Year 5, Issue No. 25, March 11, 2002

The LCHS-AA will tender a welcome party for the new batch of alumni belonging to Class of 2002 on March 20.  This was discussed at the monthly officers meeting held last Feb. 20. The party, to be held at Daisy Restaurant, is a traditional annual dinner hosted by the LCHS-AA to initiate the new high school graduates to the alumni association.  Alumni officers will be on hand to share some words of advice with the new graduates on what to do and what vices to avoid in their college life. Also discussed during the officers meeting was the 2001 financial position of the LCHS-AA which included the membership funds, general funds and the Spectrum funds.

LCHS-AA extends scholarship program
By Roger Suminguit (Batch '73)

The LCHS-AA Scholarship Committee is offering a new program to extend scholarship to deserving LCHS students who are children of non-alumni.  The program will be open for application starting schoolyear 2002-2003.  The new program is separate from the scholarship for children of LCHS alumni which derives its funds from the LCHS-AA Scholarship Fund.  The new program is created to accommodate LCHS students with excellent academic records but whose parents or guardians are non-alumni. Funding under this program will be sourced from individual contributors who will each act as benefactor for each scholar for one schoolyear.  The funds will be administered by the committee, which will also screen the applicants upon recommendation by the LCHS school principal.

Boy Lim heads Iligan shippers ass'n

Suniel "Boy" Lim (Batch '66) is the new president of the Iligan Bay Shippers Association (IBSA). He represented the IBSA last Mar. 8 in a conference held at the Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City, among various companies to organize a Mindanao-wide shippers association. Boy Lim is connected with Lian Hong Company, Inc.

Tita Go donates Nat'l Geographic
By Roger Suminguit (Batch '73)

Tita Go-Iturralde (Batch '74), who breezed into town last February, has pledged to donate one-year's subscription of National Geograhic magazine to LCHS.  Tita now lives in 1850 Pointe Woodwork Drive, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A.  Aside from the subscription which will start January 2003, she will also send her collection of old issues of the magazine to LCHS library.  Other concerned alumni in the U.S.A. are likewise enjoined to help by donating complimentary subscriptions of National Geographic to LCHS.  All they need to do is subscribe directly with the National Geographic in the U.S.A. on behalf of Lanao Chung Hua School, Pala-o, Iligan City, Philippines, with the name of the donor indicated therewith.

Henry Dy 2nd runnerup in golf tourney

Henry Dy (Batch '64) and other alumni representing the Iligan team brought home a pair of heavy trophies from the PAL Senior Golf Tournament held in Bacolod City last Feb. 22-24.  Henry was second runner-up in Flight D Category, while the Iligan team placed fifth out of 20 teams in the Friendship Division.  The alumni among the Iligan team were Henry Dy, Arturo Samson, Joel Tan and Carlos Dy.

Alumni Foundation to elect officers Mar. 14
By Roger Suminguit (Batch '73)

The LCHS Alumni Foundation, Inc. will hold its annual meeting of the Board of Trustees on Mar. 14 at the JY Dimsum House to elect its new set of officers for 2002-2003.  Also scheduled on the agenda are annual reports by the Foundation president, the treasurer and the secretary.  The Foundation is currently headed by Beng Hong Vy, as chairman, and Fe Quimbo, as president.

Night of Generals at Dominic Siao induction
By Suniel Lim (Batch '66)

It was a Night of the Generals at the installation rites of Dominic Siao (Batch '85) as the 28th Worshipful Master of Iligan Lodge No. 207 last Feb. 15. The solemn installation rites were held at the Lodge followed by a fellowship at the Maria Cristina Hotel, where delicious foods, red wine and canned beer were overflowing. The generals among the members all came in full force.  Among them were Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who is Police Deputy Director-General, Deputy Chief of the PNP for Admnistration, and concurrently Chief of the National Anti-Kidnaping Task Force (NAKTAF), as guest of honor & speaker; Major Gen. Alfonso Dayudag, Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division, PA; Brig. Gen. Santiago Pregido, Commanding General, 402 Brigade, PA; Chief Supt. Rodolfo Caisip, Regional Director, Reg. 10; Col. Felix Mendoza, Dept. of National Defense; and Police Senior Supt. Antonio Baraquiel, Chief, Administration & Finance Office of NAKTAF.  A visiting brother from Germany also graced the occasion.  Meanwhile, Edwin Co (Batch '68) was installed Senior Warden of Maranaw Lodge No. 111 last Feb. 8, while Jerry Ling (Batch '80) was installed as Worshipful Master along with James Booc (Batch '82) as Junior Warden, of Manticao Lodge No. 243 last Feb. 7.

Alumni get together at Cebu Kinmen party

The lunar new year luncheon party of the Cebu Kinmen Association turned out to be fitting occasion for a gathering of LCHS alumni held last Mar. 3 at the Cebu Grand Convention Center. Among those alumni seen grouping themselves in a reunion of sorts were Dy Tiao Un, Lourdes Dy, Arthur Dy, Elizabeth Sy-Dy, Dy Shek Tong, Bebencio Palang, Roderick Ngo, Sy Chu Tek, Rosie Siao-Sy, Kho Siok We, Kho Siok An, Amelia Sy, Pearly "Pheck Lee" Sy-Ong, Anthony Sy, William Sy, Nelson Sy, Charles Sy, and Robert "Thian Po" Tiu. It was a lively gathering with about 20 lauriat tables occupied to the brim.

LCHS students bound for Xiamen
By Roger Suminguit (Batch '73)

A group of LCHS students will be spending their summer vacation this year in Xiamen, PROC.  They will join over a hundred high school students from other schools in the Philippines in a study tour in Xiamen sponsored by business tycoon and philanthropist Lucio Tan. The participating students from LCHS are Joni Ling, Katrina Lee, and Claire Yu (1st yr.); Claire Co and Heidi Dy (2nd yr.); Cromwell Co, Elbert Eslao, and Bryan Quing (3rd yr.).  Accompanying them on their trip is William Payonan, LCHS school principal.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Reunion of Batch '74

"Tracers" was fortunate to have been invited as guest of the class reunion of Batch '74.  I gladly obliged and was grateful to have attended the rare gathering held at the Cafe Hermoso, Iligan City, last month.  There I got to meet my high school friends whom I haven't seen for ages. It was the first time for Class of 1974 to have such a well-attended reunion. Out of 20 in the class, 13 members, now in their 40s, showed up -- all still beaming with high-octane energyy.  Present were Kelly Dy, Stephen Ang, Farley Sy, Edgar Lim, Edelino Dagondon, Melecia Rosario-Papa, Letty Dy-Sy, Shirley Fortugaliza-Racaza, Nida Te, Rossana Co-Belmonte, Tita Go-Iturralde, Miguela Sy-Tarrosa, and Ningning Chiu. The party was held in honor of Tita Go-Iturralde who just arrived home from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A., where she is now a permanent resident.  It was Tita's first time to grace a reunion of her batch. Amid the chorus of endless chatter matched by uninhibited laughter, the group spent the evening sharing their life's stories and adventures. A great part of the evening was spent reminiscing their high school days.  There was also a lot of mischievous yet wholesome teasing about each another's silvery hair, extended anatomy, and doble-vista eyeglasses.  Farley Sy, who has remained one of the town's most eligible bachelors, also received a good share of ribbing from his batch mates. Before they parted ways, the group promised to stay in touch by e-mail and vowed to show up in full force at the next grand alumni homecoming in 2005.

Thanks so much for your article about my model teacher award (Spectrum, Feb. 25, 2002).  I am lucky to have that award.  Having been a teacher for 40 years, knowing my students are so successful and who write such beautiful English like you in the Spectrum staff, make me feel so good and proud.  Such is the gift I treasure most. --Kho Siok We (Batch '57), Cebu, Philippines, e-mail: khosw@pacific.net.ph

My family had a field day looking at myself and my late husband in that old picture of us with the other teachers ("Flashback" section, Spectrum, Feb. 11, 2002).  We looked so young then and different.  But they are thankful to you for giving them a glimpse into those years they've never seen.  Thank you for your efforts in publishing that picture.  Even I had forgotten how I looked before.  The funny thing is, my sister-in-law, Consolatriz Sun Collantes, also viewed those pictures with us and she recognized almost everybody there because she said she also studied Chinese (language) with them.  We had a lot of fun when we reminisced the years that had been. --Caridad Collantes-Gillera, Hollister, California, U.S.A., e-mail: epsyche@sbcglobal.net

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

Fifth Dimension. You sure have heard these words before. It’s the name of that foreign singing group which was quite popular during the 70s, remember? But what I’m referring to here is a decade, it being equivalent to ten years. So, 5 x 10 = 50.  Yes, it’s the Fifth Dimension or the Fifth Decade, or simply Fifty Years.

What’s good about being 50? Well, I wouldn’t know because I still have twenty-two days more to go before I reach the Fifth Dimension. Yes, the countdown has long begun. And since then, each day counts, as the clock ticks away the hours one by one. But let me just try to look back to the past almost-fifty years of my life, as I recollect and remember the main events that took place during my youth. Join me in this sentimental journey as we reminisce together some of the good old bygone days of which you were once a part.

1952 – Elpidio Quirino was the President of the Republic of the Philippines that year we were born.
1953 – We blew our First birthday candle after which we had our head shaven to whole cut, following tradition.
1954 – The Terrible Two’s. Throwing temper tantrums. We could walk fully well or run independently without support, and could easily utter two syllabic words in succession.
1955 – The Trusting Three’s. By then, we have completed the first series of immunizations, have made some consultations with our family doctor, and went to see our family dentist for the first time.
1956 – The Frustrating Four’s. The Stage of Stress and Storm. Just how we went crazy over tira-tira, bukayo, cotton candy, iceflower, sugar and spice and everything nice.
1957 - The burning of Iligan City in the summer of  ‘57, the 23rd of May, which has left many of us homeless.
1958 – The year we started kindergarten school.
1959 – We learned our ABC, 123, “Ten Little Indians”, “Jack and Jill”, “Rain Rain Go Away”, among the many school songs as a Grade I pupil.
1960 – We swept and scrubbed the floor using YCO wax as we took turns as sweepers of the day.
1961 – Just how we adored those double-program shows of black and white Tagalog movies starred in by our favorite actors and actresses, the movie idols of our youth.
1962 – We enjoyed watching our elders danced the twist, jerk, elephant walk, limbo rock, and other dance steps of the fabulous 60s.
1963 – “Crazy” by Timi Yuro,  “Ticket to Ride” by Neil Sedaka, “Blue Hawaii” by Elvis Presley, were among the top hit songs of that year which we have come to memorize by heart out of constant repetition via the jukeboxes in nearby carenderias.
1964 – We dressed up like any pre-teeners in town: Jack shirt, tight fitting pants, Banlon, Corsican. We groomed ourselves with Tancho, Dixie Peach, Staycomb, Brilliantin, Old Spice, Mennen Skin Bracer, while the ladies were in polka dots, petticoats, Kokuryo, Fanbo, etc.
1965 – We went gaga over autographs, stamp collection, penpal writing, radio dramas, amateur singing contest, the Beatles, etc. It was our Graduation from Grade Six.
1966 – We were in First Year High. The adolescent awakenings. The Yeah, Yeah Vonnel Generation along with our favorite Sampaguita Stars ’66, the combos, Sergio Mendez and the Brazil ’66, Petula Clark’s “Don’t Sleep in the Subway”, Lulu’s “To Sir With Love”, Dave Clark Five’s “True Love Ways”, etc.
1967 – We danced non-stop to the tunes of “Black is Black”, “Bus Stop”, and other such hits of the Jam Session era, the jukebox, and the radio dedication program.
1968 – Those field trips, excursions, and picnics with our peer groups or barkada. The Junior-Senior Prom.
1969 – The Literary Musical Contests, oratorical, declamation, science fair, etc. Our High School Graduation.
1970 – Those initiations to the college Fraternity and Sorority: paddles, masters, neophytes, etc.
1971 – It was “Walk along the lane with someone new” or “A time for us someday there’ll be” or “Why do birds suddenly appear”, and other such love songs.
1972 – The proclamation of Martial Law on one September morn, the 21st.
1973 – The Seniors Ball. Our College Graduation.
1974 – You started your professional life while we were struggling medical students out to become the doctors that we’ve always wanted to be.
1975 – The yuppy years of nightclubbing, overnights, and some out-of-town trips.
1976 – Acted as secondary sponsors during weddings, the ladies catching the bride’s bouquet while we lined up and waited for the groom to throw the garter.
1977 – Stood as ninongs and ninangs of our friends’ children, calling each other kumpare or kumare. (To be continued)

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

Whenever somebody asks me what’s my favorite song, forgive me but I have to answer that with another question. Favorite song of which chapter of my life? Because it seems that for the different scenes and different stages of my life, I have a different favorite song.  Back when I was younger I thought that once I discarded the previous favorite and replace it with a new one I’d also forget all about it, that it would be totally deleted from my memory bank.  But it’s only now that I realized that those songs play an important part in my life. It didn’t go away, one by one they just pile up inside my system and just a few notes from those songs would open up the dam that’s holding back a flood of memories.

Whenever I hear an old song on the radio, somehow I could remember what I was preoccupied with when that song was the favorite in the airwaves. Which eventually became my favorite at that particular time.

Just like whenever I hear the “Two Less Lonely People in the World” by the Air Supply, I’m reminded of my elementary school best friend Ellen Joy Sy.  She would lend me a cassette tape of the Air Supply, which I would play all night long. Joy and I were inseparable at that time. We were two of the biggest girls, both length-wise and cross-wise, in our class at that time.  So during flag ceremonies or any other activities that required us to fall in line according to height we’d be standing right next to each other.  Another common factor that we shared was the fact that whenever our class would prepare a dance number, we’re sure that we’re not included because none of the boys would be tall enough to be paired with the two of us.  When I learned that she was leaving for Cebu to study high school at Cebu Eastern College, I was devastated.  Even if we were always coveting for the same spot in the honor roll it was a healthy competition and we both benefited from it. We became better, as a student, as a person and as friends.

Whenever I hear the songs “Got to Believe in Magic” and “ King and Queen of Hearts”, I would be reminded of my high school days.  It was the time when I started receiving cards and letters from a handful of  (blind) “admirers.”  It was the time when I believed that  “love” is something magical.  I had copies of these songs inserted between the pages of my notebooks and books.  I still find the lyrics so lovely, even now after 20 years.  Every time I hear these songs I’d remember how it felt when I saw my crush or how terrified I felt when somebody sent me flowers. Terrified because I didn’t know what to do with it, like whether to hide it or throw it away.

The song “Changes” on the other hand would bring in bittersweet memories.  Because it was the MRS (Most Requested Song) at the time when my classmate Freylynn Siao lost her father to a gunman.  It was one late night when we heard on the radio what happened to her dad.  We knew then that things wouldn’t be the same for her and her family. The years that followed were full of changes not only for her but for all of us too.

Later on in high school, I bumped into the song “Careless Whisper” by Wham.  This song brings so much memory of a friend.  A special friend who also liked this song at that time. A friend who was always there for me. When I left for college my favorite song was “Somewhere Out there”.  Because at that time I was always thinking of home.  I always wanted to believe that somewhere out there “someone’s saying a prayer that we’ll be together,” that I’d be called home and I’d be allowed to finish my college days in the safe confines of Iligan.

During the ups and downs of my life there was always a song for me.  At times the song mirrors what I’m going through at that time, at times the songs were something that entertained me and pulled me out of my miseries.  Through the years so many songs have come in and out of my life.  Some stayed longer than others did, but one thing remained the same all this time. And that’s the fact that all of them have managed to leave footprints in my heart.

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

In And Out (Opps):   Just this week, I attended a comprehensive 5-day medical conference in Boston. Out of the tormenting hours I dedicated pampering my butt sores to a less agonizing compromise and negotiating peace with the combustion rage of my hemorrhoids (please, jelly beans, don't make this camping trip a "burning" issue!), I bumped into several conclusions. First, there is an art behind the screwing of silencer into my big mouth, to hush the sonic vibrations of a sonorous snore. Being an anesthesiologist by heart, I could be accused of instigating the crowd to a throaty contest of sleep noise, even if such precipitating factor is courtesy of the lecturer whose tonal voice is a direct descendant to the sleeping sickness mosquitoes! Second, these intermittent, random blares from cellular phones are treacherous distractors that slice one's flight along Dreamland Avenue into rugged bits and pieces. Being jerked abruptly by these new millennium wireless shakes is like having a healing session with a chiropractor who snaps back your head from its hanging-on-the-shoulder position. There ought to be a law that would subject those kids, pals and sweethearts who make phone calls to any attendee to a taste of their own medicine: Strap those little rascals and love-starved cupid disciples in the auditorium and let them comprehend for hours the deadly punishing science of making amends to their backsides' steaming hot buttons! Third, coffee should be freely accessible (not only during break periods) to save everyone from melting and chipping in the symphonic rendition of "The Lullaby of Beds In A-minor". With all lights out other than the sedating glitters of the slides projected on the giant screen, the ambience is just too ideal to let your head swing to and fro Isaac Newton's Law of Gravity: A head that is up will come tumbling down! Fourth, topics of discussion should grip one's stay-alert molecules. How? Delivery of materials should be spiced with amusing punch lines that will make one overlook the steady deterioration of his attention span, ignore the digital firecrackers (cell phones) in his waistline, and be seemingly unmoved by the spontaneous airing of a neighbor's freedom of musical nasal expression. Fifth, the assortment of feel-good calories during breakfast and lunch should be mandated to carry a warning tag: "Those who stuffed themselves to bursting limits, like a swarm of hungry vultures that spotted a lifeless prey, should have their tongue cut off an inch to subdue thunderous burps." Finally, papers and pens should not be handed to anyone who has no self-control when faced with the temptation to disrespect the holy seminar. This will result in scores of pathetic physicians scribbling their time away with sweet nothings or a bunch of scattered brains embarking on a brisk walk in Reverie Park. Precisely, that was what I did to heal my mind from decomposing in Sleep Island. I shamelessly juggled replays of 1444-kind of love songs and diverted an army of mental atoms to composing this article, oblivious of the stinging insults I aimed at the Harvard-educated working stiff who was probably delighted, I'm pretty sure, that someone with alive eyes is religiously taking notes . At least, it was not a struggle to preserve my alertness all through the volleys of highs and lows (and more lows) of the featured speakers' hypnotic vocal injections. Then again, it must be expected from me to be the knight in shining armor who could bring back every soul in coma to awake state, safely.

After all, I am in a medical specialty where I fatten up my bank account out of the ins and outs of sleep induction.

Pardon The Dust:  Somehow, out of the blue and beyond my better memory faculties, I couldn't not trace the whereabout of a finished article I penned days ago. This is a counter writeup or the resultant side-effect to the pictorial tease of Roger Suminguit's "Relic Of LCHS". This is about the photo of Plastic Adam in the white science building who was so uninhibited in exposing his synthetic organs. Anyhow, I pledge to double my brain pills starting today. I'm confident that this simple maneuver of dosage change will land our LCHS Dick Tracy on the final pages of Spectrum-Cebu. Oh well, there's a preview of my next date with your mind. Gosh, I hate these pollens of old age. These dust particles are not easy to shake off. Not like the year you were born where a 1949 can be shuffled to make you FEEL (not APPEAR) like a spring chicken. Wow, just by being honest with my arthritic memory joints, I am able to flood this potential extra space in my section with something to test yourself about the structural soundness of your own recollection power.

Now, is it the red or the blue tablets that I need to adjust? Can you think for me? Please.

Leonardo "Eddie" Tan, Batch '66

For almost a year now, this man from Down Under was never heard from.  I am getting tired and weary with my age. And I don’t want to grab the valuable space of this wonderful newsmagazine just to share my thoughts and views which are in most cases less interesting and irrelevant. I would rather reserve those great spots for the maze of vocabularies from Ernie Yu, the nostalgia from Henry Yu, the real life humor from Janiefer Lee, the enjoyable Sy-llables from Charles O. Sy, and the other interesting articles from other regular contributors, like Evelyn Yu and Aurora Tansiokhian.

But I am back this time. Just for now. Or do I have some more opportunities in the future? Yes, for I was indeed very distressed when I learned that this Spectrum, in its second coming, is about to fold up for good after 5 years in cyber space. Is it true? I hope not. I hope it is just like the interlude of a lovers relationship. To return again some day with more passion and determination, much like the relationship of a true love which will never die. It is my dream that we will not see the end of this wonderful and unique newsmagazine which has become the envy of many, copied by others, but never been equaled, as far as I am concerned.

It is always a joy to read this newsmagazine coming to us every fortnight through the internet. The great distance no longer matters. By making us aware of the happenings back home, it makes us become more concerned and keeps our relationship and the feeling of being an Iliganon always alive wherever we are. But then, who am I to demand that this be continued if it is no long sustainable?  Just the thought of it folding up would make me very sad.

We will not miss this Spectrum until one day when it ceases to reach us right at the window of our computer monitor. Then the link that binds us together as the world-wide LCHS community will be gone. Those living far and beyond the shores of Iligan Bay and the other side of the world will become equally orphaned and feeling alone and homesick once more. The picture about my hometown Iligan and the wonderful friends will again be blurry. What happened and who did what will no longer be known to us who are far and away. Such is the impact of Spectrum to us for all these years. For our colleagues back in Iligan, I am sure they will never feel or realize what I just shared here. It is for this reason that perhaps only a few back home take the importance of Spectrum seriously.  Goodbye or not, let me express my gratitude for the wonderful memories and the joy this Spectrum has brought to us all continuously for the last 5 years.

To Charley Sy -- I salute you for giving us this remarkable Spectrum.
To Henry Yu -- I could not thank you enough for the wonderful memories of yesteryears and for being its editor for the last 12 months.
To Ernie Yu -- somehow you enriched my vocabulary.
To Janiefer Lee -- you always brought us sunshine and laughter straight from your heart.
To the other regular writers -- thanks for sharing your thoughts and stories with us.
And to the news correspondents, like Terry Racines, Roger Suminguit, Igdono Caracho, and Peter Dy -- your dispatches from Iligan always brought temporary relief to quench our thirst for news.

I hope that the next issue of this Spectrum will not mark the end but the beginning of the next five years!

Fidel L. Fuertes, former LCHS teacher

In the community where I live, I am widely known as Lolo Fidel, a retired schoolteacher, and a widower. My children are all grown up and they have built their nests away from my own. I live alone with a small dog as a companion. I cook my own food. And I manage my own affairs.

At 78, they call me a senior citizen -- instead of just plain old man. These newly-minted words remind me of those silly but nice-sounding phrases such as sanitary scavengers for garbage collectors, memorial park for cemetery, informal settlers for squatters, sanitary landfill for garbage dump, and PWD (persons with disabilities) for the lame, mute and deaf. I don’t know what’s so ugly about old age that they have to dress it up with euphemism.

As for me, I can live with old age. I can even accept as inevitable graying hair, dimming eyesight, waning strength, numbing senses and diminishing control of my faculties. To me, these are only minor inconveniences. Having lived eight years more than the biblical lifespan of threescore years and ten (Psalm 90:10), I have no cause for complaint. As I add wrinkles to my years, I gracefully surrender the things of youth. I change my habits of a lifetime. I no longer wake up at the crack of dawn. I sleep until nine o’clock. This is to compensate for my frequent awakenings during the unholy hours of the night.

After breakfast, I go out pedaling my bicycle five kilometers in the morning and another five kilometers in the afternoon. But it’s not a strenuous exercise. I bike at a quite leisurely pace, stopping here and there. I visit friends, chat with them, and watch some basketball or pingpong games along the way.

At noontime, I take my lunch at home where I take refuge from the oppressive heat of the tropical sun. By one o’clock, the heat becomes quite unbearable. That’s the time I take my bath because my old bones cannot stand the morning cold. Then I dry my hair beside the basketball court where at times people seek my help and counsel. This time they want to kick the asses of bureaucrats for ineptitude and incompetence. My poor community has become the dumping site of garbage from all around the city.

At two o’clock, I take an afternoon nap. This is my most pleasant hour of the day. I thank the Spaniards for introducing siesta into our way of life. It’s amazing what a brief respite can do to one’s well being. It invigorates, it uplifts! Thus energized, I roam the city once again with my bicycle. I consider it my lucky day if I meet by the roadside Tan Lam carrying his charmed, black umbrella. It never rains when he goes out!

By late afternoon, I go to the market to buy what I need. I have made a lot of friends among the market vendors. They always welcome my presence. It’s enlightening to see the events of the day from their viewpoint. At the western part of the old market, one can get a magnificent view of sunset at Iligan Bay. The setting sun always makes me conscious of my mortality. As soon as it gets dark, I come home to roost. In the evening, I read until my eyelids get heavy and sleep enfolds me.

Even on weekends, there is little variation to my daily activities. Sometimes I go to church and sometimes I go to the public plaza. As I sit on the bench, I watch some pretty mini-skirted girls walk by. I admire their beauty -- but the magic is gone, girls no longer excite me.

What would excite me then? Something only an old teacher can feel. It would excite me to see the face of someone like Aurora Tansiokhian, or clasp the hands of Manda Lu Siok whom everybody seems to have forgotten. It would thrill me to hear from Alfredo Uy and Santas Tan, my top-scoring pair in the 1961 government exams. It would please me no end for someone from way back to drop by and interrupt my daily routines, or for someone to simply write a line or two to bridge the chasm that separates us in the winter of my life.

  (Part 9)
By Doc Bunz,  Batch '82

The following really did happen.  So far, everything written here did.
Doc Bunz:  Naka-agi ka ba og mga sakit-sakit sama sa Hepatitis? Malaria, o Typhoid?
Patient:  Wala gyud, doctora.
Doc Bunz:  Na-hospital ka na ba?
Patient:  Na-hospital na, doctora.
Doc Bunz:  Kanus-a man, og na-unsa ka man adto?
Patient:  Duha na ka tuig ang ni agi, doctora; na hospital ko kay among gidala ang akong ig-agaw kay sakit iyang tiyan, unya ako man ang nag dala sa iyang bag.

.

This issue of the Spectrum in your hand may yet be called our despidida issue.  It is our prelude to a journey whose end has come.

After we celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Spectrum with our forthcoming March 25 issue, the clatter on our keyboards shall grind to a halt, concluding a news and information service that spanned five years. From April 15, 1997 to March 25, 2002, the Spectrum will have produced 180 issues, distributed free on the Internet to LCHS alumni and friends across the globe.

Five years may be too short for a newsletter that we have learned to cherish and live with. Five years can also be too long for a newsletter that has to struggle for the news to get by.   Be that as it may, we shall bow out of the scene not with a heavy heart but with a sigh of relief in the thought that we have at least done our fair share of service to our alumni across the globe -- for whatever it is worth.

When the Spectrum started out on April 15, 1997, we had meant it to last only for a year, the same way that its predecessor did in 1968.  Even then a few skeptics among us believed we would not survive that long.  Somehow, by a twist of fate, we proved them wrong. Aided by the warm reception of our alumni readers overseas, the Spectrum sailed on one year after another until it reached its zenith with the realization of the 1st LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAH) in August 2000.  Yet to us, what is even more fulfilling than the GAH itself is having brought simple joys to our alumni across the globe by sharing with them tales of nostalgia and tidbits of news from home. In the course of the Spectrum's five-year stint, we received numerous messages of gratitude from fellow alumni, former classmates and teachers alike, who found one another again through the Spectrum after years of separation.

When Henry Yu and I envisioned the revival of the Spectrum in Cebu in 1997, we did so with the vision that one day it will find its way home to Iligan where it belongs.  With the help of a supportive staff, we have nurtured it for the last five years. Today the Spectrum is fully grown. Its system, format and web site are in place, and its global network in harness.

Has the Spectrum outlived its purpose?  Given one more shot for another five years, the Spectrum might have accomplished even more.   No, the Spectrum has not outlived its purpose.  It is its temporary shelter in Cebu that has outlived its purpose. The Spectrum has matured. It cannot live in exile forever.  We have given it wings to soar.  It is time for the Spectrum to fly home.