Asenso Manileño

Asenso Manileño Movement
LeaderHoney Lacuna Pangan
Deputy LeaderYul Servo Nieto
PresidentHoney Lacuna Pangan
Secretary–GeneralJoel Chua[1]
FoundersDanny Lacuna
Isko Moreno[2]
Founded2005
Headquarters302-B ECJ Building, Arzobispo Street, Intramuros, Manila[3]
IdeologyManila regionalism
Localism
National affiliationLakas–CMD (since 2024)
Former:
Colours  Dark blue,   white,   red
Slogan"Kalinga sa Maynila"
(lit. transl. Compassion in Manila)
House of Representatives (Manila seats)
5 / 6
Manila City Council
12 / 38

Asenso Manileño Movement (lit.'Progress for Manilans') is a local political party in Manila. It is formerly the city's ruling party from 2019 to 2025, being in dominion through the administrations of mayors Isko Moreno and Honey Lacuna.

History

The party was established in 2005 by Moreno's mentor, Danny Lacuna, the vice mayor of Manila at that time. The party's signature hand gesture is pointing the index finger upward which means "God first", the party's slogan. The party managed Moreno's successful vice mayoral campaign in the 2013 election, despite carrying then Mayor Joseph Estrada's United Nationalist Alliance ticket.[6] In 2018, Moreno decided to challenge Estrada for the mayoralty in the 2019 elections.[7] Moreno won the election and his allies then controlled a majority of seats in the Manila City Council.[6]

The National Unity Party then took on the party as its local affiliate in August 2019, with Moreno being named as one of its vice chairmen.[8] In 2021, the party changed its national affiliation to the progressive Aksyon Demokratiko with Moreno being named its national president.[5]

In the 2022 elections, the party attained a historic success. Its bets Honey Lacuna and Yul Servo won as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, retaining control, while 34 of the 36 elective seats in the city council were won as well. Additionally, all six congressional elections were won by candidates allied with the party.

In 2024, incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna succeeded Isko Moreno as party leader of Asenso Manileño after he left to pursue a comeback run for mayor in 2025, which was later confirmed.[9] Lacuna later joined the Lakas–CMD and formalized her re-election bid for mayor in 2025, eventually running against Moreno and 9 others.[10][11] However, Lacuna and Servo lost their re-election bid to Moreno and Chi Atienza, respectively, with the party winning 12 or one-third of the elected seats of the Manila City Council and 5 (initially 4 prior to the disqualification of Aksyon's Joey Uy) out of the 6 congressional seats in Manila.

Electoral performance

Mayoral and Vice Mayoral elections

Year Mayoral election Vice mayoral election
Candidate Votes % Result Candidate Votes % Result
2007 Danny Lacuna 143,517 27.9% Lost Isko Moreno 176,215 34.29% Won
2010 None[n 1] Isko Moreno[n 2] 498,609 79.86% Won
2013 None[n 3] Isko Moreno[n 4] 395,156 62.78% Won
2016 None[n 5] Honey Lacuna 268,969 37.91% Won
2019 Isko Moreno 357,925 50.15% Won 394,766 57.28% Won
2022 Honey Lacuna 538,595 63.63% Won Yul Servo 586,766 73.67% Won
2025 190,617 21.19% Lost 249,691 28.49% Lost

City Council elections

Year Seats Popular vote Result
Seats won % Change Votes % Swing
2013
0 / 36
0.00% 1,467 0.05% Lost
2016
24 / 36
66.67% 24 1,611,970 41.11% 41.06 pp Majority
2019
16 / 36
44.44% 8 1,281,855 35.36% 5.75 pp Majority
2022
34 / 36
94.44% 18 2,950,976 68.56% 33.2 pp Majority
2025
12 / 36
33.33% 8 1,547,285 34.57% 33.99 pp Minority

House of Representatives elections

Election Seats allocated for Manila Outcome of election
2013
0 / 6
Did not participate
2016
2 / 6
Joined the majority
2019
3 / 6
Split between the majority and minority blocs
2022
6 / 6
Joined the majority
2025
5 / 6
To be determined

Notes

  1. ^ Moreno's running mate was Alfredo Lim (Liberal). But other members supported Avelino Razon (NPC).
  2. ^ Moreno's party in the ballot was Nacionalista.
  3. ^ Moreno's running mate was Joseph Estrada (UNA).
  4. ^ Moreno's party in the ballot is UNA.
  5. ^ Lacuna's running mate was incumbent Joseph Estrada (PMP).

List of leaders

Name Term Start Term End Deputy
Danny Lacuna 2005[12] Isko Moreno
Isko Moreno 2005 2024[13] Honey Lacuna
Honey Lacuna Pangan 2024 present Yul Servo

Slogan

  • God first[14] (until August 2024)
  • Kalinga sa Maynila (from August 2024)

References

  1. ^ "LACUNA-PANGAN MARIA SHEILAH HONRADO" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  2. ^ L!fe, PhilStar (January 27, 2022). "Isko Moreno: 'We need solutions and action'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "CHUA JOEL RESPALL" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Manila mayor Isko Moreno to talk about his political career | The Bottomline, retrieved June 2, 2022
  5. ^ a b "Isko Moreno elected Aksyon Demokratiko president". Rappler. August 12, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Isko Moreno: From the slums of Tondo to Manila's throne". Rappler. Archived from the original on May 26, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "Isko Moreno files candidacy for Manila mayor". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  8. ^ Domingo, Katrina. "Mayor Isko 'promoted' as NUP vice chair". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "Isko Moreno, son Joaquin, Mocha Uson file COCs for Manila seats". GMA Integrated News. October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Lalu, Gabiel Pabico (August 6, 2024). "Miro Quimbo, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna join Lakas-CMD". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Cruz, James Patrick (August 28, 2024). "Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Vice Mayor Yul Servo announce reelection bid". Rappler. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "Former Manila vice mayor Danilo Lacuna dies". Philstar.com. August 13, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Ong, Ghio (July 18, 2024). "Honey to Isko: Reconsider mayoral run". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  14. ^ ABS-CBN Talk (August 22, 2019). Manila mayor Isko talks about former Manila vice mayor Danilo Lacuna | The Bottomline. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via YouTube.