Episode description
After the Fact: Earlier today, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno officially announced he’s running for president of the Philippines next year.
A trash collector growing up, Moreno has a compelling rags-to-riches backstory and a powerful campaign message of hope.
If he, a poor boy who rose to become the mayor of the Philippine capital city, and now, vying for the country’s highest elective post, could do it — nothing’s impossible for the millions of poor Filipinos, suffering especially during the pandemic.
But while Moreno, a veteran politician even at only 46 years old, may tick all the right boxes for a presidential candidate — he has the looks, the message, and the track record — the Philippine political terrain remains complicated, and not exactly reassuring.
In this episode we talk about the strengths and weaknesses of Moreno’s candidacy and how the presidential campaign is shaping up.