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In this issue: NEWS | LCHS TRACERS | OPEN LETTER | COLUMN | FEATURE | SPECTRUM STAFF

Dy Un Suy Marks 90th Birthday

Mr. Dy Un Suy celebrated his 90th birthday with a grand reception last July 5 at the LCHS auditorium.

Some 400 guests and dignitaries led by Iligan City Mayor Alejo Yanez filled the auditorium to capacity despite an intense downpour and power outage. All eight children of the celebrant ( Fe, Carlos, Gregorio, Jesus, Henry, Johnson, Peter and William) were in full attendance along with their respective families. Other relatives from Taiwan, Singapore, and other cities of the Philippines were also present.

The party began with a Lion Dance presented by LCHS students. Highlights of the affair included musical entertainment by the Iligan City Band; welcome remarks by Councilor Henry Dy; recognition of the honoree's godchildren; a narration of the honoree's biography by Mrs. Buddy Castro and Henry Lee; response of the honoree; a special message from the city mayor; presentation of plaque and gifts from relatives and friends; a special presentation by the honoree's grandchildren; and closing remarks by Dr. Greg Dy. (More details on "Sidelights" in this issue's Feature section.)

Dy Family Donates School Buildings

The family of Mr. Dy Un Suy, represented by Iligan City Councilor Henry Dy, recently donated two units of 2-classroom school buildings to two barangays in Iligan City.

The donations were made in honor of Mr. Dy Un Suy on the occasion of his 90th birthday on July 5. The first unit was donated to Barangay Cabili (Kinaway) last July 5, while the second unit will be donated to Tambacan next month.

New Subdivision To Rise Soon in Iligan

A new subdivision will soon rise in Iligan City. Called New Day Homes, the project is located on the sprawling hills of Ditucalan, Iligan City. Owned by a family corporation headed by Henry Siao, construction of these new elegant town houses is now ongoing.

Where's Crisanta Alcover Now?

Crisanta Alcover-Ayson, former LCHS English department principal and biology teacher, is now connected with the administrative office of the Iligan National High School, Iligan City. She also owns a dress shop.

Info Wanted

The Spectrum is in need of info on the whereabouts of the following:

The Lua sisters: Lilia, Lolita, and Letecia; the Tan Choas: Lucio, Fena, and Edna; the Yaps: Emma and Elizabeth; and all the rest.

The Spectrum also requests alumni to represent their class to supply us with a list of all the members of their class. We are in the process of coming up with an Alumni Directory in preparation for a proposed Mega Reunion in the future.

The Spectrum is also in need of info on former LCHS faculty members and principals. We hope to pay tribute to them during the awards rites and ceremonies as part of our future Mega Reunion.

A Letter to Jimmy Ling
By Henry L. Yu

My dear Jimmy,

Words are simply insufficient to describe how I feel with your sudden and untimely passing away. It's not that I cannot accept death. It's just that how I wish you have lived longer. How I wish we had more time to be together in our older years, enjoying the sunrise and the sunset like we used to do when we were kids. How I wish we had more time to talk about our lives now, the children, our family, our business ventures, our plans. Well, I never, not even for a moment, questioned God as to why He got you back to join Him this early. After all these years, I am still the God-fearing and religious Henry whom you knew and used to be with in our Catechism class in grade school.

They say one of the best memories of life are those spent during one's childhood. Being your childhood neighbor, classmate, and best friend, I cannot help but reminisce all those good old days we spent toether in our beloved hometown that is Iligan City. I was born 7 montths and 19 days ahead of you. But we don't count that anymore. We consider us to be Dragon babies (born in 1952). We would have celebrated our next Dragon year at the turn of the century - the year 2000. But you went ahead at 44. Remember the last time we got together? I told you, "Jim, since we are already midlifers, in case I go ahead, please take care of my family."

I will always remember you, my dear Jimmy, for all the memories that we have built together. The hide and seek at the backyard. How we ate canned bachang in your bodega. The fish pond and how we would feed the red shorters and the sword tails. Catching dragonflies and lady bugs. Making houses out of cartons and watched them burning. Playing jolen, patintero, alas, black jack, etc.

I will forever remember the summer of 1966. You were transferring to Cebu for your first year high school. I could not see the point then as to why you have to. Oh, how we cried in the backyard with that parting. Well, we were little children then. But out of that parting, I wrote my first poem. It was entitled "I'll Be Seeing You".

Time has now made us the fulfilled professionals that we have always wanted to be. Remember when we were kids? I used to tell you, "Someday when I become a doctor, I will treat you of your ailment." Yes, TIME! It is this that I wish I had full control of because if I have, I would have wished we had more time to be together.

Whether I like it or not, I have to accept reality now. I know it will take a while to get over this. But with prayers and time, I know I eventually will. Jimmy, I know you are happy and thankful that at the time of your departure, there were still friends who saw you to your final destination. I know I haven't told you lately, but I want you to know: Jimmy, you are not just a friend, you are my brother...

I'll be seeing you,
HENRY

High School Days

1966 marked the beginning of our High School life. I remember Mr. Julian Narciso (our class adviser) welcoming us with an inspirational talk during our first day of classes. What better years in one's life than those high school days...oh, my high school days!

It was at this time when we would go bowling at Jacqueline's Bowling Lanes, or at Sampaguita's Lane, or the old Padilla Bowling Lanes (near the market place). We would also watched the Stars '66 of Sampaguita Pictures (you know the Ricky-Rose-Pepito triangle, etc.) with Betty Bernardo, Delia Dy, Chiok Hian Dy, and Adelfa Tan as the quartet, while Janet Lee, Edna Tan Choa, and Leodegaria Lagrosas formed a trio (JEL). Top movies were "The Sound of Music" showing then at Rajah Theatre and also "To Sir with Love". Remember Sydney Poiter and Lulu? Miss Alcover (now Mrs. Ayson) was the principal in the English dept. She was also our Biology teacher. I remember the Science Fair held at the City High School, as well as the field demonstration where we wore karate costume amidst the scorching heat of Iligan weather circa 1966.

1967 - we were now in our Second Year under Miss Teresita Maulas as our class adviser. Our teachers were: Miss Teresita Yap (Geometry), Mr. Gener (World History), Miss Chona Serrato (Grammar and Literature) and others whom I can no longer vividly remember (must be due to the inevitable aging process. I'm just as human as everybody else, remember?).

April 3, 1967 (Monday) - I celebrated my 15th birthday for the first time with a jam session at home. Top hits were "Black is Black", "The Jokers Went Wild", "Diamond Ring" and all those Gary Lewis and the Playboys hits. I remember it was Jose Sam Go (Sammy) who broke the ice with the song "Black is Black" with Lolita Lua (Guat Ngo). And who could forget Miss Enriquita Arnejo and Miss Virginia Handumon who taught dancing for the school programs? And what about Mr. Felipe Oh, Miss Caridad Collantes, Miss Catalina Daan, etc. Of course, that trip we had to Cagayan de Oro with some Second Year and Third Year students headed by Alex Handumon (now in Chicago, U.S.A.) was an unforgettable event. I'm sure you do remember the songs we hummed while inside the bus like "Sitting in the Park", "Homeward Bound", etc.

1968 - we were in Third Year, with Miss Nonela Wong as class adviser. Some of our classmates from way back in grade school have transferred to either Manila or Cebu for their Chinese course. A roll call of 19 Third Year students were left at LCHS circa 1968, 7 girls namely: Betty Bernardo, Delia Dy, Chiok Hian Dy, Janet Lee, Edna Tan Choa, Leodegaria Lagrosas; and Josefina Siangco. There were 12 of us boys left (the POGI DOZEN, so we called our group), namely Using Lee, Richard Lim, Antonio Te (now in Taiwan), Beng Hong Vy, Castor Lim, Rodolfo Yu, Jose Lim, Timestocles Tan, Benny Kao Hok, Rodrigo Cayubit, Leopoldo Tan (deceased) and myself. (Continued next issue)

Sidelights of Mr. Dy Un Suy's 90th Birthday Celebration
By Charles O. Sy
(Batch of 1967)

Red banners and colorful pennants, prepared by LCHS faculty, adorned the LCHS auditorium rendering a festive mood to the place befitting the occasion. LCHS boy scouts were already at the campus grounds as early as 5:00 p.m. to assist traffic and parking for the cars of incoming guests.

Personnel of the Dy family's business concerns as well as volunteer staff from the Iligan City Hall all wore red t-shirts and were scattered around the venue to assist the guests. The band of the city government was on hand to provide live musical entertainment.

The party would have started at 7:00 p.m. as scheduled but was delayed by about an hour due to an ongoing downpour and a city-wide power outage. A generator set was rushed to the scene to light up the venue as electric power was not restored until late in the evening.

Electric fans positioned in various strategic places inside the auditorium were installed by the Dy family to ensure comfort for the guests.

Guests, estimated to reach about 400, started arriving at 7:30 p.m. and were welcomed at the entrance by the children of the celebrant, who all wore red t-shirts for the occasion.

Caterer of the dinner reception was Mrs. Maning Celdran, while ten lechons were supplied by Boy Siao. Dinner also included a roast calf.

The two emcees of the affair, Roy Trinidad and Charles Sy, announced the start of the program at 8:10 p.m. They were positioned on two opposite sides of the stage flanking the head table.

The party began with a lion dance by selected LCHS students complete with a fanfare of firecrackers, after which came the processional of the family of the celebrant. The children of Mr. Dy Un Suy were each introduced by their family as they made their entrance to the hall.

Councilor Henry Dy officially welcomed the guests and acknowledged the presence of the city officials as well as four national officers of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and guests from Taiwan, Singapore and other parts of the country.

Dr. Felixberto Abellanosa, a good friend of the celebrant, failed to show up to give the biography of the honoree and was replaced by Mrs. Buddy Castro. Henry Lee, for his part, gave a Chinese version of the honoree's biography. City Mayor Alejo Yanez was also on hand to grace the occasion with a special message.

A touching highlight of the party was the response of the honoree. The program originally had the eldest daughter, Fe "Guat Ching" Dy-Quimbo, to give the response on behalf of the honoree. But somehow Mr. Dy Un Suy was so moved by the show of affection bestowed on him that he decided to deliver the response himself.

A light moment came when the emcee Charles Sy found himself at a loss in his English interpretation of the honoree's speech to the amusement of the crowd and the Dy brothers.

Another touching moment was when each of the honoree's grandchildren took turns on stage to express their feelings and thoughts about their beloved ankong. After which, the whole clan gathered around the honoree as he blew the candles on the giant birthday cake.

The party ended at about 10:30 p.m., with Dr. Greg Dy giving the closing remarks and thanking the guests on behalf of the family.

Among LCHS alumni spotted at the party were Henry Siao; Sy Chu An; Sergio Siao; Manuel Te; Maning Gaite; Mr. & Mrs. Bienvenido Lim; Lim Ah Wah; Betty Lim; Janet Lee-Tan and husband Jose Tan; Ruben Lee; Luis Kho; James So; Mr. & Mrs. Vy Beng Hong; Aurora Ong; Dy Tonga; Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo Lai; Dy Sun Lai; Dy Shiok Hian; Dy Sio Te; Santi Ong; Bonifacio Khu; Guido Samson; Arturo Samson; Christopher So; Lee Kee Siang; Jaime Rodriguez; Boy Rodriguez; Antonio Chan; Fernando Chin; Rudolfo Suy; Franklin Siao; Sy Bing Gee; Co Kep Te; Suniel Lim; Charita Sia; Antonio Dy; Aida Chou-Ipili; Teresita Racines; Elsa Lagrosas; Jose Lim; and Bebencio Palang.