MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

These are the two words Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso would like to remove from people’s awareness when they talk about Manila, the country’s capital city.

In fact, these same words have guided the mayor on his projects around the city — to change the mindset of its more than a million residents and about three million daytime population, including workers and students.

As the 26th local chief executive of Manila, his ideas and youthful vigor have aided him in the herculean tasks he took on, particularly clearing roads and streets with vendors, an admirable feat not achieved by any of his predecessors.

Listed as the youngest mayor of Manila, Domagoso beat for the post two political heavyweights, namely a former president of the republic and a legendary and highly decorated and feared police officer in history, both in 80s.

Asked how he succeeded in achieving the unbelievable task of clearing Divisoria and C. M. Recto Avenue, a feat that has become an example for local governance this year, he has a simple answer: “Just don’t accept the money from enterprising individuals.”

And it’s how you see it now. However, once the vendors return to the roads, then it will simply mean that he has accepted the bribe.

He admitted his past mistakes guided him in his management of Manila, which he is working on regaining its lost glory as the Paris of Asia.

Domagoso was the prodigy of long-time Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, who gave him his break in politics as a candidate for councilor for Tondo for Asenso Manileño. He was then in his 20s, a high school undergraduate, and whose only claim to fame was being a mainstay of “That’s Entertainment,” the late afternoon teen variety show hosted by talent discoverer German “Kuya Germs” Moreno. From then, his career as an alderman grew as he pursued his education.

His transformation and maturity have been a surprise to many, particularly his close friends, his friends in media and other city hall officials. They are unanimous in opinion that he is now ripe to go after whatever local political battle he may set his eyes on — but not yet the country’s top post. Many believe he still has a lot of learning to do, as he continues with his quest to place Manila as the top city of the land — and even the world.

The feats the mayor achieved in his first few months in office even attracted the attention of diplomats, led by United States Ambassador Sung Kim, who described him as a “rock star.” So far, 25 envoys have paid courtesy calls to his office, a feat only he owns among Metro Manila’s top mayors.

Yorme, as he is more popularly called, has rebuilt and restored many of Manila’s landmarks, including the Kartilla ng Katipunan monument, which is just a stone’s throw away from his office, Mehan Garden, Arroceros Park, Paraiso ng Batang Maynila and Vitas Slaughterhouse, showing a respect for the city’s heritage.

The end of December signals Domagoso has completed six of his 36-month term. Maybe, residents are hoping too much from him when voters gave him a resounding victory over his political rivals with a 150,000 lead, which he described as “scary.”

Will he wing or will he not? Let us see, using his Tondo language: “Tingnan natin kung magiging tolongges siya! (Let’s see if he will make a fool of himself!)”