INTERNET NEWSLETTER OF THE ALUMNI OF LANAO CHUNG HUA SCHOOL
Vol. II - No. 38, January 11, 1999, Iligan City, Philippines

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Your LCHS alumni have a nice home page. I would like to take this opportunity, through your web site, to greet my friends of batch '95, La Salle Academy.  Happy New Year to all of you guys. Haven't heard from any one of you for a long time. I'm here in New Jersey, just finished Computer Programming and looking for challenging jobs. Also, hi to the faculty and staff at La Salle Academy who helped me become this person now. I think that none of you would recognize me writing this. I know I used to be a party animal or so. I guess coming to America changed me. If anybody of you guys read this message, please keep in touch. To the alumni of LCHS, I'm sorry I took this opportunity to greet my friends. Thank you. I miss the Iligan lechon.

Paul D. Monsanto, Hillside, New Jersey, U.S.A.
pmonsan2@excite.com

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

With the fading bang and clang of a grand new year comes my list of Year-End's Bests. Mind you, 70% of the resultant verdict was molded in my chest, the rest evolved from the mouths of my three musketeer-boys who were ecstatic to help out in exchange for elevating their college allowance a tad above the poverty line, and our house pet chinchilla (a hybrid of guinea pig and rabbit) whose screechy outbursts, elicited when exhibiting Henry's pictured column, were deliberated as such. Briefly, the judgment of my legal community is legitimately final, no ifs and buts.

Best E-Mail Dispatch: Fernando Khu's out-of-the-blue computer knocks that chipped our ice of 30 years. The last time we touched bases, he dutifully functioned as one of the relay stations in our senior high classroom (having positioned himself along the hand-mail route) for the congratulatory notes that I was launching to Bonifacia Co for being crowned the school band's majorette. Lando's electronic invasion hit me with a stream of wonderfully charming, rosy teenage memories - the times when innocence and bubbly idle talks ruled the days, barely comfortable in long pants and toilet-trained.

Best Internet Cheers: Charles and Tessie Siao-Go. Their Bluemountain.com annual greetings never fail to infuse the warmth, radiance, gusto and merriment of the yuletide season. Those humming winter flakes and rejoicing snowman project a scene carved from somewhere in the humid California hills where a close-knit family is yearning that I'd pack them bits of the renowned Buffalo arctic powder in order to submerge, not just visualize, in a real white Christmas for a change.

Best Spectrum Article: Bunn Hill taxpayer Aurora Tansiokhian. Her all-out tackling of the Viagra mystique and its dos and don'ts rendered every huffing and puffing primate of my persuasion stiff in fear and panic of the unknown. Not only did her informative essay induce chauvinist pigs into becoming cautious addicts of enhanced macho potency, it delivered them from the claws of gripping misconceptions. Indeed, it is a tricky, hard task to bend the new-pill-in-town like pretzel. It's way out too hot to handle, especially when it pertains to "a handle that is not too hot" in the first place!

By Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

Last Christmas, I sent my friend Mary a card with this season's greeting: Mary Christmas! ---o--- For my new year's resolution, I resolved to quit my membership in all clubs, except night clubs. ---o--- I also resolved to stop going to the movies with blind dates. I'm tired of describing what's showing on the screen. ---o--- At our Christmas party, I turned down a door prize which I won in a raffle draw. My house already has a door. ---o--- On Christmas eve, I went bar-hopping with some French visitors. Needless to say, we drank till the oui hours of the morning. ---o--- Four of our five columnists in the Spectrum are doctors. We are lucky they didn't write their columns in their own handwriting. ---o--- Doctors are a curious lot.  They always write their prescriptions illegibly. But never when they send us our bills. ---o--- James Y. Gaite is fast making a name as a dermatologist in Cebu. He's making a fortune from scratch. ---o--- Our man from Buffalo, Ernesto Yu, wasn't able to visit Iligan during his recent trip home. Ernie had to be back in the U.S.A., in time for Yu-letide with the Yu children. It was what we may call a Yu-nanimous family decision.

We woke up early on Sept.  6 as we had a city tour of Vancouver to join at 8:30 a.m. The mini bus was on time and we were the first party to be picked up. The driver was a Cantonese who came from Hong Kong 6 years ago. It then went around to a few more hotels and our city tour began. We were about eleven in the group; all were Chinese but spoke different dialects. Mostly Cantonese, some Taiwanese and us the Fookienese. So the driver made his commentary in Cantonese, then Mandarin, and in telegraphic English if he so desired. Vancouver, this gateway to Canadian Pacific, was discovered by a British Royal Navy Captain named George Vancouver in 1792. It soon became a timber town called Granville, and in 1882 was renamed in honor of its discoverer when it was already a bustling city.

Our first stop was Chinatown. There was a little park with a bust of Dr. Sun Yat Sen. A newly wed couple from San Francisco with our group asked the tour guide who was Dr. Sun. At first I was a bit surprised, only to realize later that not all Chinese, of course, especially the young who grew up overseas, would know much about Chinese history. Then we stopped by this street clock run by steam which blows its horn every fifteen minutes. We stopped at Canada Place where two luxury liners were waiting for passengers for a cruise to Alaska. Close by was the old headquarters of a railway company with its glorious past and has become a Canadian institution.

I stared at the massive facade of Canadian Pacific Railway and it reminded me of an anecdote of a poor young but talented Filipino in the 20's. He traveled in one of its trains from Vancouver to New York for further studies as a scholar. He impressed his landlady who treated him with so much special care. She thought he belonged to a very cultured and rich family in the Philippines as he was the only student in the history of her boarding house who had a complete set of china and silver cutleries with markings or engravings of "CPR" monogram. If only she knew that it was a gift from the giant railway company for having the same initials. He was, of course, Carlos P. Romulo, a small man but a giant figure in Philippine history.

Then to the other side of the city and its famous Stanley Park with its totem poles. We crossed the Lion Gate Bridge and visited the Capilano Village for a closer look of Indian culture. Our next stop was a salmon hatchery farm nearby and the highlight here was seeing the salmon swimming up the stair-like waterway. Then back to downtown for a salmon shop where the main product and its by-products were properly explained and of course it was a sales talk for us to buy. Then to a buffet lunch in Chinatown where I had a good conversation with a Taiwanese man who now lives in Montreal. I had to brush up my Mandarin this time. Our next stop was the Elizabeth Park, a beautiful garden with a good panoramic view of Vancouver's skyline. Our last destination was a Buddhist temple. Then the driver made a little demand about the practice of
collecting tip from each one of us in the amount of $5. He made this without any qualm. I just felt a little aghast as I thought tip was voluntary. This was more like a highway robbery!

We requested to be dropped at a nearby Chinese section of Richmond. This is the new Chinatown where the recently arrived Chinese from Hong Kong settled down. These were the rich ones bringing with them lots of money. The shopping malls here were all newly built and all the shops were run by new Canadians from Hong Kong. No wonder they fondly called this place as - Hongcouver.

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

Welcome 1999 - the Year of the Rabbit! How time really swiftly glides away. It seems like we have just started 1998 with us celebrating the centennial year of our Philippine Independence, and now it's another year gone in the pages of the calendar, with a truckload of memories built and created the past 365 days of our lives.

Another year is here.  Another beginning. A starting over. Whatever we have done or have not done, charge it to the year that was. Never mind the what could have beens, or the what-ifs and the what-nots. The year that was is now part of yesterday, in the past tense, plural.

With 1999 in our midst, we again set our plans for the year. It is time to renew residence certificates, professional tax receipts (PTR), pay realty taxes, file income tax returns (ITR), renew annual membership dues for the associations we belong to, etc. The start of another year is always loaded with new beginnings, resolutions, plannings, and a looking forward to what lies ahead. With hope in our hearts, we welcome 1999 with optimism.

Truly, with the coming of the new year, one faces a new lease on life. It is definitely a starting over until 1999 will have to come to an end sooner than we think it will, until such time when we will be welcoming another year.

So, what is in store for all of us this 1999? Neither you nor I know fully well. We have our plans and priorities in life, just as God has His. Everything really happens IN HIS TIME. That's why we pray for His guidance through the Holy Spirit. We need not expect. We only hope. His will be done.

With one last look at the year that was, we make a flashback and rewind the days, weeks, and months of 1998. Somehow,  there are regrets, just as there are fulfillments. We cannot be everything. We are not perfect. All of us are just passing visitors on a limited tourist visa. When it expires, only God knows. The best thing is think positive, pray for God's guidance, and He will take care of the rest. Forget about yesterday. It's been done. It is gone with the wind. Live for today, it is here for the taking. The choices are ours, the alternatives and the options. Life is what we make it. It is a free country. But in all these, we need only one thing: Faith in Him.

With the new year comes a new beginning. You start, I start, we start. It is indeed a starting over. And we pray and hope that we have started it right. Happy New Year to one and all. IN HIS TIME.

The LCHS Alumni Association Christmas Bash '98, held on Dec. 30, 1998 at the LCHS gym, easily surpassed previous similar parties in many aspects. More alumni showed up this year than in previous years. The party started promptly at 7:00 p.m. And the whole affair was well organized. Our congrats to the alumni officers for the whooping success of the yuletide bash!

Despite the big turnout, supply of food and beverage was abundant. Many of the foods were homecooked personally by superb cooks like Andy Ang-Lee and Sio Te "Olay" Dy. Olay's fish dish was particularly appetizing.

The LCHS high school seniors did a splendid job with the colorful decor and physical arrangements. The stage looked elegant. The alumni organizers also rented a sophisticated PA system that produced great audio output. It was a blast, so to speak.

Gracing the party together with former principal Crisanta Alcover Ayson as honored guests was another long-missed LCHS teacher in the 60s, Josefina Tan. It was my first time in decades to see both of them. Josefina Tan is now teaching at the Iligan City Central School. She is married to Rudy Gaid, retired engineer of Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. When I approached them, Mrs. Alcover-Ayson couldn't seem to remember me. She said I looked familiar though, and that I looked younger! How about that!

Another sidelight of the evening was the attendance of Mr. Dy Un Suy, well-respected grand old man of the community. He gamely participated in the program by sharing his words of wisdom in his speech. He was assisted in going up the stage by daughter Fe "Guat Ching" Quimbo.

Adding to the jovial mood was the number of impromptu performers among alumni and their children. Requests for insertions or "singit" in the program came one after the other. Which goes to show that LCHS alumni and their offsprings never run out of talents. The three emcees, Rodolfo Yu, Alfred Lai II, and Jane Dale Racines, did a fine job. They were articulate and presented each part of the program very well. Two of the emcees, Alfred and Jane Dale, even went out of their way to show that they were as good in dancing as in emceeing. They did an impromptu ballroom dance number, too. Constantino "Jonas" Sy, attending our alumni party for the first time, proved there's such a thing as beginner's luck. He won a set of glassware as consolation prize in the raffle draws. Also at the scene was award-winning photographer, Robert Booc, who was busy recording the affair with his camera.

Among the alumni I spotted, many of whom brought along their spouses and children, were: Jose Booc, Vicente Booc, Ben Hur Dy, Rudy Co, Antonio Leo Te, William Dy, Agripino & Juanita Jo, Lee Kee Seng, Jose Lim, Anderson Dy, Kelly Dy, Walter Dy, Pablito Ngo, Prudencio "Wa-hoy" Tan, Janet Lee Tan with husband Jose Tan, Sena Uy Tan with daughter Arlene Tan, Ngo Chin Bon, Lueong Pak Fong, Letecia Lua Yap with husband Lando Yap, Bonifacio and Virginia Te, Lilia Handumon, Co Kep Te, Christopher and Deena Chua, Henry Dy, Carlos Dy, Luis Kho, Dy Sun Kang, Cristina Dy Deleste with husband Pipo Deleste, Mark Stanley Siao, Carina Dy-Carlos, Arturo Samson, Alexander Chua, Robert Co, Edwin Co, Virgilio "Tarzan" Yu, William Eng Ben Sy, Gil Lim, Suniel Lim, Maria Jo Cu, Belinda Cu Lim, Elsa Lagrosas, Charmaine Molo Jomdos, Lily Lueong Yang, Terry Racines, Glenda Cabilan, Dominic Siao, Jorge Racines Jr., Julius Racines, Roseanna Co Belmonte with husband Bart Belmonte, Alfredo and Po Hua Lai, Elena Lim, Elizabeth Lim Blando with husband Demie Blando, Vy Beng Hong, Henry and Andy Lee, Sio Te Dy, Manuel Te, Sy Chu An, Chiok Hian Wang with husband Johnny Wang, Maning Gaite, Willy Kwan and Roy Te. 

I cannot find an appropriate word here to convey my profound happiness of seeing everyone this evening. I am glad to see you who, for almost four decades, were my students. It's indeed my dream to see all of you - a successful man and woman in your community. And here you are - all successful in your respective business and profession! Congratulations!

I would consider this encounter a wish fulfilled ... for seeing you face to face is not only giving me a feeling of being young again, but recalling those memories in the classroom is more than receiving an award of being recognized for a task well done!

I did not hesitate to accept the request of Miss Teresita Racines, my former biology student, to give a Christmas message during this occasion, because I know I will see you. Much more I got assured when Mr. Edwin Co and his brother Robert, reminded me of this get-together.

Christmas as usually observed is the season of giving and receiving gifts which are tokens expressing love to special people around. The air is filled with Christmas songs from carollers and the scene is adorned with lanterns, blinking lights, belens and Christmas trees.  These are what we see around during the season of merriment. But all of these are external manifestations of our preparation for the birth of Christ, our Redeemer.

Along all these, did we ever ask if the merriment shown in the preparation for Christmas reflects our inner self? Does it portray the real happiness of one's inner self?

As for me, not all actions speak of one's soul. Dili tanan nga katawa o pulong naghubit sa tinuod nga gibati sa usa ka linalang. May mga pulong nga salingkapaw o saad nga balak!

Unless we sincerely prepare ourselves for Christmas, we would never enjoy the blessings of the holiday.  Joy, which is a pleasant feeling and which must be great enough for one to share must start within. It can only take place when there is peace.  Peace within is the by-product of contentment and acceptance.  How can one feel freely the air he breathes, share the food he eats and the water he drinks, or enjoy the music around, if he does not have peace within him?

Love keeps the spirit of Christmas alive. Giving, receiving of gifts are tokens of love. How can one enjoy his relationships with people around him - his partner, his children or work mate, if he is loveless?  If you are loveless, you will never appreciate nature or relate with people around you.  Love begets love. If you love, you give love and receive love in return.  With love, they say, the world goes round like a ping pong ball.

Let's join the whole world in the celebration of Christmas. Unless we have peace in ourselves, live with love for our fellowmen, then Christmas would have no meaning at all. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!