In this issue: NEWS | LCHS TRACERS | E-MAIL TO THE EDITORS | EDITORS' NOTES | VERSES |
COLUMN | SPECTRUM STAFF

Siao Family Donates Computers to LCHS
By Igdono Caracho

LCHS's steady march to the Electronic Age moved several notches up ahead with a windfall of donations.

The Siao family, headed by Henry Siao, recently donated to LCHS 15 units brand-new computer systems with server; 1 unit printer; and 1 unit 1.5-hp airconditioner.

These computers are now being used by the school's 3rd Year high school students in their Basic computer bookkeeping and accounting courses; and by the 4th Year students in word processing with M.S. Word for Windows and data programming courses.

Batch '92 Donates Video Sets to LCHS

More high-tech goodies continue to pour into LCHS for the benefit of its students.

LCHS Batch 1992 donated last June 5 a set of video equipment and assorted appliances to LCHS. The equipment consisted of 1 unit overhead projector; 1 unit Samsung VHS player and rewinder; 1 unit Nikon wallclock; and 14 units wall fan.

This batch of good Samaritans is represented by its officers, namely Dominic Lim, president; Imee Dy Pico, treasurer; and Cromwell Lim, auditor.

Wanted: LCHS Reporters

The Spectrum is in need of two volunteer student reporters from LCHS to cover activities within the school.

The main job of the student reporters is to report by e-mail to the Spectrum any events and activities related to LCHS, its faculty and students.

Since all services of the Spectrum are on voluntary basis, there is no remuneration involved in the job. The assignment, however, can provide a good hands-on training ground for students interested in developing their writing skills. They will also be guided regularly in newswriting and other fundamentals of journalism by the editors through e-mails.

Interested students may write to the Spectrum editors on this address: charlesy@durian.usc.edu.ph
 

Where are they now?

With this issue, we launch this new section called "LCHS TRACERS". This section traces the whereabouts of significant personalities related at one time or another to the LCHS community. Contributions from our readers to this section are most welcome.

Agustin Wu: Where is he now?

Agustin Wu (Ngo Nai Kong), former Chinese teacher of LCHS, has retired from his job as head of the Electronic Data Processing (EDP) department of the Cebu Chong Hua Hospital.

Back in the 60s, the Mandarin-speaking Mr. Wu taught Chinese language & culture, history, music, among other advanced subjects, at LCHS. He is best remembered for having instilled a sense of discipline and an awareness in classical music among his students. He later transferred to the Cebu Eastern College after several years with LCHS. He is currently living with his wife in Cebu City, where he spends his time programming computer software.

Another Alumnus in Edmonton, Canada
By Peter Dy

Remember John "Toti" Go of Batch '65? He was one of the "Manila boys" known for their talent in the arts at LCHS in the 60s. He immigrated to Edmonton, Canada a year ago with his wife Aida and son Paul. Last December he completed his continuing education service at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) in Massage Therapy. He is now a licensed & registered Massage Therapist in Edmonton. His younger brother, Mario, lives in Philadelphia, USA.
 

From: fishers@cdo.weblinq.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 13:38:16 +0800

The June 9, 1997 issue of the Spectrum is the best by far. The news about our alma mater is really informative and interesting. Hmm....324 enrolees this year? (About the same in the 60s). Only 7 to graduate this school year and all girls? Interesting. I am now in touch with LCHS, so are the rest of the alumni reading the Spectrum, they would have more concerns now about the school as I am.

But I like best Dr. Henry Yu's "Sentimental Journey, Iligan--As I Remember It." Beautiful journey to the past; accurate journal of events--hah! the 1957 Iligan fire that started just a stone's throw away from our 4-storey house, dislocating families like war refugees. Henry is one year ahead of me, so I can relate well to his experiences. I cannot wait for the succeeding issues. My regards to Henry and his family. I didn't know he's now married and has two daughters, with beautiful names--all with initials "H" and "V".

My regards, too, to the Spectrum's little computer whiz, Derwin Dexter Sy. Another techno-journalist in the making!

Rene Tio (Batch '70)
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
 

Feedback, Anyone?

Does the Spectrum inform or enlighten you? If so, e-mail us. Does the Spectrum entertain you? Then notify us. Does the Spectrum infuriate or irritate you? Then flame us. Whatever you think about it, however you feel about it, write us. That way, we'll know where we stand, where we fail, and where we excel. Then and only then can the Spectrum hope to measure up to the expectations of its readers.
 

The Spectrum has seen it fit to run the following poem in observance of Father's Day on June 15. The poem is written by a 12-year-old, 1st year high school student of Sacred Heart School for Girls, Cebu City, in tribute to her parents' wedding anniversary. The young writer, Monique Erika Sy, is the daughter of LCHS alumnus Constantino "Jonas" Sy (Batch '68) and Terry Wee Sing Sy (vice president, Bank of Southeast Asia).

AN ANNIVERSARY POEM
By Monique Erika Sy

Through all the years you've been together
Until now you still love each.
You stand by each other's side through
thick and thin,
Whatever happens your love always wins.

Then you started a family
And raised us against all odds.
The life you gave us is a happy one
We thank you for all you have done.

We thank God for giving us you
To give us love so very freely
And to care for us and give us all we need
But most of all, for giving us the chance
to say, "We love you, Mommy and Daddy."

Happy Anniversary!

Music has its special way of capturing certain periods of our life in a sort of time capsule.

This is particularly true with the songs that punctuated our early days in LCHS. Remember such immortal sonatas as "Que Sera Sera", "Tender Is The Night", and "It's Now or Never"? They were the top-grossers of the era. The last one I'll never forget because this was the very first song taught to me by my uncle Cresing Tan (he died in April 1993). I will forever remember Kowa Cresing because he has been a very important part of what I have become today. He was my perennial tutor.

And who could forget the popular moviehouses of our time? The King, Queen, Premier and Century theaters. These were the great four entertainment outlets in the 50s and 60s. Of these, Century Theater stood out particularly as the oldest. Its orchestra section offered only rows of bunks and benches for the patrons. Only the balcony section had individually partitioned seats. And air-conditioning was totally unheard of. Yet despite the poor structure and inadequate facililties then, somehow I couldn't recall having experienced any major discomfort while inside the moviehouse. Perhaps, then unlike now, we were simply too carefree to bother. Or perhaps, in our childish exuberance, we were too easily engrossed in the action on the big screen.

How about shopping centers? Malls were unheard of. In fact, the idea itself had not even been conceived. Yet, in our small world, we still had our share of shopping fun among a few of the city's business hubs along Washington street and Quezon Avenue. Among them were Doris Department Store, Pasing's Grocery, Crystal Educational Supply, Tin Lu Sing, Hing Huat, Sampaguita Bakery, Tropical Commercial, King Sing Bazaar, Sen Chin Bee, Lian Tay Trading, Dy Cham Shoe Store, Capitol Trading, Dy Un Suy, Tam Wong, Hong Yao Trading, Kian Chiong Commercial, Lian Hong, Lim Chay, Keng Hong, Lian Guan, Washington Textiles, Hamilton, etc.

Among the studios, Lards and Seven Up were the two popular ones. For barber shops, there was Dina's (fronting the fire department). And for custom tailoring, Jam Chiong and Nating's.

Among the eateries, still fresh in my mind are the Kapit Bahay, Canton Restaurant, Oriental Restaurant (of Nene Huala) and Nena's Luncheonette.

The Kapit Bahay, situated on a street corner across the city plaza, was noted for its barbecue and arrozcaldo. The aroma that filled the air whenever the barbecuing commenced at sundown always sent us hankering for a bite of such gastronomic delight.

The Canton Restaurant of the good old days, however, was to me and legions of my contemporaries, an institution in its own right. Many a palate of our time have been cultured and nurtured by the distinctive quality of its culinary creations. The quality of its siopao, lumi, pancit guisado, and egg pie remained to this day unsurpassed. And I truly miss them.

And what about the old city plaza where we used to run around the Rizal monument? To many of us, the plaza was our second home, our central park, and our battlefield. The Rizal statue, the fountain with water lilies on the pond, the rotunda, the vintage lamp posts, the trees, the concrete benches, and the shades. All these were the unperishable icons of our childhood life and dreams.

Like our youth, the structures are gone now. Yet, like our dreams, the memory lives on.