Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Wednesday, October 29, vowed long-term support for the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and its students, assuring graduates that his administration will continue investing in education and public service programs for the long term.
Addressing the 57th Commencement Exercises of PLM, which gathered graduates from the College of Law, College of Medicine, Graduate School of Law, and other graduate programs, Domagoso reiterated his plan to sustain citywide reforms under his “Make Manila Great Again” development agenda.
“I will stay for ten years. ‘Di ko na kayo iiwan,” Domagoso told the graduates, to the applause of the crowd.
“We will build and plan to develop the next ten years of our lives. May awa ang Diyos, loobin nawa ng tao sa lungsod panatilihin ako in the next ten years,” he said.
The Mayor also announced plans to construct a new facility for the PLM College of Medicine and allied health sciences, calling it part of the city’s continuing investment in higher education.
“Partida ‘yan, wala pa tayong pera niyan,” he said. “But like you, when you took the chance to enter PLM, you dreamed. And that is my dream—to make PLM a beacon of excellence, where no student is left behind.”
Recalling his humble background as a product of public schools, Domagoso shared how his childhood experiences of poverty inspired his education and welfare programs for PLM and Universidad de Manila students.
“That is why when I became Mayor in 2019, ultimo baon ng PLM at UDM, iniintindi ko,” he said, noting that his administration created a student assistance program to ensure that no student misses class because of lack of fare or food.
Domagoso also thanked teachers and parents for their hard work and sacrifices, saying their pride reflects the city’s pride in its scholars.
“If you are proud of yourself, they are more proud for you,” the Mayor said.
“Today you have achieved something. And that I hope that God will guide and bless each and everyone of you of your dreams and aspiration,” he said.
The Mayor cited the vision of former Manila mayors Arsenio Lacson and Antonio Villegas, founders of PLM, and urged graduates to uphold the same spirit of service and excellence in their chosen professions.
“Why are we here today? Because there was a mayor, Mayor Lacson and Mayor Villegas of the City of Manila. Dahil sa kanilang dalawa, ngayon 2025 na, we continue to benefit from their vision, policies, and priorities,” Domagoso said.
“Don’t forget that, so that you graduates will continue to inspire our leaders to do better, to do something like this, an institution,” he said. “It became a beacon and a pillar when it started and producing top notcher students, and that records will show. A week ago or two, it continued to produce top notchers.”
In closing, Domagoso said: “Remember, sinabi sa ating awit: ‘Maynila, Maynila, dalhin mo ang bandila.’”
“Students, graduates, put it in your heart: You are a product of the City of Manila, and you should be proud of it. Dalhin ninyo ang bandila sa buong bansa. Mag-iingat kayo, at nawa gabayan kayo ng Panginoong Diyos sa susunod na aklat ng inyong buhay,” the Mayor said.
