FIRST district Representative Celso Lobregat, son of the late and first lady mayor of Zamboanga City Maria Clara Lobregat, described his mother as one in a million who serves as his inspiration in his life and political career.
Lobregat issued the statement as the Zamboanga City on Thursday, April 26, commemorated the 97th birth anniversary of his mother.
“It is the name and integrity of my mother that showed the kind of a true leader and a public servant as well, its incomparable,” Lobregat said in a statement.
The younger Lobregat said that in their family, his mother ensured that all her children are in good hands and properly taken care off despite the fact that she was fully occupied as a public servant.
“I will not be here in this world without my mother, I will not be in politics as a mayor and congressman were it not for my mother. If they say I lived by the shadow of my mother, then so be it, because she is the best leader in the city of all times,” he said.
He recalled that in the 1998 election, the name Celso was nothing when he tried his luck in politics against a three-term mayor, the late Vitaliano Agan, who had all the advantages of winning that election.
But because of his mother, Lobregat won by a large margin against Agan. This started his political career.
Lobregat said his mother was hesitant to let him enter politics at first because she wanted to protect her children. Eventually, his mother helped his campaign.
“I lived in the shadows of my mother as my inspiration, I just do what is right and not what is popular, whatever I am doing I am doing it for the city and the people of Zamboanga,” Lobregat said.
The Lobregat family has a long history of public service, starting from Don Pablo Lorenzo Lobregat, his grandfather.