Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School Iligan, Philippines, Year 5, Issue No.1, April 9, 2001 4th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE THE GRADUATES Sheila Vy, batch 2001 valedictorian By Roger Suminguit (Batch '73) Sheila Tan Vy, daughter of Beng Hong (Class '69) and Shirley Vy, is this year's class valedictorian.   Sheila led this year's batch of graduates during the LCHS Commencement Exercises held last April 1 at the LCHS gym. Dr. Robert Chee, school director of Oro Christian Grace School, Cagayan de Oro City, was the keynote speaker. Comprising Batch 2001 are: Piscean Mae Aranton, Wilbur Chua, Ghelbe Garay, Luzette Go, Irish Mae Kuan, Jeremy Ling, Dax Vincent Lua, Carissa Ong, Jane Dale Racines, Ma. Christine Samson, Sheila Vy, and Katherine Yu. During the program, a plaque of appreciation was presented to the LCHS Alumni Association in recognition of  its many contributions and support to the school. The officers of Class 2001 are: Jane Dale Racines, president;  Carissa Ong, secretary; Jeremy Ling, PRO; Christine Samson, auditor; Sheila Vy, treasurer; Piscean Mae Aranton & Wilbur Chua, sports managers; Iris Mae Kwan, muse; and Dax Vincent Lua, prince charming.

EDITORIAL STAFF Henry L. Yu, Editor Correspondents Roger Suminguit, Teresita Racines, Vinson Ngo & Johnny Chen (Iligan); Igdono Caracho (Cebu);  Marie Janiefer Lee (Manila); Peter Dy (Canada); Leonardo Tan (Australia); Ernesto Yu & Aurora Tansiokhian (U.S.A.); and Charles O. Sy, Editorial Consultant 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: hvty@cbu.skyinet.net

The following are this year's graduates who made it to the honor roll. 4th Year High School: Sheila Vy, valedictorian; Jane Dale Racines, salutatorian; Carissa Ong, 1st honorable mention.  Grade VI: Polimyr Caesar Dave Dingal, valedictorian; Karen Zerna, salutatorian; Giselle Mae Letigio, 1st honorable mention; Kirk Patrick Ang, 2nd honorable mention; and Joni Ling, 3rd honorable mention. Both Sheila Vy and Jane Dale Racines are bound for Manila for their college course at the Ateneo de Manila University.

LCHS-AA welcomes new alumni
By Roger Suminguit (Batch '73)

The new high school graduates of LCHS were treated by the LCHS-AA to a welcome party last Mar. 28 at the JY Dimsum House.  At the gathering, Rodolfo Yu shared his insights on college life with the new alumni, while LCHS-AA president Arturo Samson had a lively exchange of ideas with them on some problems confronting LCHS.  Roger Suminguit offered his friendly reminders to the new graduates to treasure their memories of life at LCHS and to maintain their link with the alma mater by constantly visiting the LCHS web site and to keep in touch with their fellow alumni through the Spectrum.

LCHS grader wins science award
By Igdono Caracho (Batch '66)

Polimyr Caesar Dave Dingal, LCHS grade VI student, was adjudged one of the recipients of the Diwa National Science Award for 2001.  The award is given annually to selected students who excel in Science nationwide. Polimyr is also this year's valedictorian of his grade VI class. At the LCHS graduation rites last April 1, he was awarded "Best in English," "Best in Math," "Best in Hekasi," and "Best in Science."

New Spectrum subscribers

More alumni stationed in different places have been added to the Spectrum subscription list.  The latest additions are Jane Sy Limtin (Batch '70), Cebu; Laureto Capuyan Lao (Batch '68), Riverside, California, U.S.A.; Elsie Tan Lao (Batch '70), Riverside, California, U.S.A.; Madonna Bagatan Paglinawan (Batch '78), Australia; Ervin Aspiras, Ontario, Canada; Joseph Wong Yit (Batch '73), Cebu; and Farah Vei Meriam Genobaten (Batch '94), Iligan.

Alumni in summer orbit

With the onset of summer, many alumni are hitting the road anew for a vacation in distant lands.  Roderick Ngo (Batch '70) is currently vacationing in the U.S.A. with his family.  The Ngos left last April 2 for a swing across Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Houston, and New York. Arthur Dy (Batch '75) flew to Bangkok, Thailand, together with wife Elizabeth Sy Dy (Batch '75) last March 28 to attend a medical convention of E-N-T specialists.  Arthur's elder brother David Dy (Batch '74), who is an oncologist at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City, was recently spotted by Tracers paparazzi in Zurich, Switzerland to attend an international convention on breast cancer treatment.

Letter from Ontario
Mon, 26 Mar 2001 08:29:46 -0500

I used to receive copies of your Spectrum when I was still based in Iligan City through my e-mail address: ervin@iligan.com. I have changed residence and I still want to be updated on the events happening in and around the City of Waterfalls. Your Spectrum had been very informative and dynamic as well. Keep up the good work.  --Ervin Aspiras, Ontario, Canada, ervin.aspiras@jus.gov.on.ca

As we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the Spectrum since its birth in 1997, we pause and ponder and look back to those moments in time when it was still in its fledgling stage, just on the verge of being the one and only alumni internet newsletter. All these years, it serves as THE LINK THAT BINDS all of us LCHS alumni scattered here, there, and everywhere, who may have been out of personal touch from each other brought about by time, space, and distance. The concept of having this high tech publication came into being with all of us in mind, we who have once upon a time been reared and bred under one sheltering roof of Lanao Chinese High School. The Spectrum serves as our means of knowing who’s what and where, of reminiscing the beautiful bygone days of yore, bringing back the memories of yesterday’s students that we once were, clad in white polo-khaki pants or in white blouse-blue skirt uniform, to today’s yuppies, parents, and grandparents that we are.

Today in history, we look back to such times when we would think and create journalistic pieces that would stimulate or titillate our minds in trying to bring back the hands of time, or topics of human interest that we feel all of us should know.

Just how fleeting the moments are, with time simply gliding swiftly like a dream. It seems like only yesterday when we were all running around our school campus, attending classes on unholy hours, secretly munching peniato, chewing tira-tira, or the crackling kropeck and pakwan seeds, while listening to the teacher’s boring lecture, or cutting classes for the latest movies in town of Fernando Poe, Dolphy-Panchito, Asiong Salonga, Agent Lagalag, Tony Falcon X-44, the Sampaguita Stars ’66, and all that. Times when we would go biking, play karang-karang, badminton, lastiko, jolen, bato-lata, patintero, kundisi, and other such games of our time. Then there were those popular brands of cosmetics, like Fanbo, Kokuryo, Brilliantin, Tancho, etc. or those radio programs, like “Darigold Jamboree,” “Kini ang inyong Tiya Dely,” among others. All these were part of the “Yeah, yeah Vonnel” generation of which you and I belonged. We bring back these memories to your senses right in your doorsteps through a channel called the Spectrum – THE LINK THAT BINDS theglorious past and the high tech present, and the wonderful childhood memories in between.

Today, as we celebrate our 4th anniversary, we give thanks to all our columnists, writers, and contributors for sharing with us their time and talent in making possible the publication of the Spectrum that comes out regularly on Mondays for the past 4 years. Without you, our readers, there certainly could not have been us, the writers. Yes, we write and you read. Thank you for your support and patronage. We can only promise you one thing: For as long as there are people like Charles, Leonardo, Ernie, Janiefer, Aurora, Alex, Evelyn, Roger, Rene, myself, and the rest of our writers, the Spectrum will live till death do us part, linking and binding all of us near or far.

Here’s a toast to all of us as we celebrate our 4th anniversary. In His Time.  (HLY)
 

APRIL CALENDAR

*April 1 is April Fool's Day.  It was also the Commencement Exercises of LCHS, circa 2001.
*April Love.  This  was the top hit song  in April of 1959 by Pat Boone, as recorded by RCA Records.
*Bataan Day. April 9 has always been known as Bataan Day ever since we were kids. Now we call it Araw ng Kagitingan.
*Holy Week Y2K1.  April 9-14. Good Friday is “Friday, the 13th”. April 15 is Easter Sunday.
*Class 1976.  This year’s Silver Jubilarians are the members of High School Circa '76, namely: Richard Ang; Teodora Chin Chui; Johnny Chu; Petronila Chua; Elma Dy; Marion Jaime Dy; Ritky Dy; Ethel Go; Franzel Lee; Lucille Lee; Maria Elena Lee; David Lee; Roland Lee; Eloisa Lim; Purificacion Lim; Gil Lim; Lilian Riveral; Benito Rosillo; Edmundo Samson; Jimmy So; Ke Sen Choa Tan; Robert Tan; and Concepcion de Vera.
Paging anybody to please come up with some updates on this particular class as we pay tribute to them being the Silver Jubilarians this year.
 

Life's Journey By Henry L. Yu, M.D. Batch '69

It’s summertime once again – time to savor the sun and the fun. For the students, it’s an exhilarating feeling to rest for a while from school projects, research works, burning midnight candles, and the creepy feelings between failing and passing a subject. For the teachers, it’s a respite from the tedious task of preparing for the class lessons, checking test papers, or calculating grades. For the parents, it’s an off-school season of bliss when they don’t have to worry about what baon the children have to bring to school, or resting their voice box from incessantly reminding the kids to study their lessons and not watch TV, do texting, or tinker around with the computer.

Summertime, indeed, means different things to different people. Each to his own. But have you really thought of what to do this summer of the new millennium? Here are some random thoughts I would like to share with you about the THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER:

1.)   Go out to the beach or pool for a swim. It’s good for the lungs.
2.)   Read novels – sci-fi, bios, pol sci, philo, psychs, how-to’s, and learn something.
3.)   Listen to some old music and recapture the memories of your dreams. Time to replay those long abandoned tape cassettes, lest they stick like bubble gum.
4.)   Watch the late night shows on TV, or rent some VHS tapes or CDs.
5.)   Go malling and  window shopping. But don’t be an impulsive buyer this time.
6.)   Chat or surf, just don’t overdo it or you’ll end up paying more to your server.
7.)   Text your friends some jokes or thoughts that will soothe their aching heart.
8.)   Watch movies and bring along some tsitsirias, except chicharon. Observe silence please. Psst …
9.)   Avail of the 50-70% Summer Sales Promo. Just be careful you don’t get those items with congenital defects.
10.)  Go on a nature trip, or “climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every rainbow till your dreams come true.”
11.)  Wear those summer clothes which have been kept for so long in your aparador, just be sure they’re naphthalene-odor-free.
12.)  Clean the kalat in your cabinet. Bring in the new, throw out the old.
13.)  Sleep late doing something and wake up late doing something.
14.)  Have a leisure breakfast of ham, cheese, and egg , the ConWay or the AmWay.
15.)  Talk to your kids on anything under the moon and the stars on some enchanted evenings.
16.)  Share some stories of your youth or play balay-balay with your kids.
17.)  Watch the sunset in the boulevard even if you don’t have any broken dreams.
18.)  Water the plants, talk to them, and watch them grow day by day ala Doris Day.
19.)  Go gardening, farming, or sing “Planting rice is never fun.”
20.)  Experiment on some new recipes that might be finger-licking good.
21.)  Go joyriding, observe speed limit, lest you limit your life.
22.)  Brisk walk for a mile. It’s good for the heart that beats to love and be loved.
23.)  Visit relatives and friends at home, not in their office. But call first.
24.)  Throw a party for the kids and play some parlor games with matching prizes.
25.)  Do some charitable works. And God will work charitably on you. Right, Charry?
26.)  Do some household chores that will not necessitate any muscle relaxant pill after.
27.)  Play the piano, violin, guitar, flute, harmonica, or do some karaoke singing.
28.)  Go bowling. But please take good care of your osteoporosis and other midlife blues.
29.)  Have a nose lift, face lift, or other lifts done and rest adequately after.
30.)  Write articles for the Spectrum so we’ll know what’s in your mind.
31.)  Do telebabad but “limit your call to 3 minutes” (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?)
32.)  Go ballroom dancing to the tunes of “El Bimbo,” “El Salsa,” or “Let Me Love You Carmelita.”
33.)  Savor once again the taste of tricolor ice cream, cotton candy, tira-tira, at iba pa.
34.)  Buy lotto and get the thrill of becoming an instant millionaire. Who knows?
35.)  Let the maid enjoy a one-day off. Do the household chores yourself and realize that it is never easy to be maid in the Philippines.
36.)  Enroll the kids in some summer personality enhancement classes.
37.)  Stay overnight in a beach resort and realize the fact that “There’s no place like home.”
38.)  Skip a meal. Buy hamburgers for the streetboys.
39.)  Watch a stage play to appreciate the art of being highly cultured.
40.)  Go to the field. Let fly those kites or blow bubbles to your lung’s delight.
41.)  Spend an afternoon watching old films on TV and bring back the eyes of time.
42.)  Sweep, scrub, or mop the floor.  Feather dust those cobwebs to avoid asthma attack.
43.)  Go camping and experience once again the primitive ways of living.
44.)  Enroll  in a cooking class.  Learn the culin art and keep your man on a full diet.
45.)  Experience fine dining at home with matching candle lights. It’s about time you use those silvers and other wares.
46.)  Get the services of somebody to clean the airconditioners. You’ll be using a lot of them this summer.
47.)  Go to a massage parlor and experience the soothing art of reflexo or accu.
48.)  Have a potluck party with friends. Let them bring their specialty, not special tea.
49.)  Go to your hairdresser for that new millennium summer look.

Why 49?  Well, your guess is as good as mine.

In all these, don’t forget to pray as a family because “A family that prays together, stays together” in the tradition of “Living together, growing together.” And when summer is gone, let’s all sing “The things we did last summer, I’ll remember all winter long.”  Yes, it’s our lolo and lola’s favorite. But it’s ours too. There’s such a thing as Retro music, right?

Enjoy the summer. Stay young by thinking and feeling young. Not necessarily the second childhood. Happy summer vacation everyone!
 

Straight from the Heart By Marie Janiefer Q. Lee Batch '87

I’ve read somewhere that no amount of expensive cosmetics can make a lady look her best if she has a bad hair-style.  I couldn’t agree with the author more.  From my observations, I think it is well worth every penny to invest in a good hair cut.  By invest I mean to try to visit those so-called “established” hair salons and trust them to do what would look best on you.  It may cost a little more than the usual parlor but your hair would still look nice after several months.  If before, you have to have your hair trimmed every month, with a good hair cut you could go for three to four months without one.  So in the long run it would still come out cheaper.

Here in Manila there are several salons that boast themselves of having good hair stylist.  I’ve visited two of them. I had to drag my sister along with me on my first visit for moral support.  At first it was really very intimidating just stepping inside these salons that cater mostly to the so called “rich and famous.”  But once you’re inside they usually treat you the same way they would treat the diamond-studded lady on the next seat.  What they are after is you, as a customer. They don’t really mind whether you came in a Honda Vtec or a “vtecklita.”

The first one I’ve been to is called Paradigm. It is located at the fourth level of Glorietta I. It has this metallic look, very trendy in fact.  Once you’re inside, there’s a receptionist who will assist you with whatever you need to be done and she’ll be the one to match you with a stylist should you need one. Then they’ll offer you coffee or tea and some glossy magazines.  The first thing I noticed with this salon as compared to other ordinary parlors is that it’s super clean and tidy.  And the people there don’t make so much noise and gossip.  They act very professional and they really care whether you like what they are doing or not.

The person who did my hair was Mel. He looks very manly until you hear him speak or until you see how he flicks his hands, whichever comes first. He’ll explain to you why he had to cut this or that part, making you aware of what’s happening to your hair.  Aside from the hair styling that they do so well, I would also recommend a hot-oil treatment because the massage that goes with it is so heavenly that you surely would want go back to again and again. You can even ask my sister.

As for the other salon I visited, it’s Salon de Manila, also in Makati. I tried it once and true to its reputation they are really good with what they do, especially the hair styling part. The stylist who did my hair was Mercy, a petite lady who looks more like a Makati top executive rather than a hair stylist.

So for those of you who want to have a hair style that would compliment one’s features well, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with either of these two salons. Each cut and nip they do has a purpose; you really don’t have to worry whether they’ll cut it too much or too little. And I can also assure you that they are both “harmless” and that no one’s going to bite you when you go in for a visit.

So, ladies, the next time you’re in town, specially this summer, take a break and pamper yourselves with the magical touch of these hairstylists. Just remember that, afterall, our so-called “crown of glory” look does matter ... a lot.
 

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

Restrain your scratching fingers from thinning out your scalp. Save those bewildered looks for other deserving mental puzzles to de-scramble. Dissecting the root meaning of my article’s title doesn't deserve denuding your forehead of valuable hair strands. Basically, Heavens to Betsy is one of those amusing clichés that flood mainstream America daily. It's a reflex gasp along the lines of "That’s astonishing" and "It's hard to believe."

This expression escaped my lips upon realizing that our alumni newsletter has just kicked in its fifth season in orbit. Holy cow! (another  synonym) Spectrum is at its journalistic best again in keeping the present flock of LCHS alumni fenced in the same mind frame and in infecting the other strayed, insiders-once with the 2005 reunion bugs. As every schoolboy knows, the anniversary march that's been vibrating in our air is a byproduct of the chemistry that's been brewed with good amount of team effort and luck. As registered in the drawing board, boss Charlie has pumped the brakes to his nagging headaches in running the biweekly Spectrum circus. I squealed a quick "Good grief! Just lost the lottery" when I saw the baton swing by and landed on younger brod Henry's lap. If my arithmetic is sound, I should be in his hot seat (after Loloy Tan and Jen Lee, of course) at a phase in my life when all I care about will be stool softeners and herbal drinks to reverse the gelatinous feel of my brain! By that decade, video conferencing should be as old-fashioned as cell phones: I don't have to hang myself in the dizzying spells bundled in publication softwares.

As a family pattern, Henry, being 3 years younger, has always been tracing and sniffing my footsteps. When I was into the habit of initializing hearts on the mango tree across the old LCHS high school building, he was into the fun of munching this sour fruit with salt. When I was into my third date, he was just watering his rose plant for its first bud. When I was licking the stamps for my love letters, he was learning to write the word love in cursive. When I was basking in the limelight of my "Via Heart’s Dictates" column, he was shaking off the question, "Can a heart really dictate?" When I was engrossed in chasing my shadow in med school, he was just dipping his feet in degutting cats and dogs at Silliman U's Bio lab where I left some shoe marks. When Verna and I gave up on our Project Princess (just can't duplicate the recipe for a girl), Henry was just starting to buzz around for designer genes to swap.

Now, it is a reversal of fortune: I'm the one who is still balancing my act on the wire while he, having sucked this thrill, is all-eyes for higher grounds. There's no thread of doubt that he can duplicate An Lok's front office wee hours scrambles and maneuvers. With a dedicated crop of writers and a manpower machine that is always on the go, he should have the luxury of sleeping on the job sometimes. The feather on his cap, gathered from previous stints in different publications, should be a forecast of success in illuminating the different shades in the Spectrum. Besides, Charles is an easy shoulder to lean on  when it comes to cyberspace question marks. Their being neighbors at Villa Salud Subdivision should put the ball on Henry's court for excellent trades: Microsoft Word for chicken adobo, printing secrets for health issue answers.

Is my ego fractured by being delegated to a supporting cast role instead of the main star in our family tree? Not even a sprain! Brod, you are smokin'. Heavens to Betsy. Glad I don't have to lose an ounce of sleep running the Spectrum reel.

Not until Jen Jen tosses to me the spiky crown at the bingo social for the aged.
 

Mixed Bag from Bunn Hill By Aurora H. Tansiokhian, M.D. Batch '58

Our prayers and condolences to the family of Doña Cresenciana R. Uy.  I last spoke with her when Eliza (Giok Pi, Narding), one of her daughters who was not mentioned in the Spectrum obituary, invited me and my sisters to dinner at their hotel restaurant.  I would like to give all of you a hug.

The above is an obvious change.  There are changes that are quite subtle and slow to evolve. Often, it would take a stranger’s  remark  for us to realize that yes, something has changed.

I was in Australia and visited many places and did many things with my daughter, Mary Dawn.  But what I really enjoyed was visiting with cousin Loloy and his family.  I got to converse with Lelian (Ricky Nelson’s bon-bon) and their “way cool” sons Edison and Jeremy, who changed their schedule to dine with us.  Loloy came to our hotel and picked us up after a hard day’s work.  We argued on how to cross the street in Australia and Loloy was right.  Look to your right then to your left (they drive on the left side). In America, it is look to your left then to your right.  We laughed about our pronunciations, i.e. beach, bitch; ship, sheep; ball, bull.  Loloy also delivered the latest issue of the Spectrum to our hotel! Thanks Loloy, Lelian, Edison and Jeremy.  May we see each other again.

Then I went on assignment at the medical clinic at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  On my last day there, a male civilian physician who works there and with whom I had spoken only briefly a few times  told me “You are mellow; you should be a geriatrician”. I was taken aback to hear such a comment from a virtual stranger but I knew deep inside he was right.  I have changed.  Age and experience have mellowed me.  I live and let live.  I take my time and enjoy good people.  I have not been angry for a long time.

I have found my way.  I have been blessed.

PEOPLE CHANGE, BUT SELDOM.  I am glad I have.

Till next time.

Down below is a story written by an unknown author that may provide us all with a thought for a lifetime. It is a story that is definitely worth sharing with everyone. For it’s a story that has a way of touching something deep within us, something we may not know what it is but for sure we know it’s there. Something that has the sensitivity that determines us as humans, sensitivity that if touched with gentleness and warmth, it makes our heart bleeds and our eyes wet.

Whether we like it or not, none of us can stay young forever. Even if we continue to dress young, listen to young music, and dance young dances, we will all get old no matter how much we try to defy time. Aging is just an integral part of our biological process. And as a part of the aging process, we may end up becoming helpless and lonely that we may have to call on our own children to provide us comfort for the next few more years of our existence. Suffice it to say that we would prefer very much for these few more years to be filled with joy and happiness.

At least some of us someday are going to be grandfathers or grandmothers, if not already are. How we treat our own parents in the presence of our little ones, we may be treated the same way by these very same little ones. Only they become what we are now and we become what our parents were then. It’s a family cycle. We make or break that cycle. From the time of our crushing birth until our last gasping breaths, one way or another, we need each other in the family. Thus as much as we can, we should try to make the cycle a cycle of love, trust, and respect so that our aging process in relation to our family would run the way we would hope or like it to. If the cycle is a cycle of something else right now, then we should better do something about it before it becomes too late. Life that is full of regrets because of something we know we could have easily done but didn’t, is not worth living for.

A Chinese proverb says, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” Love can survive almost anything, but not everything. It’s good if our love is put to a test so we’ll see if it passes. For if it’s really love, then there is no test that is too difficult for it to pass, no boundary that is too far for it to cross. Thus for love to survive, it has to be real, not pretentious; true, not trivial.

Now here is the story:

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man’s hand trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing eyesight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

“We must do something about Grandfather,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food from when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening, the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, Grandfather ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb.

Karen, my daughter, will soon be 13 by June. How fast time really flies! It seems like only yesterday when she would intermittently wake me up at night either wet or hungry. Right at that moment, I knew that “we’ve only just begun” – Karen and me and our journey towards life.

All these years, I've lived through the different stages of Karen's life, a package deal of fun and laughter, tears and heartache. And I remember what my mom used to tell us when we misbehaved, "Mo-abot ra unya ang panahon nga makahibalo kamo kung unsa kalisod ang pagpadako sa anak."

You  must have heard about the so-called "terrible two" when a child would cry and scream in public, roll over the floor, or run around the church premise during mass. Well, Karen and I had our share of playing cat and dog too, such embarrassing moments when people would stare at us accusingly, obviously annoyed.

Karen was a picky eater who has to be spoon fed, otherwise it would take her forever to finish her food. Many times, I would tell her stories while waiting for that mouth to open again. I have to answer a litany of seemingly endless questions, or I would end up eating her food.

I did an elaborate research for the best private pre-school where I could enroll Karen in. The tuition fee was definitely sky-high, but I was willing to pay for the price of quality education. I couldn’t care less if I didn't have fancy clothes to wear. Having to work on a 12-hour shift and having to wake up in the middle of my sleep just to pick her up in school, or played teacher-mom at home, was quite a sacrifice on my part.

On Karen’s 8th birthday, I bought her a piano. I know it was some sort of a risky decision because who knows how long she would be interested in her piano lessons, but I kept my fingers crossed with the thought that I only have one Karen in my life and I want to give her my all-out support in whatever ways and means that will develop her potentials.

Personally, I never really like puppies, but I consented to having one when Karen repeatedly asked for one. So we got Pepper, a pure-breed Miniature Schnauzer, a feisty little creature who carved my kitchen wall with his teeth, but whom Karen loves no end nonetheless. It's amazing how your child's love for animals could influence and change your own attitude.

Then all of a sudden, we wake up to the reality that the babies we used to carry before are no longer the tiny and helpless creatures who would just do things in blind obedience without question whatsoever. As children grow up, their attitudes do change, as well as their choices and preferences. They now have a mind of their own in choosing their own clothes, shoes and accessories, their kind of music, TV shows, movies, books, etc. The formation of peer groups has made it so. And  it’s not gonna be “me and mom” all the time anymore from hereon. Yes, my baby girl is growing.

So, what happens now? Where's that parental full control of authority? You remind them of something, and they accuse you of being redundant. You tell them to do this and not that, they tell you, “Mom, I’m not a robot.” Yes, it really is never easy to be parents, but being one is such a fulfilling experience which no wealth in this world can buy. We can only pray and hope for the best for our children. So help us God.
 

LCHS ALUMNI DIRECTORY (8th 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@i-cebu.com.ph

BATCH 1962
Felisa Booc (Ong), Booc Fast Food, Cagayan de Oro City; Maurito Chan; Angel Chiu, Tibanga, Iligan City; Annie Dy, U.S.A.; Concepcion Go; Rosalinda Go, 12585 Parkwood Rd., San Diego, CA 92529, U.S.A., tel. (858) 484-3381, e-mail: rudynsally@hotmail.com; Virginia Handumon (Te), Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-9458; Luzviminda Lagrosas, 0080 Interior, #5 Sabayle St., Iligan City, tel. 221-1274; Gloria Jo Lagrosas, Cagayan Rice Trader, Palasan, Cagayan de Oro City, tel. (08822) 724-629; Jose "Tek Hua" Lim, Regence Enterprises, Sabayle St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3593; Benito Ong Jr. (deceased); Elita Ong (Lai), Lai Bldg., Quezon Ave. Ext., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-6388, e-mail:  lai@iligan.com; Alexander Samson, Rabago Subdivision, Villaverde, Iligan City, tel. 221-3296; Franklin Siao, Oroport, Port Area, Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City, tel. 725-728;Consolatriz Sun; Amelia Sy, Cebu Ever Drug, Inc., 212 V. Gullas St., Cebu City, tel. 256-1097; Augusto Sy, California, U.S.A., kokfamily@earthlink.net; Nelson Sy, 25 Villa Salud II, Gervacio Quijada St., Cebu City, tel. 254-2837, cell: 0917-9320653; e-mail: nelsonsy@i-cebu.com.ph; Peter Sy, Mandaue City, tel. 344-0993, cell 0919-3625592; Victor "Eng Bik" Sy, Cagayan de Oro City; Virna Sy (Oh), Cagayan de Oro City; Consolacion Tan; Teodoro Tan (deceased); Bonifacio Te, Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-9458; Rolando "Tiya" Te, #17 Araneta St., Iligan City, tel. No. 221-2327; and Soledad "Nene" Yu, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.  (Next issue: Batch 1963)

Lawyer in an accident
A very successful lawyer parked his brand-new Lexus in front of his office, ready to show it off to his colleagues. As he got out, a truck passed too close and completely tore off the door on the driver's side. The lawyer immediately grabbed his cell phone, dialed 911, and within minutes a policeman pulled up.  Before the officer had a chance to ask any questions, the lawyer started screaming hysterically. His Lexus, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined.  When the lawyer finally wound down from his ranting and raving, the officer shook his head in disgust and disbelief. "I can't believe how materialistic you lawyers are," he said. "You are so focused on your possessions that you don't notice anything else."
"How can you say such a thing?" asked the lawyer.
The cop replied, "Don't you know that your left arm is missing from the elbow down? It must have been torn off when the truck hit you."
"My God!" screamed the lawyer. "Where's my Rolex?" --Contributed by Larry Sy (Batch '72), Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.

A gathering of LCHS boys at a party of the Grizzly Gang at the residence of Jose Sam Go along Cabili Avenue beside the Premier Theater in 1966.  Among those in photo are, standing, from left: Lee Kee Siang, Jose Sam Go, Rudy Co, San Mondarte, Lisa Lueong, Lily Lueong, Dionesio Chiu, Henry James Go. Seated, from left: Felipe Lim, Wilson Lim, Antonio Leo Te, Fernando Go and Mario Go.  (Photo courtesy of Lee Kee Siang)

The Grizzly Gang today, taken at the Grand Alumni Homecoming on Aug. 4, 2000. Standing, from left: Bonifacio Khu, Antonio Leo Te, Lee Using, Henry James Go. Seated, from left: Jose Sam Go, Lee Kee Siang, Santiago Ong, Dionesio Chiu, and Rudy Co.  (Spectrum photo)