INTERNET NEWSLETTER OF THE ALUMNI OF LANAO CHUNG HUA SCHOOL
Vol. II - No. 32, November 23, 1998, Iligan City, Philippines

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The LCHS Alumni Association has revised and refined its Scholarship Program. With these new guidelines, the Association projects to have around five pioneering scholars perhaps around next school year. In its board meeting last Nov. 13, the officers also approved the release of financial assistance pledged last year to two students.  The board also discussed the preparations for the alumni Christmas party set on Dec. 30.  The 17" color TV set for the grand raffle prize and other consolation prizes have been purchased.  Food solicitations have likewise been made. Decoration of the venue, the LCHS gym, will be done through a decoration contest among LCHS students. (See this issue's Features Section for the new guidelines.)

LCHS celebration ends in songs & dances
By Igdono Caracho (Batch '66)

Songs and dances marked the final day of the celebration of LCHS Foundation Day last Nov. 12.  The festivities reeled off with a city parade by LCHS students and faculty in the morning. The parade was followed by a field demonstration at the LCHS campus. Selected high school students also presented a special tai-chi demonstration. Programs were also held in the morning and afternoon of Nov. 12, during which musical and entertainment numbers were presented by winners of the Chinese singing contest and campus talents. Henry Siao, LCHS Director, and Sy Chu An, President of the LCHS Board of Trustees, were also on hand to deliver their inspirational talks.

By Teresita Racines (Batch '67)

New alumni members
More and more alumni have recently registered their membership with the LCHS Alumni Association.  The latest additions are: Rossana Co Belmonte, Adelfa Tan Dy, Melecia Kwan Papa, and Rene Tio.

Condolences to the Sia family
Our condolences to the Sia family for the demise of their beloved mother, Celsa R. Sia, last November 7. Her children, namely Charita S. Po, Rolando (deceased), Benito, Alex, Eduardo, and Roberto, are all alumni of LCHS. The interment was held last Saturday, November 14, 1998.

Adelfa Tan wuz here
Adelfa Tan (Batch '69) was in Iligan recently.  She came home for the wake of the late Mrs. Sia,   who was her auntie being the wife of her father's brother. Adelfa was with LCHS until third year high school before she transferred to another school. She was the charming little girl in our Chinese class and the favorite student of Ngo Nay Kong. Still looking as young and pretty as ever, she now resides in Valenzuela, Metro Manila with her husband Peter Dy, and children Peterson and Pamela. The family owns  the Peter's Getty Oil, a distributor of petroleum products of Mobil Philippines in Manila.  Adelfa's eldest, Peterson, is a 1st year Computer Management student and Pamela is a high school sophomore at the Chiang Kai Shek College. Before she left back for Manila last Nov. 15, she had a rare reunion with some of her LCHS classmates at the Sunburst Chicken (dinner compliments of Vy Beng Hong).  Among those who attended the gathering were Vy Beng Hong, Jose Lim, Richard Lim, Elsa Lagrosas, Wang Chiok Hian, husband Johnny and daughter Haydee and this writer. After Sunburst closed at 10:00 p.m., the group proceeded to the residence of Richard Lim who treated us to ice cream and chika-chika until midnight.

The Spratly controversy
Tue, 17 Nov 1998 19:16:01 -0800

For sometime, this issue on the Spratly Island has been debated on. The island has many fishes, corals and perhaps even rich ore and oil deposits. My opinion is that if the Spratly Island is within the territorial area of the Philippine islands then it is Philippine claim, but if the island is within the international area then it is international claim.

Jeanne Nacague Te (Ong Chin Chin)
Iligan, Philippines

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

Glad  you didn't give more than a passing thought to such utterly twisted and pure rubbish  speculations that attempted to elucidate my startling three-week hushed escape from Spectrum: 1) That I was floored by one of those vicious viruses and lethal syndromes that Miami paisano, Alex "Al Pacino" DoLittle, has been ringing in installment basis.  If a buggy belly is an external representation of one's  immune system, then I have an obese squadron of policing cells to ward off any evil microbes. Besides, before those fire-breathing germs become real stinkers, they really have to be dedicated to the mission of eroding through a barrack of fats. 2) My two typing fingers have been bombarded with abuses that they embraced a united front and enrolled in a union. Now, they can refuse to pound the keys to transcribe my inner mutterings into visible scripts, especially when, in the name of civilized table manners, they can't cuddle and  caress directly the sautéed chicken breast dish on its transit to my piggish taste receptors.  3) The latest edition of Webster’s dictionary didn't land on my book shelf on time to scribble some vibrant slangs and idioms. The ancient reference bible that I have been punching for assistance and booster  for years may not carry the glamorous vocabularies of the late twentieth century, like "cyberspace chat" and "viagra-stiff", but  its withered pages have ossified the vintage terminologies for instant access by a medieval intracranial network, such favorites as "dinosaurs' hunt" and "wrinkly prune". 4) Those hombres in the Spectrum publication office have barred my journalistic twirls and vaults of verbs and adjectives, to redeem a squirmy soul from making blatantly conspicuous the irrational and erratic flight of ideas of someone on psychotropic drugs who's tossed in an open field to freely drool. Hogwash! I'm as sane as any of the free speech advocates from Sydney, Cebu,  Bunn Hill. I think.

Amid the upsetting  traumas of doubts and second guessing, I'm back in the ring with renewed lightning-quick energies and stinging jabs, and pledge to answer the bell even when I'll be off on vacation in Cebu and Dumaguete next Monday for three solid weeks of fun-filled breather from the festering elements that shaped me into a circumstantial basket case. Yeah, I'm back, aching to rock and roll in your private clouds.

By Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch '66

August 27, our 3rd day in Virginia and we went crossing the Appalachian Mountains to visit Uncle Denny and Aunt Carol in Beckley, West Virginia. We were 13 in the party and were in 2 vehicles driven by cousins Josephine and Janet, our beautiful guides and excellent drivers. Both were behind the wheels all the way. It was more than 4 hours' drive with a couple of rest stops. We arrived Beckley almost midday heading straight to the exclusive estate of Flat Top Lake.

This is where Uncle Denny and Aunt Carol established their home since the mid 70s. Their sprawling bungalow is still so nice and beautiful after all these years. A new addition was a houseboat with a roof deck down by the cliff along the lake. The lake was the result of a mini dam constructed for the purpose of conserving the water from the melted snow of the mountain tops. With lots of green and lush trees around plus the lake and the high altitude, air-conditioning was non-existent here and it's pretty comfortable even in summer time. The view around the lake was just breathtaking. Every now and then a boat would pass by with the occupants waving at us. There are only less than a hundred house owners around the lake and everybody knows everybody. Cousin Linley whose school was only an hour's drive away joined us in mid-afternoon. The kids enjoyed swimming and even jumped from the roof deck which was about 4 meters high. Reluctantly, I tried the jet ski. I was worried it might sink with my weight!

Aunt Monina was again busy in the kitchen for the feast that night. Dinner was served at the open terrace facing the lake. With Aunt Monina's cooking, I was just glad that Uncle Denny, a doctor, waived my diet reducing regime or the semblance of it. The atmosphere was great and we had a very enjoyable dinner amid pleasant conversations. It was followed later with Uncle Denny converting his octagonal glass table for mahjong by placing square board. With Uncle Henry and Al, the gang was complete once more and the game lasted a little past midnight.

The following morning, Aunt Carol was our tour guide and she took us to the longest single span steel bridge of the world. It was an hour away from the town center of Beckley, which was an old coal mining town and had the highest income per capita in the entire country during its heyday.  We first went down to the river and we passed by some very narrow portion of the road where only a single car could pass. Aunt Monina had to pray that we wouldn't encounter any vehicle from the opposite direction. After a great lunch at a western buffet, we made our return trip to Herndon, Virginia. And Uncle Denny and Aunt Carol would follow later. We had a very wonderful time in this idyllic place nestled somewhere in the highlands of West Virginia. Yet this was not part of our original itinerary. The long drive was worth every mile of our Appalachian crossing.

By Aurora H. Tansiokhian, M.D., Batch '58

When Viagra (sildenafil) first came out, you’d have thought we skipped Armageddon and the  millennium and jumped into the Second Coming.  Men suddenly wanted to share their feelings and were willing to admit they couldn’t "get it up."  But now that time has passed and sales have dipped, and the hysteria has died down, it might be time to take a realistic view of Viagra (V). 

V is the first oral drug (just swallow it) approved by the US FDA  for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) which is  the consistent inability to attain and maintain penile erection (rigid and elevated condition) sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse. It is a cause of impotence which is inability of man to have sexual intercourse. In most cases, a combination of physical and psychological factors cause the problem.  Stress, depression, injury to the penile nerves and blood vessels, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, alcohol (even binge drinking), smoking, high blood pressure, high "bad" cholesterol, drugs like atenolol and hydrochlothiazide can all cause or predispose to ED.

V is not science's first attempt to address this most male of problems.  For example, a vacuum pump device (more Electrolux than Hoover) is more cumbersome but has the highest success rate ( 90-95% of cases), has no major side effects, can be used in all types of ED as often as the patient wishes and is more affordable.  It is meant for use in a stable relationship.  Those who seek a one night stand (a no, no) may opt for a pill.

Erection is initiated by stimulation from the brain (sexual thoughts) and penis (touch)  that causes increase in blood flow to the penis which eventually leads to erection.  V does not initiate erection. V maintains and prolongs erection once it is achieved. It has no effect on libido (sexual desire).

V comes in 25-, 50- and 100-mg. blue tablets. Cost per tablet for all sizes is $8.70 (it varies, so shop). It is effective, well tolerated and allows for spontaneity.  It should not be taken more than once a day and with nitrates like nitroglycerin as it can cause severe low blood pressure then megatrouble.

Deaths have occurred among patients taking V. It is a drug not to be taken casually.

V should not be taken if there is no ED.  It should not be used (foolish!)  to enhance adequate function (normal erection). This may incur the wrath of  God.

ED is a medical condition that can greatly affect the quality of life. Treatment is warranted if desired. The decision to use V should be between partners after medical consultation.  Sex, when responsible, loving, consensual and monogamous can enhance life's joy.

Graham Greene (author) said: "Why did [God] give us genitals then if he (sic) wanted us to think clearly?"

Mr. Greene, I would speak only for your Y chromosome compatriots.

By Henry L. Yu, M.D.,  Batch '69

Charita Sia - She was my classmate in English class since Grade I who wore eyeglasses as early as Grade III and whom I envied because at the time I also wanted to wear eyeglasses.  She is the daughter of Hing Huat and the sister of Bebe and Amang.  We gave her a Stag-Shower Party a few days before her wedding.  I was one of her secondary sponsors.
Chiok Hian Dy - My neighbor and classmate in English class since Grade I, who used to play hide and seek with us at the backyard.  She was one class ahead of me in Chinese. Ever regal and soft-spoken, she too was a consistent honor student.
Beng Hong Vy - He was tall and lanky with frail-looking features who used to play with me in our house.  I remember most that time when we found pleasure setting fire on the balay-balay that we created out of cartons.  Oh, the arsonist in us!  He was president of the Student Council and a dynamic leader in many a school activity.
Rodolfo Yu - Was the other Yu in our class. There were only two Yus in our batch of 1969. His Chinese name is Sey Chay but we always called him Chichay to our innocent mind's delight.  He was very good at dancing and singing.  He with that mole on his upper lip. (Continued next issue)

I.  Objectives:
A.  General Objective:
The association shall inculcate true Chinese education, culture and values to the prospective recipients of this program.

B.  Specific Objectives:
The association shall -
  1.  Promote the welfare of the less fortunate alumni of LCHS;
  2.  Encourage the children and/or dependents of alumni to study at LCHS.

II.  Attainment of the Objectives:
To attain the above objectives, the LCHS-AA shall grant scholarship to deserving children and/or dependents of the less fortunate alumni.

III. Requirements:
  1. The applicant shall fill up an application form and submit the same to the Scholarship Committee of the association.
  2. The applicant shall submit his/her Report of Grades to the committee.
  3. The parent/guardian of the applicant shall be interviewed by the screening committee.
  4. During the interview the parent/guardian shall bring along the applicant.
  5. The applicant is required to apply for scholarship grant every year.
  6.  He/she must submit the application form to the Scholarship Committee on or before the 3rd  Monday of April.

 Note: In the event that the grantee gets a failing grade after the 1st semester, the grant will be stopped.

IV. Qualifications of the Applicant:
  1.  He/she is a  legitimate dependent of the less fortunate alumnus of LCHS.
  2.  He/she must not be a recipient of any government or private study grant, financial assistance, or any other scholarship grant.
  3.  He/she must be of good, mental, physical and moral character.
  4.  For an applicant to the kindergarten level, the financial status of the parents/guardian shall be considered.
  5.  For an applicant to the elementary or high school level, the following shall be considered:
      5.a   Financial status of the parents/guardian
      5.b   A general average grade of 80 or better in the immediate preceding year provided no failing grade/grades in any subjects taken.

V.  Composition  of the Screening Committee
The screening committee shall be composed of the 3 members of the scholarship committee, the chairman of the education committee, and the president of the alumni association.

VI. Role of  the Screening Committee
The screening committee is tasked to -
1.  Interview the parents/guardian of the applicants;
2.  Evaluate the submitted documents of the applicants;
3.  Make recommendation and submit the same to the alumni association for approval; and
4.  Make announcement as to who the successful applicants are.

Duties and Functions of  the  Scholarship Committee
The committee shall -
1.  Solicit  funds to ensure  the continuous and smooth operation of the scholarship program;
2.  Determine the number of  scholars every year;
3.  Submit a yearly report of the budget;
4.  Monitor the progress of the scholars;
5.  Advertise the scholarship program of the association through the media; and
6.  Submit a financial report at the end of every academic year.