Salute to a War Heroine
Mon, 01 Jun 1998 17:25:46 +0800

My salute to our lady columnist, Aurora H. Tansiokhian, M.D. Yes, a hand salute to a real war heroine.  For all we know, she might be the only one among us, LCHS alumni, who has been into a real war, as part of an armed force.  Operation Desert Storm! The war that jolted the modern world!  Western world's full might and high-tech war machine against Saddam's suicidal army and even deadlier - his biological war materials.  What a scary arsenal that could annihilate thousands of people in seconds, soldiers and civilians alike!  In her recent Spectrum article, "The War is Over", with just one short paragraph divulging her participation in the war and her patriotism, raised the hair out of me in emotions.  When her country called, after wiping some tears, I admire Aurora's courage in answering the call of duty, of leaving her family, friends, and home, "ending up in a desert of a foreign country", she said.  Who would like to be in such a place and in constant danger?  Such is dear life.  Someday, too, our Creator will recall us all, like soldiers we always have to be prepared. And like the anthrax vaccine shots and other anti-biological warfare preparations given to U.S. soldiers in Gulf duty, are we also immunized by receiving God's offer of salvation in Christ as we cross the line to eternity?  Like Aurora, I hope we also have 'victory'!  Again, my salute to our war veteran alumna!

Rene Tio (Batch '70), Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
fishers@cdo.weblinq.com

Dateline Buffalo

By Ernesto L. Yu, M.D., Batch 1965 Ernstyu49@aol.com

Unlike racers from Down Under, American roadhandlers roam the streets on the right side, assuming that the red corpuscles hustling in their brains are not deoxygenated by alcoholic shots or they don't trek the rugged terrain in their home-assembled Aussie tanks. Essentially, we hug the thruways just like Filipino Torpedoes (take the prefix “torpe” with a grain of salt), but with different shades of attitude and skill. Blowing of horns to signal lane-change or to alert a passing scheme is a major no-no in our bible of driving etiquette, unless you dearly miss how a finger sign normally waves in the air as a form of X-rated digital communication.  Furthermore, the average Joes and Janes acknowledge, like educated robots, the safety nets associated with the green, yellow and red traffic lights: The yellow glow warns caution and doesn't signify “yell low, beat the change and if snagged by the local highway patrol, claim color blindness for the stunt”.  Undoubtedly, Pinoy jeepney and taxi sluggers still excel in spotting the tiniest miracle streaks to speed away from a bumper-to-bumper jam, relying solely on the messy world of survival instincts and individualized interpretations of the Right of Way (God bless the Philippines).

Must be the minerals in the drinking water.

Oh well, some uptight souls just need more fibers in their diet.
 

Briefs from Down Under

By Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch 1966 edtan@idx.com.au

In less than a month, the former movie actor who became a town mayor, then as senator and the incumbent vice president, will assume the greatest role in Philippine politics. Joseph Estrada will become the 13th president of the Philippines.  The "dropout" made history already by garnering the greatest majority of votes ever cast in a presidential race.  And for the first time the losers conceded defeat.  So far, the President-elect seems to be doing alright except for a few hiccups with his flirtations with the Marcos loyalists.  He had assured the foreign investors and the local businessmen of the continuity of Ramos' policies and there will be no radical policy change in his administration.

As the new President for the Philippine centennial year, his forthcoming inauguration is being followed by many with much interest.  We heard that the local movie industry is mobilized and leading in the planning of this momentous event with the traditional venue of Quirino Grandstand plus the hallowed ground of Barasoain  Church in Malolos, Bulacan.  And for the first time in recent history, President Joseph Estrada will take his oath of office in a very nationalistic Pilipino language.  What a good way to start the greatest performance of his life.

One of his dreams is to change the constitution.  So that he might be the last President of the Republic while the next head of the government will be known as Prime Minister in a parliamentary form of government.  He wants to depart from the American system and instead embrace the one practised by United Kingdom.  One of the disadvantages Erap cited in the present system is the very expensive and costly exercise of campaigning throughout the country. While a prime minister is only chosen in a party caucus or a convention.  In short, he is in favor of a head of government elected indirectly by the members of the parliament than directly chosen by the people.  The strongest argument for the shift to the parliamentary system is Joseph Estrada himself. It would be very difficult for him to be successfully elected as prime minister assuming that the members of parliament possess some more intelligence than the common people or the masa who elected Erap as president.

Sentimental Journey

By Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch 1969

In like manner, who would ever think that I, a product of Lanao Chinese High School, president of our grade school and high school classes, but next only to Alice Ngo and Adelfa Tan as far as academic excellence was concerned, would also one day become the 70th president of the Cebu Medical Society?

Looking back, I really thank our alma mater for the solid foundation that it has afforded me, thus making me what I am today. I thank my classmates for the beautiful memories, experiences, adventures of youth, the many extracurricular activities that we planned and did.  I thank my mentors who molded my innocent self into my becoming a doctor, a family man, a writer, a leader, and a good citizen of the Philippines.  I really owe it to our dear LCHS.  And if only for that, my thanks are without measure.

Life indeed is full of uncertainties.  Years before, nobody would ever think that a certain classmate would have teenage pregnancy.  That a classmate would marry early and would separate from the husband later.  That a well-provided daughter of a wealthy Iliganon would lead a poor man's life on poverty level.  That a male classmate would become a millionaire at 30.  That this and that classmate would remain single for life.  That Jimmy and Claro, et al, would go ahead of us.  All these and many more are part of life's features of uncertainties in the borrowed life that God leased to us.  We will really never know what will happen next.  Life is full of ups and downs.  It is a mystery per se.  Nobody knows what's in store for each of us for the next decade or two.  That is why we have to thank God with every chance that He has given us in this life.  The mere fact that we are still able to breathe the fresh air when we wake up in the morning, to smell the flowers, to enjoy the sunrise and sunset, to see our family intact and in good shape, to be able to enjoy the food that we cherish, to be with friends specially in their times of need, to be of service to our fellowmen, to make each person happy by the things we do, etc.  All these are enough blessings to thank God for.  Do your best, and God will take care of the rest.  As the Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 29, verse 11, says: "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope."
 

Dr. Do Little

By Alexander S. Rodriguez, M.D., Batch 1965 gates1@juno.com

I purposely picked AIDS as my topic this week to reach out to our population the death sentence that this disease will entail once YOU have it. This means you have won a one-way ticket to the life beyond and it's just a matter of who handles your case and how much money you can afford if you want  an extension but the smell of death is inevitable.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). The virus destroys some type of white blood cell, the CD4 lymphocyte. As the number of blood cells declines, the immune system becomes less effective, and death may occur approximately 10 years after infection.  HIV is spread by sexual intercourse and contaminated blood. I have to be cautious with the rest of the human body secretions and how this is spread, aside from the previous two mentioned because studies have shown that even tears and saliva will show positive for the virus in severe cases.

What are the effects of AIDS?  Many infected people have no symptoms for many years, and are known as "asymptomatic carriers". In later stages, they lose weight and develop night sweats, fever, and diarrhea. In full blown AIDS, infected people become susceptible to a wide variety of infections and to certain types of cancer.

Lungs - Someone whose immune system has been embarrassed by HIV often develops lung infections. One type commonly associated with the disease is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonis or PCP.

Skin - Kaposi's sarcoma is the cancer that is often associated with AIDS.  Brown or blue patches and nodules appear on the skin.  These gradually spread to all parts of the body surface and also affect the internal organs.

Nervous system - If HIV infection spreads to the brain and nervous system, it causes mental disturbances.  Blindness may result from infection with Cytomegalovirus.

Digestive System - Persistent diarrhea is one of the most common feature of AIDS. It is caused by infection of the GIT and parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidia and fungi like Candida.

Treatment: The latest results of drug combinations look hopeful but still NOT definite. Therefore the best remedy really is never to get it and the safest is prophylaxis.  Sexual abstinence is still the forerunner of evading this disease.
 

Nestled on a hilltop overlooking the Tinago Falls is the Tinago Residence Inn, a vacation haven that comes complete with fine amenities and parks.  The inn offers visitors a swimming pool with Jacuzzi, an aviary and a mini zoo with live lions, tigers, pythons, and several other wild animals. During my visit there last year,  while watching a family of shrieking chimpanzees cavorting on their tree house, an old friend happened by and asked me what I was doing in Iligan. When I said I came home to retrace my family roots, he pointed to the chimpanzees and said, "I see you finally found them!"

Visitors to the Tinago Residence Inn pay P10 per pax to enter the compound. Small price for such a grand showcase. But to get to the lagoon below the Tinago falls one has to descend 360 steps down the steep cliff.  Now that's a steep price to pay.  It's definitely a pleasurable treat for the robust and adventurous but a cardiac threat for the weak-kneed and faint-hearted.  Even more challenging is the trip back up the steps.  No wonder a sign is posted at the top of the stairs warning of the potential hazard for visitors with weak hearts.

This new hideaway is certainly drawing visitors by the hordes.  It is said that on certain weekends, the inn's gate receipts reach as much as P40,000.  But for the P10 that each visitor shells out, he also gets a free bottle of ice-cold soft drink.  Cool deal.

The Tinago Residence Inn also offers elegant cottages at reasonable rates.  Made of indigenous materials and contemporary architecture, the cottages come in suites (Sultan and Rajah Suites), cozy huts (Hermitage Huts), row houses, and a cluster of tree houses.  There is also the Turugan and Barkadahan Suites that can each accommodate twenty persons. An ideal option for family outing or stay-in seminars.  There are also conference rooms, a clubhouse, children's park, mini trails, indoor games, and other nature treks.  And it has a restaurant where one can feast on a vast array of gourmet's delights the city is noted for, such as baboy sulop (wild boar), steamed crabs and spicy prawns.

A notable attraction of the inn is that it gives the visitor a breathtaking panorama of the falls in all its splendor.  From the verandah of the cottages as well as the dining hall, one can hear the unending symphony of the cascades blending with the melody of the birds that abound in the vicinity.  In the evening, the waterfall is bathed in a rain of floodlights giving the entire scenery an even more magical splendor. Truly an exotic hideaway for residents and visitors alike.

To say that one has not really seen the true wonder of Iligan if one has not been to Tinago Falls is perhaps no exaggeration after all.