I DO not know Vico Sotto at all. I have never met him. But I have read a little about him, listened to some young people talk enthusiastically about him, and two days ago, I had the distinct pleasure of listening to his lengthy YouTube interview with J.C. Gotinga of Rappler.

It was an in-depth interview, and it dealt mainly with Vico's effort as mayor of Pasig City to create an incorrupt and meritocratic city government — something I have not heard from anybody else in the Philippines. From the limited evidence available, his effort seems to be succeeding.