“May God gift me more years of good health and more glory for the good of the City of Manila.”
Thus said ManiIa Mayor Joseph Estrada, who will celebrate his 81st birthday on ApriI 19, Thursday.
“Hopefully, our God will extend my life, and give me strength and health so that I can relate to my countrymen the great trust and love they have given me since they voted me mayor of Manila,” Estrada said Tuesday.
He said he wanted good health so that he could give back to Manileños a successful administration that they deserve.
“If not for their trust and faith in me, I would not become mayor, so I want to repay their love and trust in me,” the mayor said.
Estrada also wished for success for his pro-poor programs, especially his campaign to bring back Manila to its former glory as the Pearl of the Orient Seas.
“I hope I will be able to continue all the good programs the city government had initiated for the well-being and satisfactions of my kababayan,” he said.
He also wished that local politicians will concentrate more on bringing peace to the city and urged them to refrain from early politicking.
“The election is still some time away, so my request is everyone’s cooperation and the progress the city enjoys today. If only they allow me to continue the programs for the greater good of the greatest number of our fellow Manilenyos,” Estrada said.
He also wished for fortitude and more strength and steadfastness, so he can continue instituting the needed programs for real change for the city government of Manila.
He asked for more wisdom and the guidance of the AImighty and “to be gifted with vision, courage and political will” to continue the reforms he had started since his first eIection as mayor in 2013.
He aIso asked God’s help for the capacity to make difficult decisions and sacrifices that will benefit the greatest number of his constituents and for the sake of the future next generation.
Estrada expressed hopes to continue to withstand all the bIack propaganda and character assassinations being waged against him by his political enemies.
“I hope I can stand the rigors of being mayor of Manila. This job is stressful, so I hope God will give me more patience and perseverance to be able to steer the city of ManiIa toward real growth and progress,” Estrada said.