In a heartfelt tribute during the 13th Anniversary Celebration of Mabalacat Cityhood on July 24, 2025, First District Representative Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. accepted a Posthumous Award on behalf of his late father, former Congressman Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin.

The award recognized Cong. Tarzan’s instrumental role in the conversion of Mabalacat from a municipality to a component city. On May 25, 2011, the elder Lazatin filed House Bill No. 04736, “An Act Converting the Municipality of Mabalacat in the Province of Pampanga into a Component City to be known as Mabalacat City.”

A year later, the bill was signed into law as Republic Act 10164 on May 12, 2012, and ratified by a public plebiscite on July 21, 2012, officially granting cityhood status to Mabalacat.

The award was personally presented by Mabalacat City Mayor Geld Aquino, in the presence of Vice Mayor Marcos Castro Jr. and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, including Councilors Miguel Morales, Timothy Paul Dee, Victor Ong, Eroll Jake Soliven, Benjamin Jocson, Marjorie Grace Sambo, Noelito Castro, Stephen Aurelio, Patricia Anne Acorda, and Elizabeth Pineda.

The recognition served as a tribute to the late congressman’s legacy and enduring impact on the city’s development.