 Lobregat grew up in the cities of Zamboanga, Cebu, and Manila.She spoke Zamboangueño Chavacano, Cebuano, English, Tagalog, and Spanish.Lobregat was educated at the Pilar College in Zamboanga City, Maryknoll and St. Scholastica in Manila and is the recipient of an "honoris causa"—Doctor of Humanities from the Ateneo de Davao University in 1979, Doctor in Business Administration from the Aquinas University in 1980, and Doctor in Educational Administration, Western Mindanao State University.