He was poor in the slums of Tondo and literally grew up in the streets, looking for leftovers to eat and recyclable goods to sell.
That’s why Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso stressed Sunday there is no need for him to steal or receive bribes to lead a luxurious life.
Domagoso said he has been accustomed to leading a simple life even before he entered showbusiness or joined politics, starting as Manila councilor.
“I ate your left-over foods, which I found from heaps of garbage,” Domagoso told the country’s top investors, businessmen and entrepreneurs at the Foundation for Economic Freedom forum held in Makati City.
In his campaign against corruption after he buckled down to work as mayor, Domagoso said there were Insinuations he was merely introducing himself to potential “donors,” political or otherwise.
Word also went around, Domagoso said, that he merely wanted to command a “higher price” to stop his drive against corrupt government officials and employees on his turf, illegal parking and street Anarchy, among others.
He recalled he was even offered a huge sum of money to stop going after illegal vendors who have conquered the streets in the city and blocked its roads with their wares.
But these words, he emphasized, inspired him to Resist temptations and to remain upright and do his job well. He only lamented that some people were judgmental.
“After the lapse of one month… two months… today’s my second month and 18 days, and still counting if I am going to be tempted,” said the mayor who also served as Undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Despite growing up poor and inheriting poverty from his parents, a Housewife, and a stevedore in the Pier, Domagoso said he has no Regrets in being poor.
In fact, he was thankful for his life Experiences—the lessons he learned which he is using now in a bid to Effectively rule the country’s capital.
Domagoso said he came from the ground so he knew life from there, so He can deal with them no matter how tough.
As a young boy, spending most of his time on the streets, Domagoso Recalled a policeman walked on the streets on his own while people Were sleeping.
“So many were saying him- ‘isko natutulog ka pa ba because they see me At 2 am or 3 in the morning in the streets. But I am just showing our Policemen how to do their job,” said Domagoso.
He said policemen should go around rhe city while people were Sleeping, make them feel secured and “this is how you are going to do It because that was what I saw when I was young.”
With policemen around and visible, he believes crimes would go down.
He said those planning to commit a crime will have second thought because they can easily be arrested.
“Kaya tiklop lahat, tahimik,” said Domagoso who has repeatedly said He has not yet done big for the city since what he’s doing was just Simple governance.
“We have to go back to basics, elementary of governance so far. Ask around, inquire deeply on what we are doing at the “Bahay na Puti” (Manila City Hall) and on the streets.
But this early, he already considered himself very lucky because in The entire history of Manila, this was the only time they were Visited. To date, he had met 14 world leaders, mostly ambassadors, Coming from across the world.
“They might have thought that we are Malacanang. Maybe, the address Was wrong because my nose was always bleeding. I have to speak English, so there’s the problem. I always tell them only five minutes (of talk),” Domagoso told the audience in jest.
Domagoso extolled they felt honored. At the very least, he could see That these global leaders have a fresh outlook of Manila and its Leadership.
He said it would appear he was already “investigated” by the Embassies of the countries.
“For one, they will not expose their country to visit a crooked Politician or… ayaw ko magbuhat, they know better than me— how to Distinguish leadership in this fate or truth or it’s just in the start Because that’s the challenge to me,” stated Domagoso.