the Divisoria Public Market Credit Cooperative, who said that the Manila mayor and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna did not inform or consult them about the sale.
“Twenty-five days na po silang nagbabayaran doon sa city hall, doon pa lang po namin nalaman na binenta na yung pinagkukuhanan namin ng hanapbuhay,” Emmanuel Piaza of the Divisoria Public Market Credit Cooperative said in a March 30 press conference.
(It was only 25 days after [Manila government officials and Festina] were paying each other in city hall that we found out that [the Manila government] sold our source of livelihood.)
Lopez De La Paz said she doesn’t believe in negative issues against Domagoso: “Kung binenta niya ang Maynila o ang Divisoria, hindi totoo ‘yan kasi di sana wala na sila dito sa Maynila, (If he sold Manila or Divisoria, that’s not true because otherwise they [affected vendors] wouldn’t have stayed here in Manila).”
The 62-year-old said she actively supports Domagoso because one of her children has been enjoying free dialysis sessions at the Gat Andres Memorial Hospital for nine years because of Domagoso, since he was the vice mayor.
She and her family are very impressed with the incumbent Manila mayor’s governance because he’s approachable and so unlike other politicians who act high and mighty. According to De La Paz, Domagoso’s official Facebook page regularly entertains their concerns and does not ignore them.
“Napakababang-loob ni Isko Domagoso talaga, sobra. ‘Pag nakausap mo siya, parang pareho lang kayong normal. Hindi mo siya titingalain. Talagang siya ang bumababa para sa iyo,” she added.
(Isko Domagoso is very humble. If you talk to him, he treats you like an equal. You don’t have to look up to him because he humbles himself for you.)
House painter Aries Saenz, 49, said what made him support Domagoso was the ex-vice mayor’s immediate assistance to his wife who was once sick.
“Halimbawa, pumunta ako noong umaga sa city hall noong vice mayor pa siya. Kinabukasan, andoon na kaagad ‘yung gamot para sa misis ko,” he told VERA Files.
(For example, I went to the city hall one morning when he was still a vice mayor. The next day, we received medicines for my wife.)
In gratitude, Saenz has made it his tradition to voluntarily fly seven-foot kites every time Domagoso ran for public office. He also flies kites at the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine at Ermita, Manila every October 24, Domagoso’s birthday.
Saenz asked help from his fellow painters to fly a total of eight kites to show support for Domagoso. A barangay chairman, who Saenz refused to name, provided food for them. But Saenz maintains that his kite flying activity is purely voluntary.
During the rally, Domagoso thanked the people who chanted and expressed their support by chanting “Walang iwanan” (We won’t abandon you). He declared: “Buong buhay ko, taumbayan ang nag-akyat sa akin. Bawat hagdanan, yugto ng buhay ko. Tao, laging tao.
(All my life, the people are the ones who raised me up. Every step. Every chapter of my life. It’s people, always [the] people.)
A volunteer-driven rally
The rally was organized by volunteers, a group led by singer-composer Jimmy Bondoc, a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte. Bondoc wrote a campaign song for Domagoso when he announced he was supporting the mayor.
Domagoso thanked the volunteers and his supporters. He added: “Talagang gusto niyo maiba naman. Baliktad na ngayon. Dati rati, ‘yung kandidato ang gumagastos. Ngayon, botante na ang gumagastos.”
(You really want something different. It’s the opposite today. In the past, the candidate spent [for their campaign]. Now, the voters are the ones who spend.)
Several bands such as This Band, Shamrock and South Border, as well as celebrities Wendell Ramos, Domagoso’s son Joaquin, and Sexbomb New Generation performed during the concert-rally.
Pro-Duterte vloggers Banat By, as well as Mocha Uson of the Mothers for Change partylist, went on stage to endorse Domagoso.
Several times during the program, the hosts urged the crowd to shout “God first!” – one of Domagoso’s campaign slogans – to which the people, with smiles on their faces, will shout back with their index finger pointing to the sky.
Willie Ong, Domagoso’s running mate, was noticeably absent from the event. Still, the mayor exhorted the crowd to vote for the tandem. “Pinili ko doktor dahil pinili ko kayo (I chose a doctor because I chose you),” he added.
Domagoso admitted that he is “at a disadvantage” and enjoined his supporters to persuade their families and friends to vote for him.
Adopting the Gospel tone of Palm Sunday,Domagoso addressed his audience: “Humupa kayo, magpakababang-loob kayo. Ipaliwanag ninyo sa inyong mahal sa buhay, sa inyong kaibigan, ito ay hindi tungkol sa mga kandidatong katulad ko. Ito ay tungkol sa anim na taon ng buhay natin at ng mga anak natin.”
(Go forth and humble yourselves. Explain to your loved ones, friends, that this is not about candidates like me. This is about the six years of our lives and the lives of our children.)
When asked why he is still pushing to run as president despite admitting his unfavorable position in the upcoming polls, Domagoso said there is still a chance for him to win and that he was also in a similar position when he ran for mayor in his home city.
“Ang dehado, may tsamba (The underdog could get lucky),” Domagoso joked. “It’s not final until the fat lady sings,” he told VERA Files.
Domagoso said they will continue to reach as many people as possible and believes that the surveys do not accurately reflect the “real situation” on the ground. “We’ll continue what we’re doing and go directly to the people,” he added.
According to a recent voter preference survey conducted by Pulse Asia for the month of March, Domagoso lost two percent of the voter share compared to the February survey of the polling body. He still remains as the top second-choice candidate among voters interviewed by Pulse Asia.
The alternative choice
Near the end of the rally, Domagoso introduced, for the first time, his family to the public. His wife Diana “Dynee” Domagoso, Dynee’s son Vincent Patrick, and Domagoso’s three children Joaquin, Frances Diane, and Drake went on stage.
“Sa loob ng dalawampu’t apat na taon, wala akong pinasok na pamilya ko sa gobyerno (In my 24 years [of government service], no member of my family entered the government),” Domagoso said.
Domagoso previously said he has banned his relatives from running for public office while he held a government position. He also said he wants other people to be given a chance to serve the public.
While no major political party is endorsing Domagoso, he is left unfazed and said his strong desire to run for the presidency largely comes from the common people.
“Ang pinakamagandang endorsement, ang endorsement ni Maria at ni Juan Dela Cruz. Ang endorsement ng ordinaryong pamilyang Pilipino (The greatest endorsement, the endorsement of Maria and Juan Dela Cruz. The endorsement of the ordinary Filipino family),” Domagoso said.
“Tuloy ang laban! (The battle continues!),” Domagoso shouted together with his supporters.
As the air filled with white and blue confetti, and the loud and bright fireworks colored the black night sky, Domagoso waved the Philippine flag.