INTERNET NEWSLETTER OF THE ALUMNI OF LANAO CHUNG HUA SCHOOL
Vol. II - No. 45, March 1, 1999, Iligan City, Philippines

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The LCHS-AA has set the tentative date for the grand reunion on July 28-30, 2000, or Aug. 4-6, 2000. Registration will take place on the first day; tours and fellowship activities on the second day; and grand reunion bash on the third day. The working committees are expected to submit their budgets and assignments of members in the next Board meeting scheduled on Mar. 4, at 7:30 p.m., at the JY Dimsum House. All alumni are welcome to share their ideas on how to make the grand reunion a success. Suggestions may be addressed to the Steering Committee through the Spectrum.

LFCCCI aids victims of Lanao flashfloods
By Peter Dy (Batch '66)

The Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LFCCCI) donated 41 sacks of rice and 20 cartons of sardines to victims of the recent flashfloods that hit Lanao del Norte. The flashfloods left 30 persons dead and 240 families homeless in Linamon and Kauswagan. Meanwhile, more aids also arrived from Manila. The Filipino Chinese Charity Association (FCCA), the Filipino Chinese General Chamber (FCGC) and the United Daily News donated 100 sacks of rice, 100 cartons of sardines, 200 cooking pots, 200 plates, 200 blankets, 200 mats, 6 cartons of medicines, and P1,000 in cash per family for 100 displaced families. James Dy, FCCA president and FCGC honorary president, flew in from Manila to join the LFCCCI officials for the turnover of the donations. The party left for Kauswagan on Feb. 27 to turn over the donations to Lanao del Norte governor Imelda Dimaporo, the town mayors of Linamon and Kauswagan and barrio captains. In the party were LFCCCI president Chua  Teck An, Sy Chu An, Jimmy Co, Henry Lee, Johnny Dy, Carlos Dy, and Peter Dy.

Alumni xmas bash nets P40T
By Johnny Chen (Batch '83)

The sales of raffle tickets of the alumni Christmas party held on Dec. 30, 1998 chalked up a net revenue of P41,713.50. This was reported by the raffles committee at the Board meeting last Feb. 13.  The proceeds will go to the LCHS-AA scholarship fund. At the meeting where the officers were treated to a fresh Chinese lumpia dinner by president Arturo Samson in observance of the lunar new year, the Board also approved the release of the cash contribution of P2,500 to the LCHS administration for staging the LCHS debate festival with the LCHS-AA as co-sponsor.

LCHS holds debate festival
By Jane Dale Racines (LCHS 2nd year student)

Debating teams representing different grades and year levels took part in the 5th annual LCHS Debate Festival on Feb. 17-18, 1999. The festival reeled off with a seminar conducted by the MSU-IIT Noble Debating Society, headed by its adviser Rodolfo Yu. The two-day festivities consisted of the seminar, exhibition round, and trial round on the first day; and the debate proper and awarding ceremonies on the second day. The participants were students from grades 5 & 6, and 1st year to 4th year high school students. Declared winners in the elementary level were the grade 5 students. In the high school level, 1st year class won over 2nd year; and 4th year won over 3rd year. Adjudged individual best speakers in their respective rounds were Gladys Uy (G-5), Farley Ong (G-6), Cheerine Dy (1st yr.), Carissa Ong (2nd yr.), Rene June Dagoc (3rd yr.), and Christian Gil Portugaliza (4th yr.). The grade 6 team was awarded Most Disciplined Team. In the high school level, the 1st year students went home with the championship title. The event was sponsored by Cromwell Marketing (for trophies) and the LCHS-AA (for cash donation).

Golf Champs.  LCHS alumni golfers teed off to victory anew in the Iligan Golf Club Tournament held last Feb. 13 & 14.  Dr. Greg Dy romped off with the Lowest Net championship; Engr. Arturo Samson was adjudged Class-B Senior champion; Ruben Co, Class-B 2nd runner-up; and Philip Lee, Class-C champion.

Alumna in Indonesia.  LCHS alumna Marie Josiefel Quimbo Ello is currently in Surabaya, Indonesia, on a computer technology study grant, sponsored by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). She is one of only 3 representatives from the Philippines to have been selected for the month-long study grant at the Polytechnic Institute of Surabaya. Ello is the eldest daughter of Fe "Guat Ching" Quimbo. She is an employee at the computer department of the National Power Corp., Iligan City. Josiefel is a graduate in Computer Engineering from the MSU-IIT, where she was a consistent topnotcher in Math.

Home Page Feature. Dominic Ernst Yu, eldest son of Ernesto Yu (Batch '65), is the featured student on the home page of Hamilton College, New York, U.S.A. The home page has Dominic's photo on its cover collage. He took up Biology with minor in Fine Arts and graduated in May last year. He is currently working as a counselor for children with psychiatric problems in New Hampshire. During his days at Hamilton, he was president of the Asian American students and was a varsity member of the Diving Team. He has also garnered trophies and medals in piano recitals. Hamilton College, with roughly 2,300 students, is ranked among the top 25 prestigious small-size schools in the USA. Its home page is accessible on this site: http://www.hamilton.edu/

New Doctor. Eric Michael Yu Ong, eldest son of Mila Yu (Batch '63) and Entoy Ong, is now a full-fledged doctor. He passed the medical board exams given last February. Eric finished high school at the Cebu Eastern College, and completed his medical course at the Southern Western University, Cebu City. His two younger twin brothers are also in the medical field. Marx Erwin is a physical therapist, while Mark Ervine is a registered nurse.

The unborn child
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 14:41:17 +0800

Abortion is the killing of an unborn child, which involves the consent of three people: the man, the woman, and the physician.  The physician performs the operation and the man and the woman consent to it. The burden of the guilt rests on the part of the woman, but all three are as guilty in the eyes of the Lord.

Jeanne Nacague Te (Ong Chin Chin), Iligan, Philippines

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

It got to be my instinctive impulse not to be rounded up like a second class citizen among the "elite" throng of parents who daringly braved, with muffled snores and masked yawns, the culture of children piano recitals. To be effective guardians, we have to sedate our frazzled nerves whenever our eldest gene-carrier Dominic raced his mind and fingers, pounding on the C-minor keys to interpret the second movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" that would make Sir Ludwig glowing in awe! At a tender age of twelve, Dom was already bubbly drilling Chopin and Dvorak short lyrical pieces with Zen-like calm and calculated precision. How he evolved wholly dry and composed after each stage performance was beyond rational comprehension, especially when Verna and myself practically have to gulp gallons of fluids to replenish our rain of sweats and to iron out the teeth marks on our lips. This adrenaline rush was on top of our well-masquerade sigh of anticipation and bouts of tingly heart speed.

As owner of this young amateur, we drooled in tranquilizing fascination with his every exhilarating moment of resounding encore and chirp of miniature fame. Likewise, every disaster he bumped into his repertoire, we sensed piercing guilt for not rigidly enforcing his twice-a-day practice session. We projected our dreams at incredible heights after a first-rate showmanship, only to crash at subzero plane when those tiny digits stumbled miserably.

By his 16th birthday, he voiced his independent crusade against classical music. "A long-dead art, a favorite among Neanthertals with waning eyesights and drooping double chins," he reasoned. He bonded with the Fleetwood Mac and Ace of Base bandwagons in spite of the fact that the closest he could mimic their beat was in mere rhythmic finger snapping. As he hummed and drummed his marching strides to the smooth jazz tempo, our Steinway piano and its companion sheets commenced to amass medals and trophies of dust pollens and territorial insect-invaders, eventually transforming it into a hilariously extravagant home decor crippled by a devastating stroke. And for years, the only time that it whipped faint notes was when our hired, bi-weekly cleaning crew fractured the peace of the black and white bars.

Nonetheless, six years of this sound of silence, just yesterday afternoon Dominic hugged his adolescent toy after unpacking his college junks, stretched his tendons and spilled melodic bits and pieces of the legendary concertos that he used to vibrate with utmost joy and brilliance (in our mind!). Is he attempting to resurrect his age-old form and glory? Does he, at twenty three, consider himself ancient enough to waltz with the eons-ago sonata maestros? Or is he merely hypnotizing further the squadron of spiders that found refuge in that intangible landmark of his youth which has been lulled in stillness in our living room?  (To be continued)

By Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch '66

I was driving in one of Sydney's main thoroughfares today and I passed under a giant commercial arch. It features a countdown of the remaining days before the biggest 2-week party in this city sometime in September of 2000.  It showed in bright dotted lights 565 days to go before the millennium games of the Summer Olympic begin.

Despite the recent scandals that shook the very foundation of the Olympic movement, Sydney's preparations for this great event is in full swing and the construction of its different venues are on schedule, if not well ahead. The centerpiece of all these is the brand new Olympic Stadium which is officially named Stadium Australia. It will be the venue for the opening and the closing ceremonies of the next Olympic games. This modern colosseum was finished 3 months ahead of its target date and was built under budget. And last February 21, in conjunction with our Sunday newspaper which issued family coupons to preview this colossal edifice, more than a hundred thousand Sydneysiders trooped to the stadium.

The construction took almost 2 and a half years from the moment the first bucket of earth was removed to the last stroke of paint work. It utilized a Lampson LTL 2600 which is the world's largest mobile crane. There are only 2 such machines in the world and it took 10 workers a month to assemble. The entire project costs about $ 615 million and could accommodate 4 Boeing 747s. It has a seating capacity of 110,000 - the biggest in Olympic history!

Stadium Australia will be officially inaugurated on June 12, 1999 with fitting ceremonies involving the Australian Olympic heroes. There will be an exhibition game between FIFA All Stars soccer team against the Australian National Team - Socceroos.

However, between now and its inauguration, events are already being lined up for its numerous dry-runs. On March 6, two rugby league games will be played and tickets are selling fast that the organizers expect a full capacity crowd. And later in March, the home grown world renowned Bee Gees will have the honor to stage the first musical concert in the brand new place.

The real test would  not be in the stadium. It is just fantastic and its numerous snack bars and restaurants and other amenities are all well planned. The management even tested its more than 1,500 toilets with equal number of people to flush them at the same time to simulate the critical demand during intermissions if its plumbing system could cope. The main problem will be the transport system. Private cars are discouraged as parking facilities are very limited. So everyone has to use the train, which could carry 45,000 people per hour. If you are one of the last of the 110,000 to leave the stadium, then it simply means more than 2-hour wait for your train ride home.

I am just glad television was invented!

By Aurora H. Tansiokhian, M.D., Batch '58

"Grief-stricken.  Stricken is right; it is as though you have been felled.  Knocked to the ground; pitched out of life and into something else." --Penelope Lively, Moon Tiger (1987)

To the family of the late Albert Pua, I would like to express my deepest condolence for Albert's untimely death.  Inday and Limpin, I cannot fathom the pain of losing a son but I know it is very deep and inconsolable. I pray that you can go through the grieving process with the support of friends and family, and eventually be blessed with some peace in your lives.

Life is so unpredictable! The one absolutely predictable thing in life is that circumstances will always change. What we do not know is when they will change. Knowing of the uncertainties of life does not make it easier for us to accept the sudden loss of a loved one.  But at least we know that sometime in the future, a change can happen that can make us experience the joys of life again.  When it happens, recognize it, open your hearts, and welcome it.  Choose joy!  We only have one short life to live.

Anais Nin said:  "I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by living, by losing."   In other words, be courageous and LIVE your life.

Life can be a pain.  Life can also bring pleasant surprises, so live on!

Till next time.

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

With Valentines gone with the wind, with us celebrating the day in a special way - candle-lit dinner, watching a concert, or giving chocolates and roses - we are left with the memories of our love.

It has been said time and again that marriage is not all a bed of roses; that somewhere along the way, some thorns poke the heart that loves, and some rain must fall.  As couples, two hearts become one. As such, we become more considerate of other's feelings. In fact, that's the reason why we call our spouse the "better half."  When we were single, we only have ourselves to think of - going out for a night's fun freely, going to sleep when we feel like it, doing things the way we want them done. But when one gets married, we are no longer our lonesome selves. Somehow, our lifestyles are modified by the responsibilities that marriage brings.

It has also been said time and again that being parents is never easy; that as parents, we have to understand each of our children as they have their own peculiarities. They may have come from the same parents who brought them up to this world, but each of them is a unique individual subject to our careful dissection, not dwelling on the comparatives.

But looking through the eyes of love, nothing is impossible. With love in our hearts, we are able to climb the highest mountain; it enables us to surmount whatever stumbling block that hinders our way. With love, we are willing to compromise and sacrifice gladly for the sake of our beloved ones - our spouse and our children. After all, ours is a love that lasts a lifetime.

Remember that very first time when we became parents? The excitements of being one was indescribable - a mixture of personal pride and endless euphoria. But then that was just the beginning of a lifetime career as parents. Remember the routines when our children were helpless infants - waking up at dawn to feed them, changing their wet diapers, being rattled when they were running a high grade fever, and all those experiences that come along with parenting?  Then when they start going to school, we send them off in the morning and fetch them in the afternoon for home. We guide and tutor them on their assignments, helping them prepare their projects, accompanying them to their rehearsals for the school program, etc.

Time passes so fast that they next thing we know, they have reached the stage of adolescence when we are faced with the challenge of rearing kids their age - pen pals, crushes, autographs, telephone calls, outings, gimmicks, etc.  And how did we react when we knew of their relationship with the opposite sex? As parents, this was quite a dilemma primarily because it involves emotions, the abstract feeling of love. We would do the novena, asking God to guide them, that they will not follow the destiny of some youth their age, and worst, the agony of teenage pregnancy.

Luckily, we were able to see them through college until they graduate and land a job. Now, they have become the working professionals, with a mind of their own. And again, another challenge faces us - their choice of a future mate. And finally, on one sunny morning in church, we walked down the aisles to give away our precious jewel to the waiting groom. As parents, this is not an easy thing to do. Our role doesn't end in the marriage of our children. With our Filipino culture, custom, and tradition, we still live and act like the doting parents we have always been since their birth.  Call it any way you like - overprotective, konsintidor, pakialamero, or what nots.  But the fact remains: We love and care for our children more than anybody else in this world because they are our own. Their happiness or sorrow is also ours.

It is never easy to be parents. One never realizes how it is to be one until such time that he becomes a parent himself. Experience is the best teacher.

As we look at things through the eyes of love, everything becomes possible. No mountain too tall we cannot move it. No problem too big we cannot solve it.  No matter what, no matter when, we will always be there for our spouse and children looking through the eyes of love, not only on Valentines Day but everyday of their lives.