Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso celebrated his 51st birthday on Friday by continuing his tradition of spending the day with the city’s vulnerable residents, opting for a quiet gathering with 520 senior citizens instead of a public celebration.
The mayor marked his birthday at the Luwalhati ng Maynila institution inside the Manila Boys Town Complex in Marikina.
Luwalhati ng Maynila serves as the city’s long-running welfare institution for abandoned, neglected and rescued elderly residents.
Domagoso, who has made it an annual tradition to visit shelters on his birthday, spent the morning having breakfast, dancing and sharing laughs with the residents.
“Good morning. Early in the morning, you all have makeup on!” Domagoso joked, addressing the crowd, many of whom wore bright colors and lipstick for the occasion. “Let’s give a hand to our grandfather and grandmother dancers!”
The mayor mingled with the seniors, affectionately checking on their health. Among those he celebrated with was “Lola Chedeng,” whom he had personally rescued weeks earlier after a viral video showed her sleeping by a wall in Sampaloc.
“I watched your video, so I immediately had you picked up,” the mayor recalled. “God always has mercy. I am happy that you have been treated.”