BEFORE, politicians were packaged as products of old-rich clans who went to expensive schools and who are part of the social elite.
Times have changed. In recent years, politicians make it appear that they come from a very poor background, to the point of making themselves a laughing stock by going ‘jologs,’ by doing or saying things that would enable the ordinary masses to relate to them. This is in an apparent desperate attempt to endear themselves to the masses.
In the case of Manila Mayor and Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno, he need not exert any effort. What used to be his disadvantage is now his great edge over his political opponents.
For starters, Mayor Kois is the only candidate who experienced first-hand how it is to be a squatter. Literally.
Funny thing is, there are some who are disputing this and say that his background as a former squatter is not true.
Recently though, a video of comedienne-host Tessie Tomas interviewing the then 15-year-old Isko Moreno of ‘That’s Entertainment’ came out on social media.
In what appeared to be his first live interview on television, Moreno was asked by Tomas how he was discovered.
Mayor Kois casually narrated that he was attending the wake of a relative of his discoverer Wowie Roxas when a certain ‘Dindin’ who was with Roxas when he arrived at the wake, saw Moreno’s potential.
Moreno said he was playing ‘pusoy’ with his friends when ‘Dindin’ approached him and told him hecan qualify as a member of ‘That’s’. At that time, Moreno said the auditions for the said entertainment show was already near.
Roxas and Dindin then sought the permission of his parents and they agreed for him to audition. Roxas managed his career and the rest, as they say, is history.
Asked by Tomas where he was born, Moreno said it was at Mabuhay corner Tuazon Streets in Tondo. He then asked if could greet his neighbors in Tondo and Tomas allowed him.
When asked to provide a short background about himself, Moreno readily stated, verbatim: “Nung walong-taong gulang po ako, nagkakariton po ako. Tumutulong po ako sa magulang ko kasi istibador (stevedore) lang po ang tatay ko (sa Pier) eh mallit lang po sahod niya so, tumulong po ako sa aking magulang. Bale po, pumupunta po kami ng Divisoria, nangangariton (garbage collector).”
Moreno then narrated that when he reached high school, he went on to become a pedicab driver in order to earn more. By that, he meant P180 a day.
Tomas asked what his route was as a pedicab driver and he said that he plied the Juan Luna- Lakandula route on a daily basis.
The said video clip of Moreno’s short interview with Tomas belies any and all attempts to picture him as someone selling a ‘fake’ background.
Those behind these attempts probably see how relatable Moreno had become to the ordinary citizens because of where he came from. He also serves as an inspiration for having made it this far, despite his poverty roots.
Good for Moreno, he never hid his real background from the time he entered showbusiness, up to the time that he threw his hat in the political ring.
He was never ashamed as can be seen from his interview with Tomas, where he confidently narrated how he got discovered and how he went from being a scavenger to being a pedicab driver.
In that interview, in fact, Moreno was a picture of great pride in saying that he took on the said jobs to be able to help his parents. His mother was a laundrywoman then.
Even to the chagrin of some of his colleagues when he was a first-termer at the Manila City Council where he served as an alderman from the first district of Tondo, Moreno never, ever lied about his background.
He would consistently narrate how hard his life had been as a squatter who, as a kid, ate ‘pagpag’ or leftovers from Jolibee where he collected garbage.
If he lied about all these, it would be easy to prove. Given the kind of politics we have in this country, his opponents would have already flooded the social media with attestations against Moreno’s pronouncements.
Jokjok (from Ronnie Tandoc of Bulacan)
Isang bata ang inutusan para bumili sa isang store ng juice na nasa sachet
Bata: Ale, pabili nga po ng isang juice na nasa litro pack
Tindera: ‘Yung powder ba?
Bata: Ay, baket po ate, may bareta ba kayong juice?!?
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