Celso, JCI fete 5 outstanding youths
Mayor Celso Lobregat, JCI President Misael Bernardo and the family of the late Sen. Roseller T. Lim that included Councilor Rudy Lim pose with the 5 outstanding Zamboangueño young leaders during awards night in celebration of Dia de Senador Roseller Lim Feb. 9. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat Tuesday night led city and Junior Chamber International (JCI) local chapter officials in honouring five outstanding Zamboangueño youth leaders who were chosen to receive the Sen. Roseller T. Lim award.
Now on its third year, the search for the Sen. Roseller T. Lim Award was the main highlight in the observance of the Dia de Senador Roseller Lim February 9, institutionalized through Ordinance 283 sponsored by the senator’s nephew Councilor Rudy Lim on August 27, 2006.
“Tonight is a celebration of achievements of young people who have done excellent work in their communities and in school and are an inspiration to their peers,” the mayor said in his opening message during the awarding ceremony held at the Garden Orchid Ballroom and graced by the late senator’s family led by daughter Rosamy and his brother former vice mayor Roberto Lim.
The mayor dubbed the five awardees as the city’s most inspirational youngsters, who at their tender age display the qualities of leadership, excellence and commitment to service exemplified by the late Senator Roseller Lim.
The awardees were Gerardo Dimaguila, Ruther John Garcia and Mark Jason Harun—all of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Ann Claire Molina and Lorelei Leslie Saavedra of the Western Mindanao State University. They were conferred with plaques and cash tokens.
Mayor Lobregat was assisted by Councilor Rudy Lim and JCI President Misael “Doglo” Bernardo during the presentation of the award.
“By conferring the Senator Roseller T. Lim Award on the Five Outstanding Zamboangueño Young Leaders (FOZYL), we are formalizing the honor that we have kept in our hearts and, as a united community, recognizing the enormous contributions and achievements of the late Senator Roseller Tarroza Lim,” the mayor stressed.
The JCI, a federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs, has been partnering with the city government for the last three years in undertaking the yearly search in honor of the Roseller Lim, the only Zamboangueño senator to have served the country.
The late senator devoted 14 years of his life to public service — 6 years in Congress and 8 years in the Senate. He divided the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte; worked for the inclusion of the Philippines in the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Immigration Committee and authored the Barrio Charter Law that changed the title barrio lieutenants to barrio captain. He was named the Great Filibuster for his 18-hour long discourse on crucial issues in Congress during his time.
Earlier in the morning of Tuesday, the city government sponsored a commemorative mass and later the wreath-laying and program at the senator’s bronze monument at the Normal Road rotunda fronting the Zamboanga City National High School-west.
Also present during the ceremony Tuesday night Vice Mayoralty aspirant Councilor Cesar Iturralde and Councilors Rey Candido and Nonong Guingona. (Sheila Covarrubias)