From being a child of Manila, now he is deemed as the father of Manila. We have with us the one and only,
Yorme Isko Moreno. - Hello, Yorme.
- Hello. Thank you. Welcome to the city hall. How does it feel to be the father of Manila now? Oh... well, just like how it is to be a father of in a home, of course, you're always the keen type. The difference between being a father
to a family, there is no playbook. See? There's no such thing as a perfect family. But being a father to about two million
nighttime population, three million daytime population, half of the time, there are rules, the other half, you base your decisions and
guidance on your experience. When you make a decision, do you based it on
what you know or what you feel? First, it depends on the situation. One, we analyze data. I'm a believer of data. After reading the data, you use your gut feel. The flock looks forward to your care. So initially, you use your brain to analyze things, then let your emotions help you, because you do know your people around you. Their habits, customs. Then you can relate to them better. You know how to... discipline, guide and help them because you know them. Since we are talking about your role
as the father of Manila, in relation to your own father, your family name is really "Domagoso." Yes, Butete. Joaquin. Yes, and Moreno was - the family name of your mother.
- my mother. Yes. Your father is from Antique and
your mother is from Samar. How did you end up in Manila? I'm a product of rural negligence in the past. What does that mean? That means, back in the day, there were
no opportunities in rural areas. So our fellow Filipinos in the province, will come to Manila and become squatters. Of course, they are hoping that there will be
a better opportunity for them. My mother and father found each other. Then my mother got pregnant. - I was the fruit.
- You were the product. You're an only child, right? Yes, and the sole heir to my mother's huge land. So you are-- It's in those hill areas... the foggy regions. Yes. - You were born in Tondo?
- In Tondo. I was born in Tondo already. Until we lived in Mabuhay, the long squatter's area beside the pier. So as a kid, you were really exposed early to
a difficult life already? Because at ten years old, you would already collect-- Trash. I would see my other friends who always have money to spend. They would gamble using coins, heads or tails and even have those little plastic toys. They could even buy cherry bons. The candy? The red-colored bubblegum. Yes. You'll get a locked jaw
before you could even finish that gum. That's inside a bottle. There, you're right. I said, "Where do you get the money to buy this?" And I found out that they'd collect garbage. So I went with them. I think I made more or less twenty bucks. That was my share. So on a school day, I'd go to classes
at Almario around 5:30 AM. I will walk for about thirty minutes everyday, So six o'clock. At twelve, we're dismissed. And at around eight or nine o'clock,
the Jollibee store nearby would close, the one at Ilaya. That's where I would go to get trash. That's the batchoy. They call it "pagpag." But it's called "batchoy" before. And then we'd have spaghetti, burger, at saka chicken. The leftovers? The actual ones that people eat from? If it has some portions of good meat,
we'd sell it on the side. You'd wrap it in cellophane or the sando bag, until it becomes full. At first, we'd be the only ones to eat that. And can you imagine? Our breakfast would be-- We were really poor, but our breakfast is Chickenjoy. Our lunch, still Chickenjoy. For dinner, same, Chickenjoy. It would fill the place with smoke. You know how it is in squatter areas,
we have thin walls. So the smell travels far. This is delicious. And eventually, our neighbors would buy from us. "Etneb." - What's that?
- "Bente" or twenty bucks. Okay. If the meat wasn't touched too much,
especially when it's a kid's meal... They wouldn't finish it. They just want to see a lot of food on their plate. So that would be the first pick for buyers. Automatically an extra portion. You grew up with that? - Yes.
- That was our means of living. It's an everyday thing, school, then work, sleep, sometimes I could even bathe,
sometimes I couldn't. Because sometimes, you'd feel
your knees trembling, and the muscles. Well you know what the elders would say, "Don't take a shower after a tiring day,
you'll get spasms." So all the dirt on my skin... the fungi... Oh wow, that gave my feet a really bad itch. Oh, you couldn't imagine. You don't seem like it because you're so handsome. You actually look like you have foreign blood. - Do you?
- Yeah, I act like a monkey. No, I don't think so, you really are good-looking. Your white complexion was a standout
that's why they'd call you "Scott." Yeah, Scott was my nickname, so if somebody calls me Scott,
I'd know that they're my childhood friends. Those were my pals back in Mabuhay. You grew up in a challenged area, right? So you were exposed to different kinds of people. All kinds. You never got into sniffing Rugby glue? That's a very good point. You never thought of doing that? I grew up with criminals, hardcore and petty criminals. I grew up with the people with vices. But I... was the type who was afraid to get
scolded by my mother. My mother is fierce, she was from Samar,
they're known to be tough. I was afraid of my mother because
she would discipline me. Plus the fact that, a lot of my childhood friends... they became troublesome. But me and my fellow garbage collectors, we would diligently study while working. We all wanted to be seamen or
we'd want to go to Saudi. That was your dream before? I wanted to be a seaman, to be a captain of a ship. Because I felt like I'd be rich if I become a seaman. I wanted to have a house made of stone,
with an anchor too. The seamen from our place,
they'd have anchors in their houses. Hey, these look nice. And we lived near the pier. If you become a seaman, you'd be rich. Yes. And for you, to become one,
you have to finish schooling. That's why you really stayed the course, because you were afraid of your mother? Yes, my mother was a disciplinarian. That's why here in Manila, I made a ruling here. I would call in the mothers. I mean the parents. If we catch someone violating the curfew,
our old curfew hours, we would sentence the parent of the violator. Because I believe that children
are born without malice. Without the intention to hurt people around them. But through the years,
because of their environment, they would be influenced. More so, when the parents neglect their children. It's one thing to not be able
to feed the children enough food, but it's another to not give enough
guidance and attention-- that's what makes children worrisome. The reason why I'd tell that story to them is because we've been through the same ordeals. We're both filthy and unhygienic. We grew up in the same neighborhood. Why did my mom have a different mindset? My father, even when we don't have money, he'll go to the pier, waiting for work. If he's called, he'll have work. So, it's a matter of perseverance. There was an instance, I was in second grade, and my mother
was called to the school office. And back in the day, that's your worst nightmare to have
the guidance counselor call for your mother. You'd never want that to happen. So why did they call for your mom? The following day, my mother went. The classroom's door was open. I saw them talking. I was preparing for the spanking. I told myself, "She's gonna use the hanger again." The hangers back in the day were made of steel. They would twist the-- - When that hits you...
- Ouch. It would even get deformed. "What? You have any more excuses?" When I got home, my mother said, "You're so stubborn!" "I told you to study hard, right?!" "And now, we have a problem." "Why?" "You're on top of the class." You know why she's mad? My mother was called to the school office because we had to prepare for the recognition day because I'd need to wear a long-sleeved top. And of course, we'd have to buy that. Another expense. Those were things that my mother did not like. Fortunately, I have a childhood friend
across the street, a girl with around the same height as me. So I was able to borrow a white long-sleeved top. The problem with women's long sleeved
tops in the 80's was... they had ruffles. So you graduated in that outfit? Right here, the ruffles looked like flowers. During the recognition day, they gave me a medal. - First honor?
- First honor. With ruffles, but at least, long sleeves. But you know what my mother did after? She displayed it. She wanted to keep the gold medal there. She was so proud. Isn't it amazing? The honor that you have your mother... From graduating as first honors
to being the mayor of Manila. My mother was there for all of those milestones. So it must have been hard when
she passed away last year? Oh, yeah. She was found sick, six, seven years ago. The same sickness with my father. What was her sickness? Cancer. A few hours after my birthday in the hospital, - Last year?
- Yes, last year October 25. Well, that's life. At least she was able to experience
some comfort in life. So ninety-three. And today is 2021, so more or less about 18 years. All her life, in the province and in Manila, and even living as squatters, she's been the queen of our home. What was the biggest life lesson
your mother gave you? Don't be the type to complacent
about your situation. Being timawa is... settling with your current situation... you give dignity to yourself. Don't be too dependent. - Someone who just asks for things?
- Yes. Work hard. And then she said, "When the time comes..." "Buy your own house." "So when a great storm hits,
you have a roof over your head." And of course, as a parent, she wanted us to have our own properties. That's why the in-city vertical housing
program we have, the BASECOmmunity, Tondominum 1, Tondominium 2, Binondominium 1. Now, they're going to do Pedro Gil, San Lazaro, San Sebastian. We're trying to build about four, five, six buildings. It addresses the same story of mine, there will always be parents who kept on worrying about having a roof
over their family's heads. So, if my mother and father
weren't able to fulfill that with me, at least I'm grateful to God and
I'm grateful to the people of Manila; Now, I have an opportunity
to change the course of the resources of government addressing - Housing?
- This situation. How old were you when you became an actor? Eighteen. - You were discovered at a wake?
- Yes. It was a home video that would just
document or record the wake. Daddy Wowie was there. They approached me if I wanted to be an actor. - Were you shocked?
- Yes. I'd never imagine myself as a celebrity of any sort. With all the dirt on my skin, really? So when you got into showbiz-- In That's... That's Entertainment? Kuya Germs' show, I auditioned for
That's Entertainment. - You got in?
- Yes. We were-- So you were really surprised when you became a celebrity? I would scream and bombard Mabuhay saying,
"I'm a celebrity now!" I'd do that in Moriones. So when you became an actor,
you'd still go back to the squatter's area? Yes. Of course, in your early days,
you wouldn't have money. I wasn't used to wearing anything
dapper-looking and cool. Those days, Robin was my ultimate idol. - Padilla?
- Yes. All it takes is getting a 501... And you become Robin Padilla? You'd wear a plain t-shirt and fix it up like this... You do this with a cigarette... And then you become Robin Padilla? He was your idol back then? That's why I'd even tease Robin
when I see him and say, "You're a fool, Binoe. Because of you,
I learned how to smoke cigarettes. Oh really, as your idol before? He had this film before called "Barumbado." He would take a puff of his cigarette, and the scene was a car had just flipped over, and it was drenched in gasoline, he'd say these words: "Go to hell and meet Satan.
That's where you belong." Wow! Boom! That's what you'd watch before? I never knew Robin Padilla was your idol. How did you get into the sexy or
edgy side of films? - Huh?
- In those sexy movies. Here's how it happened. Those innocent and starting out days were over... Yes. Then the "pito-pito" era came long, that was the era of doing seven days production, and seven days post-production. After seven days, the material
should be airing already. - That's why it's called ""pito-pito"" or ""seven.""
- Yes. - And it comes with numbers, right?
- Yes. I said, "This is not bad." You'll be busy for seven days, then you'd get your paycheck.
Then it airs, then you promote it... then you're off to the next movie. Low cost productions were a hit back then, the movies that were somehow "titillating" There! The titillating movies. Because I was a Seiko baby. So if it is from Seiko, it must be good. Without malice, as an actor, you know,
you have to be professional. You just work. Exactly. Even if you need to lie on the streets
or being pushed off a building, even if you're fed to the crocodiles,
or you'd get punched by the lead actor, it doesn't matter. It's just plain and simple work. You have to portray a character. How long were you in that business? - Around my...
- Twenties? Twenty-one, twenty two... Before I bulked up, I was ripped. Yes. Of course, if you spent your life lifting huge crates, not everybody could do that. And when you use a wagon
and it has to go through humps, it'd be more difficult because of the added weight. So naturally, when you do that everyday,
you'll get muscle cuts. Imagine, you'd earn a six-figure
paycheck at that time, and all you had to do was eat a little, and you're in an airconditioned spot. And then they'd say, "Are you ready?" Take your shirt off? See? It was such an easy job. All you have to do is pose like this. I mean, what's wrong with that? I'm not burdening anyone around me anyway. To me, it's really just a job. You were 23 years old when you got into politics? Yes. Councilor? I was a councilor in 1998. I have been in show business
for five years at that point. How did you get into politics? Here's the story. Sometimes, I would ponder and think, even in the early years of my life, I know the government organization
like the back of my hand. All the ministries. Isn't it that in one of our classes
we'd discuss current events? So one way or another, in return,
because of all my blessings, why not serve and give it back to people? Literally, I don't know what the job of a councilor was. I didn't know that they were lawmakers too. - You had no idea?
- No idea. I just wanted to be of service. And I don't know if it is fortunate
or unfortunate that out of six of my partymates, I was the only one who won. And when I got into the council, the rest was history. The lawyers, the doctors, almost everyone were professionals. I was the only one who wasn't. I only graduated from high school. Remember, I wasn't able to finish college because I became an actor. People said awful things about me. Like? Hurtful words that could destroy you. "He's a nobody. He's dumb." "He's just in show business." "He's just a pretty face." On the floor, on record. I couldn't take what people were saying about me. Like what we say, don't take
to heart what people say, just think about having food on your table. When they were saying that I was dumb, I'd say, "I don't think so,
I was at the top of my class." Former Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna-- - Was your mentor?
- Yes. He said, "You have to study." Fortunately, people from UP are really great. They created a syllabus that is designed for newly elected officials who do not have sufficient knowledge
on the government systems here. So I went there, took up that course. In a matter of two weeks,
I've learned so many things. Then start understanding Robert's Rules of Order in a parliamentary procedure. Then I came back. I took up local finance. I became a regular college student in the International Academy
of Management Economics in Makati. Then I graduated. Then I developed an extreme liking
for studying again. So I enrolled in the Arellano Law School. I was accepted. I'm about to go to my tertiary, third year, but at exactly that time, I was elected as vice mayor. So while you were in the public office,
you'd juggle your time-- I'd keep studying, yes. That's why if you had noticed, modesty aside, when I got into politics, I still had some shows. Yes. Then when I saw the value of the academe or having a rich academic background, I dropped everything in showbiz. So I focused on public service, and trying to equip myself with
all the things that are necessary. One time, the US embassy wrote to me
through the US State Department, that I was chosen to be sent to Washington under the IVLP. They said, "We would like to congratulate you... that you were chosen to be sent to IBLB." And I said, "Tell the embassy that they sent it to the wrong address." "You're sending me to America,
and I couldn't even speak English well?" My grammar was not good. When I accepted that, that changes everything. So I went to school,
I stayed in the United States for a month. And then, I heard that Senator Kiko Pangilinan, went to JFK School of Government. I said "How could I apply there?" Then I did my research. They were offering an executive program. For a short period of time, you can go there and grab the opportunity to learn something. One night, my wife and I were in bed, I was on my laptop and
I was working on my application. The first page was easy. Name, address, those easy questions. I said, "I think I'd be able to ace this exam." Okay, so first page, done. Second page, essay. Oh, god. In English. I'm dead. Well, my wife was from La Salle. That was so late into the night already, I'm stumped. I am drained. Mommy, help me out. I haven't completed it. This is what I wanted to say. I was able to type in 250 words already.
I just submitted that. I said, "If I fail, nobody will know." My wife, me, and the director. I have nothing to lose. Then fortunately, a week after,
I received an email from Harvard University. It reads, Dear Mr. Domagoso, we would like to
welcome you to JFK School. Then I went further.
Keep on challenging myself. To my capability. They said, the best university was Oxford University. So I gave it a try too. The SAID Business School had an offer. As well as a program. You passed of course? So, I went there too. Then I went back to Harvard. If there's a will, there's a way. If you really want to learn... If you value it. if you think it differently, like this is all about prestige and power, - some priviledges.
- Title? Title. I know a lot of people who are rich. And that's why their desire is to have a title. It really depends. Depending on your perspective. It's true that if you want something,
there will always be a way to get it. Think about it, I was just a garbage collector, and then I became the mayor of Manila. All the harsh words and accusations, and all those destructive words, you will really go through that. But you know, I have learned and Winston Churchill has said that, "If you don't throw stones to every dog that barks." Focus on something. Get to the goal or objective. Especially in a darkroom. You will never see the light
at the end of the tunnel if just stay there. You need to figure things out on your own. You have to try. Then after the end of the tunnel,
there's a light waiting for you. Your story is remarkable, isn't it? You were able to change your life. - Yes.
- Right? It's not important where you come from, what's important is what you would do
to make yourself better. Yes. It's good to achieve so many things
materially or whatever a man may need, but it doesn't mean you're going to be happy. What makes you happy right now? Oh, when you say thank you. "Yorme, thank you!" That becomes your battery, your fuel. That's music to my ears. That I was able to affect lives. The pain, the recognitions, the laurels, at the end of the day, it's the people who will... appreciate it. You always say that you never forget your humble beginnings. - Oh, yeah.
- I think, you had an interview that showed
a painting of you as-- a garbage collector. - in your own house?
- Yes. Before you leave the house, by the door,
on the right side, you'd see the wall with a painting of a kid
pushing a junk wagon. There's even another one. In sculpture form. By the stairs, on the last step, you will see the kid pushing a junk wagon, to remind you of something, materials around you, that reminds you of who you are. And where you came from. You have to look back where you came from. That's why I never get stiff necks. You always look there. From your roots. The question now is, where is Yorme headed? Let's let the natural course of nature... You mentioned a while ago that you value the trust, the love of the people, what do you do when they clamor for you to run for a higher office, the highest position in the land, the president of the Philippines? The highest in the tower. Just to be fair with you, all politicians who have dipped their toes in this vast swimming pool of politics, the maximum goal is presidency. That's career growth. - The highest position in the land.
- Exactly. The dangerous thing that we'll do
in the next coming months, is to politicize the situation. But for me, there is time for that. And I will be honest to the people and be fair at the very least
by saying it on the right time. Today, "You go first. You couldn't wait, right?" How long do you see yourself being in public service? I think when I reach 50 years old, I'd retire. You're 46 now, so that's in four years? Well, within that range. I've been working since I was 10 years old. Just like a car's engine, I'm due for an overhaul. I'm all out. There is a point that I have learned
with great leaders. They know when to stop. I have never dreamed
of being a mayor of Manila, as I have said repeatedly, The only way for me to have a comfortable living
is if I become a seaman. But to become one, I need to study. Without it, you couldn't become a seaman. You can opt to not study,
but still end up becoming a "steal man" or a robber. But you didn't do that because
you were afraid of your mother. As I listen to your story,
it becomes more and more beautiful. As if reminding us that we could plan
and dream in life, but whatever God's will is for you, Definitely that's what's bound to happen. Because you never really wanted to be an actor, you never really wanted to become a mayor, but here you are now. Who'd have known that my neighbor had to die
for me to be discovered, and for my life to change. Right? What a way to-- His death was the birth of your new career. Exactly. What are the chances? God has so many ways in... surprising you. He's showing you. "Here, here's the Lord's plan for you." That's why I'm always grateful to God,
and I'm afraid that... I just really have fear for the Lord. And that's what's important.
