Lobregat gets Red Cross national highest award
Mayor Celso Lobregat and Ms. Rose Diu are among the four recipients of the highest National Awards from the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) led by chairman and Senator Richard Gordon. The awarding rite was held during the PNRC's 28th Biennial Convnetion held at the Manila Hotel Dec. 16. (PNRC photo)
The Philippine National Red Cross national headquarters has conferred Mayor Celso Lobregat the Doña Aurora Aragon Award because of his continuing support to the Red Cross voluntary service.
The Aurora Aragon Award is the highest national award and is bestowed to people who have records of highly distinguished service of not less than 8 years as a leader or official of a unit and a highly distinguished service in the promotion of the Red Cross work.
Mayor Lobregat, a two-term PNRC governor since 2007, received a medallion with citation and diploma. He was conferred the award along with other awardees including Zamboangueña active civic leader and businesswoman Rose Diu during the 28th Biennial National Convention of the PNRC held at the Manila Hotel, December 16.
Ms. Diu received the Silver Humanitarian Award.
No less than PNRC Red Cross Chairman Senator Richard Gordon led in the awarding rites.
Vic Liozo, PNRC-Zamboanga Administrator said Lobregat’s continuing support to the cause of the Red Cross is translated in the mayor’s initiative to allocate P1.8 million as annual support to the operation of the local Red Cross and support to the promotion of Red Cross programs on disaster response and project 143 among others.
The city government, through Lobregat’s leadership has allocated P1.2 million for the training of Red Cross volunteers under the project 143.
The Zamboanga delegation to the Biennial Convention included PNRC-Zamboanga board chair Atty. Virginia Ramos, Councilors Lilia Nuño and Rey Candido, Dr. Milagros Fernandez, Myra Paz Abubakar, May Braulio and Vic Liozo.
Aurora Aragón-Quezon, was the wife of Philippine President Manuel Luis Quezon and the First Lady of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. On her initiative, the Philippine National Red Cross was established as an independent Red Cross organization in 1947. She became the first Chairperson of the Philippine National Red Cross, holding the position until her death. (Sheila Covarrubias)