The alarming development is what splurged the locals into action. Private individuals who organized themselves as the Friends of the Seven Lakes, spearheaded the action to be taken to save the dying lake, which started in 1990.

Some ten thousand San Pablo citizens gathered to protest the pollution and environmental degradation of Sampalok Lake. Students, clergy, housewives, religious and civic leaders, businessmen and government workers all trooped out to join “Yakap sa Lawa”, during which they “embraced” the lake, pulling forces together as they held hands in formation around the perimeter of the more than 100 hectare body of water.

With Laguna Governor Joey Lina and San Pablo City Mayor Vicente "Vic" Amante, the group of concerned citizens led by Save the Lakes Movement President, Encarnacion “Ika” Laurel, came together in an unprecedented mass action to affirm the need to bring back Sampalok and the rest of San Pablo City’s 7 lakes back to their former pristine state. The environmental activists and actor Roy Alvarez and actress Chin-chin Gutierrez led a prayer for the healing of the lake.