Vol. 6, No. 4, May 27, 2002
Enrollment at LCHS for the school year of 2002-2003 is now going on from eight to eleven in the morning. Regular classes will start on June 10, 2002. For further inquiries, you may see Miss Elizabeth P. David, grade school department head, or Mrs. Normita Q. Alivio, high school department head.
One more donor to PC fund drive
One more contribution has been added to the Spectrum PC Fund Drive. The latest contribution of P5,000 came from Jaime Andaquig (Batch '75) & Lolita Cabili-Andaquig, of Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A., bringing the total fund raised to P52,500. The contributors, as of May 20, 2002, are Leonardo Tan (Batch '66), P5,000; Wilford D. Lim (Batch '75), P5,000; Kho Siok We (Batch '57), P5,000; Mike Lee (Batch '66), P5,000; Charles O. Sy (Batch '67), P5,000; Teresita Siao-Go (Batch '66), 5,000; Ritky C. Dy (Batch '76) & Family, P10,000; Laureto C. Lao (Batch '68) and Elsie "Bembie" Lao (Batch '70), P7,500; and Jaime Andaquig (Batch '75) & Lolita Andaquig, P5,000. The funds are intended for payment of the new computer system purchased by the LCHS-AA for the use of the Spectrum staff in Iligan.
Newly-weds
Ernest Oliver Uy opens meat shop
On May 18, 2002, believed to be auspicious day to start a new venture, Ernest Oliver Uy (Batch '87) inaugurated Assorted Cuts Meatshop, a wholesale and retail distributor of best-quality beef, pork, chicken and other meat products such as sirloin steak, ox tongue, brisket, tenderloin steak, sukiyaki cut, mechado and menudo. Assorted Cuts Meatshop occupies the new building owned by the family of the late Valentine Uy, which is located in front of Lian Hong main store along Quezon Avenue Extension, Palao, Iligan. Assorted Cuts Meatshop is the latest addition to Ernest Oliver Uy's group of businesses which include bicycle and bicycle parts supplies, dealer of bedroom furnishings, furniture and fixtures, and a piggery at Naawan, Misamis Oriental.
CdeO’s new tourist destination
Who says that Cagayan de Oro City has no tourist destination? Last week, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dropped by Cagayan de Oro City to go on a rough, wild whitewater raft ride down the Mambuaya river. She was accompanied by her husband and son. Although the excited President wanted to go all the way, she rode only for about thirty minutes of a rafting course that normally takes two to three hours to complete. She rode through three rapids only as she had to leave for her scheduled visit to Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental. But her husband, her son and other officials, including Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, rode through the whole course. Most river guides accompanying them are part owners of the Cagayan de Oro Whitewater Adventure, the pioneering whitewater outfit in the Philippines, established in 1996. They are active or semi-retired mountaineer members of the NORMMS Ecological Foundation Inc. based in CdeO.
Iliganon
wins int'l award
By Michael John L. Siangco (Batch '96)
Prem Rara, a fourth-year high school student of the MSU-IIT IDS won the 2nd Grand Award in the Microbiology Category of the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Kentucky, USA. His entry, which is the extraction of an antibiotic substance from the parotid glands of a toad, was among the 1,238 finalists from 39 different countries. With him is his coach, Dr. Jose Oclarit of the Biology Department, CSM, MSU-IIT. The student obtained a cash prize of $1,500 from the said competition. The victory of Mr. Rara is indeed a pride to all Iliganons. The two scientists will be arriving in the city early June.
Best in English awards, High School
In the recognition program held on March 22 and March 26, 2002 in the Lanao Chung Hua School Gym, the following high school students were given the Best in English awards: Giselle Mae S. Letigio, first year; Gladys A. Uy, second year; Enjoy Faith C. Ang, third year; and Cheerine U. Dy, fourth year.
Best in English awards, Grade School
In the recognition program held on March 22 and March 26, 2002 in the Lanao Chung Hua School Gym, the following grade school students were given the Best in English awards: Thomas Derrick P. Siao, Grade 1; Kevin Bill R. Taongan, Grade 2; Reggielloyd F. Aguilar, Grade 3; Kevin Bryan M. Dy, Grade 4; Jason Edric T. Dy, Grade 5; and Tristan Ervin G. Lim, Grade 6.
Leadership awards
The President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Leadership Award was bestowed on Jan Michael W. Cerna, a graduating LCHS high school student. In addition, he garnered the Youth Leadership Excellence Award given by the Kulintang Jaycees of Iligan. For his outstanding leadership and loyalty, LCHS conferred on him the CAT Leadership Award, Guard Duty Service Award and Loyalty Award.
Athlete of the Year award
For his outstanding achievement in athletic activities, Franklin V. Khu was conferred the Athlete of the Year award. In addition, he received the Guard Duty Service award and the Loyalty award. Franklin also excelled academically, having graduated from high school with Second Honorable Mention. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Fernando Khu (Batch ’65), himself known as the "Iron Man" in his high school days.
Spectrum columnist Marie Janiefer Lee (Batch '87) arrived home last May 18 together with her mother Fe Dy-Quimbo (Batch '56) from a month-long summer vacation in the U.S.A. and Canada. Among the places they visited was Vancouver, Canada, where Janiefer's sister Marie Josiefel Ello (Batch '83) is now residing with her family. Peterson Dy, eldest son of Peter Dy (Batch '66) is now in Beijing, China. He is undergoing a 6-month practicum for a Canadian company as part of his requirements for graduation in his Asian Management Program. Leonardo "Loloy" Tan (Batch '66) recently played host, along with several kababayan in Sydney, Australia, to Iligan City Mayor Franklin Quijano. The mayor led a delegation of 24 mayors to Sydney, Australia for training on finance, transportation and best practices on local governance, and Loloy, being a true-blue Iliganon, was assigned as official guide to the mayor. Aida Lim-Uy (Batch '61) was among the recipients of the Northwest Airlines "2001 Top Ten Producers Awards" for the Visayas and Mindanao. No less than Laurie Lofgen, Northwest general manager for the Philippines, Guam and Micronesia graced the awarding ceremonies held recently at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel. Aida Uy owns and manages Cebu Fortune Travel.
Jaime Andaquig (Batch '75) and wife Lolita Cabili Andaquig are now residents of Phoenix, Arizona, USA. They used to work and reside in Sydney, Australia. Both of them were connected with Sydney's Ritz Carlton. When the hotel was bought by the Stamford Group of Singapore two years ago, Lolita Cabili Andaquig was offered the position of comptroller of a newly opened Phoenix Ritz Carlton. Jaime got a job with Marriott Hotel, also in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. They left Australia after residing there for ten years. Jaime and Lolit are among Spectrum’s regular readers and supporters. Melecia “Lecon” Dy Lamayan (Batch ‘70) is now the sole distributor of INOSPHIL Stainless Cookware in Iligan. INOSPHIL has just launched a new line of surgical stainless cooking wares noted for their durability and long-lasting beauty. In addition, the company presents a marketing plan whereby participants are given a chance to earn extra money. As their slogan says, “Me kaldero ka na, me negosyo ka pa.” Interested parties may contact Lecon at Tel. No. (063)-221-2703. Michael John L. Siangco (Batch '96) is the latest addition to the growing list of Spectrum correspondents. He is a Biology graduate from MSU main campus in Marawi City. At present, he is a columnist of The Philippine Post and a staff member of the Daily Tirada, the first daily newspaper in Iligan. Michael starts his column "Odds & Ends" with this issue.
Gregoria Ngo, 84
Mrs. Gregoria Ngo died of a lingering illness on May 11, 2002 in Iligan
City. She was 84 yrs. old. She was survived by her children,
Virginia Ngo-Ormoc (Batch '67), Pablito Ngo (Batch '70), Joseph Ngo, Rodolfo
Ngo, and Silveria Ngo (Batch '77). The Ngo family resides across
Kim San Company, Inc., along Quezon Avenue Extension, Iligan City.
She was buried on May 13 in Iligan City.
Condolences
Sun, 12 May 2002 13:08:00 –0600
To Pablito Ngo and Family: Our deepest sympathy to your family.
Our thoughts are we you. --Peter Dy (Batch '66) and Family, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada, e-mail: pdy@telusplanet.net
Mon, 13 May 2002 08:23:44 –0700
My condolence to the Ngo Family. I'm Silveria Ngo's classmate (Batch
'77) and barkada. I was there when her father passed away many years
ago. I'm sorry to hear the sad news. May God comfort y'all in your time
of grief and sorrow for losing your beloved mother. --Evelyn Yu-Go
(Batch '77), San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., e-mail: ego@texas.net
Congratulations!
Thu, 9 May 2002 19:27:22 EDT
First of all, my congratulations to Victor (A-E) Chiu as a new editor
of LCHS Spectrum. Secondly, I would also like to salute and
take off my hat for Dr. Henry Yu's past editorship. I enjoyed reading
his column especially those informative "Tips" of words to live by.
I know there are so many talented alumni that we have and will have that
I believe our association will keep on going through all generations to
come; and, what a tremendous privilege in my life to be part of LCHS
Alumni Association. To all my classmates and schoolmates, I will see you
this coming 2005 Grand Reunion along with my dear wife Elsie (Bembie) Tan
of Batch '70. --Laureto C. Lao (Batch '68), Stonehill Court, Riverside,
CA., U.S.A., e-mail: Elsierito@aol.com
[Note for Laureto C. Lao: Thanks for your appreciation. As a correspondent ("Tracers"), I try to make my column as interesting as possible. My works are sometimes very hard to do: looking and hearing of some events, people, personalities and making report to the Spectrum; but nevertheless I enjoy being part of the alumni and the Spectrum. Of course, with the ever energetic Charles O. Sy as a guiding factor, I was able to the job. Both of you should prepare and be here in Iligan for the next Grand Alumni Homecoming. We, the alumni officers, again will do our best to provide satisfying, enjoyable and memorable events come July 2005. Just keep in touch. My best regards and God bless! --Roger Suminguit (Batch '73), Iligann, Philippines.]
Sun, 12 May 2002 13:24:31 –0600
To Bro Suniel "Boy" Lim and Family: Congratulations to your son
John Godwin S. Lim for passing the ECE board exams. --Peter Dy (Batch
'66) and Family, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, e-mail: pdy@telusplanet.net
Sat, 11 May 2002 11:48:24 -0700 (PDT)
I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to Mark and Michelle
Salud Siao. It was my pleasure to know both of them when I was in
Iligan City; I can't think of a more perfect couple. Best of
luck to them in their married life. --Susan (Kennedy) Jensen,
Rotary Exchange Student 1991-92, U.S.A., e-mail: susanjensen@usa.net
Tue, 14 May 2002 08:58:06 -0700 (PDT)
Our congratulations to Timothy Tiu and Evelyn Booc for their wedding
on May 18, 2002. Evelyn was my classmate from elementary to high school.
May the Lord bless them more each day! --Maximilian (Batch '90)
and
Kathleen Te, Canada, e-mail: maximte@yahoo.com
LCHS "all-girls" basketball team of 1941
Regarding that picture of all-girls basketball team taken in 1941 published in your April 29, 2002 issue, I think I recognize some faces there: Pasing Lim Yu (second, front row), the late Eliza “Masing” Bernardo-Uy (fifth, front row), and Matea Bernardo Dychutee (seventh, front row). --Perla Bernardo-So (Batch '60), Iligan, Philippines.
I can identify only three persons: Jose Dy Pico (first, standing), Dy Tiao Boc (thirteenth, standing) and Pilang, younger sister of Mrs. Dy Yao (first, front row). --Sy Cho Kiu, Iligan, Philippines.
Charles Sy revisits Iligan
During the monthly meeting of the LCHS Alumni Association on May 23, Spectrum founder and past editor Charles O. Sy surprised the alumni officers with his unannounced appearance. He had just arrived from Cagayan de Oro City where he has an undergoing construction project. In attendance were Manuel Gaite, Glenda Sy Cabilan, Teresita Racines, Suniel Lim, Santiago Ong, Alexander So, Carlos Dy, Beng Hong Vy, Chester Dy, Edwin Co, Arturo Samson, and Victor Chiu as observer for the Spectrum. Charles Sy turned over to alumni president Beng Hong Vy a complete set of CD’s containing a compilation of Spectrum issues from April 15, 1997 to March 25, 2002 and digital photos taken during the Grand Alumni Homecoming. Charles Sy listened to free-wheeling discussions on different schemes for scholarship grants to deserving LCHS students. His last visit to Iligan was during the GAH2000 in August 2000.
Report from LCHS-AA President Beng Hong Vy
On behalf of the LCHS Alumni Association, I would like to thank Jose Tan and the Lucia Sy Foundation for their generosity in sponsoring the scholarship of our talented LCHS students. I also would like to thank Charles Sy for giving us a complete set of Spectrum files and pictures of the grand alumni homecoming.
I am happy to report that the LCHS Alumni Association had a fruitful meeting on May 23, 2002 during which we arrived at a consensus. Having formulated their mechanics, we will push through with the implementation of three different scholarship schemes, which are: (1) Scholarship incentives to students who excel in their academic performance to be administered by the alumni association in coordination with the LCHS Board of Trustees for Grade VI valedictorian and salutatorian regardless of their parents’ economic status. (2) Scholarship program administered by the LCHS Alumni Foundation which offers free tuition fees to children of LCHS-AA members in need of financial support. (3) The Benefactor-Beneficiary scheme under which the alumni association will solicit the aid of prominent individuals or companies who act as benefactors for each of the scholars. Tasked to scout for benefactors are alumni officers Edwin Co and Glenda Sy-Cabilan.
We have also arrived at a consensus to maintain a separate fund for the Spectrum complete with its own bank account and books of account. All funds that have been accumulated in connection with the printing and sale of hard copies of the Spectrum shall be turned over to the Spectrum fund. Marie Joan Quimbo will act as the treasurer while Castor Ong Lim will act as business and circulation manager. Suniel Lim proposed that each member of the board shall donate to the Spectrum fund an amount of no less than five hundred pesos not necessarily for the purchase of computer but for other expenses or contingencies that may be incurred in connection with the publication of Spectrum. Everybody was receptive of the idea. --Beng Hong Vy, President, LCHS Alumni Asssociation
Charles O. Sy, Batch '67
Un-beer-able
A meeting is a group exercise where one person keeps minutes while the rest waste hours.-- o o o -- When I complained to Roger Suminguit that a new KTV bar in Cagayan de Oro charges too much for beer, he told me to just grin and beer it.-- o o o -- As far as I'm concerned, the price is simply unbeerable.-- o o o -- Army veterans have gray hair because it's said that old soldiers never dye. But don't take my word for it because it's all just hairsay.-- o o o -- Rene Tio, back from a European tour, says his trip to London was blessed with sunshine and never a Rene day.-- o o o -- The financial support of a handful of generous alumni has enabled the LCHS-AA to acquire a PC for the Spectrum. Just goes to show how the positive spirit of a few can overcome the PC-mistic attitude of many.-- o o o -- Rodolfo Yu's lecture was well received by his audience when he spoke at a university in Fujian, China. No wonder Rodolfo came home Yu-phoric.-- o o o -- Two of my favorite strip dancers in a girlie bar were nabbed by the police for baring it all. They forgot that there are things in life that are better left unshed.-- o o o -- A fashion designer says not all women look good on T-back. It all depends on how their T-back fits their back to a T.-- o o o -- We should never expect a fisherman to be generous because the nature of his business makes him sell-fish.
50
Unforgettable Scenes
(First of Two Parts)
As a kid of the 50s and 60s, I grew up in an atmosphere filled with much love and caring, pampered by my elders and attended to perfectly by my yaya Takya. It was indeed such a wonderful childhood. I was then the youngest in a brood of four, until such time in 1961 when my sister Evelyn came into this world. I was 9 when she was born. Since then I ranked second to the youngest, playing an older brother to her. It was great. It still is.
So many things have happened since then. There were those experiences and adventures which I thought could only happen in the movies or the fictional stories that we read, only to realize that they do in fact happen in real life situations: the drama of life, the surprises, the happy endings, the triumphs and victories, as well as the frustrations and the disappointments. All these form a fabric of a life’s process called Growing Up in such an era of the young, the innocent, and the carefree, devoid of too many responsibilities and challenges as yet. Certain times and events have indeed made me what I am today. So, where was I in those glorious years? What was I like? Who were the friends I was with? How did we play the field and have lots of fun? Join me as we take on a sentimental journey into our beautiful past and retrieve the memories of our dreams, created and built thru the years, long gone by but forever remembered, simply because they are just unforgettable. I remember ...
1. That morning on November 5, 1956 when my ama (maternal
side) was buried at the Iligan Chinese Cemetery. We were in all-black mourning
clothes, as we sent her off, after the requiem mass at the St. Michael’s
Cathedral, to the tune of "Ave Maria”.
2. That afternoon on May 23, 1957 while on board M/V Don Victoriano
on our way back to Iligan from Dumaguete, when we saw from afar the burning
of Iligan City.
3. Living life for a while at the LCHS campus as our place of
refuge being fire victims, along with other homeless families.
4. Re-establishing our grocery store along Zamora St., circa
1957-1958, after the big fire that hit Iligan.
5. As a preschooler, I was fond of listening to “Darigold Jamboree”
of Leila Benitez and Eddie Ilarde, “Salamat Po, Doktor”, and “Tiya Dely”
over the radio.
6. That morning on June of 1958 when I enrolled as a kindergarten
pupil under Hao Tio Neow, and our kindergarten graduation with us wearing
the white toga.
7. The excitement and fun of riding the orange-colored LCHS school
bus driven by Nicomedes.
8. Those dance presentations in grade school, the after-class
practice, shopping for costumes, dress rehearsal, the anxieties, the make-up,
the dress up, and being the stars of the show.
9. Those recess periods when we would either eat our snacks of
maruya,
banana cue, or nilung-ag nga saging, mais, or kamote,
or listen to the 101 stories of those older students ahead of us.
10. Going to school early purposely to play patintero, bato-lata,
kondisi, lastiko, jolen, or takingking with my classmates.
11. The stories about the white lady, kapri, ungo,
and that huge mango tree fronting the cream and maroon painted high school
building.
12. Being scared of Kokang as she was said to be a balbal.
13. Our Lo Chok class under Siansi Dy Shiek Hem where we had
gardening at the back of the Kindergarten, Grade I and II classrooms.
14. Our barkada group in grade five called THJLA, which stood
for Timmy, Henry, Jimmy, Leopoldo, and Antonio, and the JEL group of Janet,
Edna, and Leodegaria.
15. The Caltex Spelling Bee contest, Science and Math Quiz, Current
Events, and other interschool contests.
16. Going crazy over DXIC’s Jukebox Jamboree hosted nightly by
Vivian Leigh Dilit to the tune of “This song is heartily and lovingly
dedicated to …”
17. The Chinese Night in celebration of the city fiesta during
September month showcasing our very own LCHS talents.
18. The election for the Hak Sing Chi Ti Huoy or Student
Council officers.
19. The Christmas caroling, parties, chin-chin gifts, etc.
20. Writing the Christmas card envelops with “From someone who
cares” or “From Guess who?”
21. Decorating our classroom during Yuletide with colored crepe
papers and other knick-knacks.
22. Playing badminton in the vast playground, and ping pong at
the auditorium.
23. Those interclass writing and drawing contests.
24. Those monologues, orations, declamations, songs and dances
as part of the school’s annual Literary Musical Contest.
25. Writing pen pal letters, and signing autographs or slum books.
(To
be continued)
Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87
Trip Tease
I just got back from my trip to parts of the United States and Canada. It was roughly six whole weeks, but still it wasn’t enough to see all the places that a tourist must see. But for me it was more than enough especially after having spent most of our time going on and off airplanes. At some point I was already willing to give up what I have just to get some of those magic dust that Peter Pan uses to fly. The boredom at the airports and on those long flights was already getting on my nerves.
That trip with my mother was planned and scheduled in such a way that we could visit most of our relatives and close friends. I was actually just the dakilang alalay in that trip. I served as her eyes to locate the departure gates and served as her ears to hear the boarding announcements. And served as her porter when there’s no one else around.
At the onset of the trip I was really apprehensive because we’re visiting some relatives whom I haven’t seen for ages. For me it was really an awkward feeling especially since I don’t know them that well. But my mother insisted, and being the official D.A. (as in dakilang alalay) I really have no choice. Though it’s flattering to be greeted by comments like “oh how you’ve grown” even if her comparison of me was when she last saw me 30 years ago. Like my cousin in New York City who said that I was just around two years old and was running around in our rented house in Ozamis City when she last saw me. Thank goodness there’s a visible difference after three decades. I was just afraid she might say “baby face man ka” or in other words “walay bo-ot og dagway”.
Every time we land on a new place and enter another home, the usual topic is the places we’ve been so far, and where our next stop is. At one point one aunt said that we must be finding it hard to stay in a small place after having visited other relatives with much bigger houses. This statement really struck me because personally it’s not the size of the houses that counts, it’s not how our own voices echo through the empty halls but it’s how the sound of laughter reverberates through the whole house. It’s in the degree of warmth and sincerity in the welcome, and the futile effort of holding back tears as we leave. It’s not even the fine china on the table nor the Salmon or the Sea Bass or the Tilapia that was served that counts, it’s the sincere desire to reconnect and try to get to know each other once again that matters. It’s how our conversation flowed effortlessly through the day be it talking over a cup of brewed coffee or just a glass of plain “faucet” juice. It doesn’t even matter if we were talking over the sink while washing the dishes or on one of those fluffy comfortable couches. It’s how we can’t seem to stop talking even if it’s already way past midnight, that made an impact. It’s never how grand nor how humble the house is.
My cousin Jacob in Chicago said that there’s really nothing to see there. Well, I agree with him that it’s really not Kissimmee, Florida where everyday is an adventure but I failed to tell him that our trip to Chicago or our whole trip at that, wasn’t just about Sears Tower nor the Empire State Building nor the Statue of Liberty or the Golden Gate Bridge, it was all about them. About seeing my sister, my cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends. It’s about seeing them in their “natural habitat”. It was my way of satisfying a curiosity as to how they live, how they go about their days. How they are when they are in their own respective territories.
I know what he means when he said that “there’s nothing to see” because after awhile the buildings would start to look the same, that climbing through those different towers would start to feel the same, and those freeways would start to fade in the background but looking back now it’s who were with us that made the huge difference in that experience. Somehow I have this feeling that seeing those landmarks is no different from seeing it through a postcard, the magic lies in the company. Somehow the postcards would always look better, but it’s who was taking the picture with me in it that counts. It wasn’t the millions of light bulbs along The Strip in Las Vegas that would come to my mind right now; it’s the person who was dragging us from one sight to the next who makes me smile fondly. It’s not the amazingly great weather in Seattle that matters but the genuine care and the effort of my long-lost friend that made my trip there special and memorable.
If somebody would ask me if my trip could be considered a success, well, I don’t have to think hard for the answer. I can easily say that it was a great trip. Not only because the flights were on time, or that we didn’t lose our luggage, or the fact that thanks to the tougher security measures our planes landed on the airports and not on some sky scrappers but most of all I was able to be with the people who mattered most. The people who occupy a special place in my heart. That I was able to be with them even for just a brief but precious moment.
After that really long trip, I can conclude that one big factor that makes or breaks a trip is the people. The person I was with, the people I met along the way and the people waiting at each destination with open arms.
Ernesto L. Yu, M.D., Batch '65
Adventure In Misadventure: Rene and Miriam Tio's recent bittersweet odyssey in Europe is a mirror image of my vacation tragedy from two years back. Indeed, it is plain emotional trauma to any world travelers trapped in foreign quicksand. Their psyche-wrenching ordeals at Heathrow Airport makes you wonder about the shimmering points in the wisdom that sometimes it is best to invest your hard-earned money right on your backyard, watch the sun rise and fall lazily in mellow notes, and pump up your own economy in the process. Glad to learn though that our Cagayan de Oro sidekicks' brief, awful segment of summer adventure was buffered by the enchanting sights and sounds of the whole package in general. I can sense Rene's sigh of let bygone be bygone when he concluded that Londoners are superb in assisting vacationers who are lost in the shuffle. My English pal would have countered such appreciation with words like "wonderfully charming" and "lovely, lovely". Likewise, I can visualize the highest scale in Rene's thermometer when he was crushed into boiling point by an idiotic Trafalgar personnel. Group tours are inherently unpredictable, bundled with prickly surprises that can test and evaluate the effectiveness of your blood pressure pills. A safe way to come out a winner is to be flexible and open-minded to the stinging ambushes along the course. Otherwise, kiss your heart goodbye because you just deducted years in its ticking mechanism by stressing yourself with splitting migraine and stroke precipitating exercises. Lucky Rene, he had a Yum by his side who handily subdued the raging bull within him and kneaded the unpleasant minutes into yummy hours. I can’t wait for his cliffhangers along Paris subways and the glitters of Eiffel Tower.
Hope he’ll be honest and detailed in his hushed whispers to the French chambermaids.
Lucky Silver Dollar Ride: Essentially, dream vacations can deteriorate into nightmares of the third kind with a single tap from a witch fingernail. You tagged your luggage obsessively with proper identification, but your sets of basic fashion end up deported in another planet, rendering you dressed-to-kill (odorous killer!). You boxed a ton of mascara that can level off the sorriest facial potholes known to mankind. Instead, your bottled magic potion is thrashed into the Discard Section by a Neutrogena-phobic airport security officer who believes that such astounding quantity of mud could readily breed mad cow disease out of your beautification project. This is where the legend of the Lucky Silver Dollar outshines all unlucky gloom. If you have such coin in your pocket, courtesy of a dear one who wishes you all the best breaks in life, the odds are in your favor for the come-what-may. Meaning: nothing bad of the out-of-the-ordinary variety can spoil your trip. Your airline transport hits the perfect departure and arrival times. Your stopovers and connections never become a drawing board of disasters. You may not see rainbow in every rain but, hey, the Lucky Dollar is your vest against head colds. It reasonably guides your palm reading to refined highs. Trust me, I just got back from a heaven-perfect spring retreat of a few days with that amazing chunk of metal in my possession. From a poking crawl at dawn to a humming snore of exhaustion at night, my silver dollar wrapped up everything in soothing harmony. Cross your fingers as you yearn for a chum who'd bless you with a wondrous bucketful gift of good fortune for a buck. How about a silver peso?
Tonto, not Lone Ranger, should have the answer.
Aurora H. Tansiokhian, M.D., Batch '58
Hello Mr. Fuertes. Sir, I hope you will allot some time to spend with me when I come and visit. Thanks for remembering. I also wonder about Manda Lu Siok. He was the mature one.
'Sucked Dry By Grief'
It was a cool, sunny, spring Sunday, and I was reading the May 17, 2002 issue of The New York Times. (It is a good paper but I have not forgotten its unfair and biased coverage of Dr.Wen Ho Lee, the Chinese American nuclear scientist.)
There was the usual political news including an amusing item that Germany's 58-year-old Chancellor Gerhard Schroder had filed a legal suit against a news agency that "accused" him of dyeing his thick head of brown hair. He does not want to be perceived as a vain person in a conservative country. He needs some growing up (who doesn't?).
Against this somewhat humorous item, consider this more somber news. It is generally known that some women in some countries are treated as subhuman. However, here is a particularly appalling story.
An article by Seth Mydans about a 26-year-old illiterate, green eyed Pakistani woman condemned to die by stoning under Pakistan's strict Islamic law saddened me. She lives in a very poor area in northwest Pakistan along the frontier with Afghanistan.
When she married a man who had lived about a mile away from her home, his husband's family took possession of her. Her parents rarely saw her thereafter. They were too poor even to have a photograph of her.
After her husband went to prison for murder, her brother-in-law(s) raped her repeatedly. Her parents-in law ignored her complaints. She has a child as a result of the rape. The illegitimate child became "proof" of sex outside marriage which is a crime according to the Islamic laws of zina. Her accusation of rape is also considered a confession of the crime of having sex outside marriage. Execute the victim.
What happened to the rapist? He was set free without charges. Under the laws of zina, conviction of the male rapist requires four males witnesses, all Muslims and of upright character, to testify to having seen the rape take place. Impossible. It is practically a license for a male to rape any female.
Her parents, had sold their two thin goats to help pay for a lawyer.
Her father said: "When we heard the sentence, we couldn’t breathe, we couldn't think. For days, we couldn't eat".
Her mother just as eloquent said: "I have been sucked dry by grief".
Poverty and the harshness of their environment have not taken away their dignity, their poetry, and the love for their daughter.
Thanks to the press coverage a review of her sentence has been scheduled. There is some hope in this world with a truly free press. It is the only non-violent way the poor can get some justice in this unfair world.
Till next time.
Fidel L. Fuertes, former LCHS teacher
The Laughter of Kalantiaw
In 1956, when I started teaching at LCHS, I was perplexed at an incident in the classroom. The class was quiet and the students were serious and attentive. I was in the middle of my lecture on pre-Spanish history when all of a sudden the whole class burst into laughter.
Why did they laugh? No one would tell me. Later, after some detective work, I learned that the funny word was Kalantiaw. Whether I pronounced it Ka-lantiaw or Kalan-tiaw, it always brought the house down.
Year in and year out, batch after batch, the mere mention of Kalantiaw never failed to bring laughter into the classroom. Even those demure and reserved ladies -- like Perla Bernardo, Conchita Soy, Felisa Booc, Remedios Tan, and Norma Sy -- even they could not suppress their laughter whenever I brought up the topic of the Ancient Code of Kalantiaw. It was as if they had seen the funny faces of Charlie Chaplin, Jerry Lewis and Dolphy.
But levity aside, the Ancient Code of Kalantiaw was not a laughing matter. It was believed to be the oldest written penal code in Southeast Asia. It imposed cruel and unusual punishments to the offenders. Woe unto the poor soul who was unlucky enough to be meted the penalty imposed by this ancient code!
Here are the eighteen laws and their cruel and unusual punishments:
1. Ye shall not kill, neither shall ye steal nor shall ye hurt the aged, lest yet incur the danger of death. All those who this order shall infringe shall be tied to a stone and drowned in a river or in boiling water.
2. Ye shall punctually meet your debt with your headman. He fulfils not, for the first time shall be lashed a hundred fold, and if the obligation is great, his hand shall be dipped threefold in boiling water; on conviction, he shall be flogged to death.
3. Obey ye: no one shall have wives that are too young, nor shall they be more than what he can take care of, nor spend much luxury. He who fulfills not, obeys not, shall be condemned to swim for three hours; and for second offense, he shall be scourged with spines till death.
4. Observe and obey ye: Let not the peace of the graves be disturbed; due respect must be accorded them on passing by caves and trees where they are. He who observes not shall die by bites of ants or shall be flogged with spines till death.
5. Obey ye: Exchange in food must be carried out faithfully. He who complies not shall be lashed for one hour. He who repeats the act shall, for a day be exposed to the ants.
6. Ye shall revere respectable places, trees of known value, and other sites. He shall pay a month’s work, in gold or money, whoever fails to do this; and if twice committed, he shall be declared a slave.
7. They shall die who kill trees of venerable aspect, who at night shoot with arrows the aged men and the women; he who enters the house of the headman without permission, he who kills a fish or shark or striped crocodile.
8. They shall be slaves for a given time who steal away the women of the headman; he who possesses dogs that bite the headman; he who burns another man’s sown field.
9. They shall be slaves for a given time, who sing in their nigh errands, kill manaul birds, tear documents belonging to the headman; who are evil-minded liars; who play with the dead.
10. It shall be the obligation of every mother to show her daughter secretly the things that are lascivious, and prepare them for womanhood; men shall not be cruel to their wives, nor should they punish them when they catch them in the act of adultery. He who disobeys this shall be torn to pieces and thrown to the crocodiles.
11. They shall be burned, who by force or cunning have mocked at and eluded punishment, or have killed two young boys, or shall try to steal the women of the old men.
12. They shall be drowned, all slaves who assault their superiors or their lords and masters; all those who abuse their luxury; those who kill their anitos by breaking them or throwing them away.
13. They shall be exposed to the ants for half a day, who kill a black cat during the new moon or steal things belonging to the headmen.
14. They shall be slaves for life, who having beautiful daughters shall deny them to the sons of the headman, or shall hide them in bad faith.
15. Concerning their beliefs and superstition: they shall be scourged, who eat bad meat of respected insects or herbs that are supposed to be good; who hurt or kill the young manaul bird and the white monkey.
16. Their fingers shall be cut off, who break wooden or clay idols in their places of oblation; he who breaks Tagalan’s daggers for hog killing, or breaks drinking vases.
17. They shall be killed, who profane places where sacred objects of their diwatas or headmen are buried. He who gives way to the call of nature at such places shall be burned.
18. Those who do not cause these rules to be observed, if they are headmen, shall be stoned and crushed to death, and if they are old men, shall be placed in rivers to be eaten by sharks and crocodiles.
There you have it: a set of laws only a sadist and a maniac could conceive and promulgate. You could become a slave for singing in the night. You could be cut into pieces and thrown to the crocodiles if you punish your wife whom you caught in the act of adultery. The same punishment awaits any mother who failed to teach her daughter the secrets of womanhood. You could become a slave for life for hiding your beautiful daughter from the sons of the headman. But wait. Could all these be true? (To be continued.)
Michael John L. Siangco, Batch '96
How
To Get Into Jail Without Really Trying
(For borrowing cars from a dealer, CdeO’s LTO regional director gets
336 years in jail!)
If you were Timoteo Garcia, regional director of Land Transportation Office based in Cagayan de Oro City, it would be an easy task for you to get into jail. You don’t have to steal. You don’t have to kill. You don’t even have to get involved in multi-million-peso shenanigans.
All you have to do is to own a farm, make it your favorite weekend hideout, and to get there, borrow a car from a car dealer like Oro Asian Automotive Corporation. The car dealer company cannot refuse your request. How could they? They need to transact business with your office, secure conduct permits and register their newly assembled cars. They have to kowtow to your whims and caprices. Otherwise, you can give them hell. It would be a good “pr” thing for them to accede to your request. Anyway, it’s not the classy kind of car you are borrowing. You need only those inexpensive utility vehicles like Tamaraw, Fiera or Aero. There’s no problem with that even if you borrow a car from them 56 times.
It would help if you have an incompetent, stupid and careless driver -- one who would sign a delivery receipt eveery time you borrow a car, and one who would one day run over a child. What if the child dies? What then? It’s not your concern. You are not the driver and you don’t own the car. What if the mother of the child sues the driver, the car owner and you? What then? Let them settle the case.
Don’t worry if your incompetent, stupid and careless driver disappears. That’s one more plus for you. You can claim that your driver has used your name without your knowledge. Who can contradict you? Don’t worry if the prosecutor pounds on the fact that you have abused your position to obtain favors from the car dealer. Blame your driver. Don’t worry if the prosecutor pounds on the law that every offense carries the penalty of at least six years in jail. You can always blame your driver.
At the end of the trial, don’t be surprised if the court finds you guilty
beyond reasonable doubt and sentences to you to a prison term of 336 years.
Why 336 years? Why? Because 56 X 6 years = 336 years.
That's why. Simple arithmetic. Di ba?
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