PRESS RELEASE

7 LAKERS COME HOME FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFAB

San Pablo City - Some 150 delegates from key cities in the United States and Canada are expected to attend the Third International Convention of the Seven Lakes (San Pablo City) International to be held in this city from February 18 - 24, 2002.

The delegates, representing various associations of former residents of San Pablo City in major cities in the USA and Canada will gather here for a weeklong convention. With the convention theme "Opportunities for Service," the overseas delegates, to be joined by local delegates representing different civic groups and non-governmental organizations, will discuss ways and means of pooling together their efforts and resources to support major humanitarian endeavors in their home city. They will also identify the needs of the city and its people and propose vital projects they could support collectively.

Highlights of the weeklong convention include a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Malacanang Palace, guided tours of historical spots in Metro Manila, golf tournaments, socials, dinner-dance, picnics, workshops, plenary sessions and election of new officers of Seven Lakes International.

Prominent personalities expected to speak before the delegates are Labor Undersecretary Arturo Brion, Congressman Danton Buiser and Laguna governor Ningning Lazaro. City Mayor Florante Aquino and members of the Sanguniang Bayan will extend a special welcome to the homecoming delegates.

According to Alice Guia-Enriquez, president of Seven Lakes International, the overseas delegates will be coming from the Seven Lakes associations in New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas in the United States. From Canada, the delegates will arrive from Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Former San Pablo residents who are now residing or working in Europe, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world are also expected to join this major homecoming reunion of overseas San Pablenos.

Ms. Guia-Enriquez added that most of the associations of San Pablenos overseas carry the "Seven Lakes" name because San Pablo City is better known as the "City of Seven Lakes."

San Pablo is a major commercial and educational center in the Southern Tagalog Region. Among its tourist attractions are the Sampaloc Lake, biggest of the city's seven lakes and the famous Villa Escudero resort. Its annual Coconut Mardi Gras coinciding with the city fiesta on January 14 - 15 attracts thousands of tourists from the Philippines and abroad.