City remembers Roseller T. Lim

09/02/2010 08:29

Residents of the city today pay tribute to the late Roseller T. Lim, the first and only Zamboangueño senator, revered as the great filibuster.

Dubbed as Dia de Senador Roseller T. Lim, today’s commemoration rite coincides with the late senator’s 95th birth anniversary. It is pursuant to Ordinance 283 that designates February 9 of every year as a special day in honor of Sen. Lim who contributed immensely to the Zamboanga and the entire country.

Mayor Celso Lobregat will spearhead the activities that will kick off with a commemorative mass at the St. Joseph Church at 8 a.m. followed by the wreath laying rite at the R.T. Lim monument.

The awarding of the Five Outstanding Zamboangueno Young Leaders (FOZYL), a project jointly undertaken by the city government and the JCI Zamboanga chapter under President Misael Bernardo will be the highlight of the observance. It will be held 7p.m. at the Gardern Orchid Ballroom.

The late senator’s daughter Rosamy will give the response to Mayor Lobregat’s message during the short program that will follow the wreath laying activity.

Sen. Lim was the pride of Zamboanga and Mindanao in the Senate from 1955-1963. He died July 5, 1976.

Last year, in recognition of the senator’s contributions and accomplishments, the city government unveiled Lim’s bronze monument located at the rotunda of R.T. Lim Boulevard and Normal Road, fronting the Zamboanga City National High School-west.

Mayor Lobregat regards the late senator as one of the most outstanding leaders of his time and who enormously contributed to the development not only of our city but of the country as well.

Meanwhile, tonight’s FOZYL awarding ceremony will be the third since it 2008. The Senador Roseller T. Lim Award is conferred on youths who possess qualities of leadership, excellence and commitment to service epitomized by Sen. Lim.

The awardees are Gerardo Luis Dimaguila, Ruther John Garcia and Mark Jason Harun of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Lorelei Leslie Saavedra and Ann Claire Molina of the Western Mindanao State University.

Mayor Lobregat will be assisted by Councilor Rudy Lim and JCI Zamboanga President Bernardo in conferring the award to the five top Zamboangueno youth leaders. (Sheila Covarrubias)