Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School Vol. 4, No. 4, May 29, 2000, Iligan City, Philippines NO STONE LEFT UNTURNED GAH registration hits 60 With 9 weeks remaining, no stone is being left unturned by the GAH Steering Committee to ensure a successful LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming on Aug. 3-5, 2000.  Preparations are reaching fever pitch to finalize and put in place various functions and events of the 3-day grand affair. Some 60 alumni have, to date, registered for the GAH (see separate story for updated list). This was learned at the weekly marathon meeting of the Steering Committee held last May 23. Present at the meeting were Suniel Lim, Arturo Samson, Christopher Chua Teck An, Dy Sio Te,  Terry Racines, Manuel Gaite, Manuel Te, Carlos Dy, Rodolfo Yu, Alexander Chua, Juanita Jo, Roger Suminguit, Peter Dy, Leonardo Tan, and Charles O. Sy.  A house-to-house campaign is also ongoing in Iligan City, conducted by members of the committee. The recent two trips made by key members of the GAH committee to Cagayan de Oro on May 11 and May 24 have likewise generated encouraging turnout of registrations and ad placements. Meanwhile, at a meeting of the GAH Secretariat last May 22, the composition of the GAH Souvenir Program and General Program of Activities were finalized and are now being prepared for printing.

EDITORIAL STAFF Charles O. Sy, Editor Henry L. Yu, Associate Editor Correspondents: Iligan - Johnny Chen, Teresita Racines, Vinson Ngo, & Roger Suminguit. Cebu - Igdono Caracho. Metro Manila - Marie Janiefer Lee. Canada - Peter Dy & Mike Lee. Australia - Leonardo Tan. U.S.A. - Ernesto Yu, Alex Rodriguez, Aurora Tansiokhian, & Alfred Lai II. Founded Aug. 1, 1968. Published fortnightly since its revival on April 15, 1997. Distributed free on the Internet to LCHS alumni and supporters worldwide. Postal address: LCHS Alumni Association, Lanao Chung Hua School, Pala-o, Iligan City, Philippines. Website: http://www.iligan.com/~lchs/alumni/ For subscription, contact: Johnny Chen, Tel. No. (063) 221-3883. Email: johnchen@iligan.com For submission of manuscripts, Email: charlesy@cnms.net 9 WEEKS to Grand Homecoming

A scene at the GAH Steering Committee meeting held last May 23 at the Patio Alejandra's.  From left to right: Dy Sio Te, Rodolfo Yu, Suniel Lim, and Roger Suminguit.

Participants of the GAH Secretariat meeting held last May 22 at the JY Dimsum House take a breather. From left to right: Joan Quimbo, Christopher Chua, Suniel Lim, Charles O. Sy, Peter Dy, Johnny Chen, Rodolfo Yu, and Terry Racines.

Update on registered alumni

The following are the names of 60 alumni who have registered for the Grand Alumni Homecoming, as of May 25, 2000:  Ang, Jimmy; Bernardo, Jocelyn; Caracho, Aldo; Caracho, Igdono; Chen, Johnny; Chua, Alexander; Chua, Christopher; Co, Steward; Cu, Agustin; Cu, Mario Jo; Dy, Carlos; Dy, Greg; Dy, Sheik Tong; Dy, Sio Te; Dy-Carlos, Chester; Dy-Carlos, Cristina; Gaite, Manuel; Go, Alicia Cu; Go, Leonardo; Go, Sammy; Lai, Alfredo; Lai, Po Hua Dy; Lee, Andy Ang; Lee, Marie Janiefer Quimbo; Lim, Belinda Cu; Lim, Helen Ngo; Lim, Suniel; Lo, Susan Ngo; Militante, Alice Ngo; Ngo, Roderick; Quimbo, Fe Dy; Quimbo, Marie Joan; Racines, Sherlita; Racines, Teresita; Samson, Arturo; Siao, Dominic; Siao, Franklin; So, Jimmy; Suminguit, Roger; Sy, Charles O.; Sy, Jane; Sy, Lydia; Tan, Angelie; Tan, Corazon So; Tan, Geraldine; Tan, Janet Lee; Taongan, Eugene; Te, Antonio; Te, Manuel; Tio, Rene; Uy, Emily; Uy, Ernest Oliver; Vy, Beng Hong; Wang, Chiok Hian Dy; Yu, Rodolfo; Alvarez, Venancio Jr.; Tan, Lucio Choa; Tan, Vicente Choa; Tan, Ke Sen Choa; and Alicia, Velasco.  All alumni are encouraged to register early to avoid the last-minute rush on grand reunion day.

2 batchmates to become soul mates

Two LCHS batch mates will soon become soul mates for all eternity.  Chester Dy-Carlos, son of Carlos Dy, will marry Angelie Tan, daughter of Gregorio Tan and Sena Uy Tan, in a civil marriage ceremony on June 18, in Iligan City.  Both Chester and Angelie belong to Batch 1987.

Alumni elected to Masons district posts

Several alumni were recently elected to key positions in the Grand Lodge of  F.& A.M. of the Philippines Masonic District No. 36.  Among those who occupy various key positions in the Masonic fraternity for the Masonic Year 2000-2001 were: VW Manuel S. Gaite, District Grand Lecturer; VW Robert S. Co, District Deputy Grand Master; WB Richard Dy, Worshipful Master of Manticao Lodge No. 243; Bro. Henry T. Siao, Senior Warden of Maranao Lodge No. 111; and Bro. Dominic W. Siao, Junior Warden of Iligan Lodge No. 207.

On "Close Encounter of My Kind"
Thu, 18 May 2000 08:41:20 +0800

Dear Ernie:  Thank you for a wonderful and hilarious column on us (Spectrum, May 15, 2000).  'Preciate it! as people there would say. You were just kind and generous. Thank you again for everything. God bless. Our best regards to you and Verna.  --Meriam Tio, Cagayan de Oro, Philipppines, fishers@cdo.weblinq.com

By Roger Suminguit, Barch '73

GAH invades CdeO

In the early morning hours of May 11, 2000, a special task force composed of LCHS-AA officers and GAH Steering Committee top honchos traveled to Cagayan de Oro City aboard a brand new Isuzu Trooper courtesy of Vy Beng Hong. Among those on the trip were Arturo Samson, LCHS-AA President; Suniel Lim, GAH Steering Committee Chairperson; Chua Tek An, Steering Committee Vice Chairman; Alexander Chua, Raffles Committee Co-Chairman; Vy Beng Hong, Awards Committee Chairman; and this writer, representing the GAH Secretariat.

The mission of the trip was to invite LCHS alumni based in Cagayan de Oro to attend the GAH.  The trip proved to be quite fruitful as we succeeded in registering several alumni on the spot, and closed a few GAH raffle ticket sales and ad placements for the GAH Souvenir Program.   Among the alumni who paid outright their registration fee or ad placements and raffle tickets were: Leonardo Go (Batch '56), of Oroville Commercial, P1,500 for GAH fee; Corazon So-Tan (Batch '61), P1,500 GAH fee & P3,000 full page ad; Jimmy So (Batch '76), brother of Corazon, P1,500 GAH fee; and Rene Tio (Batch '70), of Multi-Pack Enterprises, P1,500 GAH fee & P2,000 raffle tickets. Total collection amounted to P11,000.

The trip also turned out to be a pleasant reunion of sorts. I remember Corazon So Tan. Her family owned the famous Washington Commercial when she was a student at LCHS many years back. Their store was adjacent to Thay San Trading of the Booc family fronting Lim Chay Trading, near King's Theater, along Quezon Avenue. Corazon was cordial enough to treat us to lunch on the day of our "ambush."  She told us she was looking forward to see her good friend Juanita Jo, another active LCHS-AA officer, in our next "sneak attack" to Cagayan de Oro. We also told her she might also meet another good friend from her LCHS days, Sofia "Sio Eng" Vy (elder sister of Vy Beng Hong), who is in Iligan.

We also shared with Corazon another good news about another of her LCHS contemporary: Nelly Co (elder sister of Rossana Co and Rudy Co).  Nelly just recently arrived in Iligan for a vacation from the Australia. We will invite both Vy Sio Eng and Nelly Co to accompany our next trip to Cagayan de Oro and neighboring towns.  Both command a strong presence and should give our GAH campaign extra drawing power.

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

It took roughly a good 4 hours of in-flight sacrifice - chowing on commercial airline type of rationed meal and coffee brew - to reconnect the long-detached cords between my umbilicus and those of the LCHS-Edmonton caballeros: Mike Lee, Jess "Hesing" Dy and John "Toti" Go. Actually, come to think of it, Air Canada's packaged cuisine was a tad above superb. At that instance, there were no other dietary choices unless you love to swallow flavored wind and clouds at 30,000 feet above ground level.

Dominic and Sean, our older boys who are actively seeking gold in Boston, flew to Edmonton on their own. How will I recognize uncle Mike, dad? Sean inquired when told that our host will scoop them out in the baggage check-out counter. "It is easy to spot him, Seannyboy," I comforted him via telephone, "he is Asian and towers more than 6 feet. If you scan the crowd and see a Chinese giant, chances are he is your man."  "Wow," he enthused, "is he the schoolmate you've been bragging about who can slam dunk like Michael Jordan?"  "Nope," I cut him off abruptly, "he is the other legendary Mike who excelled in badminton and Chinese checker.

Unluckily, their arrival didn't happen as scheduled due to severe thunderstorm (came in 10 hours later and a quart low in patience!) which made hapless Mike a foot shorter from nagging worries. The rest of the troop (me, Verna and Chris) made a timely touchdown at the airport. True to promise, the "dwarfing" Mike and bubbly wife Nancy were there to muscle our luggages into their van. Mike briefed us with the must-see in their clean city (him as the major attraction, of course) and, with pride, highlighted the gigantic water park and scores of first-rate fashion stores offering rock-bottom bargains inside the world-renowned West Edmonton Mall. I caught sparkles on Verna's eyes upon hearing the word bargain which were short of begging me to sign her papers for permanent relocation.

After the conventional hugs and kisses, Mike's soul and inspiration Nancy teased our palates with heavenly snacks (glad I didn't decide on Air Canada's atmospheric specials). What rendered those plates of native delicacies (kutsinta, puto) and fruits stand out in our appetite centers was the accompanying warmth they were served by our hostess. The boys felt so at home within minutes that I have to remind them that we were the visitors, not the homeowners, and that Tito Mike was rating their table aggressiveness as well as keeping a tab as to how many free shots they have taken on the finger foods. Michael and Marc, the two gene-carriers of the Lee Empire must have wondered how their newly acquired playmates managed to preserve muscled abdomen and biceps if they gobble calories without mercy. Aha, the beauty of dripping sweats in treadmill and Nautilus machines in athletic clubs. Likewise, the stunned kids must have entertained the ugly thought what could have been if we were given a day to rest and adjust. Boys, here's the scary answer: your kitchen supplies will be pulverized by the Pac Men of the Yu Dynasty into powdery artifacts.  (To be continued)

By Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

When we decided to take a trip to Australia, my main goal was to see a real kangaroo, a real koala and, of course, Sydney's Opera House.  I came home realizing that Australia is so much more than just that.

When we first stepped on Australian soil, I was excited to be in direct contact with people who speak in a sing-song tone like their famous "g’day, mate!" only to find out that our tour guide, which is addressed as a coach captain, was a Filipino.  By "coach," it doesn't mean that we were riding a carriage drawn by horses; it was an ordinary tourist bus, and our guides prefer to be addressed as Coach Captains instead of "tour guides" or "drivers." The two other Coach Captains we had throughout the trip were a British and a German. So I was never near someone who was pure Australian. Makes me realize how varied the people that inhabit that country.

On our trip to the Wildlife Park I met another member of the Marsupial family and that's the Wombats and the Wallabies. I learned that a Wombat is not a bat and a Wallaby is not a bee.  A Wombat is actually like a small cute bear while a Wallaby is like a small kangaroo.  It's really interesting.

When we went to the countryside I was expecting to see herds of sheep and lamb with pure white wool, but I saw only brown and beige ones. Our Coach Captain said that since Australia is considered a very dry land once the wind blows, the dirt usually covers the sheep's wool making them look dirty. So now I have to change the color of the sheeps that I count before sleeping from white ones to the beige ones.

We learned that not all cows are for milking. Some are actually raised for their meat. Like the famous Angus beef, these are from cows that are pasture-fed making its meat more tasty though a bit tougher than its American counterpart.

I also noticed that most of the people in direct contact with the tourists, like the hotel employees and the Duty Free shop sales attendants can speak fluent Nipponggo.  They really pamper their Japanese clienteles. Makes me think that maybe it's about time we also learn a few Japanese words, aside from tempura and sashimi.

Another thing that's worth mentioning is the way the Australians are able to preserve buildings that were built during the 1800's.  It all stands charmingly beside new buildings, which makes a simple walk down the road seems like a walk through history.

All in all, that trip Down Under was one learning experience, aside from those I mentioned above, I also learned that I won't freeze at 10 degrees.

By Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch '66

When this article is posted on the Spectrum webpage, I shall be flying back to Sydney after spending exactly a month in Iligan City. This is my longest visit to our hometown after I changed my home address more than 13 years ago.

When I first arrived here just after the Holy Week, Kauswagan town had just been liberated and government troops were engaged in the battlegrounds of Balo-i against some segments of the MILF. I was then thinking that my future article title could be: "To Hell And Back." But after spending a month here, I realized that my fears were all unfounded. Hence, I now entitled this piece: "From Iligan With Love."

For the last few weeks, I had renewed the ties of old friendships and met new acquaintances as well. Iliganons have not changed! They are still the wonderful type of persons with great hospitality. I am just afraid that I could not match their kindness when I shall play host in Sydney.

After 20 years, I had the great opportunity to revisit the landmark of this city of twenty-plus waterfalls, which is Maria Cristina. She is still the same old majestic sight, with all her assets well preserved.  She had retained her original beauty without getting any older. My eyes were wet not by the mist it created but by my own tears. For I had longed to come back here just to enjoy its beauty.

And for the first time I visited her sister waterfalls which is just close by: The enchanted Tinago Falls with its blue lagoon. Although I had to step down and climb up a very steep 365 steps each way, yet it was worth every step! You have to come and see it for yourselves to believe it.

Iligan, as I have said two weeks ago, is as normal as it can be. All the LCHSians here are getting excited about our big August dates. It is only 9 weeks away! Panic buttons were pressed a few weeks ago regarding the souvenir program. But with the visit of Charley Sy last weekend, everything is again back on track. I had been observing the GAH working committee by attending almost all their meetings and I could only express my deep appreciation of how they all are handling this grand affair of ours. They are all busy people but still they could find time to dedicate for our first ever homecoming. Not only in the meetings during evening but also a few campaign trips to neighboring Cagayan de Oro plus an ongoing house to house drive here in Iligan. They are all doing this in the spirit of volunteerism without expecting any reward. They are doing this because of their love to their alma mater and their fellow alumni. And thereby ensuring us of a great 3 days this coming August.

So my dear fellow LCHSians, let us not disappoint our hard working GAH committee members, by our attendance this August. Let us not hesitate as the only measure of success this time is our presence. Let us not miss this opportunity as we know not when shall our path meet again.

For us LCHSians, all roads shall lead to Iligan in 9 weeks time. You will be surpised that you will fall in love with the place once again!

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

"I'll see you in September, when summer is gone.
Have a good time but remember I'll be waiting for you …"

It's the song we used to sing in the summer of l967, as popularized by Gary Lewis and the Playboys -- the summer when we were about to enter our junior high school year.  Such time when indoor games like chess, domino, Chinese checker, scrabble, among others, were played by us who were teenagers at that time; when jam sessions were held in a friend's house to the tune of  "Gimme A Little Sign," "Diamond Ring," "Black is Black," and a lot more of the danceable hits of the late 60s; when we went crazy over the popular brands of men's apparel like Vonnel, Corsican, or Montagut. Jackshirts with hopsack or gabardine tight fitting pants and miniskirts with matching fishnets were the vogue, making us the reigning trendsetters in the world of fashion. It was a time when we would phone in radio stations to request and dedicate songs for friends and loved ones over DXIC, DXRI, or DXMI.  Well, it was the summer of l967 and we were at the peak of our teens. "Though we gotta say, goodbye for the summer, darling I promise you this, I'll send you all my love everyday in a letter, sealed with a kiss …" You sure do remember this popular song by Brian Hyland, don't you?

How fast time really flies! Very soon, another summer shall be gone, the first summer of the new millennium, when our children have taken over this planet earth as the reigning trendsetters in the world of fashion, music, beepers, cellphones, texting, computers, cyberspace, etc.  Yo! They are the world. They are the children of the new millennium. And to them we give way.

Each of my 48 summers has its own share of memories. But I treasured most the first 25 summers of my life which I spent in the city of my birth. The last summer that I spent in Iligan was in l977, the year our family was uprooted to Cebu.

Today, as summer comes to an end, my thoughts drift back to that time in l967 when we were so excited to get back to school – back to our classroom, books, homeworks, shopping for new school uniforms, shoes, socks, school supplies, etc. To be with our classmates, schoolmates, and friends again after the summer respite was such a thrill. Today, after 33 years, the same feelings of excitement creep deep within me simply because WHEN SUMMER IS GONE and what comes next is our First LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming. Just the thought of seeing once again my former classmates sends me to high heaven, specially those whom I haven't seen for the past 30 something years. It will also be an occasion which will allow me to reunite with former schoolmates, friends, and teachers, they who have once upon a time been a part of me, forming the fabric of my young life. And that sends me to another high heaven.

So to all of you, my dear classmates and friends, I'll see you in August  WHEN SUMMER IS GONE.

Some three weeks ago, my wife and I, together with a New Yorker friend Bert, drove 8 hours long to Buffalo on our way to Toronto, Canada. We visited the Niagara Falls, toured no less by Spectrum top gun Ernie with his charming wife, Verna. We viewed the falls at the top, at the bottom through a boat ride, side to side -- American and the Canadian sides. I was overwhelmed with awe by the sight and sound, and the overpowering sense of one of the wonders of the world. What a magnificent sense!

It was computed that every minute some 200,000 tons of water plunge into the Niagara River gorge in a thunderous ovation, like the allegro vivace concerto in a symphony orchestra conducted by the lavish, generous nature of a Maestro, and its creator as well - God. Come to think of it, the Creator could have designed it some other way, like using a lot less water, or He could have made the falls lower, but He built them 12-storey high. And because they are what they are from the creative hand of God, people from all over the world come to see the Niagara Falls!

As the "Maiden of Mist," our tour boat, inched her way closer to the wall of bursting water of the falls, I felt the power of God - in a sense like the wall of water on both sides of Moses as he led His chosen people to cross the Red Sea, while the might of Pharaoh's army pursued them. Covered with hooded plastic sheet provided by the boat tour at knee length, I faced up the freezing-cold mist as it covered our surrounding view completely but a rainbow hovering by us. The beauty of its spectrum silenced the thundering falls for a moment had me focused on our promise-keeping God who pours us His Grace day after day abundantly.

Grace is undeserved FAVOR that God gives us everyday. "In Him we have redemption ... according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" (Eph. 1;7-8). And the word LAVISH means "without measure; abounding." And God's grace toward us is not squeezed out from an eye-dropper or rationed like water during a drought. His grace is the Niagara Falls, of super abundance, so lavish that we marvel at His goodness.

Today, as we approach God to "find us grace (favor) in time of need" (Heb. 4:16), remember that the God who made out the lavish display of Niagara Falls, is the same God who promised to supply us without measure with His grace in Christ Jesus.

Now, I would like to thank God for fellow LCHS alumni in America who made our trip abound with excitement, joy of fellowship, and pleasant memories - like Ernie, after all these years -- the chance of meeting him at his private abode; and his lovely wife Verna; both of whom were gracious to us in our stay at their mansion. To alumnus Alex Handumon, who took his leave from work to tour us around Chicago while singing our oldie-favorite, Cliff Richard's "Summer Holiday." To alumnus Larry V. Sy, for giving us an overview of American Airlines' O'Hare International Airport 'personnel only' secured area, and treating us snack in their exclusive cafeteria. These are truly God's grace at work! I pray to the gracious Lord that He would continue to bless them abundantly and without measure.

What a joy it is to meet old friends. See you all at our coming Grand Alumni Homecoming!

Where is home? Where are you from? Were you born here in the States? I've been asked these questions a million times that if only I could rewind and replay the message like an answering machine, I would. Could it be because of my mild accent? Or my physique? Or simply just a matter of curiosity of where I originally came from prior to joining the "melting pot" or Heinz 57? Texas is highly populated with Mexican Hispanic and apparently, I don't look like one nor would I be mistaken as an Anglo or Black. I distinctively look like an Oriental. Some aspect in life just never changed, and that's ethnicity - where every single cell of your human body came from.

So, where is home? Home is where I took my first breath out of my mother's womb, a good, vigorous cry and active motion. The vicinity where life was simple and easy - children were allowed to play and laugh, neighbors visiting each other and sharing whatever they got. A town where people knew everybody - a touch of friendliness and sincerity in tthe atmosphere. A place of my baptism and confirmation as Catholic. St. Michael the Archangel, Patron Saint renowned for miracles and defense in the battles against the Barakudas' (Muslims) attempts of invasion, and whose Feast Day on September 29 is elaborately celebrated every year by every Iliganon. An era in medicine when the doctor used to make house call instead of us waiting for 2 hours in his office. The time when loose tooth was extracted with a piece of thread, and dental visits only when absolutely necessary. The election campaign for Mayor Cabili and his opponents broadcasted in all radio stations throughout the city. The tremendous crowd of people in the plaza on Sunday afternoons for the amateur singing contest. Almost everywhere was just walking distance away, otherwise there were tartanillas available, or the mini-cars called Sambars. LCHS, the school where I learned my A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s, my do-re-mis, the foundation of my education, the roots of my knowledge. I learned about memorization, creativity, self-discipline and leadership that helped me to be what I am and who I am today. The fun stuffs we had: Patentero, Japanese Game, tak-yan, sagodsod, jacks stone during recess and after classes - oh, those childhood games we used to play and smelled like pickel and vinegar afterwards! And those bananacue, maruya, mangganghilaw, santol, tira-tira, polboron that we used to buy during recess across the street from LCHS. The never ending story of the white lady showing up in those huge old trees in the old LCHS campus. The flag ceremony twice a day, morning and afternoon. Gardening, an afternoon activity for each grade level with yearly winning competition for first, second and third. The Christmas programs and contests for caroling and dancing, as well as classroom decoration. The Girl Scouts camping and leadership trainings I attended and REALLY enjoyed, giving me the opportunity to meet other girls from other schools like SMC, IIT, ICHS, LSA. The CAT training and daily practice under the heat of the sun - who needed sun bathing after all? The diffferent sports we played or watched: volleyball, badminton, chess, pelota, basketball games. Going out with barkadas to eat (Walang Urongan Basta't Kainan - Nanette, Zelda, Sherlita, Silveria, Flora, Fe and myself), see a movie or attending parties. None of my barkadas smoked, drank nor used drugs; neither did I. And I would always be grateful for that. Iligan City, my hometown would always be a part of my being. It is where my most treasured childhood memories are kept in my heart.

When was the last time I visited Iligan City? 1978. 21 years ago to be out from sight and ears of my fellow Iliganons - some of them may probably not recognize me anymore or vice-versa. I would be like a stranger in paradise. Sometimes I wish Fairy Godmother with a wave of her magic wand, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo and I'm in Iligan City again! Really, a touch of nostalgia. I'm home, far, far away from home. Going home for GAH, anyone?

Iligan City can bring sleepless nights to most any LCHS alumni contemplating to visit the city these days.  Could it be because of the ongoing strifes between the armed forces and the MILF firebrands in the hinterlands of Mindanao?  As soon as I set foot in Iligan last May 20, several friends in Cebu and Manila expressed their horror through text messages on my cell phone: What the heck are you doing in that war-torn city?

Given the media scare, their concern is understandable.  But it's an overkill. Iligan City and its suburbs are as peaceful today as they were when I last visited the city in 1997.  The city still sports that unmistakable ambience of carefree exuberance characteristic of its residents. The shutdown of the National Steel Corporation may have scaled down the city's per capita income somewhat but the wheels of day-to-day economy continues to grind without let-up.  The city's burgeoning centers of commerce -- the downtown area surrounding the public plaza, as well as Pala-o and Tibanga -- continue to draw traders from neighboring towns in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, and enjoy brisk business with Christian and Muslim merchants alike.  The car that took me to Iligan was in fact driven by a Maranao.

Entering Iligan from Cagayan de Oro City, I noted several movements of military forces and firepower in military vehicles along the way.  Checkpoints manned by troopers armed to the teeth casually scanned the interiors of our car.  Every move was carried out without any frills nor fanfare.  In the four days that I stayed in Iligan, I only saw on one occasion the movement of military personnel in full battle gear heading out of the city.  There was none of the war frenzy portrayed by the mass media in their coverage of the current Mindanao situation.

En route to inspect the picnic site of the Grand Alumni Homecoming in Timoga springs, I, along with Suniel Lim and Roger Suminguit, ventured out into the Maze Mountain Resort, located in the hinterlands of Buru-un, a town that's only a stone's throw away from Linamon.  Nothing that I saw along the way gave any semblance of an ongoing war.

Night time in Iligan is as tranquil as ever.  Its night life has neither advanced nor deteriorated.  Entertaining guests at home, however, is still standard practice among city residents. Due to the dearth of upscale watering holes, most residents confine themselves during occasional night outs to such established dining haunts like the JY Dimsum House, Sunburst Fried Chicken, Patio Alejandra's, and somesuch.  KTV bars still enjoy a sizeable following. At the Maria Cristina Hotel where I was billeted, its cocktail lounge, where I used to enjoy a drink or two before bedtime, has since been converted into a KTV bar. I sneaked in once to test the place. But I cooped out as soon as I realized that the sound system was just so-so, and the crowd that night was a complete no-no. This place would not do my voice any justice.

On Sunday night, I ventured into the inner sanctum of the public plaza.  The amateur singing hour that once brought life into the park every Sunday night has since been transferred to the old central market area. Inside the park, a few ladies of the night still prowled the place awaiting some straying souls to come by. The place still teemed with sizeable crowds in beer houses and barbecue joints.  I asked a chap seated next to me at a beer counter about peace and order in the city. He replied, "Wala'y mang-hagis diri, bay. Ana-a lay mag-adis adis."

So that's Iligan for you and me.  There's no cause for alarm nor justification for sleepless nights whatsoever.  I was sleepless in Iligan because my hotel bed sagged, the hotel bar closed too early, and there was so much I observed in the GAH preparations for me and all LCHS alumni to be excited about.
 

The Beat Goes On!

FELLOWSHIP FIESTA.   A family party with a touch of barrio fiesta, perfect for renewing old ties with former classmates and teachers and getting to know their spouses and children.

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY.  A homecoming tour of Iligan's famous landmarks - Maria Cristina Falls, Tinago Falls, Timoga Springs, and other scenic spots.

SPORTS FESTS.   Various sports events and childhood games to restrengthen the bond of friendship and foster the spirit of camaraderie with former school mates.

BOOTH FAIR.    A carnival of booths for you to exhibit and share class mementoes, memorabilia and gimmicks of the years gone by.

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI.   Be a witness to the awarding of the first batch of outstanding alumni achievers in their respective fields of endeavor and service to the community.

DAZZLING RAFFLE PRIZES.   A vast array of dazzling raffle prizes to be given away to lucky alumni.

CLASS REUNIONS.   A chance for you to regroup with former classmates & teachers in individual class get-together parties.

TALENT SHOWCASE.   A night of songs and dances showcasing the old and new generations of alumni talents.

SOUVENIR PROGRAM & KIT.    A sourvenir album befitting a collector's item, featuring the roster of LCHS alumni, a gallery of rare vintage photos of the alma mater, the history of LCHS, and interesting articles by notable alumni writers.

TREE PLANTING.   An occasion for alumni to plant a tree at the LCHS grounds that will bear their name for all eternity.

GRAND BALL.  The ultimate grand reunion. Be a part of this historic and first ever grand reunion ball of LCHS alumni and teachers from 1938 to 2000.