Year-end Report:
Spectrum Leaps from 5 to 75
By Charles O. Sy (Batch '67)

What started out as a casual chit-chat by email has evolved into a global network of no-nonsense cyber-journalism.  Started on April 15, 1997, the Spectrum involved only five LCHS alumni interacting with each other on the Internet, exchanging tales of their alma mater in the good old days, and sharing information on the whereabouts of fellow alumni.

Today, eight months after its inception, the Spectrum counts no less than 75 subscribers on its mailing list.  Of these, 49 are subscribers to its e-mail edition, and 26 to the HTML edition.  The figure does not include many others more who receive the Spectrum by fax or computer print-out. The growing  list covers alumni based in Iligan; Cebu; Cagayan de Oro; Manila; Sydney, Australia; Edmonton & Toronto, Canada; as well as in different states in the U.S.A., namely, New York; Florida; New Jersey; California; Utah; Alaska; Texas; Michigan; Illinois; and Alabama.

As the Spectrum views the new year up ahead with optimism, it recommits itself to the service of LCHS alumni worldwide and hopes that its growth will be sustained.  Current subscribers can help the Spectrum attain its goals for 1998 by submitting more e-mail addresses of fellow alumni for inclusion in its mailing list.

Iligan Lights Up for Christmas

Iligan City lights up this Christmas like no other time before. This year the whole stretch of the national highway from Buru-un to Dalipuga is adorned with magnificent Christmas decor.  In the evening the long stretch comes alive with Christmas lights. The decorations are in the form of Christmas tree, lanterns and the Belen.  They are all made of indigenous materials like banana trunks, corn cobs, coco trunks and coir.  The city government launched this creative project as a contest among the residents.

Iligan Boy Scouts Join Jamboree

The Iligan City Boy Scouts will join the Centennial Jamboree to be held at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga in January next year. The city government has appropriated P500,000 for Iligan's Boy Scout delegation.  Kagawad Henry Dy, chairman of the Boy Scout City Council, met recently with the BSP Executive Board at Lai Lai Restaurant to finalize plans and determine the number of delegates to the jamboree. There are 29,495 Boy Scouts in the city's 31 private and public secondary and elementary schools.
 

Please practise censoring racist remarks in your otherwise very clean web site. In your "Chung Hua Territory" home page, degrading remarks such as "intsik" should not be tolerated. Otherwise, we will be the laughing stock of the web. "Tsinoy" is a more acceptable term.

High Suns, Taiwan, ROC
et000179@ksts.seed.net.tw

(Thank you for calling our attention to the "racist" remark posted by a viewer on the guestbook of our home page. The word in question has been deleted accordingly.--Editors)

Those LCHS Caroling Days
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 12:49:58 EST

After spending so many Christmases in the United States, I still think back to the one in 1965, when I went caroling with the "kids" from LCHS. I wonder how many from the bunch can still remember? Happy Holidays!

Felipe Oh, former LCHS teacher, Troy, Michigan, U.S.A.
Skhuanoh@aol.com
 

New Year’s resolutions are like a story line in Cinderella where the magical moments are abruptly halted by the chime of the grandfather's clock at twelve; and in the interlude, the glamorous social butterfly staggers in pathetic episodes before being glued back to her prince charming. Our Dec. 31 midnight-mutterings, however, exhale no lasting fume to garner a fairy tale climax. The declaration to nip and tuck unwanted anatomical baggage with starvation (kamikaze) diet and stationary jogging are vaporized into pure combative whines in just a week or two. The manic giggling to liberate one's lungs from being downgraded into a pulmonary cripple by Philip Morris turns out to be a vacuous resolve that initially ravages like a wild thing until the next joyful quiver of nicotine.  A baby boomer’s pledge to subdue his men-opause (or mental pause) thwarted yearnings and to relearn the basics of marriage institutions diffuses in thin air when a stunningly chic bimbo in blood-red sports car zooms by.

Feel skinned by all the blistering twists of your newly minted ambitions? Welcome to the club.

The negative spins of wrinkly citizens with prosperous bellies churning and thrashing away the night with Hollywood's young movers and shakers.

With this journalistic pitch , I can almost relive the whole shebang in my bladder!

My Ma was, and still is, I suppose, of good nature, pleasant to most people, and generous. The schoolteachers, of English and Chinese departments in those times, could not say less. The school first couple, Hao Tiew and Hao Tiew Niu, would surely nod in agreement. My Ma would provide the teachers, especially those stay-ins at the school quarters with free snacks, time and again. Sometimes cases of free softdrinks would be delivered to the school faculty office, especially on special occasions, like school graduation day. My Pa had his share of generosity. He cooked super specials for them, like steaming 'Lumi', 'Kiam-beh', 'lumpia' and his Quemoy way of cooking was tested and tasted to the hilt. Well, if I got good grades during those times, you know already. But, I had my share of generosity--in studying, and giving out my best. Ehem.

The store was making good, with gross sales ranging from thirty pesos, during vacation break, to sixty pesos a day. At the time of difficulties, this had clothed and fed the whole family. Praise God! It was making good and popular, that among its famous customers one time was Mr. Camilo Cabili, running for mayorship. Along his campaign trail in Kanaway and Roosevelt area, he and his group dropped by for refreshment. What did he eat? The store's top of the line snack of course- the Halo-halo! Among the store visitors too, was an inspector from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the BIR. Well, he got his deserving refreshment, and at my Ma's prodding, he saw nothing of value--empty compared to a sari-sari store, with three tables and a few chairs at its mesh area, few 'garapa' of candies and cookies, 'maruya'?! Hmmmm…., he left satisfied and refreshed!

Sometime later in early 60s, some individuals in school gave the little store some business competition. Free enterprise at work, the inside campus student canteen was reopened to the students. Old habit and routine are hard to break, aren't they? If only the students had their choice...Finally, the school gates were closed and student exits were limited.

By this time, the drought was years past and over. My Pa was back in business and now doing well with bountiful coconut harvests. Soon, the land where the little store was built on would rise a residential home for its landowner. After barely four years, the little store was finally torn down. That was in 1962. What is left are your memories of it, the former LCHS students, who in one way or another had come and shared some time with us, in that little store and also in our home. Our lives had intertwined, with joy and laughter, sometime with tears. In behalf of our family, I thank you for everything…..Merry Christmas!

Sinko diyes, anyone?

PostScript:   Thanks to my Anko Eyay and family for sharing their home in our plight. Thanks to my former An-tio Pueysit and former An-e Charing of Cagayan de Oro for the GE refrigerator and other things. Also thanks to my former Kuepeh Dy Tiao Bok for lending us the land where the little store was built on. Foremost thanks to God, for the exacting timings we cannot imagine and for His guidance and plan He led our family to. We shall continue to trust in Him.

The question when will the Philippines experience a technological revolution poses a big challenge to everyone.  Human resource as a component of society plays a vital role in the economic growth of a country.  If only the government has not heeded to too much politics, it
could have propelled its vast human resources to science and technological researches.  Given the right incentives, and enough financial assistance, and public patronage, our scientists could have come up with better technology to make us globally competitive.  The Philippines, then would not have been left behind by the rest of its Asean neighbors.

While Japan and other Asean countries have already gained global prominence, the Philippines is just about to leap and perhaps it will take years to line itself among the world's advanced countries.

It's just a decade ago that DOST, or the Department of Science & Technology, was elevated to cabinet status.  It was only then that it was able to focus its thrusts in putting the necessary components and infrastructures needed to launch its institutional interventions for a technological change in the country.  Hence, it was then that DOST became the forefront to make this country technologically efficient.

Proclamation 2214 in 1982 declared the second week of July of every year the S&T Week.  However President Ramos moved the celebration of NSTW, or the National Science & Technology Week, to the third week of July through an issued Proclamation 169 on April 23, 1993.  This year, the theme of NSTW is focused on sustainable economic development and global competitiveness using one's knowledge and skills in science and technology.

The mission of the Department of Science and Technology is all set towards accomplishment of its goals. Rey Quiason and Vangie Quiason, in their published article of July 7, 1997 issue of Inquirer, reports the following:

1990 - 2000 STMP, or the 1990 - 2000 Science and Technology Master Plan, is aimed to direct the country to NIC, or Newly Industrialized Country status, by the year 2000. WIth STMP's strategies of modernization of the production sector, upgrading of our resources and development capability and development of S&T infrastructure, manpower and culture, DOST was able to put up many and a wide variety of projects in technology transfer and commercialization program, etc.

STAND, or Science and Technology Agenda for National Development, was formulated to integrate science and technology with industrialization process.   It is market-oriented, private sector driven and a short medium term action plan making science and technology vital components in the pursuit of economic growth.  (Continued next issue)
 

As the year draws to a close, it is only fitting that our readers get to know the people who form the Spectrum editorial staff.  They are the men and women who, despite being scattered in different locations, have tirelessly managed to harness the power of the Internet, to bring the Spectrum, since its rebirth on April 15, 1997, right into the computer screen of its readers every week without let-up.

Heading the staff are Charles O. Sy (Batch '67) and Henry L. Yu (Batch '69), as editors. Both made up the same tandem that gave birth to the concept of the Spectrum in 1968. Charles Sy is now a resident of Cebu City, and a vice president of Geo-Transport & Construction, Inc.  He was editor of the school papers of the University of San Carlos and the St. Michael's College in his college days.

Henry Yu is now a noted internist in Cebu City.  A director of the Cebu Medical Society, Henry is the editor of several publications of various medical organizations in Cebu.  A stickler for detail, Henry breathes life into the good old days with nostalgia and exactitude in his column "Sentimental Journey".

Two other original writers of the Spectrum of 1968 are still with today's Spectrum, namely Ernesto L. Yu (Batch '65) and Leonardo "Loloy" Tan (Batch '66). Ernie Yu is an accomplished anesthesiologist in Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.  A prolific writer, Ernie punctuates his weekly column "Dateline Buffalo" with glimpses of life spiced with nuggets of humor and scathing wit. He is editor of the Rales, newsletter of the CIM Class of 1973.

Loloy Tan writes from Sydney, Australia, where he runs his own courier business.  He is editor of the newsletter of his Masonic Lodge in Sydney.  His weekly "Briefs from Down Under" offers amusing yet down-to-earth insights on the joys and pitfalls of life in Iligan and Australia.

Composing the Spectrum network of correspondents are, in Iligan: Johnny T. Chen (Batch '83), a computer wizard at the helm of Web Link-Iliganet, Iligan's first commercial Internet Service Provider.  He is the secretary of the LCHS Alumni Association;  Santiago Ong (Batch '70), who manages Ang Suan Em Store; and Teresita U. Racines (Batch '67), a Math professor at the MSU-IIT, who was also with the original staff of the Spectrum in 1968.

In Cebu, the Spectrum relies on ace reporter Igdono U. Caracho (Batch '66), who knows every Iliganon like the palm of his hands.  Igdono is the manager of Megaply Corporation.

From Canada, two Spectrum pioneers keep us abreast of alumni news.  They are Mike Lee (Batch '66), who is into the business of marketing Philippine handicraft in Edmonton, Alberta.  And Peter Dy (Batch '66), who is pursuing his career, also in Edmonton, as architectural draftsman.

In the U.S.A., the Spectrum has Ernie Yu and Alexander S. Rodriguez (Batch '65), who are both doctors of medicine.  Alex, who is  engaged in the business of computer and electronic products in Florida, U.S.A., is a constant motivator who feeds the staff with his words of encouragement.

Aside from the regular staffers, we also count on a number of supportive alumni, from whom the editors receive periodic scoops and info of relevance to the Spectrum. They are Suniel Lim, manager of Lian Hong Co., Inc.; Alicia Cu-Go, who manages  SMA Traders with her husband, Simson Go, in Iligan; Alfredo N. Lai, businessman and husband of Elita "Po-Hua" Ong-Lai; Rene Tio, who runs his own plastic bag manufacturing and printing firm, Multi-Pack Enterprises, with his wife Miriam in Cagayan de Oro; Roderick Ngo, top honcho of Hammercon, Inc., Cebu; Larry Sy, coordinator of American Airlines in Burnham, Ill., U.S.A.; Vinson T. Ngo & Jose Chu, top guns of  Weblink-Iliganet and Micro Touch Computer System, Inc.; Sherlita U. Racines, of National Steel Corp., Iligan; Edwin Co, of CPK Mercantile; Dominic Siao, of Kim San Co., Inc.; Richard Lim, of Jonrich Inc.; and Derwin Sy, 13-year-old kid of Nelson Sy, who is responsible for launching the Spectrum web page each week on the World Wide Web. To all these individuals we remain indebted for helping us make the Spectrum one of its kind in the vast frontiers of cyberspace.