ZAMBOANGA City paid tribute to the late Mayor Maria Clara “Calin” Lobregat on her 101st birthday, Tuesday, April 26.

Dubbed "Dia de Mam Caling," the commemorative activities kicked off with a mass at the Holy Trinity Parish in Pasonanca villages.

It was followed by a program at the Jardin Maria Clara (Maria Clara Garden) at the Butterfly Garden also in Pasonanca village.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led the commemorative activities.

The Lobregat family, led by former first district representative Celso Lobregat, was present during the commemorative activities.

Fondly called Ma'am Caling, Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat was born on April 26, 1921 and was the first woman mayor of Zamboanga City.

She served Zamboanga City as mayor from July 1, 1998 until her demise on January 2, 2004.

"It was during your time that the real progress and positive image of Zamboanga City started," her son, Celso, stated in his Facebook page.

Celso said these included the creation of the Zamboanga City Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (1995) and the restoration of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding and the construction of the Zamboanga-Pagadian Road (Zamboanga-Quiniput-Licomo Section) in 2001 to 2003.

He said it also included the serious efforts to preserve the Chabacano language and culture.

"Acorda kita cosa pirmi ta habla de mio nana, si Ma'am Caling, "Man junto-junto kita!" (Let us always remember what my mother is always saying that we should stay together)," he said. (SunStar Zamboanga)