Isko Moreno for president in 2028

Newly elected City of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has been all over the news, both in social and main media due to some bold and uncommon directives and moves in the first two weeks of his three-year term. He ordered the removal of all illegal sidewalk vendors and the cleanup of Divisoria, and two days later, pictures of the wide and clean streets in Divisoria came out in the newspapers, Facebook, Twitter, Messenger, and many other websites.

Everybody from all walks of life, and even people far away from Manila were impressed and praised him. Then he ordered the removal of all signages or posters of government projects in Manila with the names of the politicians from councilors to congressmen.

This was done the following day. He steps on shit in the Bonifacio shrine and he ordered the city’s DPWS to make sure all the parks in Manila be spic and span, and it was done in two days. These were very productive and media savvy moves that made Mayor Moreno a political force to reckon this early and this fast. It made the traditional politicians in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country take notice.

Who is Isko Moreno Domagoso? He is 44 years old with a wife and five children. He was born under modest circumstances in Tondo, Manila, and has lived all his life in Manila. He was a one-time actor playing small parts due to his good looks. He went to school in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Manila, a city-owned public school, Arellano University, and the University of the Philippines.

There are no mentions of a stellar academic performance or achievements, but he obviously learned from formal schooling and from the “school of hard knocks” that he was elected a popular councilor and eventually vice mayor of Manila. After he was not given the opportunity to succeed then incumbent Mayor Estrada, he mounted a campaign for mayor against Estrada and won by a convincing majority in the last election against all odds.

Why does Isko Moreno matter? While there are still a number of political dynasties that have members in elected positions, there were some dynasties whose members lost to new and young politicians. Some of these upcoming new politicians had the backing of strong political families and parties, this was not exactly in the case for Isko Moreno.

And to win against Estrada who is an ex-mayor, ex-senator, ex-president, and incumbent mayor is a major accomplishment. He must have organizational skills, management ability and feel/appeal to the people. I met Estrada when he was president and he has good charisma and the “people’s touch” and many will attest to this Estrada skill. For Isko Moreno to surpass this with people in a city like Manila is really something.

We are nine years away from the 2028 Presidential election and there will be another presidential election in 2022. Isko Moreno will be 54 years old when the 2028 election comes around. The socio-political, demographic, and historical trends will favor an Isko Moreno presidential bid and win.

There is already a perceptible shift from populist governments to a socialist democratic government by 2022 which will continue to 2018. In his ANC interview, Moreno has a very good understanding of the poor having lived in Tondo, and the social programs that are needed.

He is also young enough to identify with the youth majority population of the Philippines now and in 2028. And in 2028, the annual per capita income of Filipinos, (adjusted to purchasing power parity) will be in the $9,000 lessening the influence of money politics. Moreno made a good start, and if he remains true to his ideals of truth and justice, he will be president of the Philippines.