AKSYON Demokratiko Presidential bet Mayor Isko Moreno paid tribute to those who served as frontliners during the height of the pandemic and who had to pay the ultimate price when they succumbed to the virus in the performance of their duties.
Moreno said this as he received recognition as “People of the Year 2022” awardee for the city government’s COVID response which fully benefitted the residents of Manila, from a prestigious award-giving body.
Moreno was cited by People Asia for what he did in the city government’s fight against COVID-19, specially the building of the 344-bed capacity Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital and the distribution of free, expensive and hard-to-access anti-COVID medicines like Remdesivir, Tocilizumab, Molnupiravir, Baricitib and Bexovid, among others.
In his acceptance speech, Moreno thanked his working partner Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and all the City Hall employees who served at the frontlines specially during the height of the pandemic and who worked with him during the three months that he did not go home and stayed in City Hall.
While he and Lacuna got infected along the way, Moreno said there are some city frontliners who paid the ultimate price and succumbed to the coronavirus.
Moreno also offered the award to his late parents, whom he said inspired him to never give up during difficult times.
“Inaalay ko ito sa aking nanay at tatay na naging simbolo ko na ‘wag sumuko sa buhay. Di nila ako sinukuan, bagamat ako ay solong tagapagmana ng lupain na bulubundukin at umuusok pa..the thing is, hindi sila sumuko kaya andito ako sa harap nyo ngayon,” Moreno said, in reference to the Smokey Mountain where he grew up.
In introducing Moreno as the next awardee, Vicki Belo described the mayor as “a former scavenger who grew up to become a star not only in cinema but in public service as well.”
Moreno was also cited for the cleanup drive he did in the once chaotic area of Divisoria and his effort in rehabilitating the Arroceros Forest Park, providing decent housing for the poor and building new school buildings, among others, all in record time and for showing one and all that with political will and conviction, life can become better for any average Filipino.
“Ito rin ay iniaalay ko sa mga magulang at mga bata na kumakaharap ng pagsubok sa buhay. Huwag kayong susuko, kapit lang. Lagi niyong tandaan na after the rain, there is a rainbow. Salamat sa lahat ng bumubuo ng PeopleAsia Magazine sa inyong iginawad na pagkilala sakin bilang isa sa mga People of the Year 2022,” Moreno said.
Editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez said the awardees, which include Senator Joel Villanueva among others, were cited for their success in their respective fields of endeavor and for spreading hope, taking action and, most importantly, serving others.
