The City Government will spearhead activities commemorating the 102nd birth anniversary of Zamboanga City’s first lady mayor Maria Clara Lorenzo Lobregat Wednesday, April 26.

 

Dubbed as ‘Dia de Mam Caling’, the event will be led by Mayor John Dalipe with the participation of different government agencies and sectors in the city. It will kick off with a commemorative mass at 4pm at the Holy Trinity Parish in Pasonanca to be followed by the wreath laying rite and commemorative program at the Jardin Maria Clara in Pasonanca at 5pm.

 

Highlight of the program will be the recognition rites dubbed ZAMBOANGUEÑA EXCELENTE honoring women who have made significant contributions in their respective professions and communities. The recognition ceremony is in honor of the achievements and legacy of Mrs. Lobregat and is a joint undertaking of the City Government through the City Tourism Office and the Rotary Club of Zamboanga City East.

 

This year’s Dia de Mam Caling is the 17th since the enactment of Ordinance 278 in 2006 authored by then councilor Rudy Lim. It is one of the City Government’s annual activities of the Zamboanga Verano Festival (Summer Festival) 2023.

 

Mrs. Lobregat’s political career started in 1971 when she was elected as the city’s delegate to the Constitutional Convention. In 1987, she was elected to a congressional seat, a position she won in the succeeding 2 elections held in 1992 and 1995.

 

After serving as the city’s lone representative in the House of Congress for 3 consecutive terms, Mrs. Lobregat ran and won in the mayoralty race in 1998 and 2001. She was serving her second term and up for re-election when she passed due to cardiac arrest on January 2, 2004.

 

Mrs. Lobregat was born on April 26, 1921. (Sheila Covarrubias)