INTERNET NEWSLETTER OF THE ALUMNI OF LANAO CHUNG HUA SCHOOL
Vol. II - No. 29, November 2, 1998, Iligan City, Philippines
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Alumni
officers hold dialogue with students
By Johnny Chen (Batch '83) LCHS alumni officers held a dialogue with 4th year students of LCHS last Oct. 24 over a wide range of issues concerning LCHS and student welfare. Among the issues discussed was the proposal for the students to enlist as Alumni Association members upon their graduation. The students agreed to collect the membership fees among themselves starting this November. The alumni education committee headed by Rodolfo Yu also offered to conduct a seminar on the Bill of Rights for the benefit of the students in coordination with the LCHS faculty. Also raised by the students during the dialogue were several issues and problems confronting LCHS students. Among them was the perennial lack of contest judges during school affairs. The education committee offered to provide the students with the judges whenever needed. The alumni officers who took part in the dialogue were President Arturo Samson, Dy Sio Te, Teresita Racines, Fe Quimbo, Juanita Jo, Glenda Sy Cabilan, Rodolfo Yu, and Johnny Chen. LCHS Foundation Day Nov. 12 LCHS will mark its 61st Foundation Day anniversary on Nov. 12, 1998. A line-up of activities is being prepared by faculty and students of LCHS to commemorate the occasion. The festivities will kick off with the selection of "Little Mr. and Ms. LCHS" among its students on Nov. 6. LCHS was founded on Nov. 12, 1938. Originally called Lanao Chinese School, it was located at the corner of Quezon Ave. and Roosevelt St., on the spot where the Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce building stands today. The school started with elementary education. Its first batch of graduates (Chinese elementary grade, 1940) consisted of Dy Tiao Un, Dy Kim Seng, and Tiu Ko Chuy Cristobal. |
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Our congrats to James Booc (Batch '82) who opened his new shop, named Music + Video, in Iligan City last Oct 18. The shop is located along Badelles St., fronting the Dr. Abragan commercial building now undergoing construction. The shop sells tapes, CDs and other related stuffs. He also owns and operates Electrotech Enterprise. James is the son of Vicente "Shik Din" Booc and the eldest brother of Robert Booc (Batch '84). Robert, a noted camera aficionado, owns PhotoArt Center, a Kodak photo processing shop. Another younger sibling is Benjamin Booc, owner of Simon Adventure Shop, dealing in mountaineering paraphernalia and outdoor & camping equipment. Their sister is Helen Booc, who is married to a Cebu businessman (one of the Co brothers who own the Cebu Lumpia House).
Our cheers to LCHS-AA adviser Maning Gaite, who just returned home from a successful triple heart bypass at the Philippine Heart Center early last month. Our best wishes to Maning for a speedy recovery!
Great
Idea
Thu, 29 Oct. 1998 22:56:04 +0900
Your Spectrum newsletter is a great idea. I can't think of a better idea than using the interconnectivity of the Internet to communicate with your former school mates. The concept of a newsletter by e-mail is remarkable. To produce a newsletter requires great effort. To publish it on a weekly basis is doubly amazing. May your effort in this direction continue to prosper and bring more of your school mates together in a lively reunion on the World Wide Web.
Hideo Tsuji, freelance journalist, Hamura, Japan
hideo999@pop.ca.so-net.jp
It is said that there are only two kinds of women. The one you always dream of. And the one you're married to.---ooooo--- A Feng Shui master advised me never to marry a girl surnamed Lao. Because it will surely be a Lao-Sy wedding.---ooooo--- My friend and his wife know how to make a marriage last. Two times a week, they go to a nice restaurant. She goes Tuesdays, he goes Fridays.---ooooo--- Matter of fact, he takes his wife everywhere. The problem is she keeps finding her way back.---ooooo--- Brides are usually dressed in white gowns because white symbolizes happiness. Now I know why bridegrooms are dressed in black.---ooooo--- Advice to married alumni: Don't ever question your wife's judgment. After all, look whom she married.---ooooo-- Our man in New York, Ernest Yu, takes a few weeks off from the Spectrum to attend to various pressing chores. But he promised to be back soon - in earnest.---ooooo--- Atty. Guardson Siao has been rated one of the top labor arbiters in Mindanao. He's one lawyer we can lien on.---ooooo--- The name of alumnus Dr. Arthur Dy is now a byword among E-N-Tspecialists in Cebu. I can see him grinning from ear to ear.---ooooo--- My drinking partner Rod Ngo drinks beer like there's no tomorrow. His favorite toast is: Two for the Rod!
August 23 was a beautiful sunny summer day. Hurricane Bonnie was just hovering out in the Atlantic within striking distance. We had a slight shower in the morning but the sun was also smiling that Sunday. Old folks would say: A good day for wedding. At 4 p.m., everyone was ready. The ladies were all very elegant and ever beautiful in their evening dresses. The gentlemen looked spic & span and very formal in black tie and tuxedo, even my 9 year old nephew as well. It was only I who didn't look good. There was no way I could disguise my hopeless figure. Could not rent a maternity dress!
We then proceeded to Miami Westin Hotel, the venue of the wedding and
the reception. The bride and her entourage had the penthouse - Presidential
Suite of the hotel as their dressing room. Cousin Jackie Ting, who flew
in from Germany, was the bride's maid and my 2 Aussie
nieces were junior bride's maids. We were about 2 hours early for the
purpose of photo session. Hundreds of pictures were taken with every conceivable
combinations of bride and groom, with his or her families, and with friends
and the entourage. These pictures were later made available on the Internet
and friends and relatives could order copies through the web site. Meanwhile,
it was also a good time to meet the members of the groom's family. I chanced
upon one of the groom's aunts and she was very much impressed that we came
from as far as Australia. Seeing that my brother-in-law Al, who is only
4 years my junior, was approaching, I started to introduce him to her.
But I was abruptly cut short when she exclaimed, "And is he your son?"
Ooops! It could have been a perfect day for me.
The wedding ceremony took place at the grand reception hall on the ground floor. At the vestibule, a pile of flaming red color Chinese/English invitations rested beside a tray of yarmulkes or Jewish skullcaps. Our cousin Joyce, a Chinese Catholic, was marrying Jamie Banks, an American Jew. A rabbi and a priest jointly officiated the wedding which was wonderfully performed in 45 minutes with perfect harmony. There were lots and lots of flowers well arranged along the white aisles. Bride and groom stood on an elevated dais, together with their parents under a beautifully decorated canopy which is very symbolic of the Jewish faith. A candle was central to the ceremony and on top of it a Star of David was inscribed, then a shape of a heart and on the bottom the symbol of the cross which was very eloquent for the occasion. The hall was filled with music from Disney's movie themes provided by a charming lady strumming a harp. Jamie and Joyce were glowing with emotions when they exchanged their vows. It was Jamie's birthday too. Could a man wish for more than to have his beautiful bride as a birthday gift? Their voices cracked and many were misty eyed, including me. They were tears of happiness for these two young people who were so much in love. The Chens were giving away a very fine and beautiful young lady who would now belong to her husband. But maybe not. Instead, they might have gained a gentleman and a handsome son-in-law.
For a moment, my mind drifted back to a wedding almost a quarter of century ago. Joyce was then only 4 years old and a cute little girl who was one of our flower girls. But this time, it was her turn to say "I do." I simply felt old.
By
Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69
Charmaine Molo - Her tantalizing eyes and curly hair added beauty
to her petite and slim figure. Also a volleyball player, belonging
to class 1965.
Aida Chow - Her brownish hair and brown eyes were her assets.
She was the elder sister of Vinson. She was the barkada of
Elsa Lagrosas, Charmaine Molo, and Teresita Racines, etc.
Igdono Caracho - The tall and lanky brother of Aldo. He
was my classmate in Chinese who once fell madly in love with one of our
Chinese teachers.
Lily Lueong - The daughter of the owner of Times Furniture (Ahong).
They were among the few Cantonese families in Iligan, like the families
of Gloria Tecson and Jimmy Ling. She was one of the volleyball stars. My
dance partner in many of the jam sessions we had in the 60s, one of which
was during my 15th birthday bash on April 3, 1967 where she wore an aqua
blue dress.
Rodrigo Cayubit - The small but terrible classmate of mine in
English, who was always the first in line during flag ceremonies, while
Castor Ong, being the tallest, was the last.
Edmund Edusma - The younger brother of Abraham, who was the
son of one of the owners of Asia Store located on Quezon Avenue.
He was a cute, clean-cut guy sporting a Beatle hairstyle. How I envied
his soft and shiny thick black hair then.
Laureto Capuyan - One of the basketball stars of LCHS, belonging
to class 1968. Bedimpled and sporting an Aguinaldo haircut.
Venancio (Beo Seng) Alvarez - The best friend of Alex Handumon.
He was a tall, handsome and suave basketball player personified. One of
the principal stars in the popular Chinese dance drama directed by Mr.
Felipe Oh, where I was one of the participants along with Alex Handumon,
Beng Hong Vy, Igdono Caracho, etc. He used to stay at the Tin Lu Sing residence.
(Continued next week)
By
Alex S. Rodriguez, M.D., Batch '65
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs in men and women of all ages, but its symptoms tend to appear most often in young adults. Recently, the disease received attention because of a few well publicized deaths and fainting spells among young athletes with the condition.
Symptoms. Many patients have no symptoms. Among those who do, the most common symptom is breathlessness, which results from an inadequate filling and emptying of the left ventricle. Another common sign is fainting during physical activity. This occurs when the brain does not get enough blood, despite a normal or rapid heartbeat. Patients also may have palpitations (strong rapid heartbeats), chest pain, or fatigue, especially during exercise or other forms of physical exertion.
Unfortunately, in some cases, the first symptom of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is sudden death, caused by a persistently chaotic heartbeat, which is known as ventricular fibrillation. The heart's lower chambers beat so chaotically and rapidly that no blood is pumped. Instead of producing a heartbeat, the heart quivers. In advanced stages of the disease, patients may have severe failure and its associated symptoms, including fluid accumulation or congestion.
Diagnosis. By listening through a stethoscope, a physician may hear the abnormal heart sounds characteristic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) may help diagnose the condition by detecting changes in the electrical activity of the heart as it beats. Echocardiography is one of the best tools for diagnosing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It uses sound waves to detect the extent of muscle wall thickening and to assess the status of the heart's functioning.
Physicians also may request radionuclide studies to gather added information about the disease's effect on how the heart is pumping blood. Other tests that also may provide useful information are the chest x-ray, cardiac catheterization, and a heart muscle biopsy. In other words, this is a difficult case and there is no single test that can diagnose this condition but only a good cardiologist. The latest test that came out in the medical journal is the Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis which evaluates the relationships between left ventricular pressure and simultaneously recorded volume gives important information on the type of cardiomyopathy and possible treatments. (Continued next issue)
What's
a loving relationship?
"A loving relationship is like an ideal home - within it you can totally be yourself, be accepted, understood, trusted and respected as a valuable being. It is a nurturing environment where effort is made to provide enough caring and security so that one can share hopes and fears and where one is encouraged to learn and grow. " --Excerpt from the book "Loving Each Other" by Leo Buscaglia, as quoted by Alfred Lai II (Batch '89).
I recently browsed the batch lists on our newly redesigned alumni home page. I wish there would be more class pictures accompanying each batch. Since we never had a yearbook in our time at LCHS (I don't know about the recent years), the web site can serve as a multi-batch yearbook serving all batches of LCHS alumni.
Why don't we initiate a project called "Operation: Share Those Pics" through the Spectrum? The project will call on fellow alumni to lend us class photos of their respective batches or, for those who have photo scanners, to zip in their old pictures for posting on our web site. These inputs may be categorized under batch year, school activities, etc., so that our fellow alumni can easily find their way to the web pages of interest to them. We can update, change, or add pictures periodically so that people will also have reasons to revisit the site every now and then. If we manage the "Chung Hua Territory" web site like a multi-batch yearbook, where all alumni can enjoy surfing in and feel at home, then perhaps we can draw more visitors in, and get more alumni to count themselves in on the batch listing.
To make this project even more meaningful, let's invite each batch to design and manage its own home page in our envisioned LCHS Cyber Yearbook. This will motivate former classmates to join hands in the project, like selecting and putting up their class pictures, junior-senior prom photos, clippings, old poems or writings, just like working a yearbook they haven't had the opportunity to produce before. To encourage participation, we can probably hold a contest with awards for the most beautiful work, whose work is the first to be submitted, and other categories. (Ah, this would pit prehistoric dinos against the crocs!) Let's solicit the funds for the awards from the Alumni Association or other alumni benefactors. For those class batches who do not have any PC to work with, they can perhaps approach fellow alumni in Iligan who are well versed with the Internet like Johnny Chen or Vinson Ngo. In CdeO, I'm also available as a volunteer to assist those without Internet connection, and to link up with the Spectrum on their behalf and submit their work.
So, how about it, folks? An LCHS cyber yearbook. Another first on the World Wide Web!
As I remember my childhood days in Oro Christian Grace School (OCGS), I cannot help but smile and be thankful for being one of the lucky children who had the chance to study and graduate in one of the most prestigious schools in CdeO. Not only was my academic life nurtured but most especially my spiritual life and relationship with God. I could never forget the interesting Bible stories, the Christian songs sang when we were still small, and the important lessons in life that God imparted to us through our teachers.
Classes were fun and exciting, thanks to our able teachers who were much gifted in their field. They made boring subjects enjoyable to us. Every subject was important, but most specially Math - the number one focus in school. Being a Chinese school, Math subject is topmost in our curriculum. As early as Kinder 2, students are already capable of counting large numbers and reading simple words.
One of the most memorable moments of high school life was being a member of our glee club named OCGS Symphony Singers. It was a very good practice for our undiscovered talents and helped boost our confidence on stage. It was at the glee club that I learned the virtue of patience and the value of friendship among group members. In here, bonds and closeness to one another are developed and I found my closest friends I think I will ever have.
Indeed, I will never forget my alma mater. With wonderful memories in
my heart, I will continue to be very proud of my school. I will forever
miss
the airconditioned school offices, the conference room, the delicious
and healthful canteen snacks, my classmates and friends. My alma mater
will forever have a special part of my childhood memories. Oro Christian
Grace School, you are truly the Number One and the best school in my heart!
(EDITORS' NOTES: Cherry Ann Co is a second year Arts & Science student at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City. She was a consistent valedictorian in high school. She is the eldest daughter of Giovanni Co, Batch '71, who is now based in C de O, where he owns and manages the Conan's Bakeshoppe together with his wife, Rose.)
This section takes our readers on a trip back in time. "Flashback"
is a review of our life and times at LCHS as captured and immortalized
in the photo archives of LCHS alumni. More of these rare photos are available
under "Vintage Photos" on our alumni home page: http://www.iligan.com/~lchs/alumni
