Lim-Isko tandem to seek fresh mandate

By Pat C. Santos

10/27/2009

It will be Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno running in tandem in the 2010 city polls to seek a fresh mandate to manage Manila’s day-to-day affairs.

The tandem, announced during the celebration of Moreno’s 35th birthday at the Rizal Coliseum, was agreed upon as soon as Moreno’s Asenso Manileño, which boasts of having 50,000 as members, decided to support Lim’s reelection bid next year. Moreno cited Lim’s genuine concern for the poor as well as his unique ability to lead the city.

A grateful Lim formally announced Moreno as his runningmate, citing the vice mayor’s principled stand on many issues, his unblemished track record as well as his love for the city and its residents as evidenced by his pro-poor programs.

Lim then raised Moreno’s hand and declared the former actor as the “next mayor of Manila” to the delight of the crowd.

Lim said he felt good in endorsing Moreno as his runningmate and the next city mayor, knowing that when his term expires, he would be leaving the city of Manila in good hands, even as he cautioned the crowd against candidates known for their “flowery speeches.”

“He (Moreno) can be relied upon, is as good as his word, principled and, just like me, he grew up in a poor family and certainly knows the meaning of poverty and the needs of the poor,” Lim told the crowd.

At this point, Lim admitted he made a mistake when he endorsed his then Vice Mayor Joselito Atienza to succeed him as mayor. Lim and Atienza defeated the incumbent slate of then Mayor Gemiliano Lopez Jr. The tandem won a second term in 1995 and in 1998, when Lim sought the presidency, Atienza was elected mayor.

He then extolled Moreno as having the qualities of a good leader, “a man of action” unlike those who had nothing to show but words.

The celebration was capped by the appearance of “Master Showman” German Moreno, who expressed his strong support for Lim-Isko partnership. German Moreno stressed that with the two at the helm, Manila would continue moving forward.

German Moreno, it was learned, had been a close friend to Lim way back when he was still working in Cloverleaf theatre and Lim was a beat patrolman. On the other hand, the vice mayor is his protégé in show business and looks up to him as a second parent.

The said birthday concert which featured more than 30 local artists, was held also to raise donations in kind for the victims of typhoon “Ondoy. “

Those in attendance were asked to bring either a can or sardines, a piece of noodle pack or even a small bag of rice. “This shows that even the poor can help their countrymen in misery,” Moreno said. Moreno said that in the two years he was vice mayor, his working relationship with Lim had always been harmonious despite the fact that they had different political affiliations. He then cited Lim’s achievements such as his decisiveness in providing one public hospital in each of the city’s six districts.

Lim, in his first tenure as mayor in 1992 to 1998, built the Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center (District 1); Ospital ng Tondo (District 2); and the Ospital ng Sampaloc (District 4) and refurbished the city-run Ospital ng Maynila in the fifth district. In his comebacking term, Lim is establishing similar hospitals this time in the third and sixth districts and this is being fully supported by the council being presided over by Moreno.

Moreno cited Lim’s efforts in building additional schools for the benefit of poor but deserving youths.

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