Isko: A “Yorme” on a Mission

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” — Rosalynn Carter

He reached for a place in Manila’s colorful history by being its youngest elected mayor at 44. He embarked upon a dazzling round of clearing operations in Divisoria, Binondo Manila and Carriedo, Quiapo, Manila — once teeming with countless sidewalk vendors and impenetrable to motor vehicles — that had cemented his dramatic ascent to national consciousness. He doggedly pursued his own timetable to glory, even when the ink on his oath-taking papers had yet to dry. He impressed even his most vociferous skeptics by coming to the table with a clear vision — poverty alleviation, social amelioration, infrastructure and heritage preservation — and a sensible, working plan. He shattered years of conventional wisdom by proving that anyone — even a scavenger coming from society’s lowest rung and bereft of any “pedigree” — can be a transformative leader.

Through it all — and doing it with a flair for exuberance and energy that has marked his leadership as both refreshingly flexible and disconcertingly unpredictable — Francisco Domagoso, better known by his former screen name Isko Moreno — perhaps more than any other young leader of his generation, quickly dominated the news with his no-nonsense style of leadership and, just fifteen days since officially assuming office, has not wasted a single minute of his 1,000-day term.

While the compelling story of his unlikely rise to the top-of-the-city’s political totem pole has already been seared into the public consciousness almost ad nauseam, hearing him actually speak for the first time at a Rotary Club of Manila function has been, a matter-of-factly, an electrifying experience. “Paminsan-minsan, pag nagmumuni-muni ako,” articulating with an unbridled passion of a seasoned rhetorician, “hindi ko sukat akalain na posible pala na ang isang basurero, isang sidecar boy, ay pwedeng maging alkalde ng lungsod ng Maynila na kapitolyo ng bansa. ("Sometimes, I find myself stopping to think, I never dreamed that it would be possible for a garbage collector, a sidecar-driver, can become the mayor of the City of Manila, the country’s capital").”

Those who know him well say the freshman mayor is a fascinating paradox, an idealist with a salting of cleverness, a young man of high principle who is willing to go right to the edge of scruple to reach his goals. Over the years he has perfected a calculating public modesty, down-playing himself about, say, his educational attainment, having only finished high school. But behind the self-deprecation is a steely inner toughness. Determined to disprove high-nosed “intellectuals” who dismissed him as a mere opportunist who took advantage of his popularity as a former actor to get into politics, he went back to school, taking courses at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), even bringing his credentials several notches higher by completing public administration courses at Harvard University and University of Oxford.

His unmatched clarity in articulating his visions for Manila and his incomparable élan to bring them into fruition has certainly led to the Manileños’ renewed sense of optimism, and — dare I say it — hopefulness, especially in an age when it’s all too easy to become cynical about politics in this country. Everything Manila Mayor Isko Moreno does seem to have a purpose. He is a creative energizer of people, a man unafraid to make unpopular decisions, a natural teacher and leader. Even his prudent slogans, enunciated in flawless Tagalog, are worthy of citation. “Huwag po tayong aasa na may bagong mangyayari sa ating bukas kung ang ginawa mo ngayon ay katulad ng kahapon,” (“Don’t expect different results will come to you tomorrow, if what you did today is the same as yesterday,” an obvious paraphrase to an oft-repeated quote from Albert Einstein), a clear soundbite that elicited thunderous applause from an already galvanized audience.

Certainly, we have already seen how this young “Yorme” — Isko’s favorite colloquial for himself; actually a syllabic reversal of “Mayor” — tried to turn whatever he touches into a cause: from holding up a piece of paper with a huge zero (representing the number of official documents the previous administration turned over to his transition team); brandishing a sledgehammer and whacking gambling machines operating within Manila City Hall grounds; pledging to convert the decrepit Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center into a world-class health center in three years; or sounding a call to have names of politicians removed from schools and hospitals. To be involved in difficult problems with difficult goals seems to invigorate him even more. “We’ll bring back the Old Manila,” he enthused. He mentions “reintegrating” Manila back into the fold of agencies of national government. “Dati kasi ang Maynila namuhay na parang isang bansa,” he clarified. “Like it’s separate from the rest of the country... we want it to be more of a vibrant city.”

But amid all his plans, the good mayor maintains a pragmatic view of the City’s situation. He offers no quick-fix solutions as he admits that it would take 15 years to bring the city at par with the more progressive asphalt jungles of today. He is committed, however, to lay the foundation of urban renewal from Day One.

To this end, he appealed to the largely well-heeled audience for support. “Tanungin po natin ang ating mga sarili: gusto na ba talaga natin ayusin ang Maynila? Ngayon po, ako po’y nanawagan sa inyo. Kung doon po ang punta ninyo, tulungan niyo po ako. Di ko po kaya mag-isa. Wala naman magmamalasakit sa ating mga Batang Maynila kungdi tayo rin naman mga Batang Maynila. ("Ask ourselves: do we really want to fix Manila? Now, if this is the case, I beseech you to help me. I cannot do this alone. No one can give as much compassion to the children of Manila than ourselves, the children of Manila"). This is now the time,” he pleaded. “But don’t get me wrong,” he cautioned. “With or without support, kahit ako na lang, itutuloy ko ("even if I have to do this alone, I will still do it"). Because I would rather fail by doing something, than fail by not doing anything.”

After hearing him speak for an hour- and-a-half, I left the ballroom feeling exuberant and a bit giddy about the new mayor. Much like a childhood feeling one has after having had a preview of a blockbuster film. And I believe I am not the only one. The actor-turned-politician had the entire audience believing he may be the real McCoy this time. Undoubtedly, Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso is a promoter with a special mission, a throwback to the kind of Filipino nationalist zealot who believes unblushingly that what he’s doing is a force for good. And, if he can just get everyone to pull together and persuade them that the impossible can be done, then maybe — just maybe — Manila’s genuine redemption will have a better-than-even chance.