Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso said he wants to show the country that Manileños, despite living in a highly urbanized setting, still love and value their elders, during his message at the “Teknolodi Fest 2.0” youth event at the San Andres Sports Complex.
“I just want us, as Manileños, to show to the country, kahit tayo ay nasa highly urbanized city, we love our elders, we value our elders, we value and love our parents and we know who we are,” Domagoso said.
The mayor also urged young Manileños to express gratitude to their parents while they still can.
“Don’t miss the opportunity today.”
“Don’t miss the opportunity today, and why not say thank you to your parents, to your mom, to your dad,” he stressed.
“You have an opportunity today to make your parents feel that you love them. ‘Wag niyong sayangin itong oportunidad na ‘yun to say the words ‘I love you,’ say ‘thank you’,” he added.
Domagoso warned that once parents are gone, no amount of effort afterward can make up for gratitude left unexpressed.
“Tapos ‘pag wala na ‘yung mga ‘yan, kahit isang libong beses mong gawin, kahit isang milyong beses mong planuhin, hindi na nila ‘yan malalaman,” Domagoso said.
The Mayor challenged what he described as a growing sense of entitlement among the youth, saying many things they receive from their parents are privileges, not rights.
“While some of it are rights, most of it are privileges.”
“While some of it are rights, most of it are privileges,” Domagoso said, cautioning against adopting attitudes from other cultures that run counter to Filipino values of gratitude.
He shared that he lost his own parents early in life and has no siblings, crediting hard work and gratitude toward those who helped him for his own rise to public office.
“Kung hindi ko ginamit ang sipag at abilidad at paglingon sa aking mga nakasama, malamang wala po sa harapan ninyo,” Domagoso concluded.
