119 Facts About Isko Moreno

Isko Moreno was born and raised in the slums of Tondo, Manila, and spent his childhood in poverty.

Isko Moreno then pursued higher education, including some non-degree postgraduate education at Harvard Kennedy School and Oxford Said Business School.

Isko Moreno then served in the cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte as social welfare undersecretary for a few months in 2018, before successfully standing as mayor of Manila, winning in a landslide victory against his former allies Joseph Estrada and Alfredo Lim in the 2019 local elections becoming the youngest elected mayor of Manila since the People Power Revolution.

Isko Moreno is widely regarded as one of the top-performing local chief executives in the Philippines; he has described his leadership style as akin to that of his predecessor Alfredo Lim, citing their shared commitment to reducing crime and maintaining cleanliness of the capital.

Isko Moreno is noted for his streetwise public image due to his use of colorful language coupled with Manila street slang.

In September 2021, Isko Moreno announced his bid for the Philippine presidency in the 2022 presidential election, in which he finished fourth out of 10 candidates.

Isko Moreno is widely credited for "restoring Manila to its former glory within a short period of time", despite disinformation against him by political rivals.

Isko Moreno is generally known for his firm implementation of city services, beautification of derelict historical sites, and leading the establishment of city infrastructure.

Isko Moreno announced his first retirement from politics after his mayoral term ended on June 30,2022 and ventured into business, content creation, and television hosting.

In 2024, Isko Moreno announced his return to politics, running for Mayor of Manila in the 2025 Philippine general election.

Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso is the only child of Visayan parents Joaquin Copias Domagoso, a stevedore at Manila's North Harbor, from San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, and Rosario Isko Moreno from Allen, Northern Samar, a housewife, laundrywoman and garlic peeler.

Isko Moreno's parents were not married when he was born and he has older half-siblings from his father's first family.

Isko Moreno attended Rosauro Almario Elementary School and Tondo High School, both public schools in Tondo, Manila.

From his savings, Isko Moreno briefly enrolled in maritime engineering at the Philippine Maritime Institute in 1992, for one semester every year, but dropped out when he entered the entertainment business after he was discovered in 1993 by a talent scout who encouraged him to audition for That's Entertainment, a popular teen-variety show, as a way for him to relieve his family's poverty.

In 1993, when an 18-year-old Isko Moreno was attending a wake of a neighbor, he was persuaded by a talent scout to join show business thanks to his matinee idol image and boyish features.

Isko Moreno's first acting job was an extra in an episode for the RPN teen drama show Young Love, Sweet Love, which was previously hosted by German Moreno.

Isko Moreno was once paired up with former child star Bamba during his early days in That's Entertainment.

Isko Moreno then starred in a variety of films and television shows in genres including drama, romance, action, and comedy.

In 2004, Isko Moreno made a cameo appearance on his life story featured on Maalaala Mo Kaya, in the episode titled "Aklat", where he was portrayed by Danilo Barrios.

Isko Moreno had a brief appearance in 2007 in the television drama series Bakekang.

Isko Moreno was visited and interviewed on the show by Akimoto, her mother, Akimoto's fellow AKB48 co-member Mariko Shinoda, and comedian Hiroshi.

Isko Moreno made a cameo appearance in the 24th anniversary special of Bubble Gang.

Isko Moreno returned again to acting in television by joining the Ruru Madrid-led action series Black Rider in 2024.

Isko Moreno started his political career in 1998 when he was elected and sworn in as councilor under then-Mayor Lito Atienza for Manila's first legislative district at age 23, the youngest-elected councilor in Manila's history at that time.

Isko Moreno's programs include the "ISKOlar ng Bayan" college scholarship program, the Isko Moreno Computer Learning Center, the "Botika ni Isko" which was the only pharmacy in the country installed within a public office, and the establishment of daycare centers in the first district.

In 2003, Isko Moreno obtained a business administration degree from the International Academy of Management and Economics in Makati.

Isko Moreno took a crash course in local legislation and local finance at the National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines Diliman.

Isko Moreno attended non-degree programs, fellowships, and short courses in leadership and governance at John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and at Said Business School, University of Oxford.

Isko Moreno was re-elected in 2010, this time under Nacionalista Party and as the running mate of then-incumbent Mayor Lim.

Isko Moreno had criticized the national government's urgency on the matter, saying the national government should have intervened early because foreign nationals were involved.

Isko Moreno served as vice chairman of the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission.

In 2011, Isko Moreno was chosen to visit Washington, DC, under the International Visitor Leadership Program sponsored by the US State Department, the only Filipino participant of their group.

Between 2012 and 2013, the Commission on Audit found Isko Moreno's office had 623 ghost employees.

Isko Moreno said he was only the signatory of the disbursement of the city council's employees and that the Office of the City Treasurer disburses employee salaries.

Isko Moreno was joined by his wife, former senator Loi Ejercito, and Moreno.

Isko Moreno then joined Estrada's party Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and United Nationalist Alliance, which was then in coalition with PDP-Laban.

Isko Moreno denied the bingo game was in a public place in Santa Cruz, Manila, because they were in a private property and did not cause obstruction.

Isko Moreno said the bingo game was not illegal because there was no wager involved and the cards were given for free.

Isko Moreno said the bingo session was initiated for entertainment purposes to attract people to attend their consultation program.

Isko Moreno was re-elected in May 2013, and Estrada defeated Lim to become the new mayor of Manila.

Isko Moreno later adjusted his expense report where the amended sum fell within campaign spending limits.

Several poll watchdogs have echoed support for Isko Moreno and have campaigned for the revision of an outdated spending cap because they said such law, which was enacted in 1991, no longer reflected actual spending, and that such action would make the disclosure of candidates and political parties more truthful.

Isko Moreno alleged the complainants wanted to take a share of the funds but failed to properly request them.

Isko Moreno said he and his co-defendants were willing to face the allegations but there had been no official report or publicly available update from the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the complaint.

Also during his tenure as vice mayor, Isko Moreno was elected the National President of the Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines from 2008 to 2016, and the first Vice President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines from 2014 to 2016.

Isko Moreno was the Chairman Emeritus of the Kaagapay ng Manileno Foundation from 2007 to 2010.

In 2015, Isko Moreno announced he would run for senator of the Philippines in 2016 after incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada decided to run for another term.

Isko Moreno was named as part of the senatorial slate of presidential candidate and Senator Grace Poe's Partido Galing at Puso coalition and as an adopted senatorial candidate of Senator Bongbong Marcos, who was then running for vice president.

Isko Moreno received the biggest campaign contributions and donations by any senatorial candidate that year through pooled funds from donors.

Isko Moreno is among the first few candidates who settled their obligations on excess campaign donations early.

Isko Moreno later stated he believed the legislature should pass a corresponding law or new set of rules to govern excess campaign donations.

Isko Moreno was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte and served as an external peace consultant for the urban poor of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the Communist Party of the Philippines' popular front, in its peace negotiations with the Duterte administration in 2016 and 2017.

Isko Moreno attended peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDFP held in the Netherlands, Oslo, and Rome as an independent observer, along with members of the Government of the Philippines before Duterte formally terminated the talks in late 2017.

Isko Moreno resigned from the post in October 2017, citing personal reasons.

In May 2018, Isko Moreno was appointed by Duterte as undersecretary for Luzon affairs and special concerns at the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

At 44, Isko Moreno became the youngest person to become mayor of Manila since Antonio Villegas, who became mayor at age 34 upon the death of Arsenio Lacson in 1962.

Isko Moreno signed an ordinance that gives a monthly allowance of to each student of the University of the City of Manila and Universidad de Manila, the first in the country.

Isko Moreno signed an ordinance that granted a monthly allowance to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents who reside in the capital.

Isko Moreno's projects include the redevelopment of Manila Zoo, which reopened on December 30,2021.

Isko Moreno began the construction and inauguration of Manila Islamic Cemetery and Cultural Hall within Manila South Cemetery, the city's first cemetery exclusive for Muslims.

Isko Moreno refuted Lopez's allegations as misleading and politically motivated, and said no violations were made as everything was done with due process and was well-documented.

On February 3,2021, the city government of Manila, headed by Isko Moreno, acquired a 6,003-square-meter private lot worth located at Pasig Line in San Andres through Ordinance No 8115.

In 2019, Isko Moreno reportedly inherited a zero budget from the previous administration.

In March 2022, Isko Moreno met with representatives of Elon Musk's SpaceX to negotiate a contract for the acquisition of Starlink's low Earth orbit satellite broadband internet system for the City of Manila.

On March 10,2020, the Government of the United Kingdom invited Isko Moreno to attend sessions on proper COVID-19 response; he met with the UK's coronavirus task force officials in London.

On March 23,2020, Isko Moreno launched an online survey via his Facebook page asking Manila residents about their health status in relation to COVID-19 and their recent travel history.

On July 15,2020, Isko Moreno launched the city's drive-through testing facility, where passengers in vehicles could undergo free COVID-19 testing near Bonifacio Shrine in Ermita.

Isko Moreno thanked the 362 construction workers who built the facility.

Isko Moreno thanked the city's six district hospitals and Manila Health Department for their service during the pandemic.

Isko Moreno ordered the clearing of informal vendors to address the city's congestion problem and waste management, leading to the stopping of extortion of vendors and the exposure of derelict heritage sites within the city.

Isko Moreno ordered the demolition of illegally built structures, including government edifices, that impeded the movement of motorists and pedestrians.

Isko Moreno's cleanup drive of Manila North Cemetery after All Souls' day garnered attention online and spurred a nationwide implementation of the same approach to city decongestion.

President Rodrigo Duterte echoed Isko Moreno's initiative, ordering the Department of the Interior and Local Government to "reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends".

On October 8,2019, Isko Moreno signed Executive Order No 43 mandating all 896 barangays and frontline City Hall offices to conduct a weekly clean-up drive in support of Duterte's directive to clear all public roads and sidewalks of obstructions.

Isko Moreno ordered the cleaning of Manila's sewers and the removal of dilapidated barges from the Pasig River.

Isko Moreno ordered the cleanup of waters around Baseco Compound, which took 10 days, including weekends, during which more than 30,000 kilograms of garbage was collected.

On September 22,2021, Isko Moreno declared himself a candidate for President of the Philippines in the 2022 election, with physician and social-media personality Willie Ong serving as his vice presidential running mate.

In December 2021, Isko Moreno said he intended to retire in politics if he was not elected as president, and that he would rather spend quality time with his family.

Isko Moreno was not elected president; he finished fourth out of ten candidates, and former senator Bongbong Marcos was elected to the post.

Isko Moreno formed a ticket under Aksyon Demokratiko, named "Yorme's Choice," with him as the standard bearer for the 2025 elections, with Chi Atienza as his vice mayoralty running mate.

Isko Moreno effectively left Asenso Manileno and is expected to challenge Lacuna, Tutok To Win Party-List Representative Sam Verzosa, and fellow actor Raymond Bagatsing, among others.

Isko Moreno officially filed his certificate of candidacy on October 8,2024 which was the last day of filing for the 2025 elections as stipulated by the Commission on Elections.

Some of Isko Moreno's staff were former employees of ABS-CBN who were retrenched due to non-renewal of franchise.

In February 2024, Isko Moreno opened his restaurant, Ugbo, located in McKinley Hill, Taguig.

Isko Moreno served as a guest host in the pre-noontime show TiktoClock in May 2024, broadcast by GMA Network.

Isko Moreno is known for his consistent and controversial stand against vandalism and unauthorized tarpaulins.

Isko Moreno proceeded with the group's arrest after another act of vandalism in Recto LRT Station was attributed to them.

In October 2020, Isko Moreno ordered the removal of tarpaulins declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army, and the National Democratic Front persona non grata in the National Capital Region.

Isko Moreno responded the city government has an ordinance against all forms of vandalism.

On December 7,2020, in an interview posted on YouTube, Isko Moreno vehemently denied he had any support for or affiliation with the terrorist groups.

Isko Moreno opposed tarpaulins depicting faces of politicians, even if they are his partymates, and had ordered the removal of political tarpaulins since he assumed office.

In November 2020, Isko Moreno signed into law Ordinance No 8681 known as the "Gender and Development Code of the City of Manila" or the "GAD Code" which increases maternity leave for breastfeeding women working in the private sector, increased paternity leave for new fathers, and increased women's reproductive health benefits.

Isko Moreno has praised the country's female medical and health workers, as well as women front-line workers in other fields, acknowledging their roles as "critical and crucial as much as their male counterparts" in the country's response against COVID-19.

Isko Moreno lauded the mothers who leave their families to fulfill their duties as front-line staff.

Isko Moreno expressed strong opinions on a foreign policy aligned with what he called a "Filipino-first" policy, under which the Philippines would form contracts, organizations, and trade agreements, only if they are beneficial to Filipinos.

Isko Moreno said he believes the country's defense secretary should come from the navy because the Philippines is an archipelagic country.

Isko Moreno criticized the United Nations, questioning what they are doing in light of China's disregard of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Isko Moreno expressed a wish to form partnerships with other countries and to prepare the Philippines for joint trade with China.

Isko Moreno expressed support for the Philippines returning to the International Criminal Court if the move would "give a good impression to the world".

Isko Moreno has been described as a populist who has a "rags-to-riches" story, rising from his childhood as a slum-dwelling scavenger to become a celebrity and later entering politics.

Isko Moreno's supporters call Moreno's use of colorful language "ISKOnaryo", portmanteau of Isko and Diksiyonaryo.

Isko Moreno is known for his signature dance steps to the song To Hold You by Timmy Thomas, a dance he frequently performed during his early show-business career.

Isko Moreno developed a reputation as an "underdog" politician who does not retreat from political giants, elitists, and moralists.

Isko Moreno has often been criticized for his "brash" style of talking but he dismisses this as his "real talk style" of addressing his constituents to which the elite could not relate.

Isko Moreno positioned himself as a "politician of the ordinary people", though he was criticized for overusing his rags-to-riches narrative to the point it became cliched.

Isko Moreno has been widely compared to 16th president Rodrigo Duterte; critics labeled him "Duterte Lite" or "Duterte 2.0", and accused him of fence-sitting on some issues pertaining to Duterte.

Since 2019, Isko Moreno has donated about of his personal fees from product endorsements to charities; these include Philippine General Hospital, cancer-stricken children, and child liver-transplant patients, and to provinces including Batangas, Cotabato, and Cebu City, which have been hit by natural disasters.

In 2022, Isko Moreno became a grandfather at age 47 with his son Joaquin.

Isko Moreno said although he used to play in casinos whenever he accompanied the Japanese, he denied he gambled whenever he was there, and that he had a gambling addiction.

Isko Moreno cites Lee Kuan Yew, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr.

On October 29,2021, the local government unit of Manila, under Isko Moreno's administration, won three awards during the Digital Governance Awards 2021 by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Isko Moreno planned the app to "help make transactions more convenient, transparent, and limit human discretion".

Isko Moreno was listed in a list of "Top 10 Men Who Matter in 2011" by PeopleAsia Magazine.

Isko Moreno received the "2012 Most Outstanding Filipino in the Field of Public Service Award" by Gawad Amerika Foundation.

In November 2019, Isko Moreno won the 2019 Gusi Peace Prize in recognition for his work in "consistently creating positive changes" during his time as vice mayor and councilor.

Isko Moreno was conferred with honorary membership in the club.

Isko Moreno was listed as one of the "Men Who Matter" in 2019 by PeopleAsia Magazine.

In March 2021, Isko Moreno was adopted as a member of Sanlingan Class 2005 of the Philippine Military Academy.

Isko Moreno received the "Golden Peacock Award of Excellence" in 2021 from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Inc Philippines in recognition of the city government's service to the city's residents and businesspersons.