Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School Vol. 3, No. 1, April 12, 1999, Iligan City, Philippines 2nd Anniversary Issue THE SPECTRUM STAFF UP CLOSE Charles Sy, Henry Yu, Ernesto Yu   Leonardo Tan, Aurora Tansiokhian, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Chen, Terry Racines Peter Dy, Alfred Lai, Igdono Caracho, Mike Lee, and Santi Ong

EDITORIAL STAFF Charles O. Sy, Editor Henry L. Yu, Associate Editor Correspondents: Iligan: Johnny Chen, Alfred Lai II, Teresita Racines, & Santiago Ong. Cebu: Igdono Caracho. Canada: Peter Dy & Mike Lee. Australia: Leonardo Tan. U.S.A.: Ernesto Yu, Alex Rodriguez, & Aurora Tansiokhian Founded Aug. 1, 1968. Publishded weekly since its revival on April 15, 1997. Distributed free to LCHS alumni, friends 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. E-mail: johnchen@iligan.com Address articles & comments to the editors, e-mail: charlesy@cnms.net Countdown: 67 WEEKS before Grand Reunion

In this our 2nd anniversary issue, we chose pictures, not words, for a change, to re-introduce the men and women who usher the Spectrum right into your computer screen each week. Profiled on this page is a photo gallery of the 13 members of the Spectrum staff. A few faces have grown all too familiar to our readers by now owing to the regularity of their individual columns. Some others are presented on our pages for the first time, largely because they work behind the scenes, preferring to slug it out in the hushed isolation of our cyber newsroom. This gallery is presented not for self-glorification but for our readers to get acquainted with the men and women behind the barrage of write-ups that lands on your computer monitor week after week for the last two years without letup.

The beat goes on
By Johnny Chen (Batch '83)

It's official. The theme of the LCHS Alumni Grand Reunion 2000 is: "Onward LCHS in a New Millennium: The Beat Goes On!", with a sub-theme of "Unity Beyond the Century." This was decided by the Reunion Steering Committee headed by Suniel Lim (Batch '66) together with the Secretariat in a caucus held last April 5. The Secretariat will soon come up with a logo based on the the theme. Meanwhile, an orientation meeting is scheduled on April 18, 1999, at 2:00 p.m., at the JY Dimsum House. Called to the meeting are the batch and area coordinators, who will discuss their scope of work in preparation for the grand reunion.

Alumna cum laude
By Peter Dy (Batch '66)

Janice G. Samson (Batch '95) graduated cum laude last March 19 with the degree of B. S. in Business Administration at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. Janice is both beauty and brain personified. During her elementary and high school years at LCHS, she was a consistent honor student and the band majorette from 1st year to 4th year. She is the daughter of LCHS-AA president Arturo Samson and Eileen Samson.

Vy is class '99 valedictorian
By Igdono Caracho (Batch '66)

Sally T. Vy had good reason to march in triumph at the LCHS commencement exercises on Mar. 31, 1999. She was the valedictorian of Class '99 in both English and Chinese curricula. She was also recipient of the "Leadership Award" as outstanding officer of the Student Council for 1998-1999. Sally is the daughter of Beng Hong Vy and Shirley Vy. The graduation rites began with the processional of the candidates for graduation. Kharis Ann Darunday, elementary salutatorian, delivered the welcome address. Elizabeth David, head of the English department, then presented the candidates for graduation, after which followed the distribution of diplomas by Henry Siao, school director. The commencement speaker was Dolores Pattuinan, Ph.D., STC director of MSU-Marawi. Her speech was followed by the distribution of academic, loyalty and special awards. Valedictory addresses were delivered by Elbert Louie Eslao, elementary valedictorian; and Sally Vy, high school valedictorian. Jean Haydee Wang, high school salutatorian, concluded the program with her salutatory address.

LCHS class '99 honor rolls

Kinder:  Ann Catherine Co, valedictorian; Reggie Lloyd Aguilar, salutatorian; Sarah Grace Uy, 1st honorable mention; Chastine Gayle Co, 2nd honorable mention; and Carl Kevin Sy, 3rd honorable mention.  Elementary:  Elbert Louie Eslao, valedictorian; Kharis Ann Darunday, salutatorian; Jian Leih Racines, 1st honorable mention; Neil Lim, 2nd honorable mention; and Meghan Ng, 3rd honorable mention.  High School: Sally T. Vy, valedictorian; Jean Haydee D. Wang, salutatorian; and July A. Ng, 1st honorable mention.

Spectrum gave me the voice
Sat, 06 Mar 1999 21:49:50 +0800

When I was in grade school, I was not so good in English composition or public speaking. I always felt that I wasn't good enough. What if I say or write something wrong? What if everybody laughs? The top students often had the guts, the ability and the opportunity to voice out their ideas. Walking down Quezon Avenue, I heard an unfamiliar voice calling out my name. I hesitantly approached the person, after which he complimented me on my writing in this newsletter. I was flattered. Someone is actually interested in reading what I write. The Spectrum gave me the voice I didn't have, gave me the opportunity that was lost and provided me the arena to express myself.

Alfred Lai II (Batch '89), Iligan, Philippines, lai@iligan.com

I would like to congratulate all the staff members of the Spectrum for a job well done. Keep up the good work!

Jesus Dy (Batch '63), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Jesus.Dy@reg.gov.ab.ca

I want to congratulate you on your 2nd anniversary. I wish everyone behind the Spectrum more power. It really gave me a great sense of pride when I first read this newsletter on the Net. It's like being home. I hope you keep it up, guys. You're doing a good job.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee (Batch '87), Makati, Philippines, karplus@abc.net.ph

Spectrum referendum
A survey is currently being conducted by the Spectrum among its subscribers through e-mail.  So far, the response from our subscribers overseas has been swift and prompt. Ironically, feedback from our domestic subscribers, particularly in Iligan, however, is awfully slow in coming. We urge those who have not yet filled up the survey form to do so now so that their inputs can be taken into account in our final appraisal of the Spectrum. The survey outcome will help us determine whether we, after two years in service, are going to continue or terminate the Spectrum; or whether we need to change our frequency; and many other important decisions. So if you want your voice to be counted in this referendum, please submit your survey answers to the Spectrum now. Deadline is April 13, 1999.

The following batch listing is supplied by the Reunion Steering Committee based on available school records and other individual resources. The listing is disseminated here for the information of all concerned in preparation for the Grand Reunion 2000. If you notice any names missing, please bring them to the attention of the Steering Committee thru the Spectrum.

BATCH 1958:  Ang Siok Bin; Ang Sio Hun; Allen Co; Ellen Co; Carlos "Bonnie" Dy; Dy Cham Flora; Inday Jo; Maria Jo; Monica Jo; Honorata "Yao Yao" Tan; Aurora H. Tansiokhian; and Guardson Siao.

BATCH 1959:  Baby Ang; Linda Ang; Ching Sio Eng; Emiliano Chiu; Dy Phic Giok; Orlando Go; Georgia Lim; Simfrosa Lim; Remedios Ong; Arturo Samson; Himaya Siao; Glenda Siao; and  Juanita Te.  (To be continued)

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

By golly, chap, we are at the threshold of another Spectrum's celebratory champagne-swiggling milestone. Pretty sure countless sideline worshippers dread not witnessing this charmed hour of momentous, firecracker-lighting second anniversary. Judging from the health chart of our newsletter, its corpuscles are robust, perky and pulsatile with my whatchamacallit quivers from chilly Buffalo, Charlie's scrambled vocabulary stew of one-liners (Sy-llables), Loloy's first-person viewfinder (Down Under), Rory's philosophical musings and wisdom (Mixed Bag), Hen's faded memories museum (Sentimental Journey), Alex's virtual medicine cabinet (Dr. DoLittle) and the flashed reports emitting from our news squad of foot soldiers. At the current vibration we are streaming our energies and sanity, and with more readers/subscribers grappling and wrestling our weekly output with rabid enthusiasm, we will trudge, undoubtedly, on a unidirectional vibrant growth to more candle-blowing ceremonies. This, of course, installs in the equation that no writers will be brutalized by Alzheimer's linguistic incoherence or will be wobbled by a jumping bean of neuroses.

By Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch '66

Return of a Lost Love

Wondering about where and how should I begin?
This confession of a romance that is without sin.
Turning fifty and facing a midlife crisis in vain.
A lost love has returned and we're together again.

I first met her some years ago while still in college.
And loving her was exciting and a great privilege.
She was in Cebu,  just a night from our Iligan bay.
Missing her in Manila, I was then so far and away.

Her happy face filled with many sweet stories.
Mostly about friends and classmates in glories.
By nature, she was gifted as great story teller.
She was so captivating and was the best seller.

Keeping our dreams alive via the air mail post.
That was the only way we could do at the most.
Time of innocence but her words were a delight.
Just like a beacon, she became my guiding light.

Her life was frail and she struggled for survival.
My admiration was great and without any rival.
Without thinking that our liaison would soon end,
But just a few seasons, I had lost my dear friend.

And a young heart became empty and shattered.
Yet to fill the vacuum, just never really mattered.
I've been longing for her through all these years.
We parted without farewell nor shedding tears.

Suddenly two years ago, in one memorable nite,
I regained her back as I discovered her website!
In cyber space, she now travels the world over.
And her capabilities improving more than ever.

This time she is more mature and ever beautiful.
With more lovely features, brighter and colorful.
Like a precious jewelry,  she binds us in unity.
While promoting through her the spirit of amity.

Few inputs from me are always a great pleasure.
Happiness we share and a duty I really treasure.
Our weekly rendezvous, is always a time to savor.
A mesmerizing experience with lots of splendor.

We are farther apart,  here I am in Down Under.
But thru the internet distance matters no longer.
She's still based in the Queen City of the South,
Yet I feel so close, I could even kiss her mouth.

A song - love is lovelier, the second time around,
Could be very true, now that I am just spellbound.
Indeed an inspiration with purpose pure and noble.
A baby of Charley and a venture so commendable.

For finding her and sharing her once more,  my dear,
And in rejoicing a milestone on this her second year,
A very Happy Anniversary and many more success!
My dear Spectrum,  a million thanks and God bless!

I'm a woman / Phenomenally / Phenomenal woman, / That's me.  Maya Angelou, "Phenomenal Woman," And Still I Rise (1978)

0n the second anniversary of Spectrum, I express my joy for being a woman and for the opportunity to contribute to the fellowship of LCHS alumni and readers all over the world.  How did I get connected?

On 4-10-98, my brother Hai San (Steve), a pediatrician in Taiwan sent me the Spectrum website with the following message: "many interesting and funny articles by Eddie Tan and company and also local news and gossip!  I'm sure you'll enjoy the site."

Spectrum 4-06-98 was the first issue I read.  Everybody was a stranger except  Loloy (Eddie) Tan.  In his column, he wrote:  "Don’t we have any lady writers? Perhaps she could start a column like Dear Tita Dely or something like that to cater to many of our women readers.  If there is no taker, I might change my format to something like Dear Kuya Eddie.”

Loy, you have come a long way from Buddha to Confucius to Darwin who believed in the fallacious theory of the natural inferiority of women and therefore only good for the bedroom, childbearing, and for man's pleasures.  Sandy Chi is proud of your sophistication and sensitivity.

I recently read about three Caucasian couples' journey to China to adopt three baby girls.  I have yet to read about a normal Chinese baby boy being given up for adoption. The preference for sons in China continues.  Since Confucian times, sons alone have been able to sacrifice to the family spirits, carry the family name, and inherit the family estate.  In some areas especially cities, this is changing. According to The Economist, female infanticide was practiced in China in both poor and rich families.  It continues, though illegal. Recently, ultrasound, which can identify the sex of a fetus, has made sex selection abortion an alternative to infanticide. These have produced such an increased shortage of girls that millions of today's boys will have no girls to marry in 2020. Party time, women!  This may improve with relaxation of the one child policy, and the establishment of a pension policy for the rural elderly which will somewhat negate the economic and social needs to have sons.

I have heard Chinese women denigrating themselves for having daughters and praising themselves for having sons.  Unless we women start valuing our daughters and ourselves we will be contributing to the persistence of an outdated tradition.  We must change before we can expect others to change.

I therefore would like to thank Charley Sy and Ernie Yu for welcoming and encouraging me.  I salute back Rene Tio and would like to put him in uniform.  Congratulations, men.  You have begun to bridge the chasm between the sexes.  Keep it up in your daily behavior.

I was very lucky to have an enlightened and independent Mother who believed in educating women.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY,  SPECTRUM!

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

"I've been alive forever, and I wrote the very first song,
I put the words and the melodies together,
I am music and I write the songs..."

In 1965, a grade five pupil wrote his very first poem entitled "Raindrops". That boy eventually became editor of the Campus Keeper, the student publication of LCHS in 1967. Decades have passed. That boy went through a lot of life's ups and downs, journeying through life, doing this and doing that. That boy is now 47 years old. Who could be that boy but me?

Personally, writing is no big deal. It is more on the topic, of what to write, that seems to be a problem. Once you have the topic to write about, the rest follows - the thoughts, the ideas, the grammar and tenses. I've been writing all my life - from poems, essays, to short stories, love letters, to oratorical pieces, etc. Name it, chances are I've done it more than once. Paradoxically, I am like a jukebox in the sense that when you decide which song you want to hear, drop some coins, and presto, the music would play.

As a writer, there's no specific place or time as to where or when to write. Thoughts and ideas just flow into my mind, and an article of a star is born. Through all these years of my writing life, it is very consoling to note that people acknowledge my literary pieces. It gives me a certain kind of high seeing my work published. It's my cup of tea; it gives me so much pleasure transcribing what's in my mind, inscribing what's in my heart; and subscribing to what people would want to read. I am a reader-friendly writer. I write about topics which I think people would put themselves in while reading them. Precisely why it's called "Sentimental Journey" because all of us have memories of the beautiful past. Oh, just how wonderful it is to be young again, even for a short while!

I certainly would not mind writing the rest of my life. For as long as I have my person intact, the typewriter, the ideas, the thoughts, and life in the tradition of "I've been alive forever, and I wrote the very first song," I cannot see any reason why I should park my pen and stop this hobby. For one thing, writing keeps my mind young; it brushes up my vocabulary; it sharpens my aging memory, thereby growing old yet aging gracefully.

My ultimate dream? To come up with a book. On my 50th birthday (that will be three years from now - in the year 2002), I will come up with that. Hopefully, a dream come true. A gift for myself and for my friends. It would be my legacy for those left behind when the final curtain closes. Only then can I say, "It has been a wonderful journey into the world of journalism." So help me God.

When mothers tell us that we would only understand them better when we become mothers ourselves, it only goes to show that mothers really know best. It's like the "circle of life." As a mother of two myself, I now realize more profoundly how much my mother had been through in raising the four of us to become what we are today. I wish that there is a way or a word that can aptly show my mother how grateful I am to be her daughter. Even the words "thank you" and "I love you" seem inadequate. What we all are right now, what we have become of ourselves, what we have accomplished so far, we owe greatly to her. So on this day, April 13, the birthday of this one great woman, I'd like to let the whole world know what she means to us.

She had been a great teacher to us when we were young, a guiding hand that gently prodded us to go forth and explore. She had been a true friend when we were growing up; somebody we could talk to about everything under the sun. Now she is our critic and our avid fan, she is our source of wisdom. She laughs louder when we are happy, and weeps for us when things get rough. Mothers like her do not get to grace the cover of Time magazine. They do not even receive medals for it. Our only way of showing them that we appreciate them is by giving them our utmost respect and by telling them so. Let us not wait until it is too late.

I read somewhere that "the simple flowers we give them now are more meaningful than all the expensive orchids we'll offer at their graves." Mama, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!

(Editor's Note: Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, of Batch 1987, is the daughter of Fe Dy-Quimbo. She is married to Stanley L. Lee of Makati City, where they run Karplus Marketing, a car accessories shop.)

The abrupt end of two school papers in LCHS in the 60s left the campus with a lingering void that was difficult to fill. Given the critical role a student paper had to play and the school's ambivalent attitude toward it, they ended without a successor to take the cudgel from where they left off.

Birth of the Spectrum.  The hiatus eventually gave rise to the idea of a joint publication for both LCHS students and alumni.  In the summer of 1968, Charles O. Sy (Batch '67) proposed the concept to two other alumni with extensive experiences in previous LCHS publications, Ernesto Yu (Batch '65) and Henry Yu (Batch '69). The Yus both seconded the motion right off the bat. And the three of them spent the summer months laying down the groundwork for a newsletter that would be more sustainable as it would cater to both alumni and students of LCHS.

On August 1, 1968, the Spectrum Bulletin was born. Forming the staff were Charles Sy, as editor; Ernesto Yu, executive editor; Henry Yu, associate editor; Teresita Racines, editorial assistant; Peter Dy, editorial consultant; Miguel Ong, correspondent; Rudy Co, Antonio Leo Te and Castor Lim, reporters.  The Spectrum thus became the first LCHS newsletter to be printed by letterpress and with Cebu City as its base. Funding came from voluntary contribution of alumni and students. Although the donors gave their contributions freely, the staff had to go around soliciting funds every month in order to publish each issue.

Overwhelming Support.  Its maiden issue was well received and more support flowed in from alumni, students and faculty of LCHS. The school principal himself, Tan Lian Hun, also contributed a substantial sum on behalf of LCHS. Other major sponsors of the newsletter were the LCHS Alumni Association, then headed by Carlos Dy; Krisland Commercial represented by Henry Siao; and the Millionaires' Club composed of Greg Dy, Henry Dy, Walter Dy, Luis Kho, Arturo Samson, Peping de los Santos, Alexander So, Cresencio Tan, Bonifacio Te and Manuel Te.

Soon the paper grew from 4 to 12 pages. And a new staff was formed with Charles Sy, as editor; Victor Chiu, managing editor; Ernesto Yu and Henry Yu, associate editors; Leonardo Tan and Miguel Ong, correspondents; Yolando Siao, Emma Yap, and Peter Dy, staff writers; and Artemio Lagrosas, staff artist. The name was rechristened The LCHS Spectrum. Well-staffed and well-funded, the Spectrum expanded into a network, with circulation reaching key cities where resident alumni were aplenty. Covering the beats in their respective bases were Yolando Siao and Miguel Ong, for Iligan; Leonardo Tan, Manila; Ernesto Yu, Henry Yu, and Emma Yap, Dumaguete; and Peter Dy, Cebu.

The Spectrum covered a broad range of participants among LCHS students and alumni. It carried news of the alma mater and alumni, features, columns, poems, and crossword puzzles. It also ran a list of contributors and sponsors for each issue. As varied as its articles were its commentaries on various events of the times. Most articles dealt with themes of general human interests. But a few were critical in their perceptions of certain prevailing conditions and states of affairs involving the LCHS community.

The Boycott.  In its January 1969 issue, the Spectrum featured a full-length interview with Roderick Ngo, then LCHS Student Council president.  The interview included a portion where the student leader, in answer to a question by Charles Sy, commented that some LCHS Chinese faculty members seemed to lack teaching proficiency. The remark did not sit well with the LCHS administration and faculty, who subsequently manifested their displeasure by withdrawing financial support to the Spectrum.

Despite the boycott, however, the Spectrum remained unfazed.  It persisted and managed on its own to come out with two more issues making a total of five issues published during its existence. It finally ceased publication with its last issue in November 1969 and left the LCHS community without a medium to chronicle its passage to history for many years thereafter.