Year 5, Issue No. 24, Feb. 25, 2002

LCHS-AA joins Teachers Day celebration
By Roger Suminguit (Batch '73)

The LCHS Alumni Association, led by President Beng Hong Vy and Secretary Roger Suminguit, joined LCHS in the annual celebration of Teachers Day last Feb. 15.  The two alumni stalwarts presented a cash gift of P5,000 on behalf of the LCHS-AA as a token of appreciation to LCHS faculty. Teachers and students joined hands in presenting a program as the highlight of the celebration at the school gymnasium.

Alumni join golf tournaments
By Peter Dy (Batch '66)

Several alumni golf aficionados are taking part in the Philippine Airlines Senior Golf Tournament held in Bacolod City on Feb. 22-24. Among the alumni players in the Iligan team are Carlos Dy, Arturo Samson, Joel Tan and Henry Dy .  The other Iliganons in the team are Mr. Ader Sr., R. Escamilla, Dr. Valdez, Boy Valdez, and Col. Jing Rajon. A week after, another alumnus, Raymund Sy, son of Richard Sy, will join a separate 10-man team from Iligan to compete in the tournament for younger players.  From Bacolod the same group of alumni golfers will proceed to Manila to compete in the golf tournament sponsored by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce on Mar. 1-3.

Cebu Kinmen new year party Mar. 3

The Cebu Kinmen Association will hold its annual luncheon fellowship at the Cebu Grand Convention Center on March 3, at 11:00 a.m., as part of its celebration of the lunar new year. There will also be raffle prizes at stake with tickets priced at P200 apiece. All Kinmenians and their family members are welcome.  The association is headed by Tereso "Koko" Tan of TSK Marketing Corp., as president.  Several Cebu-based alumni are among the key officers. They are Dy Tiao Un, executive director; Sy Chu Tek, 2nd vice president; Nelson Sy, secretary (English); Arthur Dy, asst. auditor; and Dy Shek Tong, sergeant at arms.

Alumni wanderlusts

Peter Dy (Batch '66) spent a brief vacation earlier this month in Florida, U.S.A., where he visited old-time LCHS buddies Joseph "Kangkang" Siao (Batch '68) and Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65).  Kangkang played a few rounds of golf with him at the Pembrooke Pine Golf Course, while Alex treated him to his original sumptuous kinilaw washed down with American beer.  Photo hereunder shows the tres amigos enjoying the sunshine at the poolside garden of Alex Rodriguez in Miramar, Florida.  From left: Kangkang Siao, Alex Rodriguez, and Peter Dy.  From Florida, Peter stopped by Chicago for a get-together with his brothers Greg Dy (Batch '58) and Johnson Dy (Batch '64).  Back in Edmonton, Canada, Mike Lee (Batch '66) recently bought a new Honda Accura that comes complete with all sorts of high tech electronic gadgetry.  By the way, Mike has just recently been discharged from the hospital where he underwent treatment for stomach aneurysm.  It was a horrifying experience for Mike but he's now out of danger.  We wish him Godspeed and hope he gets well soon.

Thank you for sharing my letters with our readers. You did a wonderful job in consolidating them. Sharp editing. It sprung a lot of surprises for me.  Leonardo Tan sent me a message and his family photo all the way from Sydney, Australia.  Alexander Rodriguez sent me an e-mail too from Florida. I felt strange seeing and hearing from these accomplished people whom I had known when they were very young.  It made me feel at once proud and humble. Proud because I believe I had somehow left a little of myself in each of them, and humble because perhaps I could have given more. I always have this feeling for all of my students, and I am glad of this opportunity to make any one of them who reads this, know it. There were many times when a name or a face just pops up in my mind in some unguarded moments, and I would  feel a deep need to hear from him or her. There were even moments when I come upon news about a former student of mine going to jail and I would weep, wondering in my heart if I could have done something to prevent it years and years before. And when I see or hear of any of them  having a wonderful life, you can imagine my joy.  I feel as if their triumph is of my own making.  Such was my joy in seeing Leonardo Tan and his family.  I wish the others would get in touch too, and send photos, so that I can see how they look now.

I had a talk with my son Carlo and learned how Victor Chiu came to our house in Consolacion. Please thank Victor for me.  I remember him.  He was one of the most intelligent students I had, in all the schools I taught in.  Looking back, I could see him being bored in my classes. Then I thought he was just being indifferent, uncooperative, and just giving the teacher a hard time. But as I seasoned through  the years, I understood he was like that because his mind was way beyond what I was teaching.  And I felt very humble. He was not very friendly nor open to me, not easy with his smiles, yet, almost four decades later, it has to be him to venture out to find me and lead me to the others. I do have one fond memory of Victor.  He used to have missing teeth!  I wish I was at home when Victor came so I could have met him too.  I remember other names and I hope they get in touch. Melania Handumon, Kaw Hoc Rosalinda, where are they now? And a co-teacher, Miss Elena Uy, the sister of  Nora Uy. With her I visited her brother or uncle Miguel Uy in Lebak, Cotabato long ago.  I hope you will give news about them just as you did about Remedios Tan, Florecita Tiu and Elizabeth Co.  It is getting late and I have to end this marathon of a letter.  Regards and take care. -- Caridad C. Gillera, 1990 Carousel Drive, Hollister, California 95023, U.S.A., E-mail: epsyche@sbcglobal.net

To Antonio "Dodo" Chan:  If you'll get this message, here is my address and telephone number:  3191 Crystal Way, Miramar, Fl. 33025, U.S.A.; Tel. 954-431-1232; Fax: 954-430-2695. --Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65), Miramar, Florida, U.S.A., alpacino_8@hotmail.com

I heard recently that the Spectrum is closing.  No way!  Well, I know I'm not really an avid reader.  I usually just browse over it on the bulletin board in school.  But I really think that the Spectrum is a medium for LCHS alumni worldwide to keep in touch. --Joseph Harold Letigio, LCHS 4th yeaar student, Iligan, Philippines, dnxeno@eudoramail.com

Just as I read the info regarding the closure of the Spectrum, this came to my mind:  Why close it when it is the only cost-effective way of informing our alumni about the activities or changes in our Alma Mater? --Franklin Khu, LCHS 4th year student, Iligan, Philippines, humadragonbaneph@yahoo.com

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

A ritual is defined by Webster as “the established form for a religious ceremony; a customarily repeated act or series of acts.” As kids of the 60s growing up in a city like Iligan, we (my siblings and I) were exposed to such rituals and traditions which have been practiced in our family since we were very young. My late father, who was a devout Buddhist, imparted to us several of those rituals which up to now we still remember vividly, like food offerings, lighting josticks (heow), burning paper money (kim and ghon), and other such practices. I remember those halad days every first day of each month when our kusinera would go marketing early morning to buy those ingredients and prepare the menus that were to be offered for the souls and spirits. We would know it’s the first day of the month based on the food offering, the fumes and smoke that filled the air each time we came home from school during lunchtime. There was an array of home-cooked dishes like humba, fried chicken, meat balls, fried lapulapu, vegetables, and three glasses of beer, with matching three sets of plate, spoon, and fork arranged on top of the table. We took turns in lighting the heow and uttered “Pai pai pochu po pi”, and helped in burning those kim and ghon. My father would then toast the two kidney-shaped wooden bars as a gauge of knowing if the spirits were done eating. Young and naive as we were then, we believed everything that was told of us. We recited the “Lam mu ami tuhot” by using the Chinese wooden beads every night before we went to sleep, among other such religious practices.

On one end, we also believed in the Catholic faith. We attended catechism classes thru the guidance of Nang Belen Graida, a neighbor who later joined the convent to become a nun. We were taught how to recite the holy rosary, and this we did diligently every day of our lives.

Looking back, I thank my father for exposing us to these rituals early in life, for bringing us up to be religious and God-fearing, nevermind if it was Buddhism on one end and Catholicism at the other end. We believed in God, and that’s all that mattered.

With my father gone to the eternal beyond last September 19, 1986, we no longer practise these rituals and traditions, but the experience of being constant in our prayers and devotion to God has been imprinted so deeply in our hearts and minds that each time we encounter problems in life, we always turn to God Almighty for guidance and intercession. Through the years, we have lived up to the tradition of being prayerful, respectful, compassionate, and other such adorable virtues which my late father has inculcated in us in our growing up years.

Today, we may not have carried on such rituals and traditions, but the sense of being religious and God-fearing is one which we always emphasize to our kids, especially in this modern era of which they belong, the so-called high tech generation. Proof that no matter how old we have become, there are just practices we still continue and keep up with as a way of life, of being children of God, in rearing our youngsters with the hope that they too will pass these on to their future children someday when we shall be gone to the eternal beyond.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

The first day of the Year of the Horse was cloudy.  It was one of those days where I’d rather beg for a rain instead of the sweltering humid atmosphere.  After that sumptuous Lumpia dinner at my in-laws’ the night before, I wasn’t ready to get up yet.  But since I promised my mother-in-law that I’d go with her to the temple for some new year’s day offering I know that I should get ready.

After a breezy drive along South Super Highway we were already entering Chinatown.  The streets were lined with red banners all screaming with wishes of prosperity. The lampposts were bearing an  assortment of lanterns in different shapes and in different shades of red.  The usual traffic congestion around that area bought us some time to admire the festive sights around us.

I knew that we were nearing our destination when our car was already crawling, and the mob-like crowd outside was getting thicker.  That’s when we decided to just leave the car and go with the flow instead of waiting patiently for the road to get decongested, which may take forever.

When we got to the temple I’m not sure if we’re too early or too late since the place was full to the brim. There was a beeline going to the altar and another one going to where the joss sticks were placed.  I was watching with awe at the people both young and old, who were mostly in red, carrying their lighted joss stick high above their heads going towards the kneeling pads.  At first I was wondering if that’s really the proper way of carrying those sticks.

The interiors of the temple look like something from an old martial arts movie.  There were big red and round pillars, pieces of old wooden furniture surrounding the big altar. I was half expecting the kung-fu masters to come flying in through the windows anytime soon. It felt like I was being transported into another time.

Looking at the lines of people going towards the same spot one after another it looks like some kind of an ancient dance in itself.  Then I noticed that the smoke inside was slowly growing denser and it was already making my eyes watery, I knew then that I have to get out of my reverie and take part in the “ancient dance” myself.  When I got hold of my own joss stick, I learned why we all have to carry the sticks above our heads.  It’s for peace sake, because if we carry it lower and we accidentally poke the person in front of us with those red-hot tips of the sticks then that would mean war.  Even if it’s now the Year of the Horse, nobody wants to start a new year with a stampede.

When we got out, I welcomed the whiff of fresh air and the sight of different vendors selling everything from red traditional Chinese costumes to a variety of authentic Chinese delicacies. From Ma-chang to the Tikoy in different colors, to the Puto’s in different sizes.  They were even selling colorful birds. Yes, dear, they were selling birds.  I was thinking that the birds seem out of place in this type of celebration. It should be in a pet show.  I know that our Chinatown is notorious for selling and cooking endangered species for medicinal purposes but these birds look like our ordinary Maya which got dressed up for the occasion in different coats of paint.  As I lagged behind my mother-in-law I saw one woman buying a cage full of birds and then after paying for it she opened the lid and set the birds free. This time I couldn’t contain my curiosity, I really had to ask somebody or else this tiny voice inside me wouldn’t stop whispering why? why? why?

As my mother-in-law followed where my gaze was fixed on and noticed the big question mark pasted on my face she volunteered the information.  Telling me that since it’s the start of a New Year, some people think that it’s good luck to start off by doing some good deed.  And setting those birds free is a good example of a good deed.  I’m wondering though if somebody will ever think of setting those labored horses pulling those Kalesas along Ongpin St. free.  Isn’t it better to set these horses free just in time for the Year of the Horse?

I’m wondering if it’s too much hot air inside the temple that’s making me feel buoyant like a hot air balloon or was it too much smoke that’s making me see things.  But whatever it is, the experience I had that day was indeed a sight to behold.

So may the Year of the Horse kick in some good luck our way and may we all be blessed with good health to gallop through this brand new year.

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

I would have sulked in irreversible depression had you tapped into your LCHS Class 1965 data bank beyond the glossy statues of Victor Chiu and the Rodriguez brothers (Jaime, Alexander). No question about it, they were of a breed that could readily mug you for your attention.

As class president, Victor was a class act in itself. During the embryonic stages of the Flower Generation, while he was engrossed in intellectual twists and turns along the likes of Robert Frost and Ernest Hemmingway, I was racking up lots of punishing miles on suppressed hormonal mania, more distressed by my crops of pimples than "The Old Man And The Sea", and I chewed high-octane thrills in Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan cliffhangers. As for the Rodriguez duo, while Alex's star power (eclipsed the range from Ponga to Fernando Poe!) recognized no end in its shimmering glow, both academic (can solve the Rubik Cube in one minute flat, using toes) and extracurricular pursuits, Jaime's athleticism humiliated several school firsts, not to downplay the heart flutters he scattered to his throng of silent fans.

Ma'am, I really didn't project distinct markers worth registering in your mental souvenir vault. As such, trash out the doubt that Mr. Alzheimer might be creeping into your system (senior moments perhaps?). I was as mellow as Jell-o; always a follower, not a doer. To put it bluntly, a big snore. Never a body of great gravity, except when dealing with pass/fail grades. On second thought, I had my fair share of spotlight exposure: I burned down our fully dressed Christmas tree through an airy idiotic fun of playing with matches. This silly limelight from the dark side of the moon concluded in every classmate chipping in his and her week's milk money. Otherwise, we would have funeral marches instead of lively carols. Furthermore, I was a blood-brother of those reclusive, morbidly curious Einsteins at the back of the white science building, experimenting on the potential additive effects of Chesterfield fumes to Iligan's prosperous ozone layer.

Being our Phonetics drill sergeant, do you recall (please open all flood gates of your brainwaves) a cute ("shorty" is too intimidating a synonym) who mumbled his "i" as a curled "e", where "air" sounded like "err"? I was Alex Rodriguez sidekick who was in attendance in all the coaching sessions you devoted to him for the city-wide oratorical meet. And, yes, I did sneak in an apple in your drawer once with the fervent hope that it would erase the look of pure horror on your face and reverse your remarks to my lame attempts at journalism: "Reconstruct paragraphs one to ten. In English!" Anyhow, your relentless injections of grammars and daily pounding of harmonious sentences into my circuits had superb aftershocks: Paved an easy route for me to trudge once in the portals of Silliman U. No bragging, I aced my Speech Clinics to the point of representing my section in the extemporaneous speech intramural. Although it was an uphill battle to the finish line because of my disabled quick thinking process, I didn't make an ass out of myself. I had my vowels in proper order and curves. Bless your heart.

So, while I was breaking sweats in medical school in the wee hours, intoxicating my spongy skull with nauseating doses of lecture notes designed to be digested in six hours for a 10-minute quiz the next day, you were chasing your own shadow, feasting on scholarly activities (Master Degrees in UP and Singapore U). Really, that Spectrum spread about you didn't startle me an inch because the very day you planted your feet in LCHS soil (and nicotine-laced greens), everyone with healthy senses has to notice your fresh burst of positive energy and to appreciate the magic dangling in your English tongue. You were a wonder to watch and listen to. What was foggy at that time, it didn't dawn on me that aside from the amazing IQ on top of your shoulders, you were one educator who never stops in floor #1. I'm glad you had the opportunities to grind your pipe dreams for more distinguished diplomas and certificates in your living room. I'm pretty sure your kids glimpsed at those decors of achievements and knew where to channel their dreams. I'm equally grateful to have bumped into you, even if I was one of your professional life's very first guinea pigs (Please refrain from saying biggest challenge). You were one mentor for the books, a teacher of substance. I'm not stressing this out to get back the face value of my apple which didn't persuade you to adjust the median score for the sake of your pet Ernie.

Kidding aside, here's the God's honest truth: Gosh, why did you have to fracture our formative fantasies and desires by adding Gillera to your surname so soon, while we were just differentiating puppy love from infatuation? I was about to drop you a finely muscled rhapsodic prose aimed at hitting you on your tender spot. What pumped the brakes on that anonymous mail? The nagging fear that it would resurface on my desk with red circles on misspelled words and a comment, "Nice try. Live with your pimples."

Though we all change with the foliage, the gemlike moments I have of you will forever be in flight. I rejoiced upon tracing your new bunker somewhere in California. You were one of the teachers I was looking for earnestly during our Grand Alumni Reunion. Just want to blow you a ton of thanks for your motivation, patience and dedication in shaping me into what I am today.

You heard it right, ma'am, today - pronounced as "a" not "e".

(Part 8)
By Doc Bunz,  Batch '82

Me and my sisters were watching a suspense movie when our mother (that's Nang Eyay) came into the room. She went directly to the phone scolding us ... "Sige ring telepono, la mo tubag. BONGOL mo?"  She picked up the phone and said, "Hello! Hello? Hello! (getting angry scolding at the phone) La sad tubag ... AMANG ka!"  Our younger sister wasn't able to stop blurting, "Mama, sine ra man to!"  Now that's what I call realistic movies!

.

The LACHSPA would like to thank the following persons for supporting the Chinese New Year celebration held at the LCHS Mess Hall on Feb. 8, 2002.

To Mr. & Mrs. Vy Beng Hong (San Cha Trading); Mr. Jason Sy (Lian Hong Inc.); Mr. & Mrs. Richard Sy (Iligan Galaxy Merchandising); and Mr. & Mrs. Sy Beng Gee (SBG Gen. Merchandising), for contributing 10 boxes of fruit juices each; and Mr. & Mrs. Fernando Khu (FK Mart), for contributing 5 boxes fruit juices; Fr. Daniel Sormani, for making time to celebrate mass; Ms. Alice Go, for facilitating the transport of the mua-si from Cebu and for being a resource speaker; Alexis Natividad, for being a resource speaker; Mr. Wang Zeng Jia, Chinese professor from Xiamen, for being a resources speaker; Mark Go & friends, for the lion dance and other errands; LCHS faculty & staff, for their support and presence; and LCHS students, for their presence.

In his speech, Mr. Wang Zeng Jia spoke about "togetherness" which is symbolized by the round tikoy, a popular delicacy in Chinese new year festivities.  And Alice Go, in her speech, talked about the traditional ang pao. She stressed to the students that it's not the money in the ang pao but the hopes, blessings, and wishes of good will to the receiver that is significant.  She also taught the kids to receive with both hands when given an ang pao and to bow their head to show their appreciation and respect.

And to everybody who in one way or another supported this activity. It is our hope that the students have learned something cultural as a Chinese-Filipino from the said activity. Again thank you.

As the Spectrum approaches the homestretch for its 5th anniversary on March 25, we offer a glimpse of the process by which the Spectrum is produced.  With that we hope to leave behind some insights on the inner workings of this newsletter for the benefit of our alumni, in Iligan or elsewhere, who may succeed us in the Spectrum someday soon.

PAPERLESS PUBLICATION.   The Spectrum is a concept that rides on the dynamism of the Internet. It receives manuscripts by e-mail, prepares each edition by computer, and circulates each issue on the Internet.  As such, it is commonly referred to as a "paperless publication."  And because it does not require actual printing on paper to reach its readers, its production cost is minimal. Internet time accounts for most of its expenses. All issues are stored in external hard disk. They are likewise archived on the Spectrum Home Page at:  www.geocities.com/lchsspectrum, from which anyone anywhere in the world can access anytime.

Materials for the Spectrum are submitted to the editor by e-mail. A few alumni without e-mail send their contributions by fax, and in the case of news scoops, by text messages or telephone call. Manuscripts are generally composed in plain text format as Microsoft Word documents attached to e-mails, or sent in as composite parts of e-mail messages addressed to the editor.

MINIMAL EDITING.  The Spectrum is published every other Monday. Deadline for submission of articles is Wednesday preceding the week of issue. Editing and layout are done on Thursday.  The issue is posted on the Spectrum web site on Friday, allowing staff writers and contributors a day to preview the issue and make corrections where needed.  By Saturday the issue is dispatched to subscribers by e-mail.  Printed copies are reproduced on copier machine by the LCHS-AA on Monday of the week of issue for delivery to a handful of hard copy subscribers in Iligan City.

As a general rule, the Spectrum exercises minimal editing on articles submitted for publication. In most cases, editing is done primarily to conform to basic norms in grammar, spelling and syntax.  Most articles sent in by regular writers require minor editing or none at all. Because of this, editing work is accomplished in a matter of an hour or so. In the case of news stories, reports sent in by correspondents are usually rehashed or edited only for purposes of brevity and clarity.

HTML FORMAT & LAYOUT.  Due to technical constraints inherent in HTML design software, the Spectrum observes a basic layout using Netscape Composer, an application software that comes with Netscape Communicator browser program. HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is the format universally used for sharing or posting data on the Internet. It entails lesser memory compared to other formats such as Microsoft Word document. For that reason, each issue of the Spectrum e-mailed to subscribers is in HTML format, which can be opened either with Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer.

Each issue comes with two editions designed in Netscape Composer. One edition is made for distribution to subscribers by e-mail attachment. It excludes photos and graphics in order to speed up download time for the recipients.  Another edition, containing exactly the same texts but complete with photos (in "jpg" format) and graphics (in "gif" format), is made available for global access on the Spectrum web site.

Because the Spectrum follows a fixed format, layout for each issue is fast and easy.  In preparing each new issue, the editor simply opens a copy of a previous issue for use as template.  Old texts are replaced with new ones using the fundamental Windows command of "copy and paste." Once the texts of all new manuscripts are in place, the copy is saved with a new file name, and voila! a new issue is born. Because of its simplicity, the entire layout for an issue can be accomplished in less than an hour.

SUBSCRIPTION LIST.  Subscription to the Spectrum on the Internet is free to all alumni and non-alumni alike.  E-mail addresses of subscribers, gathered and enlisted since April 1997, are all stored on the Spectrum's Eudora Pro e-mail program.  The addresses are batched together under a common e-mail address to which each issue of the Spectrum is programmed to send by e-mail attachment -- all at once.  E-mail addresses of neew subscribers are incorporated into the subscription list from time to time or as each new address is submitted for inclusion in the list.

Having shared our production tips, we hope our alumni are now made more aware of the fact that pursuing an undertaking like the Spectrum is not as daunting as it seems. All it takes is a little time, a little effort, and a fair amount of dedication.  Perhaps even more important than that is the sense of fulfillment that one gets for having been of service to our fellow alumni the world over.  Sooner or later, when the time shall come for us to part, we shall do so with the hope that a new generation of our alumni will come forward to carry on the tradition that we have started in the Spectrum.