Before the title, before the position, and before the prestige, there was a Lota Lazarte Manalo. She was a woman with vision, compassion, and unmatched courage. She was not yet the Mayor of Lobo when she first opened her heart and lent her strength to the LGBTQIA+ community. She wasn’t driven by politics or spotlight. She was moved by truth. She saw the longing in the eyes of young people who were unsure of their place in .
She heard the unspoken stories of those who felt “less than" simply because of who they are. And instead of looking away, she leaned in.
INITIATED BY A
FEARLESS ALLY
She offered guidance without trying to lead the narrative. She didn’t pretend to fully understand our experiences, instead, she chose to listen, learn, and lift. Her support wasn’t loud. it was steady. And that kind of support changed everything. Even without the authority of a title, she became the backbone of our beginning. She stood behind the community like a pillar of quiet strength, reminding every member: you are worthy of support, even if the world hasn’t said it yet.
Real allies don’t wait for power. They use whatever they have. They use time, heart, and voice to stand beside those who need it most. That’s who Hon. Lota Lazarte Manalo was, and still is, to FTS LOBO.