Former Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno honored the late former Manila Vice Mayor Danilo "Danny" Lacuna in his eulogy during the necrological service at Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapels and Crematory in Quezon City on Thursday, Aug. 17.
Moreno recalled in his speech how good the former vice mayor was in guiding him to become a good public servant.
He said Lacuna also served as his second father and mentor in politics.
He mentioned that when he was a city councilor, he did not have much idea about the council aside from helping his constituents.
"He taught me many times. Kase gustong-gusto kong matuto sa konseho. Budgeting, legislation, eh ang alam ko lang sa pagiging konsehal, tumulong sa tao, pero ayun pala manggagawa pala ng batas 'yun (He taught me many times. Because I really want to learn about the council such as budgeting and legislation. All I know about then being a councilor was to help people, but I realized that I should be a lawmaker)," he said.
In 2005, when Lacuna asked him about his dream, he told him that he's aiming to become the president of the Philippines.
But Lacuna found him so ambitious since he was just a high school graduate at the time.
"Ang taas ng pangarap mo ah. Paano ka magiging presidente eh high school finished ka lang? You go back to school! (Your dream was so big. How can you become president when you are just a high school graduate? You go back to school!)," Moreno recalled.
He said Lacuna provided his tuition until he finished college.
The former vice mayor also sent him to a law school.
"Now, it is our job to immortalize Danny Lacuna. Hindi siya nabigyan ng pagkakataon na [kahit] alam natin na magiging mabuti siyang ama ng lungsod ng Maynila. Yung kabutihan niya, sinalin niya sa atin. Paano magmalasakit sa tao, paano unahin ang tao (Now, it is our job to immortalize Danny Lacuna. He was not given the chance even though we knew that he would be a good father to the city of Manila. He transferred his goodness to us -- how to care about people, how to put people first)," Moreno shared.
He also honored Lacuna for establishing the local political party "Asenso Manileño,” of which Moreno and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan are members.
"Kaya hindi n'yo napansin 'yung partidong itinatag niya? Hindi "Asenso Manila", [kundi] "Asenso Manileño", it speaks of the people (Didn't you notice the party he founded? It is not "Asenso Manila", but "Asenso Manileño", because it speaks of the people)," he said.
Asenso Manileño is a political party in Manila founded in 2005 under Lacuna's vision of a city led by capable leaders. It has been Manila's ruling party since 2019.
"So we were trained and guided properly by [former] Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna to care for our people. Tao muna. Ikaw ang una kay Danny Lacuna (People first. You always came first for Danny Lacuna)," he added.
Moreno called on the people in the government to continue honoring Danny Lacuna's legacy by showing love for the people and public service.