Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School Vol. 3, No. 17, November 1, 1999, Iligan City, Philippines Grand Reunion Update To speed up info campaign By Johnny Chen (Batch 1973) The Grand Reunion Steering Committee is set to rediscuss its campaign strategy in view of initial feedback of low turnout of interest or knowledge of many alumni in the grand homecoming. At the executive meeting held last Oct. 21, it was agreed that the Reunion Committee will start collecting P500 as partial payment for the reunion registration fee of P1,500. Alumni who pay their partial payment of P500 on or before March 31, 2000 shall be entitled to a set of reunion kit. Those who register after March 31 will receive their kit only on a first-come-first-served basis. The committee will start sending out solicitation letters to prospective donors and sponsors starting November. Meanwhile, the Secretariat held a meeting last Oct.16 with batch coordinators for the 80's and 90's batches. Discussion centered on ways to drum up support and generate interest in the grand homecoming among their classmates. Also at the meeting, Rodolfo Yu reported on the successful participation of the LCHS debating team in a recent inter-school debate. LCHS placed 4th out of 26 participating teams.  Balik-Iligan launched It will be a grand homecoming not only for LCHS alumni but also for all Iliganons in year 2000. The Dayangdayang Jaycees of Iligan City has launched the "Balik-Iligan" to bring home Iliganons everywhere for a city-wide grand homecoming next year. The project is timed with the celebration of the city's golden charter anniversary on June 16, 2000. The grand homecoming will run from June 15, 2000, Iligan Charter Day, and culminate with the annual city fiesta on Sept. 29. An array of festivities is being cooked up to make the event a memorable one for all returning Iliganons.

EDITORIAL STAFF Charles O. Sy, Editor Henry L. Yu, Associate Editor Correspondents: Iligan - Johnny Chen, Alfred Lai II, 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 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 39 WEEKS to Grand Homecoming

LCHS recently held its annual singing contests among students in different levels. The winners in the English Singing Contest were: High School Level - Jean Rose Babatido, 1st place; Romeo Jay BBabatido, 2nd place; and Jane Dale Racines, 3rd place. Intermediate - Dave Dingal, 1st place; Dave de Jesus, 2nd place; and Joan Longob, 3rd place. Primary - Jamile Rae Racines, 1st place; Nico Alibanggo, 2nd place; and Maribel Longcob, 3rd place. In the Chinese Vocal Solo, the winners were: First Year to Fourth Year - Rene June Dagoc (Fourth Yr.), 1st place; Sheila Vy (Third Yr.), 2nd place; and Katherine Yu (Second Yr.), 3rd place. Grade 4 to Grade 6 - Ann Aubrey Oliverio (Grade VI), 1st place; Jean Leih Racines (Grade VI), 2nd place; and Caesar Dave Polimar (Grade V), 3rd place. Grade 1 to Grade 3 - Maureen Shayne Lee (Grade 1), 1st place; Jamile Rae Racines (Grade 3), 2nd place; and Earl Kevin Sy (Grade 1), 3rd place.

"Spices" of LCHS
Fri, 15 Oct 1999 21:13:30 +0800

I find Aurora Tansiokhian's article "To Sir With Love" (Spectrum, Oct. 18, 1999) a real good read. The campus experience written in the article is precious because it's rare, like gem. This was a time set much earlier than our time! Even Marie Jen Lee, in her article, spoke of her excitement to meet the students who were ahead of her at the forthcoming grand reunion. School bullies are infinitely timeless but is there any school today without them? Would the food taste good without the spices? I suggest we also honor the "spices" of LCHS according to year in our grand reunion. The affair would surely taste better with bountiful "chili-hot" memories of them. Was I a bully during my time? Well, you can ask my batch mates. Talking about the reunion affair, I would like to congratulate Marie Jen for her no-holds-barred comment on  the attitude of some alumni towards the affair. As citizens of LCHS, we should apply what JFK urged the American people: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I think this set of attitude is called for as we count the days toward our first, and perhaps the only, grand reunion.

Rene Tio (Batch 1970), Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, fishers@cdo.weblinq.com

By Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Remnants of the old LCHS

Recently I visited LCHS at Pala-o together with Glenda Sy, Fe Quimbo and Rodolfo Yu to hand over some school supplies to the LCHS-AA scholars. We were there also to check on the progress of their studies and their grades.  While we were there, I had the chance to look around the campus and search for traces of the old LCHS.  I came upon a room where remnants of the old LCHS are stored. One of the memorable relics I saw was the man-sized model of the human anatomy encased in a glass box. Another relic was the old piano. It's still there but it appears like it's already in advance state of deterioration.  Gabok na!  The sight of the piano's condition saddened me. Maybe our alumni could initiate some efforts for the restoration and rehabilitation of this historic instrument for old time's sake.

Remember the school bell?  It's still in use. The sight of the bell reminded me of our time in LCHS during the 60s. I remember how we all eagerly waited for the sound of the bell to announce class recess. I took a picture of the bell to preserve it for posterity. Who knows, it may not stay there forever. Someday it may be replaced by a modern bell.  Hopefully, we can feature a photo of this old school bell in our next issue.  Surely it will ring a bell for many fellow alumni today to usher back fond memories of their good old days at LCHS.

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

It is arresting to learn about the diverse sets of cultural practices dedicated to the observance of certain special occasions of the same feathers among neighboring continents and across time zones. For example, what amounts to a solemn celebration for the dead - spent in candle lighting, pious prayers and food offerings in cemeteries and churches - in the Philippines' All Souls Day (Nov. 1) is welcomed with dizzying fanfare of a carnival magnitude and salvos of loud laughters in American soil, popularly dubbed as Halloween (Oct.31).

Here, it is the much-anticipated interlude in autumn when kids with explosive energy, garbed in spooky costumes that range from Casper the friendly Ghost to the Wicked Witch with pointed nose of Broom Land (Iligan branch: Initao Airlines), start knocking on houses at the very strike of twilight for the so-called Trick-or-Treat extravaganza. The treats can be in the form of candy bars, money, coupons for McDonald's french fries or anything that would imprint toothy grins on the howling goblins. But make no mistake of not arming yourself with sufficient supplies of sweet delights or small tokens because the tricks that these tiny monsters unleash can be as bad as smudging your windows with fresh egg splatters and as terrible as irritating your doorbells to extreme exhaustion!

For the social butterflies and carefree party animals among the adult kingdom, there is always the upbeat grooves of costumed, masquerade jam sessions and dinner gatherings to spend the night away. Outfits like that of the Super Heroes, face masks of US Presidents (incumbent Bill is the sought-after variety), wacky wears are the in-thing during this wondrous evening of dressing-up-as-you-please. If this day is not designated as an excuse to tolerate the bizarre and strange in fashion statements, it will drive you to wonder and ponder where the hell did the world make a wrong turn?

For home-ridden potatoes like me, I, taking guilty pleasure and beaming murderous thoughts, wait for the eager beavers' pounding on our door, stun and scare the bejesus out of these creepy-looking darlings with my Count Dracula put-on. Oftentimes, they hoot with fits of belly laughs and get an immeasurable kick out of my gut-wrenching bloody fangs. However, their chirps of juvenile excitement instantly evaporates when I strip off my frontal camouflage and unveil the true man behind the monstrous mask where, in a quick moment of genuine panic, they scramble for cover with electrified hairs and tremors of fear. What a fun-spoiler? Not really. Those daring little devils who don't exhibit any emotional mood swing from our stark confrontation end up loading heavier loots into their bags, a generous thank you gesture for not flinching a bit and for staying afloat with the coolness of seasoned streetfighters against my frightful facial handicap.

Who have the last laugh from all this madness? The dentists and doctors. The teeth man drills the aching cavities of those Halloween rascals who bruised their enamels with mouthful coats of chocolate and chewing gum, while the medicine man eases up the grown-ups' deathly indigestion and alcohol-brewed headaches. Why have fun then if the end doesn't justify the means? Because Halloween night always weaves rock 'n' roll memories. Before we transform into real turkeys come Thanksgiving Day in November.

By Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

This is the day we pay tribute to all our dearly departed family and friends. I don't know if we're supposed to be sad on this day but all I could remember from the All Souls' Days of the past is that it's always "festive" at the cemetery.

On this day it's like having all your friends and classmates in one place.  It's like a big party or a big picnic.  After doing all the cleaning, arranging, and all the necessary rites, we'd be free to go wherever we want to.  We'd go look for our other classmates, and just talk endlessly even if we'd just seen each other in school the other day.  And who could forget the ice cream man whom we fondly call "Prince Charles" (because he styles his hair similar to the royal prince of England)?  He would always show up during the hottest part of the day and entice us with his Magnolia ice creams.  You'd notice how he rings the bell he is carrying, louder when he sees the kids nearby.  And he would only leave when his cart is empty. He is always present year after year.

I also remember how my Angkong would be so edgy on this day.  He worries if he has enough candles or if his flowers for my A-ma and An-cho's graves are arranged beautifully enough.  Then comes the highlight of this festive occasion, LUNCH TIME.  It was always A-ma Viola and A-ma Puring who prepare this very delicious feast.  Nobody would want to miss this part. Actually some would just show up for this, unfortunately.  I know some uncles and aunts who'll only be seen at the site during lunch time.  Well, it's better than not being there at all.  There will always be the usual fried meatballs (my favorite), and the other "special" main courses offered to our ancestors and then feast on by the descendants.  And there was always food more than enough for everybody.

I haven't been to Iligan for several Nov. 1’s now, and I could just imagine how our family must have grown through the years.  Back then it was us who were the kids, but now with the kids having their own kids, it would really be more like a big family day rather than a day for the souls.  Year after year there will always be one or two new babies.  The usual question there for a greeting is "who's baby is this?"

Back then it was us who would wait patiently for those huge candles to melt so that we could play with it by forming it into little balls or tiny figures or bring it back to school to be used as floor wax.  Talk about recycling.  No one escapes from a burnt hair "bangs" or burnt eyebrow when playing with those candles.  Back then the saying "don't play with fire" meant a whole different thing.  By the time we all go back to school the next day it's no wonder if we see an uneven bangs or an eyebrow-less classmate.

I think it's a good idea to make this affair festive to encourage the new generations to perpetuate the tradition.  For me, I have nothing but fond memories of those Nov. 1’s I've spent in Iligan.  I hope that sometime in the future I could bring my kids there and let them experience the special kind of atmosphere this day brings. With this kind of atmosphere that'll greet each one during this day, I'm assured that this tradition will live on even as we become dust ourselves.  I'm sure that there will always be niece and nephews who will continue with the customs even if he or she will have to go through being bangs-less or eyebrow-less.

By Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch '66

I was shocked when I learned that the National Steel Corporation will be shutting down in about a week's time. This is indeed a very sad news for us Iliganons who pride our hometown as the "Industrial City of the South."

In the early 50's, Iligan was then a young city of few years old. But its future seemed secured with the first hydro-electric power plant at the foot of the then majestic Maria Cristina Falls. Cheap electricity became the powerful ingredient that would propel Iligan into the limelight of industrial map of the Philippines. I will never forget the 3 factories that were clustered around the vibrant barrio of Overton. On top of the hill was that white smoke belching Maria Cristina Carbide Industry. Along the old highway going to Timoga, we all would not missed that heavy ammonia smell of fertilizer plant. And, of course, adjacent to it was the basic bar mill of NASSCO with its ever glowing furnace. These were the only factories of Iligan in those days conveniently located close to the power source and blessed with great harbors.

With these industries, Iligan started to grow rapidly. Although it is sandwiched between the 2 big commercial cities of Cagayan de Oro and Ozamis, our Iligan would soon become the envy of all the population centers of Mindanao with its steady rise of revenues derived from its industries. Our city was becoming rich. And many industries would later follow.

In the early 60's, with the entry of the Jacintos, NASSCO (National Steel and Shipyard Corporation) started its first expansion and became IISMI (Iligan Integrated Steel Mill Inc.). And in the 70's, the national government took over the management and expanded it further and once more changed its name to National Steel Corp. (NSC), employing more than 5,000 persons during its peak of operation. About a quarter of the city's coffer comes from NSC. And another factory located at the other edge of the city, the Refractories Corporation of the Philippines (RCP) depends on NSC for its operation. Without the steel mill, RCP might also shut down.

Now in the last few months of the century, the mother of all the Iligan's factories is about to shut down. As of now, she is the last survivor among the original 3. The fertilizer plant has long perished from the face of Overton. The carbide plant on the hill has ceased sending smoke signal some years ago. But the impact of NSC's closure will reverberate through all the lives of Iliganons. Its economic repercussion is too awesome to contemplate. The city government would not only be 150 million pesos poorer but there would be a couple of thousands of suddenly jobless people! With 30 million pesos lesser money circulating around the city every 15 days, all our businesses in Iligan will of course be adversely affected.

When I was small, you were then known as Nassco.
We grew up ... and you turned into IISMI by Jacinto.
Now you are about to go, I hope it's not farewell - NSC!
Globalization, Iligan beware, now we are all very uneasy.
We hope that your demise will only be short and temporary.
Like the promised resurrection, you will soon start again, I pray!

To Ernie Yu, many thanks for acknowledging the contributions of the female species "Sweetie Pie…", (Spectrum, Oct. 18, 1999) to the Spectrum and to the human race in general.  After all, according to Chesterton, men are men, but Man is a woman.

But hey Ernie, by referring to me as Major Tan, you unwittingly clipped my eagle wings and demoted me two ranks. Ouch!  Horrors!  Though I would like to think that my sense of humor and popularity are on par with Captain Hawkeye's, and my worldliness is comparable to that of Major Winchester's; my rank and spirit are more that of the commanding officer, the sedate and older Colonel Potter, who longs for his Mildred and his horse.

Sorry to disappoint you. But please do not let that deter you from continuing to beat the drum for us, gals.  Salamat.

Till next time.

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

The month that was - October, the tenth month of the year, is associated with certain events. It is the Rosary Month for us Catholic Christians all over the world. It is when we celebrate the customary Double Ten celebration, the semestral vacation, and the Halloween, among other things.

All these bring us back to a time in our life when we were young - as devoted Catechists, as stage performers during the "Chap Gue Chap Dit" celebration, as excited students looking forward to sem break, as the fun-loving youth enjoying the Halloween to the max.

I remember my days in Iligan back in the 60s when we attended Catechism classes at St. Michael's Cathedral under Rev. Fr. Yusingco. Saturday afternoons would see us gather around the church to listen to Bible stories, singing, praying, reciting the rosary, hearing mass, confession, receiving Holy Communion, etc. We were taught how to be good children of God, to obey our parents and elders, to follow the Ten Commandments, to be God-fearing and prayerful. With a child-like faith, we grew up believing in the teachings of the church, of God's unconditional love, with Jesus as the ever merciful and forgiving God. We led a happy life. There was peace and harmony. Our needs were simpler. Happiness to us meant blowing the birthday candles on our cake with matching balloons and ice cream, opening beribboned gifts wrapped in colorful birthday wrappers, singing "April Love" or "One Way Ticket", doing the Elephant Walk or Limbo Rock during jam sessions, movies at Queen or Century, swimming at Saray or Kanaway beach, etc. And that was all of yesterday. Forty years ago to be exact.

All the things taught to us were carried on as we journeyed through life, facing it stage by stage until we reached the age of reason and rebellion, in the tradition of "living together, growing together." The valuable lessons were stored within us. They were carved so deep in our hearts that whenever we go wrong, we are reminded of the things we learned from our Catechism classes. It's been 4 decades since then, but until now we still hold dear the things which Fr. Yusingco taught us. Sometimes we tend to forget the teachings of our youth. We slide back to our old self and falter. We pause, ponder and reflect on life's lessons. We hear confession. We receive communion. Then we start anew, feeling happy and refreshed. The prodigal son is back. A time to celebrate.

Indeed, we need God in our life, no matter how old we have grown amidst fame and fortune. There is no better way than to live life according to His teachings, reliving the lessons which we learned through the years.

The child in us is back. Although for now we are no longer the young boy in short pants and with runny nose, who used to play full time around the neighborhood, but we simply remain the God-fearing person with a child-like faith. After all, we are still the children of the same God we worshipped and adored yesterday when we were kids. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Happy days are here again. And forever we will always be the person with a child-like faith, that of a mustard seed. We are the world. We are the children of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In the eyes of God, the church, and our country.

I was born with a lot of physical imperfections that for many years in my life I suffered from inferiority complex. There was only one kind of beauty I could appreciate then. That was physical beauty. I compared myself to girls of my generation who seemed sooo PERFECT, and I hated myself! For many years I questioned myself WHY am I like this? I was agonizing myself! It was like being inside a prison cell trapped in four corners with no way out. I cried out loud deep in my heart, yet nobody could hear me. My heart was pierced with a sword, and it was wounded and bleeding!

As I was growing up and started nursing school, I learned to appreciate the little things that I have. Being able to take care of the sick, my patients enabled me to gradually appreciate life and living as well as the "whole being" of a person. The beauty from within started to emerge. But just as I started to appreciate "me" and my potentials, my marriage failed and ended in 1989. Again I felt like a loser! My dreams of being a loving and faithful wife with beautiful children and a good husband, a one happy family were all shattered! I fell on my knees and knocked myself all the way down to the ground, and it was very difficult to get up, face the world again and move on with my life.

In August of 1990, I attended a 3-night "Life in the Spirit" seminar with Dr. Jaime Irrizari in Cebu. I encountered and accepted the Lord Jesus in my life as my Lord and Savior for the first time. And since then my life had changed for the better. My attitude towards myself had changed. When God created me, He didn't ask me "HOW" I wanted myself to be. He did it in his own ways. My physical imperfections that I used to call "physical defects" are part of His plan, and I'm starting to understand now "why" am I like this. As a nurse who deals with human lives, there are multiple personalities that I'm dealing with everyday at work. To be able to listen and understand the pain of a person is a special gift that I have which I probably won't have if I was born physically perfect!

Now I realized that there's really nothing I can do to make myself look more than what I can be, that physical beauty or perfection isn't the only beauty for us to appreciate. There is beauty from within the heart of a person, there is hope to make a person the most beautiful creature living on Earth. Attitude can be changed to be positive, while physical imperfections cannot. It's a matter of choice - where do you want yourself to be! Trust in the Lord and pray for His strength and deliverance. God bless everyone! 

Who am I?  Why am I here? Those were my questions when I attended high school. I made so many wrong decisions and choices. I looked for satisfaction in everything ... been there and done that. But my life was still empty, lonely, like there was a vacuum in my life. Is life just about sleeping, waking up, eating, being with friends and being merry, for tomorrow I will die? If you are a businessman, is life sleeping, waking up, opening a store, making money, money, money, for tomorrow I will die?

In September 1975, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, everything went excellently. It filled the emptiness in my life, and now I have something to live for. I failed so many times to follow the Lord, but He is always there to forgive and forget. God is great and is alive! He is changing me from glory to glory. I depend and trust in Him with all my problems. He is really awesome. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is great! Can you get or buy peace from anyone else?

Life is short, earthquakes here and there, and wars; these are the signs of Jesus Christ's second coming (Matthew 24). Let's be prepared. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is more important than whatever denomination we're in. It's knowing Him through His words "The Bible" that matters. That's why He is a personal savior, not a denominational savior. The Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We all have sinned and have gone astray. And God so loves us that He gave His only son Jesus to die on the cross and save us from all of our sins.

Why not accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior in your heart right now? Try Jesus, He never fails. If you say yes, please follow this prayer and say it: Father, thank you for giving your son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for me. Forgive me of all my sins. I now accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior right now. Thank you for your forgiveness of my sins and for coming into my life. Guide and help me know your words the Bible as I will follow you. In Jesus Christ name, amen!

My friends, if you prayed that prayer I welcome you to the family of God. You are now a child of God (John 1:12). Congratulations! Read and know your Bible today. Start with the gospel according to John.