Everything has a beginning. We see it in an acorn that grows to be an oak tree. We feel it in a dream that turns to reality. And so it is with the City of Seven Lakes, San Pablo City Association, East Coast Chapter whose beginning traces back to a fine day in the Spring of 1986.
At the occasion of a party held by Terry and Lita Diaz in Bloomfield, New Jersey on June 20, 1986, Leo Bunales, Andy Castillo, Terry Diaz, and Cesar Torrizo conceived the idea of organizing into a cohesive social group their kababayans from San Pablo City living throughout the East Coast. In the process, they were joined by Tony Alinea, Raul Gesmundo, and Ronnie Rosario. On July 5, a little over two weeks after their initial meeting, a plan to bring together San Pableños in a festive gathering began to unfold. This was brought to fruition at Warinanco Park in Roselle, New Jersey on August 9 when some four hundred San Pableños came together in the spirit of friendship and camaraderie. Thus, the history of the association began.
But while the first few lines have been written in the association’s book of history, there is a compelling need to continue its story. That need is made manifest by the association’s commitment to extend assistance to those less fortunate in San Pablo City. It is a commitment that must go beyond the resonance of spoken words. It is a commitment that must be expressed not in terms of empty gestures and half measures but in a real sense of sharing and caring. It is a commitment that must be nurtured in the spirit of the Filipino Tao, a spirit full of compassion, determination, and dedication.
Like the beginning note of a song, let the story of this association flow like a harmonious melody. And just like an acorn, let this association grow like an oak tree, reaching mightily into the sky and providing shelter from the wind and the storm. The dream, at last, will then be realized.
Since 1986, The City of Seven Lakes, San Pablo City Association, East Coast Chapter USA has been a strong, active, and responsible association. Life has brought us many changes and to compete with these changes our association has finally decided that we should be identified as a legal and legitimate association domestically and internationally. Finally, on September 19, 2019, The City of Seven Lakes, San Pablo City Association, East Coast Chapter USA is a registered domestic non-profit corporation with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprises Services with Entity ID Number 0450420070, with EIN (Employer Identification Number) 84-3139971 issued on September 23, 2019. We are also a registered charity organization with the State of New Jersey, Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs on December 8, 2020, with registration number CH4340600. We are very proud of these accomplishments as a certified legitimate organization!