Friends of the Seven Lakes Foundation

Since its inception, FSLF has conducted city-wide rallies and media campaigns to heighten public awareness of environmental problems and lobbied public officials to take more responsibility in the rehabilitation and protection of the environment.  Just some of its notable accomplishments are as follows:

 

2000      Organized the first-ever Yakap Sa Lawa (Embrace the Lake) event wherein an estimated 8,000 people held hands in prayer around Sampaloc Lake as a symbolic embrace of love and protection of Mother Nature.  Balik Kalikasan Online report at

http://www.bwf.org/bk/2k/02/29_02_lawa/lawa.html

 

2001      Continuous activism jointly with other concerned groups resulted in the demolition of major beerhouses and restaurants along Sampaloc Lake by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the purchase of a relocation site for displaced fisherfolk.

 

2002       Sponsored Pista ng Pitong Lawa (Festival of the Seven Lakes) featuring medical missions, sports competition and a food festival.  Held in cooperation with the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC), Bantay Tubig, Department of Trade and Industry and other government agencies and NGOs.

 

2002      Hosted eight cross-cultural ministry exchange students from Cotter High School, Minnesota, USA

 

In photo: FSLF members take the Cotter HS students on an exposure trip to Palakpakin Lake together with the Rotary Club of San Pablo City and the Laguna College Class '78 Foundation, Inc.

 

Cotter HS students visit the Philippine Senate Offices and chance upon Senator Tito Sotto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002      Hosted a Barrio Fiesta for the delegates and visitors to the 3rd Convention of the Seven Lakes International Associations, San Pablo City, February 2002

 

2003       Established the first FSLF Kids chapter as a special club at Canossa College, San Pablo City.  FSLF Kids is affiliated with Roots & Shoots International, an environmental organization found in 87 countries.  FSLF Kids participate in the Children's Science Interactive Workshop, Panglao Island, Bohol, October 2003.  For more on the FSLF Kids/Youth, please see:   http://www.freewebs.com/fslfkids. 

 

2004      FSLF Dinner Dance Fundraiser, CocoPalace, San Pablo City, October 2004.  For photos and related stories, please see: http://www.freewebs.com/friends7lakes/fundraiser.htm

 

2004 - 2005 Participated in the following conferences/workshops:

• Summit on the Sustainable Management of the Lakes, San Pablo City, October 2004
• UNEP Regional Cross-Learning Seminar on Sustainable Consumption, Manila, March 2005
• UNDP Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor, Makati City, April 2005
•  ADB Advancing Environmental Sustainability thru Mobile Telephony:  Challenges and Opportunities for Action, Mandaluyong City, May 2005
• 10th International Living Lakes Conference, Tagaytay City, May 2005
• Young Agenda 21, Stavanger, Norway, May 2005
• Children's World Summit on the Environment, Aichi, Japan, July 2005

 

In photo: Bobby Azores, Pando Espallardo and Viem Locson, FSLF delegates to the 10th International Living Lakes Conference in photo with Global Nature Fund and FSLF Kids.

 

Msgr. Jerry Bitoon in photo with the FSLF Kids at the Living Lakes Conference.

 

For related stories on the Living Lakes Conference, please check out:  http://www.livinglakes.org/partnership.htm

 

 

 

2005        The FSLF Youth for high school level students was established in 2005 at Canossa College. 

 

2006        FSLF Kids participated in the Children's World Water Forum, Mexico City, March 2006.  The children's group also received a Disney Minnie Grant from Youth Service America to celebrate Global Youth Service Day on April 22, 2006 and to construct a mini park along Sampaloc Lake.

 

In photo: LLDA General Manager Casimiro Ynares III, FSLF Kid Elogada, DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes, FSLF Kid Azores, NWRB Exec. Director Ramon Alikpala and FSLF Azores.  Taken in Mexico City, March 2006.