Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso reminded city government workers to serve the people with dignity and respect on Monday, Jan. 19, even to the point of “taking the bullet” in the name of public service.

Domagoso made the statement during the regular flag-raising ceremony at the Manila City Hall, wherein he urged all city employees to help him continue in serving Manileños properly.

"Sa inyo mga kapwa ko kawani ng pamahalaan ang pinapakiusap ko muli, tulungan ninyo ako. Tulungan ninyo akong maglingkod ng maayos sa ating mamamayan. Wala akong ibang hinihiling sa inyo kung hindi pagsilbihan ng maayos ang mamamayan. I cannot do it alone. Serving the people efficiently today, tomorrow ay nakaatang sa balikat nating lahat. While I am the mayor, but the mayor cannot just solve all the problems alone. Help me in making a better City of Manila (To my fellow government employees, I ask you again, please help me. Help me in making a better City of Manila. I have nothing else to ask of you but to serve the people properly. I cannot do it alone. Serving the people efficiently today, tomorrow is the responsibility of all of us. While I am the mayor, I cannot solve all the problems alone. Help me in making a better City of Manila)," he said.

"I will bear responsibility. Nobody is to be blamed, especially iyong mga mahihinang-loob na madaling lumundag. I will bear full responsibility of actions going to be taken by the city to resolve real problems with real solutions. Decisions should be made. Decisions must be done. And hard decisions; ang pinakamadali sa pagiging leader ay yung Ms. Congeniality, pang-Miss Universe. Wala kang gawin, wala kang kaaway, pero wala ding serbisyo, at nakita niyo iyan. If you are a passive leader, no work will be done (I will bear responsibility. Nobody is to be blamed, especially those of you who are easily tempted to jump off. I will bear full responsibility for actions going to be taken by the city to resolve real problems with real solutions. Decisions should be made. Decisions must be done. And hard decisions; the easiest way to be a leader is to become Ms. Congeniality, Miss Universe. You have nothing to do, you have no enemies, but you also have no services for the people, and you have seen that. If you are a passive leader, no work will be done)," he added.

The mayor stressed that being a leader means being at the front and bearing the responsibility of everything that you and your personnel will do, no matter the cost.

"In leadership, sometimes you have to bite the bullet. Maasim man ang suka, kailangan mong inumin. And leaders should be in front, not behind (No matter how sour the vinegar is, you have to swallow it. Leaders should also be in front, not behind)," Domagoso stressed, noting that all decisions and initiatives of the city government are being done based on its mandate and responsibility to the public.