Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School Vol. 4, No. 11, August 14, 2000, Iligan City, Philippines EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS GAH a resounding success  The Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAH), earlier expected by many to post only modest gains, turned out to be a huge success, way beyond the expectations of organizers.  Alumni from different parts of the country as well as the U.S.A. and Canada showed up in droves during the 3 days of the GAH on Aug. 3-5, 2000.  Total registration shot up to 353, nearly doubling the initial target of 200.  Sale of raffle tickets, earlier feared to fall short of break-even point, likewise picked up during the three GAH days and brought in a comfortable margin. LCHS-AA keymen and homecoming alumni were one in rating the GAH a big success.  Food preparation, hardworking committees, and balanced schedule of activities occupied top berths in reaping praises from alumni delegates. LCHS-AA officers cut the ceremonial ribbon signaling the start of the GAH.  From l to r: LCHS principal William Payonan, School Director Henry Siao,  Arturo Samson, Suniel Lim, Rodolfo Yu, Chua Teck An (partly hidden), & Henry Yu.

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

Top alumni achievers awarded

Outstanding Alumni Achievers, from left to right: Chua Teck An, Henry Dy,
Roderick Ngo, Dy Shek Tong (for Ong Ching An), Henry Siao, Charles Sy,
Guardson Siao, Calix Tan, and Ernesto Yu.

Nine alumni were named "Outstanding Alumni Achievers" awardees in fitting ceremonies at the Gala Night of the GAH on Aug. 5, 2000. The awardees, presented by Vy Beng Hong and Janet Lee Tan, chair and co-chair, respectively, of the awards committee, were:

1. Chua Teck An, for Community Service (Local).  He was Most Outstanding Lt. Governor of Division 4B, Kiwanis Int'l., 1986; a recipient of Hiram Award for Outstanding Mason, 1987; and Grand Master Award for Leadership - GLP, 1998.

2. Henry C. Dy, for Government & Public Service.  He was elected Iligan City Councilor for 3 consecutive terms; donor of 3 barrio school buildings; and one of the Ten Outstanding Iliganons awarded by the Iligan Press and Radio Club.

3. Roderick L. Ngo,  for Community Service (National).  He was National Jaycees President who visited more than 200 local Jaycees chapters, the first for a national president to do so; and recipient of the Outstanding LOM President of the Year award.

4. Ong Ching An, for Sports - Chess (Posthumous).  He could be blindfolded against a series of chess players; beat Grandmaster Eugene Torre to a draw in a national chess championship match; champion of Iligan Chess Tournament at the age of 17.

5. Guardson Siao, for Labor.  He was an awardee for outstanding performance with highest percentage of case disposals in labor cases, 1997; zero backlog in 1998 and 1999.

6. Henry T. Siao, for Community Service (Local). He has served as school director of LCHS for 12 years without receiving any remuneration; founder of the Iligan Toastmasters Club; one of the founders of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Iligan Foundation, Inc.; one of the founders of the St. Michael's Filipino Chinese Catholic Community Foundation, Inc.

7. Charles O. Sy, for Journalism.  Founder and editor of the LCHS Spectrum, which serves to link LCHS alumni throughout the world; "National Toastmaster of the Year" awardee, 1982; and  prime mover of the GAH.

8. Calix H. Tan, for Religious Works.  4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus (Faithful Navigator); spearheaded single-handedly the construction of a chapel and day care center on B. Labao Street; faithful donor to ISK Seminary and any catholic church related activities.

9.  Ernesto L. Yu, for Art (Photography).  First placer, color photography at Annual National American Society of Anesthesiologists Art Exhibit in Washington, D.C., 1994; Gold Medal winner, Yearend Twin Cities Camera Club, Buffalo, N.Y., 1993; and Professional Photographer's degree holder, New York Institute of Photography.

GAH photos now available at website

Digital photos of the GAH festivities, taken by the Spectrum, are now available for viewing at our LCHS web site: http://www.iligan.com/~lchs/alumni/.  To view the photo pages, log on to the web site and click on "Photos of the Grand Homecoming."  The photos, all in jpg format, can be downloaded individually and saved to hard disk direct from the web pages. The display includes photos of batches taken on the night of the batch reunions. Happy viewing!

LCHS holds speech contests
By Jane Dale Racines (LCHS 4th year student)

LCHS held its annual oration contest among high school students last July 21.   The theme was: "Where Have All the White Doves Gone?  A Student's Perspective."  Each level sent two representatives to the contest held at the LCHS multipurpose mess hall.  The winners were Jane Dale Racines (4th year), first place; Jan Michael Cerna (3rd year), second place; Cheerine Dy (3rd year), third place.  Early on, a declamation contest was also held among elementary students. The contestants were first selected through an elimination round held a few days earlier.  The winners, for the primary level, were Kevin Bryan Dy (Grade 3), first place; Ken Carlson Dy (Grade 1), second place; and Carl Kevin Sy (Grade 2), third place.  In the intermediate level, the winners were Giselle Letigio (Grade 6), first place; Reejay Alibaggo (Grade 5), second place; and Tristan Lim (Grade 6), third place.

LCHS seniors take UPCAT
By Jane Dale Racines (LCHS 4th year student)

Several 4th year students of LCHS trooped to the MSU-IIT last Aug. 3 to take the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).  The students took the exam held at the CED-AVR from 12:30 pm to 5:50 pm.  They were Sheila Vy, Jane Dale Racines, Carissa Ong, Piscean Mae Aranton, Irish Mae Kuan, Aimelyn Fuentes, and Wilbur Chua.  The results of the exam will be announced in February next year.

List of Grand Raffles Draw Winners:

For 10 TELEVISION SETS:
05181 - Leonila Zorilla, Iligan City
00659 - 21st Century, c/o Iligan Shoe Center
00856 - Dy Siok Ching, Cebu City
02151 - Stephen D. Sy, Lian Hong Co., Inc.
02987 - Alexander G. Samson
04365 - Hi-Tech Steel, c/o Midtown Hdwre.
01159 - Candido Go, c/o Vy Beng Hong
02181 - Teena Karen Sy
02146 - Stephen D. Sy, Lian Hong Co., Inc
04333 - No Name indicated

For 10 REFRIGERATORS
03916 - Geo-Transport, c/o Charles O. Sy, Cebu City
04222 - Roosevelt Chemical, c/o Iligan Shoe Center
01057 - Louie H. Oani, Cebu City
03540 - Henry Yu, Cebu City
02877 - Domingo Avenido, Kim San Co., Inc.
02154 - Stephen D. Sy, Lian Hong Co., Inc.
03723 - Mary Matinze Miro, Mabolo, Cebu city
04737 - Nelson Tey, Cotabato City
00234 - Pearly Ong, c/o SBG Merchandising
01462 - Pete Joseph Dagaraga, c/o Rey Grepaldo

For 10 WASHING MACHINES:
01347 - Edwin Co, Iligan City
01588 - AB Paper, Crown Paper Stationer
02093 - Kristy Cosmitics, c/o Corazon So-Tan, CdeO
04752 - Benjohnson Siao, Iligan City
00274 - Guardson Siao, Iligan City
05040 - Edward Ong, Manila
02183 - Teena Karen Sy, Iligan City
00502 - Jennifer Te, Iligan City
00639 - Kelly C. Dy, Iligan City
00357 - Fernando Go, Cagayan de Oro City

For 10 MINI COMPONENTS:
00470 - Henry Lagrosas, Iligan City
04389 - A.C. Steel, c/o Midtown Hardware
02619 - Jerry Gaite, Iligan City
01775 - Dunkin' Donuts, Iligan City
03946 - Geo-Transport, c/o Charles O. Sy, Cebu City
01097 - Shirley Vy, Iligan City
01488 - Jorge U. Racines, Iligan City
01078 - Allan Cagampang, c/o Vy Beng Hong
00749 - Jesus C. Dy, Iligan Apollo
00390 - Mary Dy, c/o, Iligan Apollo

For 10 MICROWAVE OVENS:
04268 - Boy Rodriquez, Iligan City
04853 - Simpson Marketing, c/o Midtown Hardware
02879 - Pablito Ngo, Iligan City
02975 - Ramonito P. Ameme, Cagayan de Oro City
05184 - Wilson C. Dy, Iligan City
04483 - Henry Siao, Krisland Commercial
00316 - Toto Samson & Mike, Iligan City
03301 - Roderick Ngo, Cebu City
01543 - Raymund Santos
00403 - Greg C. Dy, c/o Iligan Apollo.

By Roger Suminguit, Batch 1973

A Historic Gathering

The 1st GAH was a historic gathering.  Alumni from as far as the U.S.A. and Canada came home to attend the GAH with their families in tow. Others came from Cotabato City, Dumaguete City, Butuan City, Ozamis City, Davao City, and Parañaque City. The biggest delegations were from Iligan City (host) and Cagayan de Oro City, followed by Cebu City and the U.S.A.  Delegates from Initao, Luga-it, Na-awan, Maigo, Baybay, Leyte and Jasa-an arrived on the first and second day.

Unfortunately, the lone early registrant from Australia was unable to attend.  Leonardo "Loloy" Tan earlier dropped hints in his column in the Spectrum that he would be missing the momentous and historic affair. Many had hoped that he would somehow show up at the last minute.  But that was not to be.

Conspicuously present at the festivities were the following English teachers, namely Ma'am Aberion from Davao City; Ma'am Arnejo; Elmer Tamano Lastimoso; Crisanta Alcover Ayson; and Josephine Tan Gaid. Among the male teachers were Fidel Fuertes and Henry Uy.  Also present were our  Chinese teachers (who are also alumni), such as Sian Sei Linda, Gregoria and Minda of the Ang family; Ching Sio Eng (Sofia Vy), Verna "Kuan Kuan" Sy Oh; Ursulina Bernardo Esteban; Glenda "Hong Hong" Sy Cabilan; Elaine "Diok Lan" Co Bartolome; Dy Sio Te "Ulay;" Siu Tin Vy Khu; Jose Lim Teck Hua; Norma Sy Lim; Rosie "Bian Bian" Siao Sy; Wang Dy Chiok Hian; Manuel "Bandoy" Sy; Corazon Lim Carlos; Conchita Cabanlit; Aurora Ong Sy; and Ngo Chin Bon; among others.

Some alumni were also seen at the GAH for a few hours but suddenly disappeared into thin air, such as Manuel "Aki" Tan and Angel "Angi" Chiu. These are the lost and found boys.  Among those who stood out on the dance floor swaying gracefully to the tune of cha-cha, tango and the swing were Evangeline Ang, Rodolfo Yu, followed by ever energetic Richard "Beng Te" Sy, Guardson Siao and Norma Siao, Mike Handumon, and Boy Rodriquez.  Greg Dy, Jesus Dy, Johnson Dy, Henry Dy, William Dy and Peter Dy danced with their respective wives. Hired dance instructors (DI) danced with other dashing alumni to the merry beat of a live band.

The three-day affair presented everyone an ever-youthful atmosphere that summoned back those memorable moments of our high schools days and rekindled the old charm and camaraderie of our campus life.  One could easily sense the euphoria of seeing former batchmates, schoolmates, former teachers, old flames, crushes, etc ... hugging, shaking hands and kissing cheeks. Everybody came and rediscovered the magic of old friendship ... one more time.

Message of thanks
Fri, 11 Aug 2000 22:28:30 +0800

On behalf of the LCHS Alumni Association & the GAH Steering Committee, I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation to the 353 wonderful alumni for their support to the lST GRAND ALUMNI HOMECOMING held in Iligan City last August 03-05, 2000. Your generous contribution or participation added significantly in making the affair successful beyond our expectations. DAGHANG SALAMAT SA INYONG TANAN! --Suniel Lim, Chairman, GAH Steering Committee, boylim@iligan.com

I have been looking for Joy Gotingco (Batch 1986) for quite some time now.  Please help me find her.  If anyone knows her, please send me an e-mail.  I really appreciate your help. A million thanks! --Vinnie G., California, U.S.A., vinniegoti@aol.com

I would like to thank the Grand Alumni Homecoming working staff for a successful 3-day reunion affair in our hometown. It was almost flawless affair and, like the foods served, it was good to the last bite! I just could not ask for anything more. Like the living memory of our time in our alma mater, the reason why we gathered together again, the homecoming itself bore a wonderful memory indeed that would last a life time. Thanks to the Spectrum staff, too, for drumming up attendance worldwide. You all have made LCHS increase in value and am I proud where I belong! To me, folks, you are in my list of LCHS alumni achievers.  Congratulations for a job well done! --Rene Tio (Batch '70), Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, fishers@cdo.weblinq.com

Congratulations for the very successful Grand Alumni Homecoming. I'd like to make special mention to the event's steering committee members and everyone else involved in the preparations for a job well done. Congratulations specially to you, An Lok (this sounds more familiar to me).  I know how you worked hard to make the GAH successful. This will surely inspire more great things to come for our school. More power! --Kho Siok We (Batch '57), Cebu, Philippines, ksw@pacific.net.ph

Do you know that the Spectrum made quite an impact in gathering alumni for the Grand Alumni Homecoming? Like in my case, it was the Spectrum that finally motivated and convinced me to attend the GAH. I'll remain your avid reader. --Emma Yap Matiao (Batch '66), Dumaguete, Philippines, wilkie@mozcom.com

Wed, 2000-Aug-09 19:11:17
The Grand Alumni Homecoming was a huge success.  Everybody at the GAH was so happy, including my sisters.  I salute you! --Joselyn Ang (Batch '67), Iligan, Philippines

The First LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAH) is over.  Yet it is still being talked about in Iligan and elsewhere. The excitement has not yet subsided. And for good reason.

The GAH was a rare experience for every LCHS alumnus. Never in the history of LCHS has there been an occasion that brought her alumni together in such grand scale. Nor has there been any similar event that saw alumni responding in such enormous number and in such high spirit.

Registrations, projected to reach around only 200, hit the 350th mark on GAH day, sending organizers scampering for additional supply of kit materials.  The turnout was overwhelming. The response to the GAH far exceeded the expectations of everyone involved in the preparation. Iligan city mayor, Franklin Quijano, on his part, signed a resolution declaring Aug. 1-6, 2000 "LCHS Alumni Week" in Iligan City.

The shape of better things to come was already evident at lunch time of the first day, Aug. 3, 2000.  LCHS-AA officers and Spectrum staff all converged in full force at the Cheradel Suites. It was a luncheon tendered by the LCHS-AA in honor of the Spectrum. It was a fitting prelude to the grand reunion. The luncheon tete-a-tete offered many staff members the chance to meet each other in person, and interact with their LCHS-AA counterparts. The meeting concluded with a speech by Charles O. Sy entitled "The Spectrum: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," in which he shared his vision of the Spectrum in the years ahead.

Opening Day.  The GAH officially opened at around 3:00 p.m., with a short program in the refurbished LCHS gym. The gym had been given quite a facelift. What used to be a dilapidated gym was transformed overnight into a well-lighted, grand social hall adorned with colorful streamers, balloons, buntings, and billboards.  Evelyn Yu Go, as emcee of the opening ceremonies, was a natural for the job. Articulate and regal, she made quite a few heads turn. After the welcome address of LCHS-AA president Arturo Samson, LCHS school director Henry Siao, in his message, commended the LCHS-AA for spearheading the GAH, and the Spectrum for initiating the idea.

The booth exhibits drew a sizable crowd of spectators. Among the first to arrive were the Ang sisters, namely Andy, Lilian, Gregoria, Linda, and Elsa; and the Tan sisters: Remedios and Ricarda.  On exhibits were collections of old photographs, drama and dance costumes, artworks and assorted artifacts.  One item that stood out was the black & white, charcoal drawing of Winston Churchill by Gloricita Racines, a legacy handed down by Luis Yap, LCHS art teacher in the 60s.  At about the same time that alumni were busy viewing the exhibits, Dr. Ernesto Yu seized the moment to speak before LCHS high school students gathered at the audio-visual hall.  Ernie had a lively exchange of ideas with the students that afternoon.

Barrio Fiesta.  The Barrio Fiesta & Fellowship Night in the evening of Aug. 3, 2000, brought alumni and family members together for a grand feast.  Never before has the gym been so filled to capacity.  With no less than 500 mouths to feed at dinner time, it was incredible that there were still leftovers after dinner was served.  The foods, consisting of delectable native delicacies, were not only abundant, they were superb.  Credit goes to Dy Sio Te, who personally hand-picked every single dish on the menu. Truly a gourmet's delight!

Every scene that unfolded inside the gym was as touching as the next one.  There were those who shrieked with excitement as they entered the gym and met their former classmates.  Some jumped up and down like monkeys while others shed tears of joy.  Still some others kissed, hugged, and held on to each other as if there was no more tomorrow.  Everybody was jubilant. The whole scenario was electrifying.

Dr. Greg Dy did an excellent job as emcee of the Barrio Fiesta.  He ably steered the program and left no dull moment to seep in. Sy Chu An, LCHS Board of Trustees president, in his speech, cited the achievements of LCHS through the years. Like Henry Siao, he also praised the Spectrum for initiating the move to group alumni together through the Internet.

Rodolfo Yu was the entertainer par excellence as he wooed the crowd with his versatility in emceeing, singing and dancing.  Why has God bestowed so much to one single person?  At any rate, Rodolfo's performance paved the way for other alumni, representing their respective batches, to do their part. Most of them sang songs while others entertained the crowd with ballroom dancing. Among those who captivated the crowd's attention with their grace on the dance floor were Ursulina Bernardo Esteban, Remedios Tan Wee, Jesus Dy, and Rodolfo Yu.

Many events in the GAH went beyond expectations.  The picnic at Timoga on Aug. 4 was not expected to gather many alumni yet the occasion saw some 200 alumni and kids attending in full force. Despite the big turnout, there was more than enough food for everyone.  And many had a good word for the excellent menu of fine native delicacies.

Class Reunions.  The reunion of batches in the evening of Aug. 4 also yielded a few pleasant surprises.  The occasion was not expected to be a big crowd drawer, yet the event saw a huge attendance nonetheless. Table assignments were arranged by batch years with 6 chairs each. Many had to add more chairs to their group to accommodate more arrivals.  The gym was filled to capacity by dinner time. Foodstuffs provided by concessionaires, earlier feared to generate minimal sales, were all sold out as early as 8:00 p.m.  Among the favorite items were the bachang of Lilian Ang, and the steamed fried rice and dumplings of JY Dimsum House.

Alumni huddled among their batch mates and spent the night sharing recycled stories of their student days, even as others took turns to render a song or two with the accompaniment of the karaoke system. A light moment during the batch presentation was the combined group of batches 69 and 70, composed of Henry Yu, Rodolfo Yu, Antonio Te, Roderick Ngo, et al, who sang a series of memorable nursery rhymes, such as "hao chia lai loh" and "cha-kih keh lai," much to the amusement of everybody. There was also a moment for trivia questions to which correct answers were rewarded with gift certificates, compliments of the Spectrum. Tokens of gift items were also given out to alumni with the most number of grandchildren, the likes of Maria Jo Cu, Sy Pheck Lee, and Andy Lee.  The batch with the most number of delegates was Batch '66.  It had 18 members present at the GAH.

It was noticeable during the batch reunion night that those eagerly posing for photographs belong to batches from 1950s to 1970s.  The younger set, such as those from 1980s and later, simply sat around and watched the "oldies" in their unabashed scramble for group pictures. Everyone wanted to make the most of the rare reunion with their long lost batch mates that nobody made a move to leave the gym even when the program was over by 11:00 p.m.  Everyone was in high spirit and stayed on to chat until deep into the night. That by itself was unprecedented.

Another event that brought in a sizable crowd was the plenary session on Aug. 5 at the Maria Cristina Hotel.  Many came over and turned the consensus meeting, presided over by Suniel Lim, into a lively discussion.  Among those who took part in the deliberation were Guardson Siao, Flor Chiu, Evelyn Yu Go, Mateo Uy, Henry Uy, Henry Yu, Johnny Chen, and Terry Racines.  The consensus reached was to hold the GAH every five years. It was decided that the next GAH will be in the third week of July, 2005.

Gala Night.  At the Grand Ball in the evening of Aug. 5, there were still more arrivals of alumni.  The ball room of the Maria Cristina Hotel was filled to SRO-capacity when the program started at 8:00 p.m.  Everyone came dressed in their evening best.  The ladies were resplendent in their evening dress, and the gentlemen were spic and span in their coat & tie or barong tagalog.

Members of the St. Michael's Filipino Chinese Catholic Community Choir, led by Rossana Co Belmonte, gave an impressive performance with their singing of the invocation and national anthem. They were elegant in their attractive uniform, and excellent in their vocal rendition.  The highlight of the evening was the awarding of nine Outstanding Alumni Achievers. They were each presented a trophy by Vy Beng Hong and Janet Lee Tan, Awards Committee chair and co-chair, respectively.  Dr. Ernesto Yu, in his response speech on behalf of the awardees, echoed the gratitude of his co-awardees for the honor, and regaled the crowd with his wit and sense of humor.

A surprise discovery of the evening was Peter Dy, who proved to be a crowd entertainer with his funny antics in his handling of the raffle draws. Suniel Lim, in his closing remarks, acknowledged the help of many individuals in bringing the GAH to its success. Roger Suminguit was singled out for a special award in recognition of his exemplary service and dedication to the GAH.  Everybody could only nod in approval.  Roger, more than anybody else, deserves the tribute.

The partying ended way past midnight.  After the exchange of farewell kisses and hearty handshakes, everyone parted ways with the promise of returning for the next grand homecoming.  Will everything be the same in 2005?  Will it be as lively or will it even be livelier the next time around?  Will we see the same old familiar faces?  Only time will tell. For now, the memory of the first GAH shall linger on.

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

What is goodbye? Goodbye can never be a pleasant word - it is painful, in fact - when whispered into the ears of those whom you treasure dearly, especially when there is no guarantee of a future hello.

We are at the endpoint of our Reunion tonight. Tomorrow, we will pack and ignite again the momentum of our usual journey, away from each other. Tomorrow, we will be back to the same old mode: the set of routines that makes life like numbered chapters that flip in sequence.

This is one heck of a week for me: To be tendered a chance to be regrouped with old faces; to cheer new ones; to smell all the love in the LCHS air, a love that is distinctly ours; to be given the stolen moments to trade genuine handshakes and hug warm hellos with pals from our previous lives who have now etched reserved spots in our hearts.

Yes, we are at the fork of a crossroad: We exchange final words and hopeful greetings as we position ourselves back to our respective family schemes. Back to our own life in the big or small cities, fast or slow lanes. Truly, it is achingly sore to juggle the thought that no one can freeze the lovely moments for us, to squeeze the evening for extra hours to play and exchange more love with each other.

So, friends, this is it. I will just choke on the sweet memories that I already processed in my mind and stored in my heart. As bitter as it is, I'd rather bundle up the reveries with me than to live without anything to remind me of the fact that you were once by my side, taught my heart how to smile wildly, made me rewind and replay dreams, grasp and savor the enchanting magic in your eyes.

I won't say goodbye to anyone  - the sentimental clang that can floor even the toughest among us. I'll just give you an Arnold Schwartznegger promise: "I'll be back." Hopefully.  Peace and love to all.

(Editor's Note: The foregoing article is an excerpt from Ernie Yu's response speech delivered during the award ceremony at the Gala Night on Aug. 5, 2000.)

By Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

The luncheon tendered by the LCHS-AA officers in honor of the Spectrum staff last Aug. 3 turned out to be more than just an eat-and-run event. The atmosphere was full of excitement, that certain feeling of finally meeting one's "pen-pals," or as it is now the new millennium, it's the meeting of one's "email-pals." It was the time to finally meet the people who have been just names for some of us.  For me it was my chance to meet and match the names with the faces and to check whether my impression of each of them was correct.

It was a very bright and sunny day outside the Cheradel Suites where we had our very delicious lunch but the feeling inside the dining area was even warmer.  It was that feeling of just hugging everyone and never letting go.

For those who have been my constant email-pals, I must admit that I have to change some of the images that I have conjured up over the year.  There are those that I thought who would be "tabi-an" ends up as unusually "quiet" while some who I've pictured as "quiet" turned out to be the exact opposite. It was indeed a revealing moment.  It was the time to complete the puzzle, so to speak, and see the whole person behind those big names. Just to be in that same room with the so called "legends," to borrow a term Dr. Henry Yu used, and see how they speak, move and laugh was already a big honor for me.

When each staff was presented to the group, me and my two sisters were just gasping "mao di-ay na siya" when each name was announced. Followed by comments like "bata pa di-ay na siya" or "tigulang na di-ay na siya," but  don't worry, guys, it was mostly the former phrase.

Of course the person that was grossly missed during that affair was Tito Loloy.  I think 2 out of 3 persons that I talked to, asked me why he wasn't there.  Well, I guess they asked the wrong person because I honestly don't know why.  I just told them that he must have a very good reason because I know he would not have wanted to miss this GAH. If I had known earlier I'd have launched a signature campaign to bring him home.

Now after having had the chance to meet most of the Spectrum staff, all I could say is that I'm glad I met them through cyberspace first. Since we were brought up in an environment where we're only supposed to speak to our elders when spoken to, exchanging jokes and light banters with the other staff members would have raised eyebrows and raised my mother's voice. But with our constant communication through emails we've managed somehow to drop the formalities. The cyberspace has made it possible for us to bond as "barkadas" first, which otherwise would have never been possible if we let our age gaps and our distance matter.

Our words may have sat side by side along the pages of the Spectrum for some time now, but it was only during that lunch when we were finally able to be with each other face-to-face.

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

"What now my love, now that it’s over,
how could I live through another day…"

Yes, what now my love, now that the First LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming is over?  For one thing, that long awaited event which happened last August 3-5, 2000 is now part of another glorious past, to which we can always look back with nostalgic undertones in the sunset years of our lives ahead. Together, you and I have made history by just being there: renewing ties with our former classmates, schoolmates, teachers, and friends; by paying tribute to our dear alma mater, and by revisiting the city of our youth and young dreams. We are now back to our respective places of residence bringing with us truckloads of precious bits and pieces that will definitely last a lifetime of colored memories.

For those who didn't make it to that grand affair, for one reason or the other, the thrills and excitements, the "how I wish I was there" or the "I should have attended" will forever remain mere abstract feelings deep within them. Nothing more. Nothing less. But for those of us in attendance, we feel a sense of fulfillment because it was truly one great honor, privilege, and pleasure to be part of that once in a lifetime affair, having been able to reunite and reconnect with those whom we have been out of touch and sight for ages. We are jubilant with the thoughts that we had joy, we had fun, we had season in the sun, one that is for the record. Yes, we have gone, we have seen, and we have conquered Iligan in general and LCHS in particular. We feel triumphant because everything went smoothly the way we prayed and envisioned it to be for so many months since the concept of holding a homecoming came into fruition, the first of its kind in the history of LCHS, in its sixty-two years of existence. It was indeed an answered novena and prayers all the way. Thank you, St. Michael, beloved Patron Saint of Iligan, and all the angels and saints. Thank you, Lord, for friends and good times together.

With the First LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming now a thing of the past, we pause and ponder and ask ourselves: What could have happened had we not taken the road towards Iligan? You and I would not have the privilege of experiencing how it would feel to see once again and be together with our classmates and friends, to fit each and every bit of the puzzle, to reconnect the missing links that have been in our midst, synchronous with the sound of silence that dominated the air and our lives in distant shores over the past decades.

You and I have made it again as part of our alma mater's history, the one and only Chinese school in Iligan, the one which has made Pepe, Pilar, and Nena, a doctor, a teacher, and a nurse, respectively, and the rest of us, what we are today. Put it any other way, but it was one significant achievement of a lifetime. We now live happily ever after knowing that our attendance to the First LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming has made a great difference, and that it was worth coming home to a home. Your home. My home. Our home. For once in our life, it was paradise in excelsius, with us forming part and parcel of a resurrected past, the fabulous bygone era of yore, no matter how ephemeral and fleeting it was, like the setting of the sun in the boulevard of broken dreams.

So, WHAT NOW MY LOVE, now that it's over? We can only look forward to another time, another chance to be together again with our classmates, friends, and the significant others, in the near future, with us singing again our favorite songs, dancing and playing the games of our youth, all those beso-beso, chika-chika, the ohs and ahs, the pandemonium, euphoria, etc., as we continue with our journeys in life and the Great Beyond. IN HIS TIME.

Indeed the officers and members of the LCHS Alumni Association deserve to be congratulated for performing this service to all graduates who have passed through the portals of our school. The different committees of the Grand Alumni Homecoming have labored long and hard for the last two years to insure that we will have a successful and memorable homecoming. They richly deserve to be congratulated by all of us.

The LCHS Spectrum, under the leadership of Charles O. Sy, deserves to be commended for initiating this idea of a grand homecoming. The idea was first floated in the Spectrum by Charles. It was picked up by Spectrum staffers and several alumni, and it snowballed. Let me mention that I find the Spectrum very readable and full of substance. That our writers could in a few sentences convey the dreams, yearnings, and ambivalence of their youthful days in our beloved school speaks well of their literary capabilities. The Spectrum has received the notice and admiration of many readers, Americans and Japanese included, in the Internet.

Our school is a very small school, and it has to support two sets of faculty. It may be financially supported by the Chinese business establishments in Iligan, but there is really not enough funds to substantially upgrade its facilities. We have done our best to hire qualified teachers, but our facilities must be upgraded. An alumnus should love his/her alma mater. For those who are capable of doing so, this love can find expression in funding the upgrading of one or more of our laboratories, like physics, chemistry, biology, computer, audio-visual or speech lab. Proper recognition, as in placing a plaque of acknowledgment outside the laboratory room, is the only way your alma mater can repay you. Your greatest reward would be the glow of inner satisfaction that you would feel for having repaid to your alma mater what you have received from it.

In the meantime, let us for the next three days renew our acquaintances, and enjoy each other's company. Welcome home, fellow alumni. 

Coming here from different places and countries is indeed no joke. This requires conviction on your part and sacrifice as well, leaving behind your love ones, not to mention the amount of expense involved.  I am, therefore, convinced you really are committed to paying tribute to your long cherished alma mater.

How many graduates has this school produced for the last 62 years?  It has about 2,000 graduates and I am proud to say that we always garnered 100% passing rate in government administered examinations.   I am equally proud to say that these graduates, who are now alumni, are now successful professionals and businessmen. Half of the business establishments in this city are owned or managed by our alumni.

Very briefly, let me share with you a little of our past, a little of our present condition, and a little of our future plans.

In the early days, LCHS only had intermediate class. But not long after, a few committed elder educators came and painstakingly established secondary Chinese education.  I would like to mention the father of Charles Sy, Mr. Sy Seng Chiok,  who was an educator who once worked in Japan; and also the father of James So, Mr. Go Wan Sing, who was a principal of the Chinese school in Iloilo; and my late mother, Lim Keh Suio, who was then a classroom teacher.  These persons are worth mentioning for they made things less difficult for us.

This school has to observe 2 curriculum programs - English and Chinese. Obviously we have to hire two sets of teachers to handle various subjects for the two types of programs.  Under this setup, running the school is very expensive, and for that reason, one half of the total school expenses had to rely on the financial support of  the Filipino Chinese businessmen here.

Let me mention to you some remarkable achievements made by the Filipino Chinese businessmen here in serving the interests of this school.  In 1978 the Filipino Chinese of Commerce building was built.  In 1980 2-1/2 hectare lot was purchased for the school campus.  In 1984, school buildings were built amounting to P8M. And in 1995, the nursery school building was built at a cost of P3M, and 2/3 of that amount came from the donation of Filipino Chinese businessmen, while the other 1/3 came from the Federation.

Seeing our old gymnasium may no longer serve this present generation and the future generations, building a new one is a timely endeavor and a laudable project by the alumni.  The blue print for this proposed gymnasium is now with the brother of Arturo Samson.  My heartfelt commendations to you.

Finally, I would like to give thanks and praise to our Almighty God for making everything possible for us.  And of course, I would like to specially mention the Spectrum editors and staff who really worked hard just to make our dream come true - the first grand alumni homecoming.

Congratulations and may the good Lord bless you and this school.

The LCHS gymnasium was very festive on the night of August 3, 2000. Buntings were all around. Colorful balloons and banana plants adorned the spacious gym. Some alumni came dressed in Filipiniana in keeping with the barrio fiesta theme.

The program started promptly.  After the invocation and the singing of the national anthem, some selected high school students performed the Lion Dance (Lang Sai) to signal the start of the program. After the inspiring messages of Councilor Ariel Anghay on behalf of City Mayor Franklin Quijano, and Mr. Sy Chu An, President of the LCHS Board of Trustees, a sumptuous buffet dinner was served.

Dinner consisted of native dishes such as pinakbet, kare-kare, dinuguan, kaldereta, papa-it, litson and litson baka. For dessert, tropical fruits were served. Drinks were overflowing. There was more than enough food for everybody. After dinner, the presentation of the students followed. There were Chinese dances and songs that were performed by the students. After the presentation of the students, there was a roll call of the batches. Each group shouted with joy and pride as their batch was called. Everybody seemed to be so high to be with their classmates, friends, childhood sweethearts and former teachers who have not seen each other for a very long time. While others were enjoying dancing with the expertise of the dance instructors around, others were just so eager to catch up with each other's lives. Bernadita S. Aberion, Enriquita Arnejo, Rosalinda T. Sidlao and Fidel Fuertes were some of our English teachers who joined the fun.

It was a night of euphoria -- not even the cold air in the deep of the night could deter the alumni from enjoying every moment of it.

The first LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming was a 3-day affair full of fun and excitement I would never forget. I really had a blast!

I almost lost my voice the day after the Barrio Fiesta Night from chika-chikas galore. Imagine 22 long years of being away from a place I call "home," the place of my youth, where people's recollection of me was that "cute and chubby, white as a snow Belen of Pasing's Grocery." The warmth, hospitality, and friendliness in the air, a genuine feeling of being welcomed and appreciated -- the trademark of Iliganons; and the endleess buffets -- my gosh! Unbelievable! Walay tihik-tihik! Though it added inches to my waistline, it revitalized my brain cells and lifted my spirit. Native foods like lechon, sinugbang baboy, kinilaw, papa-it, bam-i, fresh lumpia, palitaw, puto, suman, manga, etc., my taste bud never had for years that just the thought of it would make me salivate. Seeing all those familiar faces -- some had changed quite a bit I could hardly recognize them, while others amazingly looked forever young and could still dance to the rhythm of the music so gracefully like Ursulina Bernardo Esteban, Sian-si Vy Sio Eng, Josephine Jane Go-Lim, Rodolfo Yu (a multi-talented man!), among others, that made me wish upon a fallin' star if I could have even just one fourth of that talent. To see and hug, talked and laughed non-stop with my barkadas (Sherlita "Guat Lan", Nanette, Flora, Fe and Silveria) whose pretty faces still remarkably looked the same from the last time I saw them 22 years ago! Must be from those halo-halos, huh!

And also classmates like Fedo Go who attended LCHS for three years, a good friend of mine when we were kids, a very nice gentleman who's now a Pediatric Hematologist in Cagayan de Oro. Dennis Jo is now a Pediatrician in Iligan and still remain the same charming "Bingka" we knew. Philip Jones Lee, Ramona "Bon Eng" Suminguit and Mary Lee. My schoolmates, to name a few, were Edmund Samson, though now a successful architect still remains humble and kind; his brother, Johnson; Jaime "Kim Peng" Dy who's now working in Taiwan; Benito Sia (my ig-so who's very productive); Kelly and Jocelyn "Josie" Dy; Helen and Jerry Ling (both siblings I grew up with in the same neighborhood along Aguinaldo St.), etc. My teachers who had taught me the value of good education like Ma'am Arnejo, Ma'am Toledo, Ma'am Lastimoso, Ma'am Aberion (my teacher who helped boost my self-confidence in public speaking); Sian-si Din Din, Sian-si Esa, Sian-si Minda, Sian-si Ulay, Sian-si Sun Lai, Sian-si Bian Bian, Sian-si Mei-mei, Sian-si Helen. Our family friends like the Dys (Achi Guat Ching, Ahia Bonnie, Greg, Hesing, Johnson, Henry, Peter, William and their families); the Gos whose dad used to be William Lines big boss, the late Henry Go (except for Edna and Edwin, they were all there: Sammy, Jane, Henry James, Mario "May-May" and Fedo); the Dys of Dy Cham Shoe Store (our neighbors where we used to buy new school shoes); the Racineses (Gloricita, Teresita, Julius, Jorge, Sherlita and James); some of Dy Tiao Lim and Emeteria's children (Emelita, Janet, Mary Grace and Roland); the Ngos (Helen, Rudy and Susan); Charles Sy, Igdono Caracho, Mike Lee, Tonga Dy, Rene Tio, Tek An and Deny, Sandy and Perla, the Bernardos, the Handumons, the Cos (Pancing, Toto, Edwin, etc.) and many, many more that I'd run out of space if I'd write all the names.

A feeling of euphoria of one stolen moment to be with you all again after all these years like walking in the clouds, like a dream. If only I can hold the time like a magic, I'd never let it go. I felt sadness in my heart, my soul was longing for your companies when the GAH finally came to an end, and we had to say good-bye! So long my friends, till we meet again!