Vol. 6, No. 6, June 24, 2002

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LCHS recently released its calendar of activities for school year 2002-2003. Among the major activities are:  Leadership training seminar, June 14-15; election of class officers, June 21; start of guard duty service, June 24; 1st classroom cleanliness contest, June 24; election of Student Government and Junior Student Council officers, June 28; English Week, July 15-19; Chinese penmanship contest, English declamation contest (elementary), and English oration contest (secondary), July 20; Chinese 1st periodical exam, August 9-10; English 1st periodical exam, August 15-17; Linggo ng Wika celebration, August 26-30; Science Week, Sept. 9-13; Math & Science Quiz, Sept. 14; mid-autumn festival celebration, Sept. 21; Chinese group sing contest, vocal solo contest, Sept. 21; Teachers' Day, Sept. 27; 2nd general cleaning contest, Sept. 27; Chinese 2nd periodical exam, Oct. 17-18; English 2nd periodical exam, Oct. 21-23; semestral break, Oct. 28-Nov. 1; School Foundation activities, Chinese story-telling contest, English singing and dance contest, Nov. 11-13; 3rd general cleaning contest, Nov. 29; English 3rd periodical exam, Dec. 18-20;  start of Christmas vacation, Dec. 21; resumption of classes, Jan. 6, 2003; Chinese 3rd periodical exam, Jan. 17-18; debate festival, Jan. 27-31; retreat for graduating class, Feb. 7-8; 4th general cleaning contest, Feb. 28; CAT graduation, March 1; English final exams for graduating classes, March 6-8; Chinese final exams, March 20-21; English final exams for non-graduating classes, March 24-26; commencement exercises, March 29; and Recognition Day, April 9.

Rudy Yu adjudicates in 9th All-Asian Debate

After his April pleasure trip and speaking stints in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China, Prof. Rodolfo P.Yu (Batch '69), in photo, adjudicated in the 9th All-Asian Intervarsity Debating Championship held at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand from May 14 to May 21, 2002.  Prior to the debate proper on May 15, 2002, Rudy, as he is fondly called, took and passed the difficult Adjudication Test with flying colors.  Later, he was chosen as one of the top 54 single adjudicators in Mock Round and Preliminary Round 1, 2 and 3 and proceeded as panel adjudicator in Round 4, 5, 6, and 7.  Some 108 teams and 185 adjudicators from China, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines participated in this international debate competition. Ateneo de Manila University romped away with the Championship Trophy while Multi-Media University of Malaysia was the First Runner-up. The Championship Motion was: This House believes that parents should be responsible for their children's crimes.

Henry Dy elected to BSP anew

Henry C. Dy (Batch '64) has been elected anew to the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) for 2002-2003.  The election was held at the board meeting in Manila last June 8. Henry Dy was elected board member representing the business sector.  This is his fourth time to be elected to the highest governing body of the BSP.

Ernie Yu is medical conference speaker

Ernesto L. Yu, M.D. (LCHS '65) will be one of the featured speakers in the annual ASOCIMAI (American Society of Cebu Institute of Medicine Alumni, Inc) medical conference and reunion at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., July 11-13 this year. Aside from being a staff anesthesiologist at Buffalo General Hospital in Buffalo, NY for the last two decades, Ernie is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Buffalo Medical School. He is involved in the education and training of residents, nurse anesthetists, medical and dental students. He holds board certifications in American Board Of Anesthesiology and American Academy of Pain Management. Among his other accomplishments: Past presidents of the New York Society of Anesthesiologists, District 7 and the Buffalo Anesthesia Associates, P.C.; columnist in Brain Waves (Buffalo Rhapsody), a CIM web newsletter; former editor of The Batingaw, the Filipino-American Association of Western NY gazette, and an active contributor to the NY-NJ Sillimanian.

Warren Lim opens law office
By Igdono Caracho (Batch '66)

David Warren G. Lim (Batch '87) has opened a new law office together with his associates called Javier, Javier, Pacilan & Lim Law Office.  Inaugurated last June 8, the office is located at Don Pedro Celdran Ave., Rosario Heights, Iligan City. Warren, son of Jose Tek Hua Lim (Batch '62) and Lorenza Go-Lim, finished law at the Mindanao State University (MSU). He took his review at the UP Law Center and subsequently passed the bar in September 2001.

New middle and high-end subdivision in CdeO

Another premier residential subdivision is fast taking shape in the very vibrant and progressive city of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro. One year after his successful joint venture with Pueblo de Oro on their 1,000-unit San Agustin Valley Homes project, Richard D. Lim (Hong Tok, Batch ’69), in photo, fourth from left, ventures again into the medium and high-end subdivision, this time to cater to the growing middle and upper class market. Launched last May 3, 2002 with no less than the Undersecretary of Housing Armando de Castro and Pagibig Vice President Jaime Fabiaña leading the time capsule laying ceremony, this newest subdivision is now developing at a fast-break pace to meet its completion date on May of the year 2003. Just a walking distance away from Shoe Mart (SM), which is scheduled to open by November this year in time for the Christmas season shopping, this 12-hectare, 600-unit project named Golden Glow Subdivision has already attracted a lot of buyers. In fact, the entire 50 units allocated for its opening day promotional sale were gobbled up in just a matter of half day, prompting Pagibig VP to comment that SM has really created a new residential and commercial hub and opened a lot of opportunities for a lot of people in this part of the region.

Spectrum correspondent is associate publisher

Spectrum correspondent Michael John L. Siangco (Batch '96), in photo, is now the associate publisher of the Daily Tirada, the first daily newspaper in Iligan City.  A B.S. Biology graduate from the Mindanao State University, he also writes a column for the Philippine Post, Daily Tirada and the Spectrum. Mike Siangco is the first-born son of Betty Lee (Batch '72) and grandson of Lee Kim Po, the proprietor of Chin Hin Trading.  He is a nephew of Lilia Lee (Batch '60), Lily Lee (Batch '64), Corazon Gutierrez (Batch '65), Lee Kesiang (Batch '69), Lee Using (Batch '69), and Lee Ke Sing (Batch '70).

Intensity 5 quake jolts Iligan

An Intensity 5 tectonic earthquake jolted Iligan City at exactly 10:11 a.m. on June 14, 2002. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the quake, which lasted for a few seconds, registered a Magnitude 5.4 on the Richter Scale. It was tectonic in nature and was triggered by movement of the northern extension of the Mindanao Fault. Its epicenter was located at 53 kilometers southwest of Marawi City. The tremor was felt at varying intensities in many parts of Mindanao. The earthquake reminded the old-time residents of Iligan of the destructive 1955 earthquake that caused the water of Lake Lanao to recede, enticing many Maranaos to catch the fish on the dry lakebed; but when the water suddenly returned, many of them drowned. That earthquake was unforgettable because of the series of aftershocks it gave over a period of several days. It forced the residents of Iligan to evacuate their houses and camp in the open fields. Although the recent earthquake caused pandemonium in several high-rise buildings in Iligan City and caused bank clients and office personnel to rush outside their buildings, no reports of injuries or major damages to infrastructure were reported.  As James Bond would say of his glass of bourbon, "Shaken, not stirred."

Congressman's son a carnap victim

Eric Badelles, son of Congressman Alipio Badelles, recently lost a car to carnappers while his Tamaraw FX, with plate number UAC-451, colored white, was parked near the Philippine Independent Church, Ubaldo Laya St., San Miguel Village, Iligan City. The theft was unexpected since it happened in a respectable community, surrounded by schools and churches and near the residence of the city's longest-serving mayor. It may be recalled that it was in this same vicinity a few years ago where the son of Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo, while driving his car, was abducted and brought to the boundary of Lanao del Sur.  He sustained stab wounds but survived. The culprits were Maranao outlaws who did not know who their victim was.

3 scholarship schemes concurrently implemented

For the first time, three different schemes of scholarship grants are concurrently implemented for the school year of 2002-2003, 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.  Because of the on-going negotiations among the benefactors, beneficiaries and the alumni association, the complete list of scholars cannot yet be released.

Alumni officers at a meeting with LCHS school officials and prospective scholars held at LCHS recently.

LCHS seniors form core group of campus writers

On June 10, 2002, the LCHS high school senior class formed a core group of campus writers composed of Farley Ong, editor; Enjoy Faith C. Ang, assistant editor; Myra Bonggas, Elbert Eslao, Nicole Chua and Raffy Tan, staff members. To make it into a campus-wide organization, they will sign up more writers from other classes including Grade Six.  The aim of the group is to develop their writing and communications skills. Their journalism instructor will guide them in news-writing and other fundamentals of journalism. For starters, they will cover events and activities related to LCHS, its faculty and students. With the assistance of the Spectrum staff, they will undergo on-the-job training and observe the actual working of the press. They will also be taught how to make use of the computer, applicable software and the Internet technology. At the end of each semester, they will try to come up with a campus edition of the Spectrum.

Best in Social Studies awards

In the recognition program held on March 22 and March 26, 2002 in the Lanao Chung Hua School Gym, the following students were given the Best in Social Studies awards:  High School -- Giselle Mae S. Letigio, first year; Dave A. de Jesus, second year; Enjoy Faith C. Ang, third year; and Jefferson T. Chiu, fourth year.  Grade School -- Thomas Derrick P. Siao, Grade 1; Kevin Bill R. Taongan, Grade 2; Reggielloyd F. Aguilar, Grade 3; Kevin Bryan M. Dy, Grade 4; Darryn Michael W. Chiu, Grade 5; Tristan Ervin G. Lim, Grade 6.

Loyalty awardees

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 conferred the Loyalty Awards: Jan Michael W. Cerna, Oileen Hettie C. Chio, Cheerine U. Dy, Manuel V. Guazon, Jr., Franklin V. Khu, Michael C. Lim and Armi Leslie D. Te.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Alumni Whereabouts

Giselle Karen Go, in photo, at left, celebrated her 14th birthday with a party at the Cebu Grand Convention Center last June 9.  She was on vacation in Cebu recently together with her mother, Evelyn Yu-Go (Batch '77), at right. Gracing her party were members of Henry Yu's and Mila Yu-Ong's families and other relatives and family friends in Cebu. Evelyn and Karen live in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., where Evelyn is a registered nurse.  Roberto Lagrosas (Batch '72) is now connected with Geo-Transport & Construction, Inc. He is the Field Administrative Officer of the company's operations in Cagayan de Oro City where the company is undertaking an expansion project for the Cagayan de Oro City Water District.  From Josefina "Panga" Salvador, we learned that Manda Lu Siok (Batch '58), who used to study in our school during the late 1950's, had died sometime in May, 1997 due to cancer of the liver.  He was survived by his wife, Tessie, and children: Alex, Eduardo, Katherine and Augosto. His family is now engaged in rice and corn business in Carbon Public Market, Cebu City.  Siok-Siok, as he was fondly called, was a classmate of Guardson Siao, Rufino Booc, Eddie Ang and Aurora Tansiokhian.

Go King Te, widow of the late Yu Eng Lee, passed away on June 9, 2002 at 4:00 a.m. in Iligan City. She was survived by her children:  Yu Chi Li, Soledad "Bee Hua" Yu, Pablito "Chi Kian" Yu, Azucena "Bee Tin" Yu, Perla "Bee King" Yu and Virgilio "Tarzan" Yu.  She was buried on June 12, 2002 in Iligan City.

Alfredo "Boboy" Andaquig, brother of Aida (Batch '71), Angelina (Batch '73), Jaime (Batch '75), and JoseTiu Andaquig (Batch '78), passed away on June 12, 2002 at the age of 48.  He died of acute eschemic heart attack in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.  He was survived by his widow, Rosario, and children: Catherine (Batch '90), Mark (Batch '91), Maureen Karen, Alfredo Jr. (Batch '95), Leah Mae (Batch '96), and Ryan Roy (Batch '97).  He was buried on June 22, 2002 at St. Michael's Memorial Park, Palao, Iligan City.

Letters of condolences
Our heartfelt condolence to the Yu family. -- Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65) & family, Florida, U.S.A., e-mail: gates000@bellsouth.net

Our deepest sympathy to the Yu family. -- Jesus "Hesing" Dy (Batch '63) & Melania Dy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, e-mail:  Jesus.Dy@gov.ab.ca

Our deepest sympathy to Tarzan, Perla and the rest of the Yu family. -- Ernie (Batch '65) and Verna Yu, New York,  U.S.A., e-mail:  Ernstyu@aol.com

Our deepest sympathy to Bro. Tarzan, Perla and the Yu family.  Mrs.Yu Eng Lee was my late mother's closest friend. I will always remember her. -- Peter (Batch '66) and Tita Dy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, e-mail: pdy@telusplanet.net

To the Yu family, Tarzan, Perla, Chi Kian and Chi Le:  We extend our deepest sympathy on your lost. -- Johnson Dy (Batch '64) and family, Orland Park, Illinois, e-mail:  ireneady@hotmail.com

Our deepest sympathy to the Yu Family.  -- Greg Dy (Batch '59) & Family, Chicago, U.S.A., e-mail:  gregdy@juno.com

In behalf of my mother, Fe Quimbo, and my sisters and brother, we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Yu family.  We used to call Mrs. Yu as Chim-po.  My mother would always tell us how she and my late grandmother were very close friends.  She always treated us like her own grandchildren.  She was always glad to see us whenever we visited her.  Whenever she'd talk about our grandmother she'd always go teary-eyed, which was contagious.  For us, she was the grandmother we never had.  To my classmates Eng Siong and Eng Bon, we'll pray for your grandmother's soul. -- Janiefer Q. Lee (Batch '87), Metro Manila, e-mail: janiefer@pacific.net.ph.

Our deepest sympathy to the Yu family.  From Dy Guat Ching and family. -- Marie Josefiel Q. Ello (Batch '83), Vancouver, Canada.

Our deepest sympathy with Jaime Tiu Andaquig and family. -- Peter (Batch '66) and Tita Dy, Edmonton, Canada, e-mail:  pdy@telusplanet.net

Our deepest sympathy to Jaime & family. -- Jesus (Batch '63) & Melania Dy, Edmonton, Canada, e-mail:  Jesus.Dy@gov.ab.ca

We are sorry for your loss.  Our deep sympathy to Aida and family. -- Leticia Dy-Hallarsis, Iligan, Phillippines

To Aida and family:  Our deep condolence for the loss of your brother .-- Melecia Dy-Lamayan, Butuan, Philippines.

Saturday, June 8, 2002, 12:17 PM  -0400
Can we ask somebody to take more pictures?  The property could have been put to far far better and greater good use than what has transpired.  Thanks to your reports! -- Wilford D. Lim (Batch '75), New Jersey, U.S.A., e-mail:  wilfordlim@msn.com

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

The hardest part of being broke is watching the world go buy. -- ooo -- Priests who committed sexual abuse against children often start their day with "Let us prey." -- ooo -- Our office janitor and the secretary next door are in love with each other.  He swept her off her feet. -- ooo -- Whenever Peter Dy plays golf he always brings two sets of socks.  Just in case he gets a hole in one. -- ooo -- Some people find watching the game of golf so boring it putts them to sleep. -- ooo -- I'd rather enjoy a cup of tea inside the club house while my friends play golf.   That's my idea of a perfect tea-off. -- ooo -- Between golf star Tiger Woods and tennis beauty Anna Kournikova, I'd rather watch Kournikova and her Anna-tomy. -- ooo -- Many of the vintage photos published in our GAH Souvenir Program were lent to us by James So.  We are thankful to James for being So helpful. -- ooo -- Terry Wee Sing Sy, wife of Jonas Sy, is now head of the International Exchange Bank in Cebu. When all her friends were Wee Sing her good luck she became Terry-eyed. -- ooo -- Past LCHS-AA president Toto Samson says he seldom drinks beer beyond 9 p.m.  That's because he always starts at five thirsty. -- ooo -- In my case, I drink beer only on two occasions:  When I'm thirsty and when I'm not. -- ooo -- A restaurant in Cebu called Canio Native Foods is offering buffet lunch for only P50 per person. Canio believe that? -- ooo -- The Central Bank is contemplating to demonetize our centavo coins because they are becoming worthless.  I think this proposal makes cents.

Today, fifty years after my birth, Iligan still remains as one of the cities in Mindanao which is closest to my heart. It was my birthplace. It was my hometown. And it will always be a dear part of me. For a lifetime.

Once upon a time, I roamed around the city in t-shirt and slippers. Iligan was the very place where I left my heart, along with so many beautiful memories of my youth – LCHS, the school where I studied, the beaches, the movie houses, the bakeries, the mercado, department stores, newsstands, refreshment parlors, and many other significant areas and districts which have all carved indelible imprints in my young mind then, like Tibanga, Hinaplanon, Tambo, Kiwalan, Tambaca, Baslayan Creek, Palao, Tominobo, Suarez, Linamon, Celdran Village, Rosario Heights, to as far as Kolambugan, Balo-i, Dansalan, etc. Some of the popular stores and joints may no longer be there, but others are still standing strong and sturdy on their original locations despite the passage of time, reminding me of the Rolling 50’s and the Fabulous 60’s – my childhood years. So join me now as we tour around Iligan City circa 50’s and 60’s and let’s see how many of these popular places do we still remember as part of yesteryears’ glory, misery, triumph, and victory.

I remember Washington, Quezon, Cabili, Sabayle, Roxas, Roosevelt, and all the other streets and avenues of Iligan. These were the roads where I trudged along, ran, and stumbled. They were the very streets where these popular stores and business centers of my youth were located.

I remember …

Miguel Fish Trading – Tam Wong – Nena’s Luncheonette – Lian Tay – Hing Huat – Mindanao Baratillo - Manila Baratillo – Sen Chin Bee – Padilla Quality Store – Dy Cham Shoe Store – Capitol Trading – King Sing Bazar – Pasing’s Grocery – Oro Bonito – Hong Kong Restaurant – PNB – Police Department – Iligan City Plaza - Neil’s Tailoring – Victoria Bakery – Iligan City High School – Iligan Capitol College - Lanao Milling - Everlast Bazar – Lard’s Studio – 7-Up Studio – Doris Department Store – Casa Esperanza – Hamilton – Lilian Store – Roque’s Quality Store – Sampaguita Bakery – Chu Eng Store – La Suerte – Siao Bon Po – Dy Un Suy – Padilla Recreation Hall – Tesing’s Beauty Salon - Premier Theatre - Al Toro Hotel – Lanao Arkay Radio – Manila Bazar – Iligan Construction – Salatan Grocery – El Judger Bakery - Liong’s Restaurant – Canton Restaurant – San Cha Trading – King Theatre – DXRI - Washington Trading – Tay San – State Shoes –Sen King Bee – Tin Lu Sing – Ang Suan Em – Pacific Commercial – Good Morning Auto Supply  – Tropical Commercial – Hong Yao Trading – Loy’s Pharmacy – St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Michael’s College,  Crystal Educational Supply - Keng Hong – Tan Lam Glassware – Krisland Commercial – Ang Han Tiong - Kian Chiong – DXIC - PCIB -  Lian Hong – Brilliant Textile – Lian Guan – Queen Theatre – Vision Art Studio - Ang Bon Chiong - Elite Bakery - Sen Hua – Asia Store – Lim Chay – Alaska Ice Drop – Excelsior Bakery  – Mansueto Funeral Parlor – Funeraria Halili – St. Peter’s College - Heyrosa Variety Store – California Bakery – Fely’s Store – Masarap Carenderia – Acme Auto Supply – Century Theatre - Tan’s Refreshment Parlor – Rural Bank - Oriental Restaurant – DXMI - Capitan Newstand – Naring Jariol Store – Fire Department - Jam Chiong Tailoring – Dina’s Barbershop –– FIBC – Kim San -  Rosalinda’s Store – Racines – La Salle Academy – Redemptorist Church – Bernardo - Sen Tay Seng – London Biscuit Co. – Jacqueline Bowling Lanes – Sampaguita Lanes ...

… and so many many more places I’ve been to in my younger years spent in a city I’ll never forget -- Iligan.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

I’ve been looking for the right pre-school for my 2 year-old daughter for weeks now.  I know I should have done the scouting months ago but then I was still debating whether to send her to school or not.  Some people say that it’s still too early to send her to school.  Although I’m afraid that if we don’t send her now by the time she’s old enough to go to the “big” school she’ll have a hard time catching up with the rest of the class.

So armed with my list of questions and criteria I set out to look for the “right” school.  The first thing I did was to narrow down the list to those schools which are located near our shop.  So that we won’t have a hard time taking her to and from the school.  Next I went to visit the schools one by one and talked to the teacher who's going to handle my daughter’s class.

The first one I visited is very accessible, but the problem is that the teacher I talked to wasn’t articulate enough.  I was wondering how could she teach the kids to speak well when she couldn’t do it herself. So I moved on to the next one on my list.

The second one I went to is also accessible; it was located on the ground floor of one of the buildings in Makati.  The teacher I talked to seems good enough but then I’m worried about the office-like tall building.  What if there’s an earthquake?  How could they take all the kids out safely? I know this sounds paranoid but I just don’t feel comfortable about the building.  It doesn’t look and feel like a preschool. In other words it seems to have some bad Fung Shui.

The next one I went to was so brand new that I could still smell the strong odor of freshly applied paint. I thought that being just a few days away from the first day of classes I’m sure that by the time the kids come in the odor would still be there.  And the kids would be inhaling it the whole time that they are there.  Unless they want to hear a small voice that would keep saying “ang bantot dito,” I just didn’t enroll my daughter there.  Again I moved on to the next one on my list.

This next school had a sick and bald dog on it’s doorstep that I had to tip-toe around it for fear of being mistaken as the drumstick it’s been dreaming about.  When I finally got in I had a hard time adjusting to the dim light inside.  For a while there I thought I entered the wrong door.  Because it feels and looks like a dimly lit bar rather than a preschool.  Maybe they are saving on electricity.  Well, I’m afraid that if I enroll Shania there that she might only learn the art of making fans or the different strokes of fanning, or the art of making candles since they’d be using no electricity.  Although it sounds like a good way to start a business, it just wouldn’t do.

Finally, I accidentally passed by this one house near my sons’ school which has some large colorful characters on the wall.  I turned back and got a closer look and found out that it’s a preschool.  Just looking at it from the outside gave me this feeling that “this is the one”.  So the next day I went in and talked to the person in charge.  I stayed with my daughter inside their classroom just to observe how they would conduct a class of nine “tiny people”.  I’m quite impressed at how they go about it.  I can feel that they have a very “friendly” atmosphere and my daughter didn’t seem intimidated at all.  And to think that she’s considered as the youngest in that class.  Somehow they were able to incorporate some basic concepts like “big” and “small” through a game.  And I think that’s what’s important, that the kids will learn something without trying to.

Most of the preschools in our neighborhoods these days are basically offering the same stuff and doing it in the same method.  Some call it the “progressive” method. As in they introduce concepts through hands-on experience rather than the traditional papers and pens.  I call it the “new” method as against the traditional method that most of us have been through.  Since they are mostly the same it’s really up to us parents to scrutinize the place and the people in that school.  Like is it safe enough or are the teachers good enough.

For my little rookie, I wonder how she’d be after this school year.  Whether she’d be the Rookie of the Year, I don’t know.  But when the school asked me what I hope my daughter will gain from the school, I told them that I want her to gain some friends and some really memorable experience on her first year in school.

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

Tag it as a hybrid of choking nausea and pulsating toothache snugly packed in one wallop. Worst, visualize being ripped to shreds by a concoction of punishing motion sickness and a drilling migraine with a dollop of dissociated grin.

Chewing and digesting the pictorial truth of the current pathetic state of the Roosevelt Extension-LCHS campus seems to plaster every arthritic and hobbling dinosaur of my time in a roller coaster ride: gyrating into the orgasmic highs of reflecting on dazzling sweet memories and decelerating into the wrenching lows of scanning a graveyard of historical echoes wasting in neglect. It is excruciatingly familiar to every upright member of the human race with unquenchable appetite for the legacy of the past that the richness, wholesomeness and dramatic vitality of the bygone days can be recouped through the visible remnants – charred, mossy, half-dead – that assault the senses.

James So’s and Suniel Lim’s Kodak moments of the before and Charles Sy’s digital now of the ancient LCHS science building and quadrangle grabbed the best in me – sentimental best. To witness those hometown jewels simmer in decay inch by inch can really render the battered and bleeding among us to slur in unintelligible mumble and to wail in the common bond of emotional scars. It is akin to an honest-to-gosh poke toward hell and heaven stirred together. Essentially, Charles’ and Santi Ong’s  fact-finding mission in the fenced LCHS war zone rammed into my chest the ambivalent sensation of being strapped in a screening room while the cinematic grandeur of the once-upon-a-time sensuously waltzes by, and near the curtain’s call, my eyeballs bark a moan as I watch Roger Suminguit squat to check a lifeless chunk of me nailed to a casket oozing with artifacts from an early golden era. The phases of my adolescence moons when kindergarten recess signified a round of hide-and-seek with mom’s hired messenger, Joan of Arc without colors, who would thrust into my uncooperative lips a dose of warm evaporated milk that was a tad smoother than yogurt; when I recited like robots the Chinese multiplication table, scarcely missing a beat even with snores; when I turned white from the adrenaline, not from the chalk-missile that my grade five ma’am torpedoed into my wandering innocent mind in laser-point precision; when Chesterfield nicotine fumes were shared, inhaled and exhaled around established members-only bunkers, like Apache Indians’ friendship ceremony; when mastery in basic arithmetic was a requisite in card games (Lucky Nine, Black Jack) that demand quick mental calculations, no fingers and toes allowed; when periodical exams were dreary exhibitions of technical skill in hand magic and eye coordination: a teacher’s magnifying glass against the students’ trembling reflexes in hiding those crumpled code-to-go or codigo; when girls’ intramurals, especially volleyball, were all about cheering every washed up sweat and tear cascading from the white and blue uniform and drooling by the sideline from the teases of  flashy curves and shapely lessons in anatomy; when I made social rounds on cold, lonely nights with the elusive standouts and perennial heartbreakers among our female populace (Sian si included), mostly executed in daydreams and shadow-talk; when the language of love was structured through sidelong glances and melting smiles, saving lots of rattles emitted by the crumbling down of unsteady knees.

Whoa, a photograph can really project a thousand words, revive to health anyone whipped, sagging in spirit. This inspires me to wonder out loud: Can we slice off a year in the next planned alumni reunion in Iligan – 2004 instead of 2005? This way, we can tap and stomp on, while still concrete-solid (pardon the pun), the skeletal debris and sediments of the foundation of our youthful idealism and dreams.

See how and what my heart would bargain for to wander back and contemplate in the old forest. Before it switches into a jungle of no return.

Aurora H. Tansiokhian, M.D., Batch '58

A few months ago, a dear friend in his late sixties, a heavy smoker for many years, was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.  He had quit smoking a few years ago on the insistence of his bride to be. He had stayed single till he met her. They got married, bought a house, and got a dog.  Life was good until the deadly diagnosis. All of a sudden, their lives changed.

Smoking tobacco kills, no buts about it.  It is a leading preventable cause of death and suffering. Any form of tobacco (cigarette, cigars, smokeless tobacco) is harmful to one’s health. There is no such thing as a safe cigarette. Studies have shown that smokers have up to 13-fold increase of lung cancer as compared to non-smokers.  Cigarettes cause more than 20% of deaths in the USA.

Smokers who live to age one hundred are lucky in a way. They have been gifted with the right protective genes. We cannot assume we have the genes.  The prudent thing to do is to live a healthy life style (exercise, no smoking).

What’s in a cigarette smoke?   More than 4,000 chemical compounds.  At least 60 are known carcinogens. The toxic effects may not become evident until decades later. It’s like a traitor you have considered a friend.

Chronic (long-term) use of tobacco is linked among others, to coronary artery disease (heart attacks); cancer of the lungs, larynx, oral cavity (mouth); emphysema (irreversible breathing problems); stroke (paralysis, etc.) and peripheral vascular disease (pain in the legs on walking). The arteries all over the body are affected.

Smoking can cause sexual impotence due to diminish blood flow to the penis.  This will prevent an erection. Other negative health effects are increased acid in the stomach (ulcer pain), aggravation of asthma, increased children’s risk of respiratory infections, asthma and ear infections from second hand smoke.

Smoking is addictive.  If you cannot stop smoking without feeling withdrawal symptoms (irritability, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating), consider yourself an addict, just like a drug addict. But you can quit if you really want to.  It is your choice.

It does not take a long time to become addicted.  A genetically susceptible person may become addicted after “experimenting” for only in a few weeks. Do not start smoking.  You may not be able to stop.

If you are a smoker, have you thought about quitting?  If not, why?

More on this topic later.

Till next time.

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I went to Xi'An one recent weekend. And it was an adventure that's for sure! Xi'An is a city that's about 14-hour train ride from Beijing. It used to be the capital of China. It's the home of the first emperor of China and it is also the place where the Terra Cotta Warriors were discovered. (http://paulmcohen.com/terracot.htm).

Our trip began with a train ride from Beijing. We were able to get a sleeper train. It's a train that has bunk beds to accommodate the night trip. So it wasn't that bad because I slept through most of it. We got to Xi'An around 7 a.m. Once we got off the train we were approached by many vendors but one in particular followed us since we got off the train. Personally I thought he was trying to rip us off. Later on I realized he was just doing his job and was an "agent" for a hotel and a driving service -- which we used and were very satisfied witth. Maybe we paid more than we had to, but the service was pretty good. The agent's name was "Stone." Crazy name, eh?

Once we settled into our hotel, Stone hired a driver for us and we began our site seeing. You have to understand we were still a bit groggy from the train ride. But I wasn't as tired as the girls (3 co-workers - 2 of them from Canada and they're my roommates too). The Canadian girls were still suffering the effects of jet lag. Personally, I think they were placed into this trip way too fast; they just arrived 2 days before hand. I'm surprised they didn't crack. Well, they almost did. I'll explain later.

We visited a couple of sites, but in between the sites the driver took us to these tourist "shops." I think we hit about 3 of them and I soon learned that every shop he took us to he got a kickback from them, so we just played along. Anyway, the sites that we went to were ok. I think the history behind them were more interesting than the sites themselves. We first went to Yang Gui Fei's bath house (apparently the most beautiful concubine that the Emperor had). That was pretty cool. Then we went to Qin's grave site. Qin was the first emperor of China. The grave site was huge. It took around 720,000 laborers to complete it. But it was like paying to see a hill. Not too impressive. Afterwards we went to see the warriors. That was definitely worth the trip and something that you must see with your own eyes. I took lots of pictures and if you have time check out that web site that I mentioned earlier for a preview (it's someone else's site).

The next day, we were pretty much drenched with rain and there was nothing to avoid it. We bought a couple of umbrellas but we were still soaked to the bone. Luckily we spent most of our time at this Pagoda temple and then went to a museum of history. And before I forget, I've never enjoyed a KFC chicken burger so much that day. Maybe it was the fact that we got out of the rain or it was the familiar environment. Yes, I know KFC wouldn't be something you would relate to as home, but it did that day!

We were to leave that evening around 5:30 p.m. by train. When we got to the station we learned that all that rain had washed out a bridge that the train was supposed to use. So all the trains were cancelled! There was a huge line-up at the ticket counter (I estimate at least 800 people). And there was a lot of commotion going on. The fact that I was with two blonde girls didn't help the fact either. Everyone was staring at us ... actually they were staring at them and I'm pretty sure the girls were very uncomfortable about that situation. About 45 minutes later, Julie, my co-worker who came with us, got the tickets refunded. I don't know how she got to the front, but she did. Afterwards we were in a bind because we didn't know what to do. We found out that a plane ride back to Beijing would have been too expensive and the only option left was to take the bus.

Ironically we called Stone to help us out (it's funny how my little scam artist all of sudden became the hero of our adventure). He led us to a bus station and we got the last four tickets out of the city. Our destination wasn't Beijing though. It was to this city that had the next train station that would have taken us back home. The only problem was that it was going to be a 6-hour bus ride! After we thanked Stone for his help we went to the bus and headed to this far off place around 7 p.m.

The bus was a regular bus. Nothing too fancy. A very typical tour bus and there was air conditioning. Well, there was until the driver decided to turn it off to save gas! Honestly, I started feeling the heat about 2 hours into the trip when it got clammy inside, and you know how I am when that happens -- I start to sweat! So I sweated for the entire trip. I felt so sticky and nasty. I took short naps the odd time and when I got up my face was covered with perspiration!

As soon as we reached our destination our driver got lost so we were driving around the city for about 30 minutes before we found it. It was 2 a.m. and we rushed to the ticket counter where we were told that the train only had standing seats left and it didn't depart till 4:15 a.m.; the next train that had reserved seating wasn't due in till 7:30 a.m. So we bought the tickets for the 4:15 a.m. trip and sat in the waiting area.

By this time, it looked like one of the girls lost it already. She appeared to have this blank face and wasn't responding to anyone. I'm surprised she was able to handle it this far but I just let her be. Of course while we were there everyone was starring at the girls again. It was like they never saw white people before. Maybe that was the case but they just stared. A man even went up to one of them and touched her hair!

Anyway, we hopped on the train on time and were surprisingly pleased that the train had seats, albeit hard as rocks but at least we got to sit and sleep. Thankfully the train ride was uneventful. However it was still a long trip -- about 10 hours. We got to Beijing around 11:30 a.m. and decided that it was time to head home and have a shower!

Well, that was an adventure I hope I never have to experience again. But now that I think about it, it's something I'm glad I went through. I think it was the best way to learn about my new room mates and my co-worker in a short period of time.

[Editor's Note:   The writer, Peterson Dy, in photo, is the son of Peter Dy (Batch '66).  Peterson, 26 years old, is currently in Beijing, China on internship at an international career training center called Career English. Part of his internship is to develop and teach professional skill curriculums (etiquette, negotiating, effective business meetings, networking/socializing, among others). He will return home to Edmonton, Canada on Aug. 14, 2002.]

Marriage, for me, is like death that comes like a thief in the night. But unlike death, it is a happy event.

I was 22 years old when I started working with National Power Corporation.  I was single and the youngest in our department. My office mates kept on telling me not to marry yet, since I was still too young, until I reached the age of 27 or 28 when everyone already seems to be worried that I am still single. It never came to a point when I heard them say it is time to marry.  Instead I was asked why I haven't got married yet. I find solace in the company of my girl friends who are in the same situation. Finally, my knight in shining armor came and saved me from further "humiliation."

It is really in the Pinoys that expect ladies of age or in their late twenties to be already married, and if not, then it is just very Pinoy to ask why.  And if a woman marries and does not have a child after a year or two, then she will again be constantly asked if anything is wrong.  I have read in an article in a newspaper where the writer is in the same situation as I was before I got married. She said that only the Pinoys do that. The Westerners are not concerned with women who married late, couples who preferred not to have a child right after marriage, or women or men who did not marry. So I thought this is the way it is here in the Philippines.

June is here again, and I hope that the people who are getting married are not doing so because of the pressure from family or friends, but marrying for love.  Because eventually those people pressuring one to get married are just supporting actors.  In the end it is still the couple that has to make the marriage work. Being single and enjoying life is far better than being married and already experiencing hell here on earth. No marriage is happier than being married to someone you love, someone who complements to each other; where one's weakest is the other's strongest. Just like Ernie's load of laundry to do or dishes to wash, because having love in marriage means doing things you wouldn't do otherwise, but one will also be reaping the rewards that one can reap in no other relationship.  (Reprinted from the June 26, 2000 issue of the Spectrum.)
 

EDITORIAL STAFF VICTOR L. CHIU, editor  Correspondents: Roger Suminguit,Teresita Racines, Charmaine Molo, Rodolfo Yu, Vinson Ngo, & Michael John Siangco (Iligan); Igdono Caracho (Cebu); Emma Yap Matiao (Dumaguete); Marie Janiefer Lee (Manila); Peter Dy (Canada); Leonardo Tan (Australia); Ernesto Yu & Aurora Tansiokhian (U.S.A.); Castor Ong Lim, business & circulation manager (Iligan) & Marie Joan Q. Quidlat, treasurer, (Iligan); and Charles O. Sy & Henry L. Yu, past editors. Founded Aug. 1, 1968.  Published fortnightly since its revival on April 15, 1997. Distributed free on the Internet to LCHS alumni & supporters worldwide. Postal address: LCHS Alumni Association, Lanao Chung Hua School, Pala-o, Iligan City, Philippines. Web site: www.geocities.com/lchsspectrum. Spectrum welcomes articles, news reports & comments from LCHS alumni, students and readers. For subscription, contact Roger Suminguit, tel. 221-2422. For contribution, e-mail manuscripts to the editor: perfidia6180@hotmail.com with cc to: spectrum@iligan.com