Isko Moreno
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Francisco Moreno Domagoso (born October 24, 1974), popularly known by his
stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...
Isko Moreno or Isko Moreno Domagoso (), is a Filipino politician and actor who previously served as the 27th
mayor of Manila The City Mayor of Manila ( fil, Punong Lungsod ng Maynila, sometimes referred to as, ''Alkalde ng Maynila'') is the head of the executive branch of Manila's city government. The mayor holds office at Manila City Hall. Like all local government he ...
from 2019 to 2022. Before heading the
capital city A capital city or capital is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state, province, Department (country subdivision), department, or other subnational entity, usually as its seat of the government. A capital is typically a city ...
of the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
, he first gained notability as an actor and television personality. Born and raised in the
slums A slum is a highly populated urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty. The infrastructure in slums is often deteriorated or incomplete, and they are primarily inh ...
of
Tondo, Manila Tondo is a district located in Manila, Philippines. It is the largest in terms of area and population of Manila's sixteen districts, with a Census-estimated 631,313 people in 2015 and consists of two congressional districts. It is also the seco ...
, Moreno spent his childhood in poverty and is widely known for his
rags-to-riches Rags to riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity—sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype in literature and popul ...
story. After average success in
show business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produc ...
, he entered politics in 1998, and ran for city councilor of Manila and was elected for three consecutive terms in topnotch victories. He then pursued higher education including some non-degree
postgraduate education Postgraduate or graduate education refers to Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have earned an Undergraduate education, un ...
at
Harvard Kennedy School The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), officially the John F. Kennedy School of Government, is the school of public policy and government of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school offers master's degrees in public policy, public ...
and Oxford Saïd Business School. In 2007, he ran as vice mayor of Manila and was elected for three consecutive terms. In 2016, he was term-limited as vice mayor and unsuccessfully ran for senator in the 2016 senatorial elections. He placed 16th out of 50 candidates. He then served in the Duterte cabinet as
social welfare Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet Basic needs, basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refe ...
undersecretary for a few months in 2018 before running and being elected mayor of Manila in a
landslide victory A landslide victory is an election result in which the victorious candidate or party wins by an overwhelming margin. The term became popular in the 1800s to describe a victory in which the opposition is "buried", similar to the way in which a geol ...
against his former allies and known bigwigs
Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada, (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor. He served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, the 9th vice preside ...
and
Alfredo Lim Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim Jr.. (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician and police officer who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007. He also served as the Mayor of Manila twice: first from 1992 to ...
in the 2019 local elections becoming the youngest elected mayor in the history of
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
. Widely regarded as one of the top performing local chief executives in the country, Moreno has described his leadership style as akin to that of his predecessor Alfredo Lim, citing their shared commitment in reducing crime and maintaining cleanliness of the capital. Moreno is also noted for his streetwise public image due to his use of colorful language coupled with Manila street
slang Slang is vocabulary (words, phrases, and linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in spoken conversation but avoided in formal writing. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of particular in-gro ...
. As a result, he was catapulted into prominence and is colloquially referred to as Yorme. His political career has been met with positive to mixed critical reception, with praise for his
political will Political will is defined as "the extent of committed support among key decision makers for a particular policy solution to a particular problem." It is also considered by political scientist Linn Hammergren to be "the slipperiest concept in the po ...
,
efficiency Efficiency is the often measurable ability to avoid wasting materials, energy, efforts, money, and time in doing something or in producing a desired result. In a more general sense, it is the ability to do things well, successfully, and without ...
, hands-on leadership,
people skills People skills are patterns of behavior and behavioral interactions. Among people, it is an umbrella term for skills under three related set of abilities: personal effectiveness, interaction skills, and intercession skills. This is an area of explor ...
,
nonpartisanism Nonpartisanism is a lack of affiliation with, and a lack of bias towards, a political party. While an Oxford English Dictionary definition of ''partisan'' includes adherents of a party, cause, person, etc., in most cases, nonpartisan refers sp ...
on designations, and results-oriented performance, but criticism for his sporadic spontaneous outspoken remarks, over-the-top
populist Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed ...
tendencies, and lack of permanence to a national political party, although he remained a constant member since the inception of
Asenso Manileño Asenso Manileño Movement () is a local political party in Manila. It is the city's ruling party since 2019, being in dominion through the administrations of mayors Isko Moreno and Honey Lacuna. History The party was established in 2005 by Mo ...
, a local party he co-founded. In September 2021, Moreno announced his bid for the Philippine presidency in the 2022 presidential election. He was unsuccessful in his bid and placed 4th out of 10 candidates in the presidential race count. Having served in the government for 24 years, Moreno has received several awards and accolades for his works in public service. He is also widely credited for "restoring Manila to its former glory within a short period of time", despite
disinformation Disinformation is false information deliberately spread to deceive people. It is sometimes confused with misinformation, which is false information but is not deliberate. The English word ''disinformation'' comes from the application of the L ...
against him by political rivals. He is generally known for his firm implementation of city-wide public services and programs,
beautification Beautification is the process of making visual improvements to a town, city, or urban area. This most often involves planting trees, shrubbery, and other greenery, but frequently also includes adding decorative or historic-style street lights and ...
of derelict
historical site A historic site or heritage site is an official location where pieces of political, military, cultural, or social history have been preserved due to their cultural heritage value. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have been rec ...
s, and spearheading the establishment of various city infrastructures. He announced retirement from politics after his one and only term as mayor ended on June 30, 2022.


Early life

Moreno is the only child of
Visayan Visayans (Visayan: ''mga Bisaya''; ) or Visayan people are a Philippine ethnolinguistic group or metaethnicity native to the Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and a significant portion of Mindanao. When taken as a single ethnic group, ...
parents Joaquin Copias Domagoso (1930–1995), a
stevedore A stevedore (), also called a longshoreman, a docker or a dockworker, is a waterfront manual laborer who is involved in loading and unloading ships, trucks, trains or airplanes. After the shipping container revolution of the 1960s, the number o ...
at
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
's North Harbor, from
San Jose, Antique San Jose de Buenavista, officially the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista, ( krj, Banwa kang San Jose de Buenavista; hil, Banwa sang San Jose de Buenavista; tl, Bayan ng San Jose de Buenavista), is a 1st class municipality and capital of th ...
, and Rosario Moreno (1946–2020) from
Allen, Northern Samar Allen, officially the Municipality of Allen ( war, Bungto han Allen; tl, Bayan ng Allen), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,228 people. It is loc ...
, a housewife who sidelined as a
laundrywoman Laundry refers to the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with t ...
and garlic peeler. Moreno's parents were not married when he was born and he has older half-siblings from his father's first family. Born and raised in the
slums A slum is a highly populated urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty. The infrastructure in slums is often deteriorated or incomplete, and they are primarily inh ...
of
Tondo, Manila Tondo is a district located in Manila, Philippines. It is the largest in terms of area and population of Manila's sixteen districts, with a Census-estimated 631,313 people in 2015 and consists of two congressional districts. It is also the seco ...
where he was once nicknamed as "Scott", Moreno spent his childhood in poverty. At age 10, he found alternative sources of income including pushing a cart, garbage collecting, and going house-to-house to gather old newspapers and used bottles, then reselling them to a local junk dealer. He also drove a passenger pedicab and rummaged through restaurant garbage bins for leftover food, which his mother would recook for dinner. Moreno finished elementary at Rosauro Almario Elementary School while he finished high school at Tondo High School, both public schools in Tondo, Manila. From his savings, Moreno briefly enrolled in maritime engineering at the Philippine Maritime Institute in 1992, managing only to enroll for one semester every year, but dropped out when he entered the entertainment business after he was discovered by a talent scout in 1993 who encouraged him to audition for '' That's Entertainment'', a popular defunct teen variety show that was hosted by
German Moreno German Molina Moreno (; October 4, 1933 – January 8, 2016), also known as Kuya Germs ( or ) and dubbed as "The Master Showman", was a Filipino television host, presenter, actor, comedian, talent manager, producer, writer, and director. Early ...
(no relation), as a way for him to help his family alleviate poverty. Moreno subsequently got the part. He adopted the screen name "Isko Moreno" using his mother's surname who coincidentally happens to share the same surname of the late television presenter and talent manager who catapulted him to fame.


Acting career

Then 18-year-old Moreno caught the attention of talent scout Wowie Roxas in 1993 while attending a funeral in Tondo and was then persuaded to join
show business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produc ...
due to his matinee idol image rooted in his boyish features. His first exposure was when he had an
extra Extra or Xtra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * ''Extra'' (newspaper), a Brazilian newspaper * ''Extra!'', an American me ...
role as a doorbell guy in an episode for the RPN 9
teen drama In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...
, '' Young Love, Sweet Love'' previously hosted by
German Moreno German Molina Moreno (; October 4, 1933 – January 8, 2016), also known as Kuya Germs ( or ) and dubbed as "The Master Showman", was a Filipino television host, presenter, actor, comedian, talent manager, producer, writer, and director. Early ...
. He then auditioned for the seventh batch and subsequently became a part of the Monday group of '' That's Entertainment'', a daily variety show featuring German Moreno's stable of aspiring teenage actors, under the screen name Isko Moreno where he was once paired up with former child star Bamba whom eventually became his girlfriend briefly in real life. His
big break ''Big Break'' is a British television game show, created by Roger Medcalf, Mike Kemp and Terry Mardell, presented by comedian Jim Davidson and snooker commentator John Virgo, and broadcast on BBC One between 1991 and 2002. Inspired by ITV's '' ...
came in when he was cast in a minor role in the 1993 romantic movie '' May Minamahal'' and became a leading man to
Claudine Barretto Claudine Margaret Castelo Barretto (; born July 20, 1979) is a Filipino actress, singer, and entrepreneur. Popularly dubbed as “''The'' ''Optimum Star''” by various media outlets, Barretto has won 3 FAMAS Award including 2 Best Actress w ...
in ''Muntik na Kitang Minahal'' a year later. He then starred in a variety of films and TV shows ranging from drama, romance, action, and comedy. He later became known for his mature roles and modeling during his short stint in the "ST/titillating films" (erotic films) genre that was prevalent in the country during the 1990s and appeared in movies such as ''Siya'y Nagdadalaga'', ''Exploitation'', ''Mga Babae sa Isla Azul'' and ''Misteryosa''. In 2004, he made a cameo appearance on his life story featured by ''
Maalaala Mo Kaya ''Maalaala Mo Kaya'' (; formerly written as ''Maala-ala Mo Kaya...''; abbreviated as ''MMK''), also known as ''Memories'', is a Philippines, Philippine television drama anthology show broadcast by Kapamilya Channel under ABS-CBN Entertainment. ...
'', the episode title called " Aklat", where Danilo Barrios portrayed him. In 2005, during his third term as a councilor of Manila, he returned to acting wherein he portrayed as a kind-hearted priest in the television drama series ''
Mga Anghel na Walang Langit ''Mga Anghel na Walang Langit'' (International title: ''Angels Without a Heaven'') is a Philippine drama television series from May 9, 2005 to February 24, 2006 on ABS-CBN's ''Primetime Bida'' replacing ''Spirits'' and was replaced by ''Sa Piling ...
''. He also had a brief appearance in 2007 in the television drama series ''
Bakekang ''Bakekang'' is a Philippine television drama series broadcast by GMA Network. The series is based on a Philippine graphic novel by Carlo J. Caparas. Directed by Gil Tejada Jr. and Khryss Adalia, it stars Sunshine Dizon in the title role. It pre ...
''. The following year during his first term as vice mayor, Moreno had a supporting role in the afternoon soap opera '' Ligaw na Bulaklak''. In 2014, he appeared in Japanese lifestyle variety show ''Homecoming'', where it was revealed that he is a godfather of then-
AKB48 AKB48 (pronounced ''A.K.B. Forty-Eight'') is a Japanese idol girl group named after the Akihabara (''Akiba'' for short) area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with it ...
member,
Sayaka Akimoto is a Filipino-Japanese actress and singer. She was a member of Japanese idol girl group AKB48 and its spin-off unit Diva (Japanese band), Diva. As an actress, Akimoto has appeared in both Japanese and American productions, and made her Hollywoo ...
, according to photo documentations by Akimoto's Filipina mother, as the episode showed Akimoto traveling to the Philippines to explore her Filipino roots. He was visited and interviewed on the show by Akimoto, her mother, Akimoto's fellow AKB48 co-member
Mariko Shinoda is a Japanese singer, actress, fashion model, and former member of the Japanese idol group AKB48, in which she was the captain of Team A. Career In October 2005, she auditioned for AKB48's first generation roster but failed the audition. Short ...
, and comedian
Hiroshi is a common masculine Japanese given name. It can also be transliterated as Hirosi. Possible writings Hiroshi can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *浩, "meaning" *汎 *弘, *宏, *寛, *洋, *博, *博一, *博司, ...
. In 2019, Moreno appeared in the film '' 3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon!'' as Yorme, a former mayor of
Balete, Batangas Balete, officially the Municipality of Balete ( tgl, Bayan ng Balete), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 24,055 people. The people from Balete is called Bal ...
, and leader of a horse ranch as well as an old friend of the Philippine president. He also made a cameo appearance in the 24th anniversary special of ''
Bubble Gang ''Bubble Gang'' is a Philippine television sketch comedy show broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Frasco Mortiz, it stars Michael V. It premiered on October 20, 1995 on the network's Friday night line up replacing '' Vilma''. The show is the ...
''. A
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
biographical film A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...
based on Moreno's life, '' Yorme: The Isko Domagoso Story'', was released on January 21, 2022, and was distributed by
Viva Films Viva Films is a Philippine film production company established under Viva Communications. It was founded on November 11, 1981, by Vic del Rosario Jr. History Veering away from the Sharon Cuneta-Gabby Concepcion tandem, Viva became home to qual ...
.
Raikko Mateo Raikko Rain Mateo Gongora (born July 31, 2008), better known as Raikko Mateo, is a Filipino child actor who gained popularity as the lead star of the fantasy-drama ''Honesto ''Honesto'' is a 2013 Philippine family drama television series dir ...
, McCoy de Leon, and
Xian Lim Alexander Xian Lim (born July 12, 1989) is a Filipino actor, model, singer, host, blogger, filmmaker and professional basketball player. He is best known for his roles in ''My Binondo Girl'' (2011), '' The Reunion'' (2012), ''Ina, Kapatid, Ana ...
portrayed Moreno in different times of his life, with Moreno also appearing as himself. In November 2022, it was announced that Moreno will play the role of
Ninoy Aquino Benigno "Ninoy" Simeon Aquino Jr., (; November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983) was a Filipino politician who served as a senator of the Philippines (1967–1972) and governor of the province of Tarlac. Aquino was the husband of Corazon Aquino ...
in the Darryl Yap film ''Martyr or Murderer'', to be released in February 2023.


Political career


Councilor of Manila

Moreno started his political career when he was elected and sworn in as
councilor A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries. Canada Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...
under the slate of then-Mayor
Lito Atienza Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr. (; born August 10, 1941) is a Filipino politician. He served as a Party-list Representative for Buhay from 2013 to 2022, and was a House Deputy Speaker from 2020 to 2022. He served as the Secretary of Environment ...
for Manila's first legislative district in 1998 at age 23, the youngest elected councilor in Manila's history at the time. Initially a decision done on a whim, he was re-elected in 2001 and 2004, topping the vote count of the former. His programs include the "''ISKOlar ng Bayan''" college scholarship program, the Isko Moreno Computer Learning Center (ISCOM), the "Botika ni Isko" which was the only pharmacy in the country installed within a public office, and the establishment of daycare centers in the first district. After receiving criticism from other members of the city council, his mentor, then-Vice Mayor Danilo "Danny" Lacuna, encouraged him to study while fulfilling his duties. In 2003, Moreno obtained his
business administration Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
degree from the
International Academy of Management and Economics International Academy of Management and Economics or IAME is a private, non-sectarian, degree-granting educational institution in Makati, Philippines. History In 1979, IAME's precursor was established under the name International University Fo ...
in
Makati Makati ( ), officially the City of Makati ( fil, Lungsod ng Makati), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration ...
. He also took a crash course in Local Legislation and Local Finance at the
National College of Public Administration and Governance National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...
,
University of the Philippines Diliman , image = University of The Philippines seal.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = Official Logo of UP Diliman , motto = Honor and Excellence , established = February 12, 194 ...
. He then completed bachelor in public administration at the
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (from 'University of the City of Manila', abbreviated as PLM) is a city-government-funded local university situated inside the historic walled area of Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. It was established on ...
(University of the City of Manila). He also attended non-degree programs,
fellowship A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...
s, and short courses in leadership and governance at the
John F. Kennedy School of Government The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), officially the John F. Kennedy School of Government, is the school of public policy and government of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school offers master's degrees in public policy, public ...
,
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
(Executive Education Program), and at the
Saïd Business School Saïd Business School (Oxford Saïd or SBS) is the business school of the University of Oxford. The School is a provider of management education and is consistently ranked as one of the world's top business schools. Oxford School of Management ...
,
University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...
(Strategic Leadership Programme).


Vice mayor of Manila

After his third and final term as city councilor, Moreno ran for vice mayor in
2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
under
Asenso Manileño Asenso Manileño Movement () is a local political party in Manila. It is the city's ruling party since 2019, being in dominion through the administrations of mayors Isko Moreno and Honey Lacuna. History The party was established in 2005 by Mo ...
, a local party he co-founded with Danilo Lacuna, as the running mate of then outgoing vice mayor Lacuna. During his election campaign, he criticized what he called "
black propaganda Black propaganda is a form of propaganda intended to create the impression that it was created by those it is supposed to discredit. Black propaganda contrasts with gray propaganda, which does not identify its source, as well as white propaganda ...
" by opponents who used photos of his past "sexy" acting career, but did not pursue any charges. Moreno eventually won the elections, beating his closest rival by about 80,000 votes; however, Lacuna lost to Senator
Alfredo Lim Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim Jr.. (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician and police officer who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007. He also served as the Mayor of Manila twice: first from 1992 to ...
, a former mayor himself. Moreno became the youngest elected vice mayor in the history of Manila at age 32. He studied law at
Arellano University School of Law The Arellano University School of Law (AUSL) is the law school of Arellano University. AUSL was established in 1938, making it one of the oldest law schools in the Philippines. The school is managed by the Arellano Law Foundation, a non-stock an ...
, but dropped in his second year when he was elected as vice mayor of Manila for the first time. He was re-elected in
2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
, this time under
Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party (Filipino and Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; ) is the oldest political party in both the Philippines and in Southeast Asia in general. It is responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th ce ...
and as the running mate of then-incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim of the
Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...
. Both Lim and Moreno took part in the negotiation of the
Manila hostage crisis The Manila hostage crisis, officially known as the Rizal Park hostage-taking incident, took place when a disgruntled former Philippine National Police officer named Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus in Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines, on A ...
until it was taken over by the police. Moreno had criticized the national government's urgency on the matter saying that the national government should have intervened early as it was already a national crisis level since foreign nationals were involved. Moreno also served as vice chairman of the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission. In 2011, Moreno was chosen to attend and sent to
Washington D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...
under the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) sponsored by the
US State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nati ...
, being the only Filipino participant on their batch. Between 2012 and 2013, the Commission on Audit (COA) found that Moreno's office had 623 ghost employees. Cases filed against him were already dismissed by the
Office of the Ombudsman An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...
. Moreno believed that the allegations were headed and politically motivated by then-Mayor Lim which resulted in their falling-out. Moreno said that he was only the signatory to the disbursement of the city council's employees and that the Office of the City Treasurer was the one who disburses employee salaries. The Manila
Regional Trial Court The Regional Trial Courts ( fil, Panrehiyong Hukuman sa Paglilitis) are the highest trial courts in the Philippines. In criminal matters, they have original jurisdiction. History It was formerly called as the Court of First Instance since the ...
also ordered the reinstatement of Moreno's employees whom the court declared as unlawfully terminated by then-Mayor Lim. Judge Daniel Villanueva dismissed the then-mayor's allegations that some of the terminated workers could be ghost employees. In May 2012,
Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada, (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor. He served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, the 9th vice preside ...
, the former president of the Philippines, announced his intention to run for mayor of Manila in the 2013 local election against then-incumbent Mayor Lim, but only for one term to give way for Moreno afterwards. Moreno, who was running for re-election as vice mayor in his third and last consecutive term, was chosen as Estrada's running mate. Estrada drove his famous "Jeep ni Erap" from San Juan to his new house at Altura,
Santa Mesa, Manila Santa Mesa is a district in Manila, Philippines. It is surrounded by Pasig River on the southwestern side, and by the San Juan River on its southern and eastern side. Land borders include the districts of San Miguel to the west and Sampaloc to ...
to ceremonially launch his candidacy. He was joined by his wife, former senator
Loi Ejercito Luisa Pimentel Ejército (; born June 2, 1930), commonly known as Dra. Loi Ejército, is a Filipino politician and physician who last served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2001 to 2007. She is the wife of former Philippine President Jose ...
and Moreno. Moreno then joined Estrada's party
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (), formerly ''Partido ng Masang Pilipino'' (), is a populist political party in the Philippines. It is the political party of former Philippine President Joseph E. Estrada. In the May 1998 presidential election, ...
(PMP) and
United Nationalist Alliance The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA; ) is a political party in the Philippines. It was created as a multi-party electoral alliance replacing the former United Opposition (UNO) coalition for the 2013 midterm elections, before it was launche ...
(UNA), which was then in coalition with PDP-Laban. On February 16, 2013, months before election, Moreno and other five councilors were arrested and detained by the police due to alleged
bingo Bingo or B-I-N-G-O may refer to: Arts and entertainment Gaming * Bingo, a game using a printed card of numbers ** Bingo (British version), a game using a printed card of 15 numbers on three lines; most commonly played in the UK and Ireland ** Bi ...
operations held in a public place and lack of permit. Moreno denied that the bingo game was in a public place in
Santa Cruz, Manila Santa Cruz is a district in the northern part of the City of Manila, Philippines, located on the right bank of the Pasig River near its mouth, bordered by the districts of Tondo, Binondo, Quiapo, and Sampaloc, as well as the areas of Grace P ...
as they were in a private property and did not cause obstruction. Moreno believed that then-Mayor Lim was involved in his arrest which the latter denied. Moreno claimed that the bingo game was not illegal as there was no wager involved and that the cards were given for free. Moreno further explained that the bingo session was initiated for entertainment purposes in order to attract people to attend their consultation program. In his defense, Moreno said that there is no law that requires anyone to obtain a permit from the local government unit if the bingo games were intended purely for entertainment purposes especially when being done in a private and gated compound. The day before, Lim and Estrada signed a "Peace Covenant" to prevent any election-related violence in the city of
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
. Moreno and the other councilors were released a day later and the gambling charges were eventually dismissed by the
Department of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a v ...
due to lack of evidence and vague allegations on how the acts were committed. The police complainants also failed to cite a particular provision of the law that was violated. Moreno was successfully re-elected in May 2013, with Estrada beating Lim as the new mayor of Manila. The Campaign Finance Office of the
Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
(COMELEC) later filed a complaint against Moreno in May 2017 for overspending in the 2013 elections claiming that Moreno exceeded expenditure limits by over P100,000 in his final vice mayoral bid. In his counter-affidavit which was received by COMELEC in October 2020, Moreno said his declared spending was a "simple and honest oversight" due to variances and unreconciled accounts and the sincere mistake was done in
good faith In human interactions, good faith ( la, bona fides) is a sincere intention to be fair, open, and honest, regardless of the outcome of the interaction. Some Latin phrases have lost their literal meaning over centuries, but that is not the case ...
. He later adjusted his expense report where the amended sum falls within campaign spending limits. Under Republic Act 7166, a candidate with political party support who is vying for neither the position of president or vice president, may spend only up to ₱3.00 per registered voter in his or her constituency. Several poll watchdogs have echoed support for Moreno and have long pushed for the revision of an outdated spending cap as they said that such law enacted in 1991 no longer reflected actual spending and that such action would make the disclosure of candidates and political parties more truthful. Under the poll body’s Rules of Procedure, preliminary investigations on election offenses must be terminated within 20 days after the receipt of counter-affidavits, after which a resolution should be made within five days. However, there has been no resolution on the case since then and it is highly unlikely to bring the case to court anymore as the COMELEC may be found guilty of "inordinate and oppressive delay." On their defense, the COMELEC said that the slow pace in the procedures is "usual" due to unclear delegation and delineation of functions. In September 2014, five barangay chairpersons from Tondo filed a plunder complaint before the
Office of the Ombudsman An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...
against Moreno and several other city officials in Manila for allegedly diverting real property tax shares amounting to ₱77 million to a "dummy" barangay in late 2013. Moreno responded that the accusations against him and the other officials were politically motivated. According to him, the so-called dummy barangay the complainants were referring to was Barangay 128 in
Smokey Mountain ''Smokey Mountain'' was the term coined for a large landfill once located in Tondo, Manila. History ''Smokey Mountain'' operated for more than 50 years, consisting of over two million metric tons of waste. The flammable substances on decompos ...
. Moreno further explained that the funds they gave to Smokey Mountain, as well as the poor barangays in Parola and Baseco, were "floating funds" from uninhabited barangays in the city's piers and that such action was a "normal proceeding" since the time of former mayors
Lito Atienza Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr. (; born August 10, 1941) is a Filipino politician. He served as a Party-list Representative for Buhay from 2013 to 2022, and was a House Deputy Speaker from 2020 to 2022. He served as the Secretary of Environment ...
and Alfredo Lim. Moreno alleged that the complainants wanted to take a share from the funds but failed to properly request such. Moreno said that he and his co-defendants are willing to face the allegations but there has been no official report or publicly available update from the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the complaint. Also during his tenure as vice mayor, Moreno was elected as the National President of the Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines (VMLP) from 2008 to 2016, and the 1st Vice President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) from 2014 to 2016. He was also the Chairman Emeritus of the Kaagapay ng Manileño Foundation from 2007 to 2010.


2016 Senate bid

In 2015, a term-limited Vice Mayor Moreno announced that he would run for
senator of the Philippines The Senate of the Philippines (Filipino: ''Senado ng Pilipinas'', also ''Mataas na Kapulungan ng Pilipinas'' or "upper chamber") is the upper house of Congress of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines with the House of Representatives as ...
in
2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...
after then-incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada decided to run for another term. He was named as part of the senatorial slate of presidential candidate and Senator
Grace Poe Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe-Llamanzares (baptized September 3, 1968) is a Filipino politician, businesswoman, educator, and philanthropist serving as a senator since 2013. She was the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Class ...
's
Partido Galing at Puso The Partido Galing at Puso coalition ( PGP), was the political multi-party electoral alliance of the political parties and coalition opposition in the Philippines during the 2016 general elections.The coalition was composed of the Aksyon Demokr ...
coalition and as an adopted senatorial candidate of Senator
Bongbong Marcos Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. ( , , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. He previously served as a senat ...
, who was then running for vice president. He lost in his bid, placing 16th overall. He also received the biggest campaign contributions and donations by any senatorial candidate that year through pooled funds from different donors. Moreno declared and paid fully the obligated taxes out from his ₱50 million unused excess campaign donations as stated in his mandatory income tax return, which is not a violation in Philippine law, in compliance with the
Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
Resolution No. 9991, Bureau of Internal Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 31-2019 and Revenue Regulation No. 7-2011. Apart from Moreno, other candidates who also declared excess campaign donations during that year were Grace Poe,
Jejomar Binay Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay Sr. (born Jesus Jose Cabauatan Binay; November 11, 1942) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 13th vice president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016, under President Benigno Aquino III. A hu ...
,
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...
,
Leni Robredo Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona Robredo (; born Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona; April 23, 1965) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 14th vice president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. She was the wife of the late Jesse ...
and
Francis Escudero Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero (, born October 10, 1969) is a Filipino lawyer and politician serving as a Senator since 2022, and previously from 2007 to 2019. He recently served as governor of Sorsogon from 2019 to 2022, and was the re ...
. Moreno is among the first few candidates who settled their obligations on excess campaign donations early. Among the candidates who had also declared excess campaign donations, Moreno's declaration was sensationalized six years later in
2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...
by political rivals even though the Commission on Elections affirmed Moreno's response stating that "there are no rules requiring its disposition in any specific way", confirming Moreno did not violate any law and fully complied with its required taxation, as opposed to other candidates who still have unsettled obligations as per the publicly available report from the
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) is a non-profit media organization specializing in investigative journalism. It is based in Quezon City, Philippines. Established in 1989 by nine Filipino journalists, the organization fu ...
. Moreno later stated that he believes the legislature should pass a corresponding law or new set of rules in the future that governs excess campaign donations for concrete clarifications and to achieve fair resolutions. His term as vice mayor of Manila ended on June 30, 2016, and was succeeded by
Honey Lacuna Maria Sheilah Honrado Lacuna–Pangan (born May 6, 1965), publicly known as Honey Lacuna, is a Filipino physician and politician who is currently serving as the Mayor of Manila since 2022. Early life Lacuna-Pangan was born to Danilo "Danny" La ...
, daughter of his mentor Danny Lacuna.


Member of Duterte's cabinet

Moreno was appointed by then-President
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...
and served as an external peace consultant for the urban poor of the
National Democratic Front of the Philippines The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) (Filipino: ''Pambansang Demokratikong Hanay ng Pilipinas (PDHP)'') is a coalition of revolutionary social and economic justice organizations, agricultural unions, trade unions, indigenous ...
(NDFP), the
Communist Party of the Philippines The Communist Party of the Philippines ( fil, Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas) is a far-left, Marxist-Leninist-Maoist revolutionary organization and communist party in the Philippines, formed by Jose Maria Sison on 26 December 1968. It is desi ...
' (CPP)
popular front A popular front is "any coalition of working-class and middle-class parties", including liberal and social democratic ones, "united for the defense of democratic forms" against "a presumed Fascist assault". More generally, it is "a coalition ...
, in its peace negotiations with the
Duterte administration Rodrigo Duterte became the 16th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2016, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. He was the first president from Mindanao, the first president to have worked in all three branches of government, and the oldest t ...
in 2016 and 2017. He attended the
peace talks A peace process is the set of sociopolitical negotiations, agreements and actions that aim to solve a specific armed conflict. Definitions Prior to an armed conflict occurring, peace processes can include the prevention of an intra-state or in ...
held in the
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
,
Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
, and
Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...
as an independent observer, along with members of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), before then-President Duterte formally terminated the peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDFP in late 2017. Aside from being external consultant and independent observer during the peace talks, Moreno denies further alleged communist ties which was also denied by CPP founder
Jose Maria Sison Jose Maria Canlas Sison (February 8, 1939 – December 16, 2022), also known by his nickname Joma, was a Filipino writer and activist who founded the Communist Party of the Philippines and added elements of Maoism to its philosophy – which w ...
. In July 2017, then-President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Moreno as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the North Luzon Railways Corporation (NorthRail), a
government-owned and controlled corporation In the Philippines, a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC), sometimes with an "and/or", is a state-owned enterprise that conducts both commercial and non-commercial activity. Examples of the latter would be the Government Service In ...
. Moreno resigned from the post in October 2017, citing personal reasons. In May 2018, Moreno was appointed by Duterte as undersecretary for Luzon affairs and special concerns at the
Department of Social Welfare and Development The Philippines' Department of Social Welfare and Development ( fil, Kagawaran ng Kagalingan at Pagpapaunlad Panlipunan, Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad, abbreviated as DSWD) is the executive department of the Philippine Go ...
. On October 11, 2018, he officially resigned from this post to run for
mayor of Manila The City Mayor of Manila ( fil, Punong Lungsod ng Maynila, sometimes referred to as, ''Alkalde ng Maynila'') is the head of the executive branch of Manila's city government. The mayor holds office at Manila City Hall. Like all local government he ...
in the 2019 elections and challenge his former ally then-incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada, with then-incumbent Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna as his running mate. Moreno and Estrada had not been on speaking terms following Moreno's failed senatorial bid in 2016.


Mayor of Manila

Moreno served as the 27th mayor of Manila (22nd person to hold the position), beginning his tenure in 2019. In the
local elections In many parts of the world, local elections take place to select office-holders in local government, such as mayors and councillors. Elections to positions within a city or town are often known as "municipal elections". Their form and conduct vary ...
, he garnered a historic win by defeating both his predecessors
Alfredo Lim Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim Jr.. (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician and police officer who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007. He also served as the Mayor of Manila twice: first from 1992 to ...
and then-incumbent mayor
Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada, (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor. He served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, the 9th vice preside ...
becoming the youngest mayor to be elected in the history of Manila at age 44. Moreno and Lim reconciled after the elections and remained in good terms until the latter's death in 2020. Moreno's first 100 days in office was met with positive response. Then-President Rodrigo Duterte also praised Moreno at one point saying "Moreno is better than him". The local government of the City of Manila, under Moreno's administration, bagged its first-ever Good Financial Housekeeping recognition from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the year 2019. In a December 2020 year-end face-to-face survey conducted by research group RP-Mission and Development (RPMD) Foundation Inc., Moreno earned a 77% approval rating from the city's constituents, becoming the third top-performing mayor in the
National Capital Region A capital region, also called a capital district or capital territory, is a region or district surrounding a capital city. It is not always the official term for the region, but may sometimes be used as an informal synonym. Capital regions can exis ...
after
Joy Belmonte Joy Belmonte (born Maria Josefina Tanya Go Belmonte; March 15, 1970) is a Filipina politician who has served as the 11th mayor of Quezon City since 2019. A member of the local Serbisyo sa Bayan Party, Belmonte previously served as the vice ma ...
(
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
) with 85%, and
Vico Sotto Victor Ma. Regis "Vico" Nubla Sotto (; born June 17, 1989) is a Filipino politician serving as the incumbent mayor of Pasig. Sotto first entered politics when he ran for a seat on the Pasig City Council in 2016. He won the election as an indep ...
(
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the ...
) with 82%. In another survey conducted by RPMD in September 2021, Moreno was ranked first as the top-performing mayor in the National Capital Region with an 88-percent approval rating. He was followed by Belmonte with 82% and Sotto with 81%. The City of Manila was included in the top 50 finalists of the
Bloomberg Philanthropies Bloomberg Philanthropies is a philanthropic organization that encompasses all of the charitable giving of founder Michael R. Bloomberg. Headquartered in New York City, Bloomberg Philanthropies focuses its resources on five areas: the environmen ...
2021 Global Mayors Challenge, a competition that aims to identify and implement the most innovative ideas developed by cities to address the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. Manila and the city of
Butuan Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Butuan; Butuanon: ''Dakbayan hong Butuan''; fil, Lungsod ng Butuan), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the region of Caraga, Philippines. It is the ''de facto'' ca ...
in Mindanao were the only Southeast Asian cities to make it to the list, selected from a pool of 631 cities that also submitted their applications earlier that year. On October 29, 2021, the local government unit (LGU) of Manila, under the administration of Moreno, won three awards during the Digital Governance Awards 2021 (LGUs Best Practices in Information and Communication Technology) by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The awards include the COVID-19 Testing Center "Web-Lab-IS" – Best in LGU Empowerment Award (city level) at 1st Place, the City of Manila "Connection for Inclusion" Award – Best in Customer Empowerment Award (city level) at 1st Place, and the Business Permit Licensing Service (BPLS) – Best in Business Empowerment Award for its GO Manila App end-to-end solution (city level) at 2nd Place. The GO Manila App, originally launched in 2014, was revamped to provide residents access to an online one-stop-shop giving a variety of LGU system automation and e-Services. The app was envisioned by Moreno to "help make transactions more convenient,
transparent Transparency, transparence or transparent most often refer to: * Transparency (optics), the physical property of allowing the transmission of light through a material They may also refer to: Literal uses * Transparency (photography), a still, ...
, and limit human discretion". As part of his advocacy in
meritocracy Meritocracy (''merit'', from Latin , and ''-cracy'', from Ancient Greek 'strength, power') is the notion of a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people based on talent, effort, and achiev ...
, Moreno promoted several long-time well-performing employees of the
City Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
and hired new employees based on qualifications regardless of political affiliation. Moreno has donated about a total of of his personal talent fees from various product endorsements to charities since 2019 which includes the
Philippine General Hospital The Philippine General Hospital (also known as University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital or UP–Philippine General Hospital), simply referred to as UP–PGH or PGH, is a tertiary state-owned hospital administered and operated ...
, cancer-stricken children, liver transplant children patients, and to provinces hit by natural calamities like
Batangas Batangas, officially the Province of Batangas ( tl, Lalawigan ng Batangas ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region on Luzon. Its capital is the city of Batangas, and is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and La ...
,
North Cotabato Cotabato or North Cotabato ( hil, Aminhan Cotabato; ceb, Amihanang Cotabato; Maguindanao language, Maguindanaon: ''Pangutaran Kutawatu'', Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ڤڠوترن كوتاواتو; fil, Hilagang Cotabato), officially the Province of Co ...
, and
Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas Regions of the P ...
. In June 2022, the City of Manila was awarded with the "Gawad Edukampyon for Learning Continuity Innovation Award" for the
Highly Urbanized City A city ( fil, lungsod/siyudad) is one of the units of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities ( fil, nakakartang lungsod), whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own ...
category by the
Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
(DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Center for Local Governance and Professional Development Inc., the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, and REX Publication during the first-ever Gawad Edukampyon for Local Governance Awarding Ceremony in recognition of Manila's educational programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic under the administration of Moreno. The award highlighted Manila's Continuity Education Plan, the "Connection for Inclusion 2.0", which focused on integrating
information and communications technology Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computers, ...
(ICT) in schools. His one and only term as mayor of Manila ended on June 30, 2022, and was succeeded by his vice mayor and partymate
Honey Lacuna Maria Sheilah Honrado Lacuna–Pangan (born May 6, 1965), publicly known as Honey Lacuna, is a Filipino physician and politician who is currently serving as the Mayor of Manila since 2022. Early life Lacuna-Pangan was born to Danilo "Danny" La ...
. Moreno then officially entered retirement from politics amiably afterwards, having served in the government for 24 years.


City services and infrastructure

Moreno signed an ordinance that gives a monthly allowance of to each student of the
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (from 'University of the City of Manila', abbreviated as PLM) is a city-government-funded local university situated inside the historic walled area of Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. It was established on ...
and
Universidad de Manila Universidad de Manila, also referred to by its acronym UdM, is a public coeducational Local colleges and universities (Philippines), city government funded higher education institution in Manila, Philippines. It was founded in April 26, 1995 wit ...
, the first in the country. Likewise, all Grade 12 students in all public schools in Manila will get a monthly allowance to be received via "cash cards". To qualify, the student must be a resident and registered voter of the city, and that they do not incur a failing mark or commit misconduct in school. If the student is not yet of legal age to vote, his or her parent or guardian must be a registered voter to claim the monetary benefit. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents who reside in the capital are entitled to a monthly allowance by the city government. The elderly also would receive and a cake as a birthday gift from the city government, on top of their monthly allowance. Moreno's infrastructure projects and
beautification Beautification is the process of making visual improvements to a town, city, or urban area. This most often involves planting trees, shrubbery, and other greenery, but frequently also includes adding decorative or historic-style street lights and ...
programs include the redevelopment of the historic
Jones Bridge The William A. Jones Memorial Bridge, commonly known as the Jones Bridge, is an arched girder bridge that spans the Pasig River in the City of Manila, Philippines. It is named after the United States legislator William Atkinson Jones, who served ...
, the construction of a 10-storey 384-bed fully air-conditioned building for the "Bagong Ospital ng Maynila" (to replace the old
Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center The Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (Hospital of Manila; abbreviation: OMMC) is a 300-bed non-profit tertiary, general and training hospital in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It is the laboratory hospital of health science students (students of m ...
which will be later converted into the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences Campus of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila), and the redevelopment of
Manila Zoo The Manila Zoo, formally known as the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, is a zoo located in Malate, Manila, Philippines. History The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden first opened to the public on July 25, 1959, during the tenure ...
that reopened on December 30, 2021. Also one of Moreno's projects is the Flora V. Valisno de Siojo Dialysis Center at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, dubbed as the country’s largest free dialysis facility named after former mayor Alfredo Lim's grandmother. Moreno also spearheaded the construction and inauguration of the Manila Islamic Cemetery and Cultural Hall gated within the
Manila South Cemetery The Manila South Cemetery is a cemetery in Metro Manila. It is an exclave of San Andres, Manila surrounded by land under the jurisdiction of the city of Makati. History The land which the cemetery occupies was previously part of the Haciend ...
, the first ever cemetery exclusive for Muslims in Manila. The cemetery is free of charge and also welcomes Muslims coming from outside the city of Manila. Public housing for the homeless and city employees was one of the campaign promises of Moreno, and his administration oversaw the construction of high-rise in-city vertical housing projects such as the Tondominium 1 and 2, and Binondominium. In July 2021, illegal settlers and tenants from
Baseco Compound Baseco, also known as the Baseco Compound or Barangay 649, Zone 68, is a barangay in Port Area, Manila. It largely consists of Engineer's Island. History The land which covers Baseco today was once the location of a dockyard of the National Sh ...
were awarded with horizontal townhouses in Manila's community housing project called "BaseCommunity". A Phase 2 of BaseCommunity is also in the works. In 2020, as a prerogative to ease the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic after then-President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the national government was running out of funds to provide aid, a small portion of the land (3,701m²) where the Divisoria Public Market is situated, a patrimonial property which is a part of the old Divisoria Mall, was sold by the city government of Manila headed by Moreno to private company Festina Holdings Inc. The decision was made after the recommendation of the city's Assets Management Committee when it was tasked to look for assets in the city that are "
white elephant A white elephant is a possession that its owner cannot dispose of, and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness. In modern usage, it is a metaphor used to describe an object, construction project, sch ...
s", idle, underutilized, and not beneficial anymore. The Divisoria Public Market has long not been managed by the city government since 1992 after former mayors
Mel Lopez Gemiliano "Mel" Campos Lopez Jr. (September 1, 1935 – January 1, 2017) was a Filipino people, Filipino politician who served as the Mayor of Manila from 1986 to 1987 and 1988 to 1992 and an assemblyman of the Batasang Pambansa of the Philippine ...
, Alfredo Lim, and Joseph Estrada entered into an agreement with private company Linkworld Corporation, handing over to the firm the management of the land along with the Divisoria Public Market at a cost of ₱20 per square meter which was considered a "bad contract". Aside from the low monthly earnings from the lease, the city government also has been earning less for years as the stall owners were also remiss in paying their daily rent. The city government emphasized that the decision was advantageous for the city since it earned more from the sale of the Divisoria market than the rent it has earned for more than 25 years and that the sale price of was higher than the Commission on Audit's valuation of the property at per square meter. Further, the office of the city administrator justified that the city government will take more funds from the real estate taxes that will be generated from land developers, rather than the tenant fees being collected by the vendors. It was also agreed that Festina Holdings will pay all required taxes after sales, including the capital gains tax. Consultation and notices were given to stallholders. Public documentations were also widely circulated, and city council resolutions and public bidding conferences were held from which Festina won out of three bidders. Vendors were told to return back the accomplished form attached to their letters, which would be treated as their application for a new stall, and would be temporarily transferred to Pritil Market with given ample time. As of 2022, no vendors were evacuated from their stalls as Festina has yet to declare if it wishes to redevelop the property into a 50-story commercial building as stated in the agreement made by the company and the city government. Moreover, the city government ensures to impose conditions on how to protect the vendors, including that they should not be removed and that rent should not increase. Payment obtained from the sale of the "underutilized" and "least beneficial" Divisoria market was used for putting up the
Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital The Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital was a field hospital in Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines set up as a response against the COVID-19 pandemic, the first of its kind in the country. __TOC__ History The Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital was built in ...
and 12 quarantine facilities, housing projects, procurement of antiviral medicines, and food packs for the 700,000 households of the city. During the 2022 election, almost two years after the sale was settled, the subject matter resurfaced after Manila mayoral candidate Alex Lopez, son of Mel Lopez, alleged that its sale lacked transparency and threatened to press charges against Moreno and the city council. Moreno shrugged off Lopez's allegations as misleading and politically motivated. Moreno asserted that no violations were made as everything was done in due process and well-documented. Moreno also claimed that some of the vendors and representatives of the Divisoria Public Market Credit Cooperative may have been used and manipulated by Lopez to spread black propaganda and sensationalize the issue for personal interests. Lopez ultimately lost in his mayoral bid to Moreno's ally and then outgoing vice mayor
Honey Lacuna Maria Sheilah Honrado Lacuna–Pangan (born May 6, 1965), publicly known as Honey Lacuna, is a Filipino physician and politician who is currently serving as the Mayor of Manila since 2022. Early life Lacuna-Pangan was born to Danilo "Danny" La ...
in a
landslide victory A landslide victory is an election result in which the victorious candidate or party wins by an overwhelming margin. The term became popular in the 1800s to describe a victory in which the opposition is "buried", similar to the way in which a geol ...
. On February 3, 2021, the city government of Manila, headed by Moreno, acquired a 6,003m² private lot worth located at Pasig Line in Santa Ana through Ordinance No. 8115, which was enacted in 2006. The purchased land will be used for the "Land for the Landless" program of the Manila Urban Settlements Office. The land acquisition is perceived to provide housing to more than 600 low-income informal settlers and homeless families. From 2019 to 2020, government-owned banks
Development Bank of the Philippines The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is a state-owned development bank headquartered in Makati, Philippines. It was established after World War II in 1947 on the government's effort through its mandate to rebuild the country's war t ...
and the
Land Bank of the Philippines Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP; often referred to simply as LandBank), is a government-owned bank in the Philippines with a special focus on serving the needs of farmers and fishermen. While it provides the services of a universal bank, it ...
granted Moreno's request for financial loans for Manila's various infrastructure projects after the assessment and approval of the
Department of Budget and Management The Department of Budget and Management (DBM; fil, Kagawaran ng Badyet at Pamamahala) is an executive body under the Office of the President of the Philippines. It is responsible for the sound and efficient use of government resources for nati ...
(DBM). The City of Manila has been denied loans by government-owned banks in the previous city administrations due to a reputation of being "not bankable". Moreno reportedly inherited a zero budget from the past administration when he assumed office in 2019. After presenting his infrastructure plans, the DBM's certification to prove the city's capability to pay, and the
Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
's Mandanas ruling which entitles local government units to receive an additional budget allocation from both internal revenue taxes and national taxes starting in 2022, the government-owned banks became interested in the potential revenue of Moreno's infrastructures and the city became "bankable" once again. The loans granted to Manila serve as an advance receipt of Manila's guaranteed Mandanas budget allotment ensuring future full payment to the banks, on top of the revenue that will be generated by the infrastructure assets. Moreno's supposed 10-year infrastructure plan was apparently achieved in three years with the completion of his various housing projects, new school buildings, new hospitals, and Manila's renovation and
beautification Beautification is the process of making visual improvements to a town, city, or urban area. This most often involves planting trees, shrubbery, and other greenery, but frequently also includes adding decorative or historic-style street lights and ...
programs. Contrary to
disinformation Disinformation is false information deliberately spread to deceive people. It is sometimes confused with misinformation, which is false information but is not deliberate. The English word ''disinformation'' comes from the application of the L ...
by online trolls, the city government was able to increase tax revenue collection each year from its infrastructure assets in the years 2019 to 2022 compared to the previous administrations, despite the pandemic, based on the Commission on Audit's annual reports prompting the city government not to impose additional taxes to Manila residents. In March 2022, Moreno negotiated with
Elon Musk Elon Reeve Musk ( ; born June 28, 1971) is a business magnate and investor. He is the founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX; angel investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; owner and CEO of Twitter, Inc.; founder of The Bori ...
's
SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is an American spacecraft manufacturer, launcher, and a satellite communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the stated goal of ...
into entering a contract for the acquisition of
Starlink Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access coverage to 45 countries. It also aims for global mobile phone service after 2023. SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites in 2019. As ...
's
low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less (making at least 11.25 orbits per day) and an eccentricity less than 0.25. Most of the artificial objects in outer space are in LEO, with an altitude never mor ...
satellite broadband internet system for the City of Manila. Moreno met with Rebecca Hunter, SpaceX senior manager for government affairs, and Raymond Garcia, SpaceX partner-representative for the Philippines and other Asian countries. In May 2022, the
National Telecommunications Commission The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC; fil, Pambansang Komisyon sa Telekomunikasyon) is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology responsible for the supervision, adjudication and control over ...
approved Starlink Internet Services Philippines' registration as a value-added service provider making Philippines the first country in the
ASEAN ASEAN ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, militar ...
region to avail of Starlink's satellite and Manila the first city in Southeast Asia to acquire the service. The system is reportedly designed to bring broadband services to remote areas which will offer low latency internet services and when communications are disrupted during natural disasters. The city government of Manila plans to deploy the satellites to 896 barangays along with several public schools, police stations and hospitals.


COVID-19 pandemic response

On March 10, 2020, Moreno was invited by the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
government to attend sessions on proper
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
response and met with its coronavirus task force officials in
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. Upon coming back to the Philippines, Moreno declared a
state of calamity A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to be able to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state du ...
in the city on March 15, 2020, following a directive from the Metro Manila Council, after the second and third
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
cases were confirmed. Moreno also slept in his office for three months starting March 15 to oversee the city government's
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
response. On March 16, 2020, the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) began rescuing street people,
pavement dwellers Pavement dwellers refers to informal housing built on the footpaths/pavements of city streets. The structures use the walls or fences which separate properties from the pavement and street outside. Materials include cloth, corrugated iron, cardboa ...
, and other homeless people, as well as people living outside the city who were unable to retreat home following the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. They took refuge at the Delpan Sports Complex in Tondo. The city allocated ($4.45  million) from its budget to assist families affected by the quarantine. On March 18, 2020, Moreno ordered all lodging facilities in Manila to provide free accommodations for front line health workers, such as doctors and nurses, throughout the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. To financially help the city government employees, Moreno drafted a resolution ordering the release of their mid-year bonuses. Another resolution appropriating funds and giving cash assistance for the city's job order and contractualized workers was also enacted. On March 19, 2020, the city deployed 189 electric tricycles to exclusively transport front line health workers to the city's public hospitals. Drivers of electric tricycles received salaries from the city government. The city also coordinated with the
Department of Social Welfare and Development The Philippines' Department of Social Welfare and Development ( fil, Kagawaran ng Kagalingan at Pagpapaunlad Panlipunan, Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad, abbreviated as DSWD) is the executive department of the Philippine Go ...
of the national government in sourcing food supplies for the city's families. On April 5, 2020, Moreno signed an ordinance enacting the City Amelioration Crisis Assistance Fund (CACAF), allocating a total budget of ($12 million) for around 568,000 families, and distributing ($19.73) to each household. A second tranche was given from May 20 to 21, 2020 for more than 680,000 families, some of which do not received from the first CACAF distribution. On March 23, 2020, Moreno launched an
online survey With the application of probability sampling in the 1930s, surveys became a standard tool for empirical research in social sciences, marketing, and official statistics. The methods involved in survey data collection are any of a number of ways in ...
via his
Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
page inquiring Manila residents about their health status in relation to COVID-19 and their recent travel history.
PLDT PLDT, Inc., formerly known as the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company ( fil, Kompanya ng Teleponong Pangmalayuan ng Pilipinas), is a Philippine telecommunications, internet and digital service holdings company. It is one of the country's ...
, one of the country's major telecommunications providers, assisted the city government in providing enhanced data connectivity for the online survey service. PLDT also assisted in augmenting the hotline facility at the
Manila City Hall The Manila City Hall ( fil, Bulwagan ng Lungsod ng Maynila) is the official seat of government of the City of Manila, located in the historic center of Ermita, Manila. It is where the Mayor of Manila holds office and the chambers of the Manila C ...
. On April 3, 2020, the
Manila City Council The Manila City Council (Filipino: Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Maynila) or the city's legislature is composed of 38 councilors, with 36 councilors elected from Manila's six councilor districts (coextensive with the Legislative districts of Manila) ...
approved an ordinance penalizing discriminatory acts directed against coronavirus patients and other patients under evaluation, including discrimination of health workers on the basis of their medical condition. The following day on April 4, 2020, Moreno ordered the temporary closure of the Ospital ng Sampaloc after five hospital staff contracted the virus. On April 6, 2020, Moreno announced that he and several other government officials in the city would donate their salaries to the
Philippine General Hospital The Philippine General Hospital (also known as University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital or UP–Philippine General Hospital), simply referred to as UP–PGH or PGH, is a tertiary state-owned hospital administered and operated ...
to increase its financial capability amid the pandemic. The Manila government partnered with the Department of Agriculture to launch the ''Kadiwa Rolling Store'' project, a mobile
farmers' market A farmers' market (or farmers market according to the AP stylebook, also farmer's market in the Cambridge Dictionary) is a physical retail marketplace intended to sell foods directly by farmers to consumers. Farmers' markets may be indoors or o ...
that sells fresh products to residents amid the closure of retail establishments due to the enhanced community quarantine. The first unit was deployed to Santa Ana on April 6, 2020. On April 13, 2020, the City of Manila announced the conducting of localized mass targeted testing for COVID-19. The six city-owned district hospitals and the Delpan Quarantine Facility were able to produce 1,624 swab tests weekly. On July 15, 2020, Moreno launched the city's drive-thru testing facility, where passengers in vehicles can undergo free COVID-19 testing near the Bonifacio Shrine in Ermita. The drive-thru facility was open to both residents and non-residents of the city, making it the first testing facility of its kind in the country. Three days later, the city government opened a second drive-thru testing facility at the
Quirino Grandstand The Quirino Grandstand, formerly known as the Independence Grandstand, is a grandstand located at Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines. History Contrary to popular belief, the first Independence Grandstand was not originally located on the present ...
. The city government also built in 52 days the
Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital The Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital was a field hospital in Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines set up as a response against the COVID-19 pandemic, the first of its kind in the country. __TOC__ History The Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital was built in ...
in
Rizal Park Rizal Park ( fil, Liwasang Rizal, es, link=no, Parque Rizal), also known as Luneta Park or simply Luneta, is a historic urban park located in Ermita, Manila. It is considered one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines, covering an area ...
, the first of its kind in the country, which began admitting patients on June 25, 2021 to both residents and non-residents of Manila. Manila residents were also given cash aid from the national government despite Moreno and then-President Rodrigo Duterte's falling-out and brief verbal sparring, with Moreno even thanking Duterte for pushing through the aid. Manila is the first local government unit in the country to purchase and procure anti-COVID-19 medicines such as
Molnupiravir Molnupiravir, sold under the brand name Lagevrio, is an antiviral medication that inhibits the replication of certain RNA viruses. It is used to treat COVID-19 in those infected by SARS-CoV-2. It is taken by mouth. Molnupiravir is a prodrug of ...
,
Remdesivir Remdesivir, sold under the brand name Veklury, Text was copied from this source which is © European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged. is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication developed by the ...
,
Tocilizumab Tocilizumab, sold under the brand name Actemra among others, is an immunosuppressive drug, used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, a severe form of arthritis in children, and COVID19. It is a hu ...
,
Baricitinib Baricitinib, sold under the brand name Olumiant among others, is a medication used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, and COVID-19. It acts as an inhibitor of janus kinase (JAK), blocking the subtypes JAK1 and JAK2. ...
, and Bexovid for aged 12 and above, all of which prevents mild to moderate cases from progressing into severe diseases. The medicines are given for free to both residents and non-residents as long as they coordinate with the Manila Health Department and provide prescription. The city government of Manila has been cited and has received an award and recognition by the Department of Health (DOH) for its COVID-19 response and for achieving a 143% vaccination accomplishment rate of the "''Chikiting Bakunation''" (children vaccination) program, surpassing the 80% target set by the DOH, in 2020 and 2022 respectively. Manila was the only city in the National Capital Region that is not under COVID-19 Alert Level 4. Manila was later included in the list of 53 world's best cities of the '' Time Out'' Index 2022 on the 34th spot, praising its "aggressive COVID-19 response which helped the city stay afloat". Manila was also voted the third most resilient city in the same survey.


Cleanup drive

Moreno oversaw the cleaning of congested and besmirched streets of Manila. He ordered the clearing of city streets from ambulant vendors to address the city's congestion problem and waste management, which paved the way for stopping the felonious operations of extortionists from vendors and hawkers and exposed derelict heritage sites within the city, some of which became debauched through human actions. Illegally built
infrastructures Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and priv ...
, including government edifices which impedes the movement of motorists and pedestrians were ordered to be demolished. His cleanup drive of
Manila North Cemetery The Manila North Cemetery (Spanish: ''Cementerio del Norte'') is one of the oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila, Philippines. The cemetery is owned by and located in the City of Manila, the national capital, and is one of the largest in the metropo ...
after
All Souls' day All Souls' Day, also called ''The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed'', is a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, observed by certain Christian denominations on 2 November. Through prayer, intercessions, alms and ...
garnered attention online and spurred a nationwide implementation of the same approach to city decongestion. Then-President Rodrigo Duterte also echoed Moreno's initiative, ordering the
Department of the Interior and Local Government The Department of the Interior and Local Government ( fil, Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal), abbreviated as DILG, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public saf ...
(DILG) to "reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends". On October 8, 2019, Moreno signed ''Executive Order No. 43'' mandating all 896 barangays and frontline City Hall offices to conduct a weekly clean-up drive, in support of Duterte's directive to clear all public roads and sidewalks of obstructions. Moreno also spearheaded the cleaning of Manila's sewers and the removal of dilapidated barges off the
Pasig River The Pasig River ( fil, Ilog Pasig) is a water body in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it bisects the Philippine capital of Manila and Metro Manila, its surrounding urban area into northern and souther ...
. He also led the cleanup of waters around
Baseco Compound Baseco, also known as the Baseco Compound or Barangay 649, Zone 68, is a barangay in Port Area, Manila. It largely consists of Engineer's Island. History The land which covers Baseco today was once the location of a dockyard of the National Sh ...
, which took 10 days, including weekends, to collect more than of garbage. Under Moreno's "''May Pera Sa Basura''" program, the city government launched the community-based "''Kolek, Kilo, Kita para Walastik na Maynila''" program in partnership with private firms and the
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission was a state commission in charge of the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. The commission served for 20 years, from 1999 until its dissolution by President Rodrigo Duterte in November 2019. The body's p ...
(PRRC). The waste collection program was incentivized, further aiming to encourage residents to cooperate with the government to lessen and abate the trash polluting the Pasig River. For every kilo of plastic wastes collected,
Unilever Philippines Unilever Philippines, Inc. is the Philippines, Philippine subsidiary of British Multinational corporation, multinational company, Unilever. It is based in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig since 2016. It is a manufacturer of laundry detergents an ...
, shall in return, exchange worth of home care products.


2022 presidential campaign

On August 4, 2021, Moreno resigned from the
National Unity Party The National Unity Party, National United Party, Party of National Unity or National Unity Front may refer to: * National United Party of Afghanistan (founded 2003) * National Unity Party (Albania) * National United Party (Armenia), defunct * Natio ...
as member and Vice Chairman for Political Affairs of the party to join
Aksyon Demokratiko Aksyon Demokratiko ( ) or simply Aksyon is a political party in the Philippines founded by Raul Roco. It was recognized as a national political party in 1998 by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and is considered to be one of the major partie ...
wherein he was subsequently elected as its new party president in August 12. On September 22, 2021, Moreno declared his presidential bid in the 2022 election, with physician and social media personality
Willie Ong Willy or Willie is a masculine, male given name, often a diminutive form of William or Wilhelm, and occasionally a nickname. It may refer to: People Given name or nickname * Willie Aames (born 1960), American actor, television director, and scree ...
serving as his vice presidential running mate. Following the announcement, Ong left the Lakas-CMD party to join Moreno's Aksyon Demokratiko. Identified as a
populist Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed ...
, some of Moreno's views on certain issues include fast-tracking the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide, maintaining the
Duterte administration Rodrigo Duterte became the 16th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2016, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. He was the first president from Mindanao, the first president to have worked in all three branches of government, and the oldest t ...
's " Build! Build! Build! Program", allowing the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, lowering of
excise tax file:Lincoln Beer Stamp 1871.JPG, upright=1.2, 1871 U.S. Revenue stamp for 1/6 barrel of beer. Brewers would receive the stamp sheets, cut them into individual stamps, cancel them, and paste them over the Bunghole, bung of the beer barrel so when ...
on fuel and utility costs, reviving of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) badly hit by lockdowns, increasing of labor and employment, additional public housing, boosting of agriculture, tourism and creative industries development, strengthening of policies in healthcare and education, infrastructure development in rural areas, developing of economic hubs outside Metro Manila,
digital transformation Digital transformation is the adoption of digital technology by an organization to digitize non-digital products, services or operations. The goal for its implementation is to increase value through innovation, invention, customer experience or ef ...
and
industry 4.0 The Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR, or Industry 4.0, conceptualizes rapid change to technology, industries, and societal patterns and processes in the 21st century due to increasing interconnectivity and smart automation. The term has bee ...
, strengthening of national and local peace and order, continuing the Duterte administrations's anti-drug policy in a "more humane approach",
good In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil and is of interest in the study of ethics, morality, ph ...
and smart electronic governance, maintaining peaceful relations with other countries and international organizations, and ending divisive politics in favor of an " open governance" rooted in "competence" over " connections". As early as December 2021, Moreno had expressed intention to retire in politics should he fail to get elected as president and would rather spend quality time with his family. Moreno lost in his bid to
Bongbong Marcos Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. ( , , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. He previously served as a senat ...
placing fourth out of ten aspirants. He garnered 1,933,909 votes and conceded. External observers attribute the failure of his campaign to his lack of political machinery, alleged infighting within his campaign team,
disinformation Disinformation is false information deliberately spread to deceive people. It is sometimes confused with misinformation, which is false information but is not deliberate. The English word ''disinformation'' comes from the application of the L ...
against him, and minimal
media coverage Media may refer to: Communication * Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass e ...
. The April 17 joint press conference, where he criticized presidential candidate
Leni Robredo Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona Robredo (; born Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona; April 23, 1965) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 14th vice president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. She was the wife of the late Jesse ...
, was also seen to backfire against his campaign. According to his Statement of Contributions and Expenses (SOCE), Moreno had no excess campaign contributions and donations and spent an extra ₱1.1 million from his personal funds for the campaign.


Political positions


Domestic and social policies


Vandalism

Moreno is also known for his consistent and controversial stand against vandalism and unauthorized tarpaulins. On November 12, 2019, the left-leaning group Panday Sining, the cultural arm of
Anakbayan Anakbayan (; abbreviated as AB) is a comprehensive, militant Left-wing politics, left-wing youth-led national democratic mass organization in the Philippines. It is part of the broader Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, a multisectorial alliance of Left ...
, defaced the newly-painted and cleaned Lagusnilad Underpass located near the
Manila City Hall The Manila City Hall ( fil, Bulwagan ng Lungsod ng Maynila) is the official seat of government of the City of Manila, located in the historic center of Ermita, Manila. It is where the Mayor of Manila holds office and the chambers of the Manila C ...
. Moreno slammed the group publicly and rejected their apology. The mayor also proceeded with their arrest after another act of vandalism in Recto LRT Station was attributed to the group. Panday Sining was officially declared as "
persona non grata In diplomacy, a ' (Latin: "person not welcome", plural: ') is a status applied by a host country to foreign diplomats to remove their protection of diplomatic immunity from arrest and other types of prosecution. Diplomacy Under Article 9 of the ...
" in the city of Manila on December 6, 2019. Many left-leaning groups condemned the mayor's actions against them. In October 2020, Moreno ordered the removal of the tarpaulins declaring the
Communist Party of the Philippines The Communist Party of the Philippines ( fil, Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas) is a far-left, Marxist-Leninist-Maoist revolutionary organization and communist party in the Philippines, formed by Jose Maria Sison on 26 December 1968. It is desi ...
, as well as the
New People's Army The New People's Army ( fil, Bagong Hukbong Bayan), abbreviated NPA or BHB, is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), based primarily in the Philippine countryside. It acts as the CPP's principal organization, aimi ...
and the National Democratic Front, as
persona non grata In diplomacy, a ' (Latin: "person not welcome", plural: ') is a status applied by a host country to foreign diplomats to remove their protection of diplomatic immunity from arrest and other types of prosecution. Diplomacy Under Article 9 of the ...
in the National Capital Region. However this event prompted Lt. Gen.
Antonio Parlade Jr. Antonio Gumba Parlade Jr.Parlade, Bob (2013) Parlade Family Memoir: A Breath Beneath the Shadow of Mayon. is a former Filipino military officer who retired as commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command in 2021, and ...
, spokesperson of the
National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is a task force organized by the government of the Philippines to respond and raise awareness to the ongoing communist rebellion in the Philippines. Background The Na ...
to ask if Mayor Isko is welcoming terrorists into Manila. Moreno responded that they have an ordinance against all forms of vandalism. A few days after, Moreno publicly slammed and ordered the removal of graffiti painted by leftist advocates around
Welcome Rotonda The Welcome Rotonda, officially Mabuhay Rotonda, is a roundabout in Quezon City in the Philippines. It is located a few meters from Quezon City's border with Manila, at the intersection of E. Rodriguez, Sr. Boulevard, Mayon Avenue, Quezon Avenue, N ...
. On December 7, 2020, in an interview posted on
YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
, Moreno vehemently denied any support for or affiliation with the terrorist groups. Moreno is also against tarpaulins featuring faces of politicians even if they happen to be his partymates and had ordered the removal of tarpaulins that are political in nature since he assumed office.


LGBT+ rights

In October 2020, Moreno signed Ordinance 8695 protecting members of the
LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term is a ...
community from any and all forms of discrimination and abuse, including the denial of employment and other opportunities on the basis of the person's sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. As part of its campaign against discrimination, the Manila city government has mandated all establishments to have gender-neutral toilets by year 2023 and would be a requirement for the approval and renewal of business permits. However, he clarified in an interview that he is not in favor of
same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same Legal sex and gender, sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being ...
. He added that "it is our law and in a civilized world, we are guided by the law". Nonetheless, Moreno supports same-sex
civil unions A civil union (also known as a civil partnership) is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage ...
.


Women's rights

In November 2020, Moreno signed into law Ordinance 8681 known as the "Gender and Development Code of the City of Manila" or the "GAD Code" which prohibits and classifies
cursing Profanity, also known as cursing, cussing, swearing, bad language, foul language, obscenities, expletives or vulgarism, is a socially offensive use of language. Accordingly, profanity is language use that is sometimes deemed impolite, ru ...
, ridiculing,
catcalling Street harassment is a form of harassment, primarily sexual harassment that consists of unwanted sexualised comments, provocative gestures, honking, wolf-whistlings, indecent exposures, stalking, persistent sexual advances, and touching by st ...
, and
wolf-whistling A wolf whistle is a distinctive two-note glissando whistled sound made to show high interest in or approval of something or someone, especially at someone viewed as physically or sexually attractive. Today, a wolf whistle directed at a person is ...
on women as forms of sexual harassment, along with acts like repeatedly asking for dates despite verbal rejections, making offensive hand gestures or persistently telling "green jokes" to someone who finds it offensive or humiliating. It also mandates the city government to provide comprehensive support to survivors of violence, which includes immediate conduct of investigations, free counseling and medical services, and creation of community-based psychological programs and
support group In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping str ...
s. Women Crisis Centers in key districts of Manila shall also be established. Additionally, the ordinance increased
maternity leave Parental leave, or family leave, is an employee benefit available in almost all countries. The term "parental leave" may include maternity, Paternity (law), paternity, and adoption leave; or may be used distinctively from "maternity leave" and ...
benefits from 65 days under Republic Act 11210 to 105 days and
paternity leave Parental leave, or family leave, is an employee benefit available in almost all countries. The term "parental leave" may include maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; or may be used distinctively from "maternity leave" and "paternity l ...
benefits for fathers' participation in the aid of their newborn child for 14 days from the seven days mandated by law under Republic Act 8187. It further provides for a yearly 12-day
menstrual The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that make pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs a ...
/
menopausal Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time in women's lives when Menstruation, menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer fertility, able to bear children. Menopause usually occurs between the age of 47 and 54. Medic ...
leave Leave may refer to: * Permission (disambiguation) ** Permitted absence from work *** Leave of absence, a period of time that one is to be away from one's primary job while maintaining the status of employee *** Annual leave, allowance of time away ...
for women employees in private offices and commercial/industrial establishments located in the city, who have rendered at least one year continuous service. The ordinance also mandates the
barangay A barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as barrio (abbreviated as Bo.), is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district, or ward. In metropolitan ...
GAD committee to organize elderly women within the barangay to advance their practical and strategic interests and needs. Beauty contests which tend to commodify, abuse, humiliate and treat other persons especially women and homosexual as sex objects shall strictly be prohibited in schools, communities, barangays and the city government in its special celebrations. The city and the barangay council are also mandated to ensure that at least one-third of its members is composed of women. Moreno has praised the country's female medical and health workers as well as the other women frontliners in various fields, acknowledging their roles as "critical and crucial as much as their male counterparts" in the country's response against COVID-19. He also lauded the mothers who need to leave their families in order to fulfill their duties as frontliners. Moreno also recognized the efforts of his then-vice mayor
Honey Lacuna Maria Sheilah Honrado Lacuna–Pangan (born May 6, 1965), publicly known as Honey Lacuna, is a Filipino physician and politician who is currently serving as the Mayor of Manila since 2022. Early life Lacuna-Pangan was born to Danilo "Danny" La ...
, the first ever elected female vice mayor in the history of Manila, calling her an "effective leader who has taken solid steps in
gender equality Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing d ...
and women empowerment" and described her as like an older sister to him. He gave Lacuna executive functions on a par with his mayoral duties. During Moreno's term as mayor, almost 50 percent of the City Hall's employees are women.


Foreign policy

Moreno expressed strong opinions on a foreign policy aligned with what he calls a "Filipino-first" policy, envisioning that the Philippines will forge contracts, organizations, and even trade agreements, for that matter, if it is only beneficial to Filipinos. Moreno agrees that the Philippines is not "militarily prepared" for an encounter with
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, and that order must be upheld such as the Law of the Sea. He believes that the country's
defense secretary The United States secretary of defense (SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense, the executive department of the U.S. Armed Forces, and is a high ranking member of the federal cabinet. DoDD 5100.1: Enclosure 2: a The s ...
should come from the
navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...
, since the Philippines is an archipelagic country. On the issue of the country's claim to the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phil ...
islands, he believes that the Philippines' approach should be "fearless" in asserting the claim and should be responsive to the plight of Filipino fishermen, while at the same time should be "fair" and "sensible" in dealing with other countries also occupying some maritime features in the sea, especially in trade. Moreno has criticized the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
(UN), questioning what they are doing in light of China's disregard of the
Permanent Court of Arbitration The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is a non-UN intergovernmental organization located in The Hague, Netherlands. Unlike a judicial court in the traditional sense, the PCA provides services of arbitral tribunal to resolve disputes that arise ...
(PCA). Moreno asserted that China needs to accept a 2016 arbitration award of the Hague ruling that made clear the Philippines' entitlements, including where it can fish and exploit offshore oil and gas, also citing the
Velarde map ''Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Islas Filipinas'' (Spanish, lit. "'' Hydrographical and Chorographical Chart of the Philippine Islands''"), more commonly known as the Murillo Velarde map, is a map of the Philippines made and first ...
as reference. However, he also expressed opinion in forming partnerships with other countries as well as to prepare in terms of joint trade with China. Moreno expressed support of the Philippines returning to the
International Criminal Court The International Criminal Court (ICC or ICCt) is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal seated in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals ...
(ICC) if the move would "give a good impression to the world".


Public image

Moreno has been described as a
populist Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed ...
, with his
rags to riches Rags to riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity—sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype in literature and popula ...
story from living as a scavenger in the slums as a child, to rising to stardom as a celebrity and later entering politics. Moreno is also known for his streetwise image through his frequent use of Manila street
slang Slang is vocabulary (words, phrases, and linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in spoken conversation but avoided in formal writing. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of particular in-gro ...
, even in media interviews, to engage the masses especially the younger generation, thus, earning the alias "Yorme" when he assumed office as city mayor in 2019. His use of colorful language is collectively dubbed by his supporters as "''ISKOnaryo''" (
portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsFilipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
for dictionary). He is also known for his signature dance steps of the song ''(Dying Inside) To Hold You'' by
Timmy Thomas Timothy Earle Thomas (November 13, 1944 – March 11, 2022) was an American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer, best known for the hit song, "Why Can't We Live Together". Life and career Thomas was born in Evansville, In ...
, a dance he frequently performed during his early showbiz career. His popularity in
social media Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social medi ...
has been attributed to his celebrity status,
charisma Charisma () is a personal quality of presence or charm that compels its subjects. Scholars in sociology, political science, psychology, and management reserve the term for a type of leadership seen as extraordinary; in these fields, the term "ch ...
, and
commoner A commoner, also known as the ''common man'', ''commoners'', the ''common people'' or the ''masses'', was in earlier use an ordinary person in a community or nation who did not have any significant social status, especially a member of neither ...
humor. Although his social media presence is well-received as evidenced by its massive statistical growth in interactions, a number of critics, however, describe such endeavor as ''pa-epal'' (attention-seeker) and "too showbiz". Moreno nonetheless defended his constant social media updates as part of his "engagement" as mayor. He also believes that "taking
selfie A selfie () is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or smartphone, which may be held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick. Selfies are often shared on social media, via social networking services such as F ...
s" with supporters and granting photo ops are part of
public service A public service is any service intended to address specific needs pertaining to the aggregate members of a community. Public services are available to people within a government jurisdiction as provided directly through public sector agencies ...
too. Moreover, Moreno was voted as one of the top performing mayors in the country's
National Capital Region A capital region, also called a capital district or capital territory, is a region or district surrounding a capital city. It is not always the official term for the region, but may sometimes be used as an informal synonym. Capital regions can exis ...
in
opinion polls An opinion poll, often simply referred to as a survey or a poll (although strictly a poll is an actual election) is a human research survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions ...
during his tenure as Manila city mayor. His remarks against the country's
elite In political and sociological theory, the elite (french: élite, from la, eligere, to select or to sort out) are a small group of powerful people who hold a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, political power, or skill in a group. D ...
positioned him as a "man of the people". Moreno developed a reputation of being an "
underdog An underdog is a person or group in a competition, usually in sports and creative works, who is largely expected to lose. The party, team, or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the case where an underdog wins, the ...
" politician who never backs down to political giants, "elitists" and "moralists". Moreno has been often criticized by what his critics describe as his "brash" style of talking, but he dismisses it as rather his "real talk style" of addressing his constituents which the elite could not relate to. Moreno also positioned himself as a "politician of the ordinary people", however, some critics lambast him for overusing his rags-to-riches narrative, to the point that it has become clichéd. He has also been widely compared to former President
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...
with critics labeling him as "Duterte Lite" (lighter version of Duterte) or "Duterte 2.0" and accused him of fence-sitting on certain issues pertaining to Duterte. Moreno's inner circle has described his work ethic as "proactive" and "workaholic", and his leadership style as "obsessive". On the other hand, his colleagues, supporters, and external observers describe him as a "visionary", "transformative", and "brilliant".


Personal life

Moreno has been married to Diana Lynn "Dynee" Ditan (born 1975), a businesswoman and a former taekwondo athlete of the Philippine national team, since 2000. They have five children, including Vincent Patrick (born 1998), Ditan's son from a previous relationship whom Moreno adopted, and Joaquin Andre ("JD") (born 2001), also an actor himself. Other children include Frances Diane (born 2000), Franco Dylan (born 2006), and Drake Marcus (born 2012). In 2022, Moreno became a grandfather at age 47 when his son Joaquin fathered a son named Scott Angelo with Raffa Castro, daughter of actor-turned-broadcast journalist
Diego Castro Diego Castro Giménez (; born 2 July 1982) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left winger. He amassed La Liga totals of 226 games and 43 goals over eight seasons, mainly representing Getafe (four years) and Sporting de Gijón ...
. The child was named after a combination of Moreno's childhood nickname and Raffa Castro's grandfather Angelo Castro Jr. During his early days as councilor of Manila, Moreno admitted that he was once a chaperone to Japanese
VIPs A very important person or personage (VIP or V.I.P.) is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social status, influence or importance. The term was not common until sometime after World War 2 by RAF pilots. Examples incl ...
in casinos for
public relations Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the public in order to influence their perception. P ...
purposes. He added that although he used to play in casinos whenever he accompanies the Japanese, he vehemently denied that he was gambling whenever he is there nor has a gambling problem. Additionally, Moreno said that he no longer went to casinos anymore when Memorandum Circular No. 6, series of 2016 of the Presidential Decree No. 1869 was issued wherein government officials and employees are not allowed to play and gamble in casinos, especially when he started serving as mayor. On August 15, 2021, Moreno tested positive for
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. On August 25, 2021, he recovered from COVID-19. Moreno rarely drinks and had quit smoking since 2021. Moreno is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Rho and a member of the Davao Durian Eagles Club of the
Fraternal Order of Eagles Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington, by a group of six theater owners including John Cort (the first president), brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry ...
– Philippine Eagles. Moreno supports legitimate multi-level network marketing. Aside from his native Tagalog, Moreno can speak
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
in a professional working proficiency level. Moreno is a practicing
Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. Moreno cites
Lee Kuan Yew Lee Kuan Yew (16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015), born Harry Lee Kuan Yew, often referred to by his initials LKY, was a Singaporean lawyer and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Singapore between 1959 and 1990, and Secretary-General o ...
,
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
,
Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...
, and
Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...
(approach on infrastructure projects) as his inspirations in the field of governance. Moreno's life and works were also featured in written literary works. The book entitled ''God First' Why Isko Moreno: I'M Doing It (Isko Moreno)'' written by Rick A. Conchada was published on November 28, 2019 and highlights Moreno's work as Manila mayor. A children's book entitled ''Yorme! The Life Story of Isko Moreno'' written by Yvette Fernandez and illustrated by Ray Sunga in 2021 became one of the top-selling books at
National Book Store National Book Store, Inc. (also spelled National Bookstore and abbreviated as NBS) is a retail company based in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. It operates a bookstore and office-supplies store chain of the same name. It is the largest bo ...
.


Awards, honors and recognition


Public service

Moreno was listed in the "Top 10 Men Who Matter in 2011" by PeopleAsia Magazine. He also received the "2012 Most Outstanding Filipino in the Field of Public Service Award" by Gawad Amerika Foundation. Moreno was chosen as "Man of the Year in Public Service" of the Asia Leaders Awards 2019 and 2020. In November 2019, Moreno earned the 2019
Gusi Peace Prize The Gusi Peace Prize is a private award given by the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, based in Manila, Philippines. The Gusi Peace Prize is given to recognize individuals and organizations who contribute to global peace and progress through a wide var ...
as a recognition for his work in "consistently creating positive changes" from the time he was vice mayor and councilor. Also in November 2019, Moreno was bestowed with the "Breakthrough Award" for his "distinguished track records in public service, leadership, and governance" by
Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
during their Man At His Best 2019 Honors night given to outstanding men and women in the fields of art, film, fashion, sports, business, and public service. Moreno was also chosen as "The Management Man of the Year" awardee for 2019–2020 by the Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman), one of the country's oldest non-profit, non-political organizations in the country In November 2019, the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management (HBS OPM) Club of the Philippines, a club composed of
Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
graduates in the Philippines, honored Moreno as its first-ever awardee for being a "Gamechanger in Politics" and recognized his "outstanding leadership" and "dedicated public service". He was also conferred with honorary membership in the said club. Moreno was once again listed as one of the "Men Who Matter" in 2019 by PeopleAsia Magazine. Additionally, Moreno was awarded as one of PeopleAsia Magazine's "People of the Year" 2020 and 2022. In March 2021, Moreno was adopted as a member of Sanlingan Class 2005 of the
Philippine Military Academy The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
. Also in 2021, Moreno received a "Hero of the Year" recognition from Gawad Filipino Heroes Award for his efforts during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreno was also awarded by the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) with the "Inspirational and Outstanding Leader Award" as a recognition for his "exceptional city governance and excellent response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic" in the same year. Moreno received the "Golden Peacock Award of Excellence" in 2021 from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Inc. (FICCI) Philippines in recognition of the city government's service to its residents and those who do business in the country's capital. In April 2022, Moreno was awarded as one of the "Philippines' Most Exceptional Men of 2022" by the Mrs. Universe Philippines Foundation. In October 2022, Moreno received a "Gawad Sulo for Public Service Award" by the
Philippine Normal University The Philippine Normal University (PNU; fil, Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas) is a public coeducational teacher education and research university in the Philippines. It was established in 1901 through Act No. 74 of the Philippine Commission '' ...
at their 2022 Gawad Sulo for Public Service and Salute to Excellence. Two universities have conferred Moreno with
honorary doctorates An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
: *In April 2014, Moreno was conferred with an
honorary degree An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
of
Doctor Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...
of
Humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...
in
Community Development The United Nations defines community development as "a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems." It is a broad concept, applied to the practices of civic leaders, activists ...
(''
Honoris Causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
'') by the
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (from 'University of the City of Manila', abbreviated as PLM) is a city-government-funded local university situated inside the historic walled area of Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. It was established on ...
. *On December 12, 2020, Moreno received an
honorary degree An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
of
Doctor of Law A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor (LL ...
s (''
Honoris Causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
'') from
San Beda University es, Universidad de San Beda , image = San Beda University seal.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = University Seal , latin_name = Universitas Sancti Bedæ , former_names ...
.


Acting

*2013 – Darling of the Press (Special Award) Winner at the
PMPC Star Awards for Movies PMPC Star Awards for Movies is an annual award-giving body recognizing the outstanding films in the Philippines. It was operated by entertainment writers founded by the Philippine Movie Press Club The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, lin ...
*1998 – Male Star of the Night (Special Award) Winner at the PMPC Star Awards for Movies


Electoral history

Senatorial election, 2016: *Isko Moreno Domagoso ( PMP) – 11,126,944 (16th, 12 candidates with the highest number of votes win the 12 seats in the Senate) Philippine presidential election, 2022:


Filmography


Film


Television


Notes


References


External links

*
Personal website
* * * * * , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Moreno, Isko 1974 births Living people Aksyon Demokratiko politicians Arellano University alumni Candidates in the 2022 Philippine presidential election Filipino actor-politicians Filipino people of Spanish descent Filipino Roman Catholics Male actors from Manila Manila City Council members Mayors of Manila Nacionalista Party politicians National Unity Party (Philippines) politicians Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila alumni People from Tondo, Manila Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino politicians Tagalog people That's Entertainment (Philippine TV series) That's Entertainment Monday Group Members GMA Network personalities ABS-CBN personalities Duterte administration personnel