Internet Newsletter of the Alumni of Lanao Chung Hua School Vol. 4, No. 20, December 18, 2000, Iligan City, Philippines SPECIAL CHRISTMAS ISSUE Who'll be next LCHS-AA president? As the year draws nearer to a close, speculations are afoot once again on the next slate of alumni officers. Election of a new set of officers and directors of the LCHS Alumni Association is scheduled early next year. This early, talks going the rounds center on who is likely to succeed outgoing president Arturo Samson (Batch '59).  Initial information gathered by the Spectrum point to Vy Beng Hong (Batch '69) as the logical choice, he being the incumbent executive vice president of the LCHS-AA and the next officer in the line of succession. He is also chairman of the LCHS-AA Ways & Means Committee; and chairman of the Awards Committee during the GAH on Aug. 3-5, 2000.  A student leader in his LCHS days, he is also the executive vice president of the LCHS Board of Trustees. New Spectrum subscribers More subscribers have recently been added to the Spectrum mailing list.  The latest additions are Marie Joan Quimbo (Batch '87), Iligan; Terence Chua (Batch '89), Cagayan de Oro; Rey Bacod, Alaska, U.S.A.; Erlinda Uytengsu, Cebu; Helen Cheng-Tan, Davao; Leonardo Go, Cagayan de Oro; and Marcy Sy-Go (Batch '67), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania., U.S.A.

EDITORIAL STAFF Charles O. Sy, Editor Henry L. Yu, Associate Editor Correspondents: Iligan - Johnny Chen, Teresita Racines, Vinson Ngo, Roger Suminguit, & Armi Leslie Te. Cebu - Igdono Caracho. Metro Manila - Marie Janiefer Lee. Canada - Peter Dy & Mikee 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

By Roger Suminguit, Batch 1973

Alumni go agri-farming

"Tracers" this week tracks down several alumni who are into agri-business. We have Remedios Ong-Uy (Batch '59) who runs a thriving farm in Sitio Olas, Barangay Tipanoy, Iligan City, with her husband Uy Chio King.  The Uys own the R.A. Uy Farm with 18,000 heads of layer chickens (egg production), and a fruit orchard in their 24-hectare property.  Benjohnson Siao owns the BV Farms (piggery & poultry) located at Barangays Tipanoy and Abuno, Iligan City. Benjohnson is a consistent donor of lechon in practically every LCHS-AA affair, the most recent of which was the Grand Alumni Homecoming held last August 3-5. He is popularly known as "Boy Siao" in Iligan's social and business circles. Another agri-business magnate is Charles Ang (Batch '71) who owns the Charles Ang Farm, located at sitio Panul-iran, Barangay Abuno, Iligan City. Assisting him in running his vast operation are Linda Ang (Batch '59), former LCHS Chinese teacher; and Joselyn Ang (Batch '67), formerly connected with Security Bank-Iligan Branch, as farm technicians.  Charles, or Amboy as he is known among friends, is also one of the consistent donors of lechon in LCHS-AA parties. He is an avid golfer and his perennial tee-off partner is Julius Racines (Batch '69).  And there is also Johnny Yip (batch '71) who owns a poultry (layer) farm in Na-awan, Misamis Oriental. He also manages Yip Bakery in Cogon, Cagayan de Oro City.

Bringing back the afterglow of yesteryears
Sun, 03 Dec 2000 05:31:12 +0800

To Henry Yu: I'm really enjoying your Spectrum and TGIF. I really do. I don't know how you do it, but you seem to never run out of words to choose in order to fit the winning scrabble that makes what you've written amazing in its simplicity. You seem like a man who could give off sunshine but keep the darkness in himself. Both your Spectrum and TGIF often take us back to the happy younger days of our life and help us recreate the way we were, catch the twinkling vibration and once again live in the afterglow of yesteryears.  Man, you're doing a good job in exchange for nothing but the enjoyment of everyone. But when one loves what one is doing like you do, time and inconvenience have very little meaning. So keep up the good work. --Clemente Estrera, M. D., Petersburg, Virginia, U.S.A., clems3ra@rcn.com

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

With December airwaves wholly enriched with century-old carols; with dining tables steaming with scents of ham and fruitcake; with a garish display of miniature rainbow glitters illuminating the string of "ho ho ho" around Christian homes, the prevailing mood in my side of the world is of the revitalized same old, same old brewing anticipation of Santa's favorite fanfares. Indeed, the bounding pulse of Christmas is too palpable to ignore. Usual scenes lately: rabid scrambles around Internet malls for those screaming bargains using (and abusing) mere typing fingers; the nifty thrillers of tensing the firepower of one's stack of credit cards for that incredibly exquisite jewelry find; the killer office parties that dissolve one's shyness to insane caloric loads, those season's greetings that melt into season's eatings; the repetitive trips to wishing wells for the longed heaven-by-your-side sensory teases. Having spent half of my breathing years in Buffalo, I can detect a pulsating tingle in my bladder (Nope, not that kind. Silly!) that come Dec. 25th our piece of Earth will be a blanket of nothing but snowflakes and white magic. The bone-chilling crystals of purity just love to coat our pine trees and roadways on Christmas Day, permeating a winter wonderland ambience in our hearts. A major reason for why native Buffalonians champion the emotional merits of hugs: one plus one heats up the blood.

Among numerous symbolic entities, the color red exudes the dazzle and glory of love. Here is someone's Christmas luncheon tradition: Before partaking in the fiesta-like extravaganza for taste buds, a candle is lighted for each departed kin and dear friend when her/his name is called. Silent prayers then follow. "The glowing candles," she intones, "project the presence of their spirit in our lives while the ritual saves us from dwelling on their absence." Wow, that is love in its purest form. As red as can be.

Of course, blue Christmas is the devastatingly dreadful pedigree. The sad consequence of sinful shopping marathons. The recklessly pushing to the extreme edges the phrase "Sky's the limit!" Likewise, it is the tint of disappointment for unwrapping a gift that is as distasteful as a big snore; the frustration that encourages you to mumble, "Might as well tell the sun not to ever shine again."

Whatever crayons you elect to rub on your Yuletide coloring book, just spend, spend and spend. Not the mad spending that inspire bazaars and boutiques to explode in a paroxysm of hacking laughter. SPEND quality hours with your family: Pick the wondrous sparkle in your kids' eyes when they fish out Santa's candy canes in their stocking stuffers; vibrate the joy in narrating a spirited version of Charles Dickens' holiday hits to your breed of young ears; huddle and trade sweet nothing with your brothers and sisters; sprinkle cheers and good tidings to the seniors in your clan (mom and dad, grannies, uncles, aunts). Whether red or white or blue, Christmas is all about people who love you and people whom you love.

Spread the virus.

By Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

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

Christmas Day of the New Millennium will soon be here in a matter of seven days. We pause and ponder and ask ourselves: How will it be like amid current national crisis, the incessant rallies, the on-going impeachment trial, typhoons, tropical depressions?  Oh, we have had enough of the negatives: peso devaluation, gasoline hike, natural calamities, noise barrage, placards, below-the-belt write-ups, discontentment, demos, rallies, etc.  We would rather shift to a more soothing and positive ambiance by bringing back those beautiful CHRISTMAS MEMORIES which have long gone by but forever imprinted indelibly in the inner recesses of our hearts and minds. So, come sail with me in this sentimental journey towards yesterday's merry season…

A week before Christmas during our student days in the 60s set us free from school projects, homeworks, assignments, exams. It was a time when a litany of fanfares happened: parties here and there, giving and receiving gifts, doing last minute shoppings, listening to "yuletide carols being spun by a choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos." It saw us busy preparing for our class party, shopping for the "chin-chin" gifts, went caroling with the group, helped in watching our store, taking extended siestas, reading Christmas storybooks, etc. Then the final day of the Christmas Party came with me delivering the opening remarks and RODOLFO YU leading the group in singing "Come on and dance the Merry Christmas Polka, let everyone be happy and gay. Oh! It’s a time to be jolly and deck the halls with holly. So let’s have a jolly holiday." Then there's ANTONIO LEO TE's version of  "O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining. This is the night of our dear Savior's birth," the chorus number of ALICE NGO, APOLONIA  CHIU, DELIA DY, EDNA TAN CHOA, FELICITAS LY, JOSEFINA LIM, JANET LEE, and LEODEGARIA LAGROSAS, the dance presentation of ADELFA TAN, BETTY BERNARDO, CHARITA SIA, and CHIOK HIAN DY to the tune of "I Saw Her Standing There." There's the apple eating contest, trip to Jerusalem, and several other parlor games participated in by CASTOR ONG, USING LEE, TIMMY TAN, RODRIGO CAYUBIT, BENNY KAOHOK, JULIUS RACINES, BENG HONG VY, RICHARD LIM, JIMMY LING, LEOPOLDO TAN, ELSON and SEGUNDO VELASCO, and the rest of the Grade Six Class under Miss JOSEFINA TAN one December 15 in the year 1965. The distribution of food followed, which was contained in individual brown paper bags consisting of empanada, egg sandwich, lollipops, and cookies, with matching Coca Cola or Royal Tru-Orange, capped with the exchanging of gifts at P10.00 including wrapper. Yes, with that amount, you could buy a lot of things at that time of our youth: picture frame, battery operated toys, diary, photo album, pocket book, etc.

Oh, that was indeed one epoch in time when we really had an honest-to-goodness kind of Merry Christmas, devoid of the present day's woes and worries of what's happening to our country, or of what's in store for us in the coming year. Truly, there's nothing more colorful and memorable than the CHRISTMAS MEMORIES of our youth – such times when we used to wrap the Christmas tree with green or white curled crepe papers, or splashed hardened Perla laundry soap to a Christmas tree that was made of broom sticks, or hanging knick knacks with the red paper bell centrally attached from the ceiling, and a lot more of those childhood rhapsodies.

Today, as parents, we take time out from our busy schedules to bring our kids to the malls, shopping for dresses and toys, go and see a movie, or eating out for lunch. Yes, our children look up to us as their idols and heroes --- we who were the innocent kids of the 60s and today's wise men, made so by the many life's journeys we've gone thru, and the valuable lessons we've learned from. Happiness for us is seeing the look of Christmas, that innocent glow, in our children's eyes, with us as the Santa Claus "who’s making a list and checking it twice, finding out who’s naughty or nice, who sees them when they’re sleeping, who knows when they’re awake, who knows if they’ve been bad or good." Yes, we are Santa Claus and we're coming to town. Ho-Ho-Ho…

Once again, let the look of Christmas be in our eyes this season as we recall those CHRISTMAS MEMORIES when we were kids in a world all our own, such time when we were innocently young and joyfully carefree, singing to our heart's delight those old favorite Christmas songs of our time. Yes, "although it's been said many times many ways Merry Christmas to you."
 

TRIVIA

Who doesn't know Porong? Who doesn't know the popular Porong of Iligan City? He used to shine shoes and peddle newspaper and sweepstakes tickets around town in the early days.  His name is Telesforo Abragan.  In this rare photo, Porong (wearing a Garcia-Puyat t-shirt) is shown with Congressman Laurentino Badelles (lower right, with eyeglasses) in the latter's campaign for reelection as representative of the then undivided Lanao province in the early 60s.  (Photo courtesy of Franco Badelles).

Look who came to the party

If you were present at the Grand Alumni Homecoming on Aug. 3-5, 2000, how many of these alumni in this pictorial would you have recognized?

Somebody declared in text messaging: "As for me, I'll join the queue at the U.S. Embassy for an Immigrant Visa. Buti pa sa America, walang presidente."

This says it all about the present problem in the U.S.A. and the Philippines. While the American courts are debating about "swinging, hanging, dimple-pregnant chads," Philippine senators, instead of legislating, are acting as judges/jurists in a court case to impeach the president. Both countries are in crisis, with people critically divided. While one can't decide whom to install as president, the other one is trying to decide whether to uninstall its president.

It seems we are heading for a "blue Christmas," or in American common term, a "bad Christmas."  Just about the time America devoured its last Thanksgiving turkey leftover, TV newscasters released their verdict: Looks like a "bad Christmas" this year. What they mean is that sales in retail stores may be down during the upcoming Christmas buying season. Many companies need a year-end consumer spending frenzy to stay afloat financially. And that makes for a "bad" Christmas.

In the Philippines, as people have grown immune to low economic activity since the 1997 Asian meltdown, we are facing the worst Christmas yet -- with poor business sales, rising cost of living, plunging peso, unemployment on the rise, and a president busy defending himself in an impeachment case. The ever romantic Filipinos call it "blue" Christmas.

Allow me to share my feelings with you. There is something in me that doesn't like the term "bad" or "blue" attached to Christmas. How can the celebration of the birthday of Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, ever be bad or blue?

Let me tell you a Bible story:  In the months before Jesus was born, Mary ventured to a nearby town to visit her relative Elizabeth, who also was expecting a child. As soon as Mary spoke, the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaped with joy. There was excitement in the air for those who knew the true identity of Mary's baby!  Like the baby in Elizabeth's womb, let's recapture the joyous excitement of Christmas this year! There was trouble during the time of Christ's birth. Yet Mary and Joseph, though tired and with no place to stay for the night, and the shepherds with their animals, had a joyous gathering around the manger. On that silent and holy night, our Christ was born. Hence, it has been Christmas Day.

My friends, whatever plight you are in at the moment, let's focus on the EVENT we celebrate, rather than on the CELEBRATION of the event. In Christ we have HOPE. It is His birth we are honoring. That alone always makes for a "good" Christmas! May everybody have a joyous Christmas ever!
 

LCHS ALUMNI DIRECTORY (2nd of a Series)

The LCHS-AA, in coordination with the Spectrum, is currently updating its alumni database -- in preparation for distribution in the next GAH. The directory is presented here by batches, based on initial inputs. If you have any correction or additional data, please e-mail the Spectrum at: charlesy@cnms.net; or text message to: 0917-3296872.

BATCH 1956
Andy "Siok An" Ang (Lee),  Manila Bazaar & Hardware, J. Luna St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3022;  Dy Shek Tong, Zamboanga Sea Product, 273 Tres de Abril St.,Tabo-an, Cebu City, tel. 261-1822; Luis "Chik Ti" Kho, Lluch Park, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-4813; Asuncion "Asiong" Lim, Cotabato City; Ngo Ka Dek, Manila; Bebencio Palang, Seawalk Trading Corp., 888 A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City, tel. 346-1335; Elson Siao, San Diego, CA, U.S.A., e-mail: ekxon@home.com; Henry Siao, Krisland Commercial Corporation, Juan Luna St., Iligan City, tel. 221-5692. cell 0917-7163233; e-mail: Dominic@iligan.com; Newton Siao, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.; e-mail: newtonsiao@home.com; Ben "Chu Eng" Sy, Cagayan de Oro City, e-mail: cbs9@iname.com; Sy Chu Tek, Cebu Ever Drug, Inc., 212 V. Gullas St., Cebu City, tel. 256-1097, e-mail: wins@cbu.skyinet.net; Felipe "Hong Chin" Sy, Manila; Sy Kim Hua, 43-D Eisenhower St., Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila, tel. 722-1836; Lucing Sy (deceased); Dina Tan, 4th-7th Nazareth St., Cagayan de Oro City, tel. (0888)-572-515; Tina Bernardo Tan (Ong), Cebu Oriental Food Shoppe, 19 J. Llorente St., Cebu City, tel. 253-4288; and Gertrude "Huy Du" Te, Cebu City.  (Next issue: Batch 1957)

As we approach the tail-end of the year, we conclude yet another chapter of our collective pursuit in the service of the LCHS community. The year has been generous to the Spectrum.  We have been spared the dreaded shortage of materials, a chronic malaise that beset the Spectrum in previous years.  This year saw a steady flow of inputs from our reportorial squad.  Where we once were driven to the brink of surrender, this year saw an upsurge of encouragement from the LCHS community for what we thought all the while was a thankless job.

The Spectrum owes it to the men and women in the staff for keeping this newsletter in good shape.  Their undying spirit enabled the Spectrum to come off the press with clockwork regularity throughout the year.  It is a tribute to this breed of talents in our midst that the Spectrum has accomplished such a feat. Having said that, we salute anew our columnists who continued to enrich our pages with literary gems in their respective columns without let-up, namely Henry Yu, Ernesto Yu, Leonardo Tan, Marie Janiefer Lee, and Aurora Tansiokhian. Their creativity is unparalleled; their diligence unmatched.

That the Spectrum has been able to maintain its relevance is the result of the dynamism and resourcefulness of its reporters.  Their initiative to feed us with fresh news from home shaped the backbone from which the Spectrum draws its strength.  They are Roger Suminguit, Teresita Racines, Johnny Chen, Vinson Ngo, Peter Dy, Igdono Caracho, Mike Lee and Armi Leslie Te.  That the Spectrum has sustained itself through another year in top form and substance is a tribute to the many contributors who breathed life into its pages with their invaluable insights on a variety of subjects of timeless significance.  We are thankful to Evelyn Yu Go, Rene Tio, Marie Josiefel Ello, Jane Dale Racines, Alfred Lai II, Suniel Lim, Dominic Siao, Florfina Teh Gough, Clemente Estrera Jr., Janet Lee Tan, Fe Quimbo, Karen Go, Remedios Tan Wee, Emma Yap Matiao, Gloricita Racines Kinnan, Czarina Gebrelle Soriano, Larry Sy, and Kirk Patrick Ang .

Affixing an added dimension to what has been a fruitful year for the Spectrum was the recognition that it received at the Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAH) on Aug. 3-5, 2000.  Much credit has been attributed to us for having nurtured the idea that led to the holding of the first alumni grand reunion -- perhaps too much more than we deserved.&  Coming as it did from our alumni leaders and the LCHS community at large, we are much obliged for the honor. Yet it bears pointing out, for the record, that the idea of holding the GAH was not the brainchild of a single individual.  The very concept itself sprang from the discussion in the Spectrum sparked by two other concerned alumni who deserved as much credit as the editor, namely Leonardo Tan and Peter Dy.  They justifiably merit a fair share of the pie.

Needless to say, the year has been a good one for the Spectrum.  For this we are grateful to all our staff writers, contributors, readers and sponsors.  You all have given us more than ample motivation to carry on. Our cup runneth over.  Daghang Salamat!