LCHS SPECTRUM
Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School
Vol. I - No. 19, September 08, 1997, Iligan City, Philippines
IN THIS ISSUE: NEWS LCHS TRACERS LAUGH LINES EDITORIAL SPECTRUM STAFF
N E W S
LCHS Alumni Join Catholic Circle
By Teresita Racines (Batch '67)

More and more alumni are joining religious-oriented organizations. The latest group that counts an increasing number of LCHS alumni in its membership is the Filipino-Chinese Catholic Ladies Circle.

The Circle has lately opened its membership to male members after a group of organizers from Cagayan de Oro held a series of seminars in Iligan. The seminars provided new insights on Christian living to the participants, after which they had their baptism of the Holy Spirit last August 31.

Among the alumni who recently joined the group are Rudy Co and his wife, Henry and Nene Siao, Vy Beng Hong and wife Shirley, Edwin Co and wife Annie, Joy Co (wife of Robert Co), Richard Sy and wife Dina, Elvi Wong, and Elena Lim.

Alumnus' Realty Firm Invades C de O
By Teresita Racines (Batch '67)

The Johndorf Ventures Corporation (JVC), owned by Richard Lim (Batch '69), has expanded its operations to the progressive housing industry in Cagayan de Oro City.

The firm's latest project in C de O is the PN Roa Low-Cost Housing, which offers affordable housing units to career-oriented individuals. JVC has over the past many years been successfully providing low-cost housing opportunities in Iligan City. Among its earlier projects are the Alita, Abagail, Bahayan, and Emerald Homes.

British Carnival Comes to Town
By Rene Tio (Batch '70)

The carnival has come to town. And this time it comes all the way from Great Britain.

As part of the festivities of the city fiesta of Cagayan de Oro City on Aug. 28, 1997, a fair of international caliber has been set up by the Great UK Fair at the Limketkai Center. Owned and manned by British operators, the fair includes a ferris wheel, roller coaster, bullet ride, space loop, among other high-tech gadgetry. It also has numerous game booths that offer expensive stuffed toys for prizes. Adding to the festive atmosphere is the dazzling laser lights display at the fair grounds. Entrance to the fair is P20. The fair will last for about a month.

Ernesto Yu to Join the Spectrum Soon

Ernesto L. Yu (Batch '65) will soon be writing for the Spectrum starting with our next issue direct from Buffalo, New York, U.S.A., where he is now a successful doctor.

Ernie was one of the founding editors of the LCHS Spectrum (along with Charles Sy, Henry Yu and Victor Chiu) back in 1968. He is currently the editor of Rales, CIM Class '73 newsletter, and writes a column in the Fil-Am Western New York Newsletter. Of the Spectrum's revival on the Internet, Ernie quips in his e-mail to the editors, "What a marvelous idea! Only another aging vertebrate with intact brain like you could pump a medium that benefits all of us (friends of Alzheimer)."

LCHS TRACERS
Fidel Fuertes now in Touch with Spectrum

Among the growing mailing list of the Spectrum is Fidel Fuertes, a Grade-VI teacher of long standing in LCHS in the 60s. Spectrum correspondent Teresita Racines recently met Mr. Fuertes at the Iligan City plaza and introduced the Spectrum to him. Mr. Fuertes has arranged with Terry for his regular copies of the Spectrum. (Photos of Mr. Fuertes are accessible on the home pages of several LCHS batches on the alumni Web site.)

Tan Dih Hong and His Students

Last issue's feature on Mr. Tan Dih Hong in this section elicited a response from alumna Conchita "Kheng Giok" Te-Ong (Batch '61). She sent in a photo to share with our fellow alumni. The photo shows the affable and debonaire Tan Dih Hong posing with his LCHS students together with his co-teachers in the early 60's. Later generations of LCHS alumni may not be aware of it but Mr. Tan stayed in a quarter right behind the high school first year classroom during his teaching days at the old LCHS. His quarter was regularly visited by students for the many artworks and animal specimens on display in his quarter. (Subscribers of our e-mail edition may view the photo attachment separately by clicking the attachment line or icon at the bottom of the e-mail message window.)

Mr. Tan
Mr. Tan Dih Hong, seated at right, poses with his fellow LCHS
teachers, from left, Mr. Ngo, scoutmaster, and Mr.Shieng. At the
back are their students, from left, Augusto Sy, Ong Ching An,
Amelia Sy, Kho Shiok-An, Tan Kim Kiat, Conchita Te, Francisco Co,
and Nelson Sy. (Photo courtesy of Conchita Te-Ong)


LAUGH LINES

Practical Chinese Phrases from the Internet

Ai Bang Mai Nee    I bumped into the coffee table
Chin Tuh Fat   You need a face lift
Hu Flung Dung   Which one of you fertilized the field?
Kum Hia   Approach Me
Lao Tze   Not so good
Nee Wang Kai Ko   I need to put on weight
Shai Gai   A bashful person
Tai Ne Po Neh   A small horse
Ten Ding Bah   Serving drinks to people
Wah Shing Kah   Car wash
Wai Soh Dim   Are you trying to save electricity?
Wai U Shao Ting   There's no reason to raise your voice
Wah Lah Na   That's all folks
EDITORIAL
Are We Filipino Chinese or Chinese Filipinos?
Everyso often we still come across the label "Filipino Chinese" in numerous occasions in reference to the present generation of ethnic Chinese residents in the Philippines. The term is a misnomer and is misleading. The phrase "Filipino Chinese" refers to Chinese of Filipino parentage or descent, or a Chinese based in the Philippines. That spells a whole world of difference. Freely interpreted, it could be taken to mean "Chinese citizens residing in the Phillippines."

Given the fact that majority of Philippine-resident Chinese today have become Filipino citizens either by virtue of naturalization or by birth, the appropriate and applicable term is "Chinese Filipinos." Which means "Filipinos of Chinese descent or origin." 

The same is true with Filipinos who migrated to the U.S.A. and have since become American citizens. They are referred to as "Filipino Americans", meaning "Americans of Filipino descent." In no case are they called "American Filipinos." Neither would they allow themselves to be labelled as such. For that would mean "Filipinos who happened to be residents or based in the U.S.A."

For us to continue to refer to ourselves as "Filipino Chinese" is to defy the intent and purpose of our Philippine citizenship and our assimilation into the mainstream of Philippine society. The use by chambers of commerce and other associations of the term "Filipino Chinese" in their names dates back to the years when most resident Chinese had not yet become Filipinos. The situation has changed since then. Today majority of ethnic Chinese in the Philippine have adopted Philippine citizenship and should be recognized as Filipinos of Chinese descent, or "Chinese Filipinos." It's time we call a spade a spade.
 

Printing Advisory: This issue prints in three pages when font size option is set at 10 points on Netscape or "small" on Internet Explorer. To browse our back issues, log on to this site:
http://www.iligan.com/~lchs/alumni/archive.html

LCHS  SPECTRUM

Charles O. Sy and Henry L. Yu
Editors
  Johnny Chen, Santi Ong and Terry Racines (Iligan, Philippines); 
Igdono Caracho (Cebu, Philippines); Mike Lee and Peter Dy (Edmonton, Canada);
Loloy Tan (Sydney, Australia); Alex Rodriguez (Florida, U.S.A.)
Correspondents and Contributors

  Letters and articles may be addressed to: charlesy@durian.usc.edu.ph
 Or, by snail mail, to P.O. Box 128, Cebu City, Philippines
 
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