Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School Vol. 4, No. 21, January 1, 2001, Iligan City, Philippines Happy New Year from the Spectrum Staff

EDITORIAL STAFF Charles O. Sy, Editor Henry L. Yu, Associate Editor Correspondents: Iligan - Johnny Chen, Teresita Racines, Vinson Ngo, Roger Suminguit, & Armi Leslie Te. Cebu - Igdono Caracho. Manila - Marie Janieffer Lee. Canada - Peter Dy & Mikee Lee. Australia - Leonardo Tan. U.S.A. - Ernesto Yu & Aurora Tansiokhian. Founded Aug. 1, 1968. Published fortnightly since its revival on April 15, 1997. Distributed free on the Internet to LCHS alumni and supporters worldwide. Postal address: LCHS Alumni Association, Lanao Chung Hua School, Pala-o, Iligan City, Philippines. Website: http://www.iligan.com/~lchs/alumni/ For subscription, contact: Johnny Chen, Tel. No. (063) 221-3883. Email: johnchen@iligan.com For submission of manuscripts, Email: charlesy@cnms.net

As year 2001 unfolds, we usher in the first dawn of a new year.  With its first ray of light, we in the Spectrum staff start another chapter of service to LCHS alumni -- with refreshed hopes,  renewed vigor, and rekindled spirit. The dawn of a new day brings with it new thrusts in each our pursuits.  It spells newer visions and firmer resolve for us to service our growing community of LCHS alumni. As we step into the sunlight of a new year, we remain steadfast in our mission to bring our global community of alumni closer together than ever before. Let us all make this newsletter the one true link that shall perpetuate the bond that held us together back in our days at LCHS.  To all our alumni and readers, our best wishes for a Happy New Year!

In photo, standing, from left: Roger Suminguit, Peter Dy, Roderick Ngo, Mike Lee, Vinson Ngo, and Johnny Chen. Seated, from left: Igdono Caracho, Henry Yu, Charles Sy, Marie Janiefer Lee, and Ernesto Yu. Not in photo: Leonardo Tan, Aurora Tansiokhian, Terry Racines, and Armi Leslie Te. On leave: Alex Rodriguez & Alfred Lai II.

Big turnout seen at LCHSAA party

A big turnout of alumni is expected at the LCHS-AA Christmas party to be held at the LCHS gym on Dec. 30, 2000. With the smashing hit of the recent Grand Homecoming, alumni leaders anticipate a bigger attendance in this year's party than in previous years.  Many alumni who were unable to attend the August homecoming are eager to grace the Christmas bash to make up for what they missed at the GAH. Preparations have been under way over the week to ensure another successful reunion in this traditional year-end gathering. Fabulous raffle prizes are likewise in store at the party, such as 21" color TV set, refrigerator, microwave oven, and many more.

Alumni in distant lands

"Traces" launches its stake-out for the year 2001 by zooming-in on alumni residing in distant lands. Mary Grace Lee (Batch '74), younger sister of Janet Lee-Tan (Batch '69), is now in Rissa, Bahrain. Grace, who is a Home Economics major, used to manage a canteen at the MSU-IIT.  Asim Yap (Batch '56) now lives in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, where she manages Bayugan Pioneer Marketing with her husband, Peter Lim.  Soledad "Nene" Yu (Batch '62), who used to run the renowned Oriental Restaurant in Iligan, is now in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. Sherwin Jasper Sy (Batch '89), is in Valencia, Bukidnon, where he manages the Magallanes Corn Mill.  We also have an alumna in the new country of East Timor.  She is Susan Delorino (Batch '82). Her kid brother, William Delorino (Batch '87), is in Kalilangan, Bukidnon.  One of the very few alumni stationed in Japan is Joy Gotingco (Batch '86).  Her batch mate, Jocelyn Sia, is now a resident of Iloilo City. Jecely So (Batch '89) is now in Balanga, Bataan, where she runs the JTS Commercial. Evangeline Tan, (Batch '74), now lives in Margosa Tubig, Zamboanga del Sur.  Remember Joel Lituan (Batch '65) whose house was situated beside the Baslayan Creek along Roosevelt St. (now B. Labao St.)?  He is now a resident of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte. Jocelyn Tan (Batch '80) is in Pampanga City. Maria Luisa Soy (Batch '82), younger sister of Rodulfo Soy, now lives in Candelaria, Quezon. Harold Ian Paciente (Batch '90) is in Butuan City, while Maria Christina Ong (Batch '95) is now residing in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur.   Latest alumni updates ... New civil engineer Hilton Neil Sy (Batch '95) is now working full-time in the construction business.  He is the project engineer of Felipe L. Chan Construction in Cebu City. Peter Dy (Batch '66) and his wife Mansueta returned last Dec. 17 to Edmonton, Canada, to join their children for the Christmas holidays. Aida Lim Uy (Batch '61) celebrated recently the christening of her first grand child Lance Kristian Martin Uy Jr., first born of Troy Martin Uy & Shiela Uy, with a party at their residence in Canduman, Mandaue City.

Season's greetings
Thu, 21 Dec 2000 12:01:39 EST

To all LCHS alumni: Merry Christmas and have a Joyous New Year! Please log on to LCHS Home Page (http://www.iligan.com/~lchs/alumni) and click on "Larry Sy" under "Alumni Links" to download the accompanying executable Christmas tree animation file (download time: approx. 12 minutes) -- Larry Sy Handumon (Batch '72) &ammp; family, Burnham, Illinois, U.S.A., LVS2000@aol.com

It's really a great pleasure for us to receive news updates from home through the Spectrum.  It's a great source of information about our alumni and the whereabouts of our best friends in high school. Mabulahong bag-ong tuig kanimo ug ka ninyong tanan! --Laureto Lao (Batch '68) and Elsie Tan-Lao (Batch '70), Riverside, California, U.S.A., Ritzandnim@aol.com

By Ernesto L. Yu, M.D., Batch '65

Year 2000 has zoomed by in a flash. Feels like we just uncorked the New Millennium champagne and now, we are back to being antsy to duplicate square one.

To some, adding a year to their "mammoth" collection of birthdays incites a look of pure horror. A gnawing despair that makes the heart leap and run amok with stinging tears. Aging divas and rocking chair-bound supermen in our midst just can't swallow the bitter pill: there is no thread of truth to the expression "32 forever." Our basic biophysiology dictates that we wrinkle in parallel to the number of full moons we privately watch year after year. It is pathetic though that some toothless dinosaurs just can't take the punch without breathing fire and roaring foul! We have to subscribe, free of sourgrapes, to the fact that hormones do dry up, hairs grey, eyesights blur, joints buckle, and age spots bloom like weeds in the autumn of our lives.

At any rate, whatever is your pleasure, it is soothing to note that there's a rare subgroup who cheers the advent of a New Year. It's a redeeming chance to reattach the fractured pieces of past resolutions: The pledge to trim one's stores of fat cells that once concluded with more byproducts of the oily stuffs in wrong places; The hope to shun away from cigarrette smoking and alcohol abuse that ended up with butchering one's lungs with new waves of lethal nicotine and puffing up one's liver with more toxic chemicals; The thirst for guts to solve one's feeling of being alone even in a crowd, a frame of mind that can cause curling toes whenever the idea of uttering the lifelong vow is tossed in the air; The cerebral strategy to better one's school ranking with persevering, painstaking effort to date lecture notes that got zapped in the past by the addictive appeal of HBO and MTV.

Another season of hunting has just opened. Stay young by thinking young. Laugh and melt away miseries. Don't starve to be a skeleton. Free your heart for that heaven-by-your-side warmth. Stand tall and firm. Brave the nagging uncertainties. Learn to live with second bests. Remember, if you don't hit a score, there are other full moons to come.

Grind rainbows out of new promises.

By Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

A New Year holds so much promises and hopes.  Just the stuff our nation needs now.  Economically we've hit rock bottom, so for now there's really no other way for us but up. And I'm crossing my fingers on this.

The year 2001 starts like any ordinary year, unlike last year when the whole world seemed to be fighting against one common enemy -- the Y2K bug.  This year we're back to our old enemies, which are the economic disorder and the political unrest, among others. But I believe that as Filipinos we have this special trait that makes us able to adapt to external changes easily; we do it unconsciously some times.

Just like this year, the peso devalued several times over a short period of time. Yet while everybody was expecting a "quiet" holiday season this year especially at the malls, well, it still seems like there's no crisis here in the country.  The traffic jams along the main thoroughfares around the shopping districts this past Christmas are a reliable indication that there's no such thing as crisis for most Filipinos. Christmas will always be celebrated with the usual extravagance we Filipinos are known for.  It just shows that we could always make do with what we have, making me very optimistic about this New Year. I know that whatever typhoons in life that would come our way, we would still make it.

This year we're going to have our local elections -- another chance to right the wrong decisions we made in the past, another reason to hope that may the best man win this time and not just the most popular one.  Personally, I hope that somehow the majority has learned its lesson that we need really dedicated public servants to run this country.

I really don't meddle with political affairs as much as I should because I don't want to awaken the radical side in me.  I just hope that this year we're all going to have a better life, a peaceful environment, and a stronger economy.

I know these hopes may not sound new to some but a new year is a time when we renew contracts, licenses, and vows(?), making this the best time to renew our hopes too. I know we can make it as a nation, so wipe away those worry lines off your foreheads.

By Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch '66

We welcome 2001 -- the new year of the new millennium! We could only wish for a new hope for our motherland, the Philippines. Once again, she is the focus of Asia -- for the wrong reasons. Once again, she is the sick country of a re-ignited prosperous region. Once again, people are out on the streets crying for people power, for a peaceful revolution.

We look back to the days of our youth and we wonder what went wrong. Four decades ago, we were the envy of all the Asian countries. Japan was then in the throes of reconstruction after it lost the World War II. Mainland China could not even feed its people. Taiwan was relying on the overseas Chinese for remittances especially from the Philippines. Hong Kong was just the Cantonese version of Hollywood. Singapore was struggling for independence. The Korean nation was divided after a prolonged civil war. Vietnam was the new battleground. Malaysia and Indonesia were our insignificant neighbors. Thailand was sending their bright students to study in Manila. Our Philippine peso was a mighty two to one vis-a-vis the US dollar. The Philippines was the showcase of American-style democracy in Asia. We were the fortunate people who lived in a very flourishing economy, in a country where individual freedom and liberty are enshrined in its constitution.

Today, less than half a century later, it is very unfortunate that we find ourselves in the bottom of the rung of the Asian ladder. What happened? And whom do we blame? We have no others to blame but ourselves.

For too long as a people, we were just too selfish; we thought only of our own interests and forgot the community and the country as a whole. We focused only on ourselves and ignored the big picture! We did business with the sole purpose of improving our own financial status without seriously considering our obligations to the government treasury. We tolerated corrupt government officials as long as they were kind to us. We didn't even report crime nor come forward as a witness because we didn't want to get involved. Nor did we offer our opinion as we would rather play it safe with the silent majority. And we didn't mind electing incompetent officials because they were our friends and we could take advantage of them.

Now we are suffering from the consequences of the maladies of the Philippine society we partly created. What kind of a country will we bequeath to our children? Yes, some of us may be very successful in business with all the material wealth to live in total comfort inside one's home. But in a decaying environment when to breath clean air and supply of water is becoming a real problem; when peace and order is somewhat nonexistent; when there is anarchy in the observance of simple traffic rules; when justice oftentimes is offered to the highest bidder; when the lawmakers are oftentimes the lawbreakers themselves; it is becoming an embarrassment to be tagged as the only Christian nation in Asia with our moral values becoming a big joke when dishonesty is almost a way of life and criminals oftentimes are elected as leaders. And when freedom and liberty are being eroded because of our indifference and our lack of vigilance.

It was only a decade and half ago when a successful people power toppled a dictatorship. And once again we were a proud nation. But we never learned our lesson. Or we have a very short memory. Harold Robbins' famous novel "The Adventurers" could have been set in the Philippines. It is a very sad story indeed.

Let this new year of 2001 be our wake up call -- for us to begin anew. Let us clean not only our own home but our community and country as well. Let us get involved in every facet of nation building. Let us bring new hope in this new year in order to have a safe and better nation for our children to live.

By Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69

As each year draws to a close, I always make it my habit to list down my New Year’s resolutions. As one writer would put it: "Writing New Year's resolutions is a ritual that I love for its buoyant optimism and its boundless faith in the human spirit."  As far as I can remember, I was 9-going-10 and in grade III when I first wrote my New Year’s resolutions. It was one of the requirements of Miss Anacorita Campugan, our teacher-in-charge, to our class of 28 pupils to submit it when we come back to class after the Christmas vacation.

Iligan City. Monday, January 1, 1962.  I woke up late from a previous night's fanfare of fireworks galore: sparklers, libentador, kwitis, the sound of tarutot, and the like, while we waited for the official start of the New Year at the stroke of 12:00 o'clock midnight. We intently listened to the first animal sound that would be heard, which at that time was that of a cow's -- a sign of prosperity and abundance, according to our old folks. We were told to jump up and down and up and down, as high as we could, so we would grow taller. Young and innocent as we were then, we believed them with all our heart. Oh, what a wonderful childhood we all really had! And that was all of thirty-nine years from today, exactly the same Monday, the 1st of January of the New Millennium year 2001.

At the end of the year, we paused and pondered and made an inventory of the many events that took place the past 366 days of the year that was. We are now ready with our New Year’s resolutions. Resolved: to spend both quantity and quality time with our children; to follow strictly the low cholesterol, low purine diet prescribed by my doctor; to only mind my business; to be less selfish; to be more charitable, patient, kind, understanding; to live each day as joyful as possible; to learn how to smile even if my heart is aching. Oh, the list can go on and on and on because humanity is such that we always would want the best for our lives and yet we never work hard enough for it. Remember that working hard and hardly working does make a great difference.

As an afterthought of the New Year's resolutions that we have made over the past several years, let us pause and ponder and ask ourselves:  Did I make my life any better? How far have I gone? Have I really grown up? Resolved: to make my life better. Resolved: to go far and wide in my goals. Resolved: to really grow up. Yes, life is a cycle. But please, let not history repeat itself.

The word "novice" is derived from the Latin word novus which means new. We have been noviced many times in our lives. We don't become a pro overnight or by miracle. But how many of us understand that? Instead, we blow our brains out trying to figure: What's happenin' to me? How could I be such a bonehead! How I hate myself for what I've done. And boo-hoo all the way. It's like "losing face," all the good creditability is gone with the wind.

How many of us have been scolded, blamed, humiliated, called with names caricature because we haven't met the ultimate expectations of our parents, teachers, bosses, spouses, friends? Why create a high-threat climate that will increase tension, confusion, and resistance?

We all started from the very beginning, just in case you forget. Think of those flashback, those "first time" experiences in your life, and try to recall how you did it. Let's say, for example: How did you drive your car the first time you were out on the road? How much space you took when making a right turn? What did you do when you missed the exit in the freeway? Or couldn't find the direction to where you were heading to? How did you react when a maniac driver almost hit your new vehicle? Screamed? Panicky? So, what's the big fuss when your teenager ran a red light and got a ticket on his first trip to the mall, mom and dad? He's just a novice. It's better than being honked by a senior citizen with a handicapped license plate for driving 45 miles an hour in the freeway. Shame on me!

How about your first few weeks at work, the very first job you got after college graduation? Were you wishy-washy (agree with everybody) due to fear of rejection? Wow! Light bulb flashed over your head? I bet you were clumsy and clueless just like most of us. You may laugh and giggle at yourself now, but you probably cried and used a whole box of Kleenex before. I sure did! And I'd never forget the first time I started an IV on an 80-year-old female patient in the medical floor, and couldn't get it. Few days after that, her IV needed to be restarted. I couldn't believe she remembered me as the "brandnew R.N. who wasn't good with IVs" despite her senility, and refused to allow me to even touch her hand. That was pathetic! But it challenged me to be good in starting IV at one stick.

But do we always remember that now? No. We tend to expect the novice to joggle everything without realizing that life doesn't always mirror what the rules are. We tend to compare ourselves with others based on who and what we are now. How about who we were once upon a time? You must have heard of co-workers giving comments like "I'm not like that" or "What a dumbo! Such an idiot! A space cadet!" all because an employee didn't perform the way she was supposed to. We tend to forget that just like us before, this person is just a novice, and still learning the rope. We don't consider the fact that people learn in different speed. Some catch up quickly while others at slower pace and may need more time to practice, practice, practice. People also learn in different ways. Some strategies work best for A, but may not for B. So things may need to have a different approach sometimes. I, for one, need to watch somebody do it first then put my hands on to actually do it. I like books with illustrations as part of the instructions rather than all reading text.

As we start another year today, let's begin to give positive feedback when someone is doing something right. This helps reinforce the good behavior and builds trust. Let's try not to beat around the bush, speak in the abstract, present a "laundry list," be cynical, blame, dwell on faults, keep repeating yourself over and over again, abandon or pressure anyone. Let's start it today, the first day of the year, our new beginning to a brighter tomorrow. Happy New Year!

"Jesus Christ!"
The three wise men arrived to visit the child lying in the manger.  One of the wise men was exceptionally tall and bumped his head on the low doorway as he entered the stable. "Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed.

Joseph said, "Write that down, Mary; it's better than Clyde!"
 

LCHS ALUMNI DIRECTORY (3rd of a Series)

The LCHS-AA, in coordination with the Spectrum, is currently updating its alumni database -- in preparation for distribution in the next GAH. The directory is presented here by batches, based on initial inputs. If you have any correction or additional data, please e-mail the Spectrum at: charlesy@cnms.net; or text message to: 0917-3296872.

BATCH 1957
3rd of a Series
Minda "Siok Bin" Ang (Salud), Cebu City; Lilian "Siok Hun" Ang, Go Chuan Trading, V. Gullas St., Cebu City, tel. 256-1689; Allen Co, CPK Mercantile, Labao St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3683; Anita Co, U.S.A.; Ellen Co, U.S.A., e-mail: Ellenco@aol.com; Remedios Chiu, Iligan City; Dy Phek Giok (Go), JF Distributors, 14 Lapulapu St., Cebu City; Maria Jo (Cu), J&K Hardware, Quezon Avenue Ext., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-3054; Robert Kho, Manila; Kho Siok Bin (Yamamoto), San Jose, CA, U.S.A., e-mail: siokbin@aol.com; Kho Siok We, Administrative Office, Cebu Eastern College, Leon Kilat St., Cebu City, tel. 256-2254, cell 0919-4478678; e-mail: ksw@pacific.net.ph; Lim Choy Giok, Iligan City; Sy Beng Gui, SBG Merchandising, Quezon Ave., Iligan City, tel. 221-3103; Manuel Sy, Initao Tower Trading Corp., Initao, Misamis Oriental; Calixto Tan, Iligan Electrical Supply, Quezon Ave., Iligan City, tels. 221-2700, 221-5588; Yu Chi Kian, Manila. (Next issue: Batch 1958)

From near and afar, they all came to the party

Had you been present at the Grand Alumni Homecoming on Aug. 3-5, 2000, you could have the pleasure of reuniting and chatting with these alumni who came home from near and afar to grace the grand reunion.