A Symbolic Embrace in Love and Protection of Mother Nature ...in a spirit of celebration, thanksgiving and unity... In photo (standing):  Annabelle Cordon, Puring Gomez, Msgr. Jerry Bitoon, Governor Joey Lina, Ika Laurel, Mandy Marino, Naty Azores, Mayor Vicente Amante, Cari Azores, Emma Marino, Bobby Azores, Nonie Raymundo and Dave Ramos.  (kneeling) Bokal Mon De Roma, guest, Susie Azores and little kids: Meggy Marino and Bam-Bam Azores.     February 29, 2000 - The Friends of the Seven Lakes Foundation held a mammoth rally on February 29, 2000 called ?Yakap sa Lawa?.  This is a symbolic embrace in love and protection of ?Inang Kalikasan? (Mother Nature) wherein eight thousand individuals helf hands in prayer around Sampaloc Lake, the largest of the seven lakes in the city of San Pablo.  This was the first time ever in the Philippines that a human chain was formed around a body of water to show environmental concern.  This was also the San Pablenos way of joining hands with the rest of the Filipino people, five days after the celebration of People Power as they declared that the ?spirit of EDSA is alive in San Pablo City?. On the morning of February 29 at 7:30 a.m., Laguna Governor Joey Lina and San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante came to the lakeshore for a symbolic demolition of illegal establishments (nightclubs and restaurants) along Sampaloc Lake by starting with the structure owned by the Mayor's brother.  FSLF Spiritual Adviser, Msgr. Jerry Bitoon and FLSF President, Encarnacion Laurel were also on hand for the symbolic demolition along with FSLF members and friends.             People of all ages joined the Yakap sa Lawa.  And Mother Nature was celebrated as students did a butterfly dance.    On the afternoon of February 29 at 2:00 p.m., the actual ?Yakap sa Lawa? took place as the thousands of participants trooped down from the main entryway into the lakeshore area going in opposite directions around the 4-kilometer perimeter road of Sampaloc Lake.  The two ends of the groups met on the opposite side of the lake in about 45 minutes.  At this juncture, the actual symbolic ?Yakap? took place followed by a brief ritual blessing of the environment.   A press conference was held at the Lion?s Clubhouse overlooking Sampaloc Lake, which gave participants, local leaders, known environmentalists and dignitaries a chance to express their thoughts about the seven lakes.  Among the special guests were DENR Secretary Sonny Alvarez and environmentalists, Roy Alvarez and Chin-Chin Gutierrez. With the many positive developments happening in favor of the environment, Msgr Jerry Bitoon noted that contrary to expectations, the spirit that pervaded the "Yakap sa Lawa" was one of celebration, thanksgiving and unity.             Grandmothers and grandchildren by the roadside, while popular artist (Chin-Chin Gutierrez) is interviewed by the media as actor, Roy Alvarez, smiles and watches in the background. (standing) Governor Joey Lina, Annabelle Cordon and Bokal Jess Alava; (seated) Naty Azores, Secretary Sonny Alvarez and Ika Laurel.   See this link for a related story: 10,000 rally to save the San Pablo lakes, but worry about sustainability (March 2000) http://www.bwf.org/bk/2k/02/29_02_lawa/lawa.html

High Level Meeting Yields Surprises

February 12, 2000 -- A multi-sectoral conference was organized by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to bring to resolution some of the problems that plague the seven lakes of San Pablo City.  This was held at the Star Lake Resort on Mojicap Lake on February 11 and 12, 2000 and attended by about 50 representatives of the provincial and local governments, NGOs, the Save the Lake Movement, Lakewatch, FARMC (the acknowledged fisher folk group) and other concerned leaders.  

On the morning of February 11, 2000, presentations by different groups were made at the conference.  There was resistance from some fisher folk to the idea of demolition and relocation.  However, during the afternoon session, Mayor Vicente Amante surprised all those present at the conference when he brought out a letter that he had signed earlier saying that he would demolish his brother's establishment on February 29, 2000 at 7:30 in the morning (a few hours before the actual Yakap sa Lawa).  In the same letter, he also invited all other owners of establishments to demolish their own structures along the lake.  This was a major breakthrough for all supporters of rehabilitation for the seven lakes.

In the high-level policy makers meeting that concluded the conference on February 12, Governor Joey Lina, Mayor Vicente Amante, representatives of the LLDA, Save the Lakes Movement (now known as FSLF), Lakewatch and the fisher folk agreed that in rehabilitating the lakes, the following must be ensured: (1) fish culture will remain to the limit mandated by law of 10% of the water surface area, (2) eco-tourism will be promoted and (3) the lakes will be cleaned to the point of becoming sources of potable water in the future.  

Finally, the provincial and local leaders and the people of San Pablo City are taking a common, unified stand for the protection of the lakes.

1st Citizens' Movement to Protect the Environment

November 19, 1999 -- An environmental parade and prayer rally took place around the City of San Pablo today.  Rally participants congregated at the Tres Martires Monument, overlooking Sampaloc Lake.  Participants included preschool to College level students from St. Peter’s Seminary, Canossa, MSC, AMA, STI, Richfield, Infant Jesus Montessori, San Pablo Colleges (SPC), Laguna College, Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod San Pablo and Liceo de San Pablo.  The Lions Club, the Rosary Crusade of Concepcion, Our Lady of the Lake Association, Veterans Group, Alpha Phi Omega, Tau Gamma Phi, Bukid Garden, Jollibee, El Shaddai and the Motorcyclists of SPC were among some of the civic and religious groups that joined the parade/rally.  Concerned citizens and  groups who joined the rally brought the number of participants to over two thousand people.

The program proper held on top of a 10-wheeler truck outfitted with a sound system,  The emcees for the morning were Dr. Emman Loyola, Gee Enriquez (of DZSP) and Iring Maranan.  Fr. Jerry Bitoon of St. Peter’s also joined the emcees in livening up the proceedings.  The official program started with a welcome talk by Paul Cortez, president of the Seven Lakes Movement, followed by three students sharing their experiences about the seven lakes.

The rally was then cut short in order to go on a parade around the city.  Bearing streamers and placards, the marchers went down the main city streets.  Keeping the parade upbeat and moving where the school marching bands and ROTC cadets and reservists who acted as marshalls.

Upon returning to the starting point, the program continued with more short speeches on the youth’s dreams and hopes for the seven lakes.  These speeches were delivered by representatives from various schools. Ms. Ika Laurel followed with an encouraging talk about how we should all dream of making Sampaloc Lake a sanctuary.  

The highlight of the program was a healing of the earth led by special guest, Roy Alvarez, well-known character actor and Director of the Mother Earth Foundation, an NGO-umbrella organization for the protection of the environment.  He taught the crowd how to visualize an earth enveloped in “love” and that doing this exercise together would slowly “heal” the earth’s natural resources that have become polluted and degraded. 

The rally ended with leaders of the main participants signing a document with the following statement: 

“Bilang mga anak ng Diyos na binigyan katungkulan na mangalaga sa yaman ng kalikasan, kami ay                    nangangako na magsisikap na aktibong tutulong upang ang kalikasang handog ng Maykapal lalo na ang Pitong Lawa ng aming bayan ay mapangalagaan at mapagyaman para sa kagalingan ng mga mamamayan at sa kaluluwalhati ng Diyos na Siyang tunay na bukal ng buhay.”

The rally broke up at 10:30 am with the participants feeling inspired that they had together initiated the first citizens' movement to protect and preserve the city’s seven lakes.