Former actor-turned-politician Isko "Yorme" Moreno could only smile when asked whether he would run for mayor of Manila in 2025.
"Matagal pa ang 2025," said Yorme when asked if he had decided to run in 2025 during the 1st National Hopia Day at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last Friday. (2025 is a long way off)
During his speech, Yorme said he misses Manilenos.
"Sino ang mga taga Maynila rito? Miss na miss ko na kayo. May awa ang Diyos," he said. "May awa ang Diyos."
Toward the end of his speech, Yorme sang a portion of Hotdog band's classic hit "Manila."
"Manila, Manila, I keep coming back to Manila," Yorme sang. It was, however, in reference to the growth of SM Group of Companies during his term as the city mayor.
"I am happy that ang SM ay muling pinagkatiwalaan ang lungsod. Kasi ang ginawa ng SM, matapos lumaki sa Maynila, lumabas sila ng Maynila. Good for them. Now SM is going back home. Sabi nga, 'Manila, Manila, I keep coming back to Manila. I am happy and thankful that you trusted our administration at that time and I am happy for the people of Manila in the coming years. Maraming trabaho ang maidudulot sa ating mga Batang Maynila," he said.
"We're proud of you being a Batang Maynila," Yorme told Gerry Chua, president of Eng Bee Tin. "I'm proud of your children."
He added: "Sabi ko kay Gerry kanina. May awa ang Diyos. Someday, you will not celebrate National Hopia Day in Pasay. We will celebrate National Hopia Day in Manila in Binondo. Don't panic. We're proud of Eng Bee Tin na nagsimula sa Lungsod ng Maynila. If you make it in Manila, you can make it in the entire country. Look at SM. It started in Manila. Ngayon andito tayo sa magandang gusali niya (MOA)."
Yorme, 49, became Manila mayor from 2019 to 2022.