Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc disclosed Monday, May 4, that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally praised Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso during a meeting the day before.
According to the Ilocos Norte Vice Governor, the President described the Mayor as effective and consistently ahead among Metro Manila local government units in implementing programs.
Manotoc made the disclosure during the Manila City Hall flag-raising ceremony, where he led a provincial trade delegation. He told the audience he had informed the President of his plans to visit Isko the following day.
“Kahapon lang po kasama ko si PBBM. Sabi ko po sa kanya, imi-meet ko po si Yorme Isko bukas,” Manotoc recounted. He then quoted the President as responding: “Alam mo, magaling siya, epektibo. ‘Pag may ini-implement sa Metro Manila, palagi daw nauuna ang City of Manila.”
Manotoc also recalled visiting Domagoso at City Hall in October last year to request that Manila host the Ilocos Norte trade mission.
He said the mayor proudly told him then that he was “original KBL” and that his mother was a Marcos loyalist—a detail Manotoc shared warmly before the crowd.
The vice governor led a delegation bringing Ilocos Norte agricultural products—including bagnet, empanada, longganisa, and fresh produce—directly to Manila’s institutional buyers, among them representatives from Diamond Hotel, Bayview Park Hotel, Every Cafe, and Cafe 1919.
Manotoc personally guaranteed the quality of every product at the showcase, telling buyers he would handle any complaint himself.
“Sa amin po, walang shortcut. We farm the right way, the old school way. We can guarantee the quality, and if not, ako na po bahala, ako na po ang mag-e-exchange or magre-reimburse kung may reklamo po,” he said.
He closed his remarks with a tourism pitch, inviting Manila residents and city employees to visit Ilocos Norte—citing Saud Beach in Pagudpud, the sand dunes, and the Solsona-Apayao highlands as among the province’s draws.
“This is not an empty invite; please, please come visit Ilocos Norte. We will show you the very hospitality that you have shown us this morning,” Manotoc said.
