Isko Moreno’s Top 10 life lessons

If there is one person who has an inspiring story worth telling, it’s Francisco Moreno Domagoso, better known as Isko Moreno.

The only child of Rosario and Joaquin Domagoso, a stevedore at the Manila North Harbor, Isko had a hard life doing odd jobs at a young age of 10. He ventured into reselling old newspapers and used bottles, going through garbage for leftover food, which he would bring home to his parents.

He was discovered by a talent manager at a funeral parlor in Tondo and soon became part of That’s Entertainment, the famous daily variety show of the late German Moreno.

Isko Moreno and his wife Dynee with their children Vincent Patrick, Franco Dylan, Drake Marcus, Frances Diane and Joaquin Andre.

In 1998 Isko decided to throw his hat in the political arena and won as city councilor of Manila. And in 2007, he became the city’s vice mayor.

While others would forget their studies once they reach success, Isko was determined to finish school and took a course in Local Legislation and Local Finance at the University of the Philippines and further studies for Public Administration at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Read on as he shares with us his Top 10 life lessons.

1.Ang ipinanganak kang mahirap ay hindi kasalanan. Kapag nanatili kang mahirap, nasa iyo na ang pagkukulang. (To be born poor is not a sin. But you are accountable for remaining poor.)

2. Huwag mong sasayangin ang pagkakataon na ipinagkaloob sa iyo ng Diyos, bagkus ingatan mo ito at alagaan. (Do not waste the opportunities that the Lord has given you. You have to take care of the blessings He has given you.)

3. Kailangan naisasanla ang laway mo lalo na kung ikaw ay mahirap sapagkat wala ka na ngang karangyaan sa buhay, hindi pa mapanghawakan ang mga sinasabi mo, lalo nang walang bisa ang karakter mo. (To those who have less in life, hold on to your word of honor and always fulfill your promises because even if you do not have material possessions,  keeping your word shows strength of character.)

Isko enjoyed listening to his constituents when he was Vice Mayor of Manila.

4. Maraming hamon ang ating kakaharapin sa buhay. Minsan mapagtatagumpayan natin, madalas tayo ay magiging sawi. Pero sa kasawian tayo matututo ng aral sa buhay at ‘yan ang magiging sandata natin sa kinabukasan. (In life, we will face a lot of adversities. There are times we may win but a lot of times we lose. But it is in the lessons learned in every trial that we gather our strength in facing the future.)

5. Kumplikado na ang buhay, huwag nang gawing kumplikado pa. (Life is complicated as it is so don’t complicate it further.)

6. Ingatan mo at pahalagahan ang mga taong nakasama mo papunta sa rurok ng tagumpay dahil tiyak, sila rin ang makakasalubong mo sa pagbaba pagdating ng araw. Principle of gravity applies to everybody. (Take care of those who were with you on your way to success, because definitely your paths will cross when you are no longer at the top.)

7. Mahalin at igalang ang iyong magulang kung gusto mong mahalin kang tunay at igalang ng ibang tao. (We should love and respect our parents if we want others to love and respect us in return.)

‘Take care of those who were with you on your way to success,’ Isko says.

8. Huwag kang aasa na may mangyayaring kakaiba sa iyo bukas kung ang ginawa mo ngayon ay tulad din ng kahapon. (Do not expect that your fortune will change if you keep doing the same routine all the time.)

9. Pag-ingatan at pahalagahan ang mga bagay na mayroon ka ngayon dahil sa kabilang dako ng lipunan ay maraming nagdarahop. (Learn to take care, love and appreciate what you have now because others have less in life.)

10. Higit sa lahat, humingi ng tawad at magpasalamat sa Diyos. (Most importantly, always ask for forgiveness and give thanks to our Lord.)

(We welcome your suggestions and comments. Please e-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Instagram @monsromulo.)