Vol. 6, No. 12, September 16, 2002

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Famous bold star Joyce Jimenez (in photo), who has earned the popular title of "Pantasya ng Bayan," will be the guest artist during the Miss Iligan beauty pageant on September 27, 2002.

This was learned from the main sponsor of the event, the Iligan City Eagles Club, of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.  The beauty pageant is one of the major activities in the Iligan City Tourism Week and Fiesta Celebration 2002. The pageant will be held at the MSU-IIT gymnasium where 13 beauties will vie for Miss Iligan crown.

The candidates (in photo) are:  Crisna Joy Acain, Scarlet Grace Tipontipon, Jennifer Lacandula, Cristine Brandares, Mechelle Reyes, Wnyve Fontanilla, Lorraine Lacida, Sharon Carangcarang, April Kris Escalon, Marjorie Ong, Salemliza Tiu, Michaelyn Ledda, and Noela Evangelista.  Photo courtesy of Photo Arts Center and Kodak Express.

Henry Dy continues to donate classrooms

Even if he is no longer a city official, Henry C. Dy (Batch '64) has continued to serve Iligan City in his personal capacity.  Barangay officials and school principals still seek his help for donations of classroom buildings.  Henry, who ran for vice mayor unsuccessfully in the last local election, still maintains his contacts with the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce, Inc. to whom he recommends prospective recipients of donations.

Henry is the only city councilor who has donated 16 schools in as many areas in Iligan City during his nine years (three terms) in the city council.  Despite his loss in the election, he continued donating three schools that have been completed. These are now awaiting turnover dates to be set. These are the schools in Sitio Mimbalut, Buruun, in Pugaan, and in Villaverde.  Henry said that there are still two schools to be donated.  One is already earmarked for Barangay Abuno, while the other will be given to a barangay that still remains to be identified.

New place to unwind in Iligan
By Igdono Caracho (Batch '66)

There is a new spot that's starting to make waves in Iligan City.  The arcade, known as Kima Commercial Complex, houses a growing number of trendy shops, cafes and bars. It's located along Quezon Avenue Extension, fronting Lian Hong Company, Inc., in Palao.  Among the latest additions to this new landmark is the Tap Bar & Restaurant, which opened last Sept. 6.  It is an elegant resto bar owned by a group led by Michael Ernest Quidlat, husband of Joan Quimbo-Quidlat (Batch '87).  Among his partners are Juval Uy & Joey Uy (sons of the late Valentin Uy), Santi Ong (Batch '70), Benjo Tan (son of Calix Tan), Rod Enriquez of Allied Bank, and a few others. The place is fully airconditioned with state-of-the-art piped-in music.  It also has an outdoor area for patrons who wish to dine al fresco. Its menu offers a wide selection of gourmet specialties including sizzling pusit, sizzling shrimps, special si-si, among others. Another new outlet at the arcade is a coffee shop called Cafe Romano.  It's run by Janet Ang Lee, daughter of Henry and Andy Lee.  So whether you are out on a date or simply in search of a cozy nook to unwind after a long day's work, the place to be is the Tap Bar & Restaurant or Cafe Romano.  Who knows, you might yet get to meet many familiar faces among your fellow alumni in the crowd.

Relic photos draw more
viewers to Spectrum website

The photos of various LCHS artifacts drew hordes of Internet viewers to the Spectrum website in August, surpassing the month of May as the month with the highest number of visitors.  August registered a record high of 2,154 visitors.  The month of May held the previous highest record with 2,131 registered hits when the stewardship of the Spectrum changed hands from Cebu to Iligan. Photos of the artifacts of the old LCHS Roosevelt campus were photographed and posted on the Spectrum web site by Charles O. Sy and Roger Suminguit last August 9. The rare photos attracted many homesick alumni and LCHS old timers to log on to the Spectrum web site to catch a glimpse of the relics.  The photos are displayed under "Pictorial" on the web site at:  www.geocities.com/lchsspectrum

The abrupt end of two school papers in Lanao Chinese High School in the 60s left the LCHS campus with a lingering void that was difficult to fill.  These were the Scholastic Gazette (1965) and the Campus Keeper (1968). Given the critical role a student paper had to play and the school's ambivalent attitude toward it, they ended without a successor to take the cudgel from where they left off.

Birth of the Spectrum.  The hiatus eventually gave rise to the idea of a joint publication for both LCHS students and alumni.  In the summer of 1968, Charles O. Sy (Batch '67) proposed the concept to two other alumni with extensive experiences in previous LCHS publications, Ernesto Yu (Batch '65) and Henry Yu (Batch '69). The Yus both seconded the motion right off the bat. And the three of them spent the summer months laying the groundwork for a newsletter that would be more sustainable as it would cater to both alumni and students of LCHS.

On August 1, 1968, the Spectrum Bulletin was born. Forming the staff were Charles O. Sy, as editor; Ernesto Yu, executive editor; Henry Yu, associate editor; Teresita Racines, editorial assistant; Peter Dy, editorial consultant; Miguel Ong, correspondent; Rudy Co, Antonio Leo Te and Castor Lim, reporters.

The Spectrum thus became the first LCHS newsletter to be printed by letterpress and with Cebu City as its base. Funding came from voluntary contribution of alumni and students. Although the donors gave their contributions freely, the staff had to go around soliciting funds every month in order to publish each issue.

Overwhelming Support.  Its maiden issue was well received and more support flowed in from alumni, students and faculty of LCHS. The school principal himself, Tan Lian Hun, also contributed a substantial sum on behalf of LCHS.  Other major sponsors of the newsletter were the LCHS Alumni Association, then headed by Carlos Dy; Krisland Commercial represented by Henry Siao; and the Millionaires' Club composed of Greg Dy, Henry Dy, Walter Dy, Luis Kho, Arturo Samson, Peping de los Santos, Alexander So, Cresencio Tan, Bonifacio Te and Manuel Te.

Soon the paper grew from 4 to 12 pages. And a new staff was formed with Charles Sy, as editor; Victor Chiu, managing editor; Ernesto Yu and Henry Yu, associate editors; Leonardo Tan and Miguel Ong, correspondents; Yolando Siao, Emma Yap, and Peter Dy, staff writers; and Artemio Lagrosas, staff artist. The name was rechristened The LCHS Spectrum. Well-staffed and well-funded, the Spectrum expanded into a network, with circulation reaching key cities where resident alumni were aplenty. Covering the beats in their respective bases were Yolando Siao and Miguel Ong, for Iligan; Leonardo Tan, Manila; Ernesto Yu, Henry Yu, and Emma Yap, Dumaguete; and Peter Dy, Cebu.

The Spectrum covered a broad range of participants among LCHS students and alumni. It carried news of the alma mater and alumni, features, columns, poems, and crossword puzzles. It also ran a list of contributors and sponsors for each issue. As varied as its articles were its commentaries on various events of the times. Most articles dealt with themes of general human interests.  But a few were critical in their perceptions of certain prevailing conditions and states of affairs involving the LCHS community.

The Boycott.  In its January 1969 issue, the Spectrum featured a full-length interview with Roderick Ngo, then LCHS Student Council president.  The interview included a portion where the student leader, in answer to a question by Charles Sy, commented that some LCHS Chinese faculty members seemed to lack teaching proficiency.  The remark did not sit well with the LCHS administration and faculty, who subsequently manifested their displeasure by withdrawing financial support to the Spectrum.

Despite the boycott, however, the Spectrum remained unfazed.  It persisted and managed on its own to come out with two more issues making a total of five issues published during its existence. It finally ceased publication with its last issue in November 1969 and left the LCHS community without a medium to chronicle its passage to history for many years thereafter.

Rebirth.  In 1997, almost 30 years after the Spectrum ceased publication, several alumni found their paths converging anew with the new inter-connectivity of the Internet. Among the group were Charles O. Sy,  Peter Dy, Alex Rodriguez, Leonardo Tan, Rene Tio, Teresita Racines, Roderick Ngo, and Mike Lee. As their interaction through e-mails became more frequent, a consensus was reached among the group to make the exchange of information a regular endeavor.  From this sprang the idea of reviving the defunct Spectrum.  With the speed and facility of the Internet, the concept of the Spectrum as an Internet newsletter soon took shape.  And on April 15, 1997, the Spectrum was reborn.

New Spectrum.   Since the time of its revival on April 15, 1997, the Spectrum had been published in Cebu.  But after five years of operating in exile, the Spectrum was finally brought home to Iligan City with the assumption of Victor L. Chiu as editor on April 1, 2002.  Charles O. Sy served as its editor from 1997 to 2001 while Henry L. Yu served as editor from April 9, 2001 to Mar. 25, 2002. The current editorial staff is composed of  Victor L. Chiu, editor; Charles O. Sy & Henry L. Yu, past editors.  Correspondents: Teresita Racines, Vinson Ngo, Roger Suminguit, Charmaine Molo, Rodolfo Yu, and Michael John Siangco (Iligan); Igdono Caracho (Cebu); Marie Janiefer Lee (Manila); Emma Yap Matiao (Dumaguete); Peter Dy (Canada); Leonardo Tan (Australia); Ernesto Yu and Aurora Tansiokhian (U.S.A.); Castor Ong Lim, business & circulation manager (Iligan); and Marie Joan Quidlat, treasurer (Iligan).

LCHS students awarded scholarship grants
By Glenda Sy-Cabilan (Batch '72)

Two LCHS students, Raffy Earl Tan and Pao-Ju Chi, qualified for the financial grants of 5,000 pesos each per semester given by the Share the Gift of Education Program, a joint project of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) and Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI).  The announcement was jointly made by Joaquin Sy, Secretary General of the Federation, and Placido L. Mapa, Jr., President of Metrobank Foundation, who extended their warmest regards to the school faculty and the recipients.  Accompanied by LCHS school principal William Payonan, Raffy and Pao-Ju claimed their checks from Miss Matilde Diane C. Labradores of  Metrobank Iligan - Lanao Branch.  Raffy Earl Tan, a high school senior, and Pao-Ju Chi, a grade 6 student, are consistent honors students and active in student government and other extra-curricular activities.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Silver and Golden Jubilees

During the last meeting of the officers of the alumni association, it was agreed that Batch ’52 and Batch ’77 will be recognized and honored this year.  For the first time, we will be celebrating golden and silver jubilees of our graduates and their batch mates.  The celebrations will coincide with our traditional Christmas party on December 30, 2002.  On behalf of the officers of LCHS Alumni Association, alumni president Vy Beng Hong would like to to congratulate members of Batch '52 and Batch '77.

Batch '77 is composed of Nannette Chio, c/o Lily Chio, San Miguel Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-6444; Zelda Chio, c/o Lily Chio, San Miguel Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-6444; Aileen Chiu; Flora Closas; Albert Dagondon, Iligan City; Jane Y. Dy, 74 General Luna St., Malabon, Metro Manila, tel. 281-8758 ; Dennis Jo, Dr. Jo's Medical Clinic, Mercado St., Iligan City, tels. 221-3160,  221-2052, e-mail: dennisjo@iligan.com; Tessie Lee; Joselito Lee; Silveria Ngo, Quezon Ave. Ext., Iligan City; Joel Ngo, c/o Vinson Ngo, 50-A Quezon Ave., Iligan City, tel. 221-3065, e-mail: joelngo@mailexcite.com; Sherlita Racines, 99A Quezon Ave. Ext., Iligan City, tel. 221-3705, e-mail: suracines@hotmail.com; Freddie Sim; Rolando Sim; Fe Soy; Benton Sy Sua, Geo-Transport & Construction, Inc., Room 301, 3/F Cebu Long Se Temple Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City, tel. 254-1355; Vicente Tan; Wilson Tan, Rosario Heights, Tubod, Iligan City, tel. 221-7761; Dante Villareal;Evelyn Yu, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., e-mail: ego@texas.net; Lolita Yu; and Felino Yu.

Batch '52 is composed of Henry Ang, Lina Go Ang, Ang Siok Kuan (Inday), Primo Bagatan, Lilian Bernardo, Alfred "Chik Khee" Co, Francisco Dy Pico Sr., Ruth Dy Pico, Dy Chi Bing, Dy Guat Ching (Fe Quimbo), Roberto Dy, Pricillano (Liong Sing) Go, Sheila Handumon, Ramon Ho, Robert Kho, Enrique Lai, Chery An Lim, Lim Suy Kheh, Vecenter Namarel, Ngo Bon See, Po Tian, Benjohnson Siao, Conchita Sy, Henry Sy, Sy Pek, Sy Phek Lee, Richard Sy, Tan Eng Gue, Tan Eng Hap, Pacita Tan, Conching Te, Pacenta Uy, Sena Uy, Yu Chi Leh and Robert Yu.

To golden and silver jubilarians, please let us know if the names of any of your batch mates have been inadvertently omitted.

Echoes from the Resurrection of the Lord
Chinese-Filipino Catholic Community
By B. H. Ching

On the first dry morning after many days of rain, May 13, 2001, the beloved bishop of the diocese of Iligan, the Most Rev. Emilio L. Bataclan, DD, turned the first shovel of newly acquired land of the Resurrection of the Lord Chinese-Filipino Catholic Community.  The groundbreaking ceremony marked a milestone in the history of the Chinese-Filipino Community in Iligan City.  After organizing ourselves for a few years, setting up a life of the sacraments, prayer groups, catechism classes, adult religious education, a Youth Group, a Singles Group, as well as two choirs, we are now being called, in line with the call of the Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, to be an ethnic parish.  On the site of our land will rise, with God’s help, a church, a formation center, and a convento.

The construction finally began on April 15 of this year.  We are a relatively small group, so the efforts of our members to raise the needed funds were nothing short of heroic!  Together we worked out a number of different designs before settling on the present, and together we know we still have a long way ahead of us.  Our friends have been wonderful in helping us in our goal to have a common place of worship.  Our dear Madam Rosales is the “maninang” of the roof!  God bless all the many kind souls who are such an important part of our effort for the Lord!

Our dynamic community priest, Father Daniel Sormani, in one of our council meetings, put clearly in our understanding that the structure we are building is, in fact, only the church building, but WE are the church that Jesus is building; we, the people of God, the Church!

At present, we celebrate our Sunday Eucharist at the Lord of the Holy Cross Parish.  The choir sings out praises of God in English, Visayan, Tagalog, and Chinese.  Then after Mass the catechists and children head off to learn more of God’s love and call.  There’s always lots of preparation for First Confessions, First Communions, and Confirmations. At different times we have fellowship, often bringing our Catholic faith to our Chinese culture.  And so we celebrate the Spring Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival with Mass and praising God, and we continue the important tasks of visiting the sick and comforting the mourning.  And since so many of us come from families of mixed religious backgrounds or are ourselves in mixed marriages, we have really come to appreciate our adult religious education programs!

Just a few days ago one of the community members was stopped by a young man asking about the community and wondering if he could attend Mass!  He doesn’t know all that much about God, he said, but he’d like to find out!  Now, isn’t that reason enough for us to recharge our energy, work harder and praise God with greater enthusiasm?

Perspective of the Resurrection of the Lord Chinese-Filipino Catholic Community Church & Formation Center.

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

Surfing the Internet in the Philippines is awfully slow it might as well be called the World Wide Wait. -- ooo -- In anatomy little is known about our salivary glands because they are secretive. -- ooo -- Janiefer Lee says she doesn't want to be disturbed when she's working out in the gym.  Janiefer wants complete Lee-way in doing her exercises. -- ooo -- Many alumni discovered during the GAH2000 that Jesus "Hesing" Dy dances very well.  What they now want to know is: Can Hesing too? -- ooo -- Three prominent rheumatologists in Cebu are planning to merge their practices into a medical group specializing in arthritis.  We call this a joint venture. -- ooo -- Two burglars were nabbed for stealing cell phones.  They landed in jail and became cell mates. -- ooo -- Some dressed chickens sold in the market these days are injected with water to bloat their weight.  Those responsible should be arrested for this fowl play. -- ooo -- I have a secretary who dropped her birth control pills inside our Xerox machine. Now the machine can't reproduce. -- ooo -- To friends who invited me to Iligan's Señor San Miguel fiesta celebration on Sept. 29:  In case I can't attend the fiesta, remember I'm still with you in spirit -- the spirit of San Miguel ... beer.

In a lifetime, thousands of friends come into our lives in different forms, sizes, shapes, and colors, just like the changing in movie programs.  In life, we win some, we lose some. So it is in friendship. Some friends come on a "hello and goodbye" scheme, while others stay in our lives "for better or for worst, in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part." It is to the latter that we reserve the word Friends for

Life because they are the people we would certainly want to have for a lifetime, the same people who taught us the so-called DON'TS OF FRIENDSHIP, the very factors that we should avoid doing if we want to preserve our friendship longer than forever. So for this issue, let me share with you thirty-one of them:

1. Don't promise anything to a friend if you think you're not capable of doing.
2. Don't listen to what other people say about a friend. Believe only in what you think.
3. Don't add more insult to a friend's injury.
4. Don't lie to a friend. Be truthful no matter how much it hurts.
5. Don't dictate a friend what to do.
6. Don't talk too much but be more of a listener to a friend's drama.
7. Don't try to outdo each other. Life is not a contest.
8. Don't be envious of a friend's achievements, rather be happy for him.
9. Don't pressure a friend into doing something beyond his capacity.
10. Don't expect a friend to do all the nice things you've done for him.  You only exchange gifts on Christmas.
11. Don't say anything against a friend especially at his back.
12. Don 't put down a friend for the things he's not so good at doing.  Give him time to learn.
13. Don't decide for a friend. Just lay down options.
14. Don't force a friend to go with you when he's not sold to the idea of a night out.
15. Don't expect a friend to be with you all the time as he might have other things to do.
16. Don't say things to a friend if you don't mean them. If ever, think twice.
17. Don't pretend to be in the mood when you're not.
18. Don't try to change a friend. Accept him for what he is and not for what you want him to be.
19. Don't discuss things with a friend at the wrong time or in the wrong place.
20. Don't argue with a friend when the house is on fire.
21. Don't criticize a friend for his wrong doings. If and when, do it in a nice way possible.
22. Don't follow a friend or lead him, but always walk beside him.
23. Don't compare a friend with your other friends. Each of us is manufactured differently.
24. Don't give something to a friend that which you think will not make him happy.
25. Don't abuse the goodness of a friend.
26. Don't presume things, rather make it a point to ask a friend what he likes, that way it will make him feel important.
27. Don't insist to be right all the time. For every issue, there's got to be two sides of the coin.
28. Don't claim to be a perfect friend in this imperfect world.
29. Don't try to be a winner all the time. We win some, we lose some.

30. Don't barter a friend's worth for something higher because true friendship is the highest. It's something money can't buy.
31. Don't set limits to friendship. No if's, no but's. Just go ahead and love unconditionally.

Why thirty-one? Because you are supposed to master each DON'T for each day of the month that comes along. Remember, it takes time to build friendship.  And it takes two to boogie.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

Ever wondered how our clothes feel when it’s being “lubag”?  Well, a month ago I think I felt just how it is to be wring from both ends.  Guess what I usually do when I’m in this situation ... call my sister Joan. Thanks to the people who invented the Party Phone or else I’d own half of PLDT by now.  When we get into this type of situation by the intro of our conversation we’d both know what’s up.  Our usual intro would be “na hbo gyud ko” by “HBO” we mean that we’ve already reach the boiling point.  As in “high blood point”.

We talked about how we’d want to just pack and leave. Although we’d have a big laugh afterwards since we both know that we can’t really do that at the spur of the moment.  But just by talking and fantasizing about leaving and escaping is already good enough at times.  It’s better than visiting a “headologist”, I know Dr. Ernie said that the medical term for such a doctor is a Neurologist.  Thanks for the enlightenment, but sometimes I still prefer to call my neurologist as the “headologist” or maybe the “painologist”. Since after two weeks of medication I’ve finally got rid of my daily migraine.

Sometimes I wonder if trying to be nice to those pesky customers is worth every migraine that I go through.  And those balancing acts that the doctor put me through just to check if I’m still within “normal” frame of mind.  Because when those “test” were not enough I had to go through several blood tests that at one point I thought they must have gotten all that I’ve got.  Which made me think that the next time that pesky customer shows up at the shop I’d have to charge him the laboratory bill and the consultation fee I paid.  My cousin Marites from Vancouver witnessed how stressful it is to face such barbaric clients that we have.  And she said that if I get ten customers just like him I might as well close the shop and curl up in one corner at home.  Which was a good idea though, rather than hiding in the bathroom for as long as that customer is still in our premises. Which I already did.

Joan and I have already talked about going away.  She suggested that we go to either Ormoc or Tacloban, but I told her being a stranger to those places we might end up more stressed if we get ourselves lost out there.  Although a friend said that Tacloban isn’t that big and that it would be easy to get around, it wasn’t enough assurance that we won’t get lost. We thought about Tagbilaran and Cebu, again, but here comes the invitation to go to Kim Meng.  As we tossed this idea over and over we’ve somehow agreed that we’re interested to join the group.  Now all we have to do is save for the $700.00 fee.  I wonder if we can save enough, if we start now.  I just hope that saving for this trip won’t make us more stressed than we already are.

Oh well, come to think of it, it must be worth every penny to visit the place where our grandparents came from.  Based on my sister Jojo’s account, she said that the house where she stayed in when she was there in the early 90’s looks just like those houses in the old Chinese movies. Well, maybe with the authentic background I could finally test whether I’d passed as a Chinese movie actress.

I hope that this trip to retrace our forefather’s footsteps, would be able to make us unwind and not just rewind.

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

Laugh until you bust a gut. The instinct may be right smack on the money when tantalized by an alluring array of feel-good calories spread wide-open on the buffet table. Nonetheless, bet you my farm, when your eating buddy airs out a cold recommendation to chill out in your bite-and-chew frenzy, his stabbing snap is nothing but a courteous, friendly advice.

I know of a chum who would starve to death for a day when a mission to invade an eatery hell is sauteed in his ears. Such appetite rocking and rattling down the road doesn't make me bleary-eyed as long as I don't have to beg the waiters, in exchange for a hefty tip, to haul out by bulldozer my flyweight-turned-heavyweight slob of a partner. Or, as long as my  comrade's resounding burps don't puncture the bubbly rhythm of the other patrons' rabid quest for gastronomic bliss!

Funny how some people's table manners are neatly tucked in disguise when exposed to a banquet of culinary delights. Initially, they pedal as slow as swamp turtles, executing the hand-to-mouth ballet with forks to tone down their uncivilized behavior. Lo and behold, when all hell break loose, their true colors radiate in orgasmic truth. By then, you will be conversing amid an aggressive swinging of spoons and saucers, to the point where all your syllables are drown in metallic and porcelain noises interspersed in the locomotive tremors of hungry mouths!

Thus, gentlemen, if you require an assurance that your future bedmate is one who truly and faithfully aspires to rebuild an anatomical proportion more perfect than a sculpture, similar to an aerobics princess, test or tease her taste buds to an all-you-can-eat palate-marathon. If her stomach doesn't migrate to her bladder region, she is a keeper. Otherwise, with the making of a buffet-tiful body, start constructing a lap pool to store your lifetime whale.

Not fair that I didn't address the potential transformation of a he into a horrendous hippo? Well, it is a documented fact that men sport the pregnant look once they hit forty. Unless feed with liquid diet.

Other than beer!

Michael John L. Siangco, Batch '96

Remember the “all-out war” waged by the government against Muslim rebels two years ago?  The rebels were ejected from their camps but the town of Kauswagan, particularly Delabayan, was totally devastated.  This predominantly Muslim village, 42 kilometers west opf Iligan City, was torched to the ground and the residents were rendered homeless.  To alleviate the sufferings of the war victims, concerned religious, civic and humanitarian groups helped to rebuild destroyed houses, mosque and roads.

They call this undertaking Project Islam.  Islam stands for "I Sincerely Love All Muslims."  With funding from church members, pastors and volunteers, Project Islam went on to build roads and water system. The group also funded the college education of several villagers.  A Muslim religious leader said that the installation of the water system was one of the best things that happened to the village.  “For 60 years, the residents had to walk for about two kilometers to get a bucket of water. Now, we can fetch it right in our backyard. We were so ecstatic when water first flowed out of our faucets,” he added.

They were joined by other groups with the same mission.  Last month, without fanfare and publicity, young foreigners came all the way from Hong Kong and Italy to help build a lasting peace in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.  They turned over the newly constructed youth center.  Jack Maruhom, the town mayor, said that the coming of foreigners to his town is an indication that their efforts to restore peace and order in the area have borne fruit.

Mayor Maruhom said the Hong Kong youths were happy to have been met with a warm welcome by the people of Delabayan led by Barangay Captain Kamlon Moner.  The group handed out badminton set, dart, chess, table tennis and other sports equipment

Dino Wong, leader of the 17 Chinese Christian youth, said they had heard about the government’s all-out war and how it devastated the people’s lives and they came here to see how they could help in rehabilitating the people’s lives. .

“We are sorry that it happened. It was cruel and the people seemed to have no one to turn to. I see the need to help them and we hope to bring their plight to other Christian churches and hope that they, too, will respond,” Wong said.

Religious leaders from among the Muslims and Christians in the municipality have bonded together to form a group called Pakigdait (Peace), supported by the local government, to promote harmonious relationship among Kauswagan residents.

The villagers too wanted peace so they could rebuild their hopes and dreams of a progressive village that had been tattered by years of violence.  That need was to be filled up by the military and Christian missionaries.

The desire to help rebuild the lives of the villagers was not an easy task for Project Islam members, not only because they would be dealing with a village deprived of basic services but also because of the residents’ deep distrust for Christians.

Last February, the group started working on the village mosque that was hit by military mortar aimed at MILF rebels.

“They first thought we were trying to convert them to Christianity. When we began building the mosque, they started to trust us. Perhaps they realized our sincerity in helping them recover,” said Pastor Alex Eduave, secretary of Project Islam.  Soon after, the villagers started attending consultations and meetings aimed at assessing their needs.

There was a time when residents of this village viewed the government’s campaign against Muslim secessionist groups as part of a plan to obliterate Muslims from the country. They distrusted everything from the government and, sadly, anything that had something to do with their Christian brethren.

Majority of the residents are relatives of MILF Commander Bravo and sympathize with the rebel group. Barangay Captain Kamlon Moner observed that the MILF, and Commander Bravo in particular, could be frowning on the developments, but he is probably choosing to lie low after seeing that residents are happy.  “Maybe he has realized that we want peace,” Moner said.

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Movies have always been part of our life, either as a lad, an adolescent, or even now that we have become adults.  They are one of the cheapest ways to relax, forgetting momentarily the problems of daily living.

Among the big four theaters as far as Iligan City was concerned in the '50s and '60s were: King, Queen, Century, and Premier. They formed part of our childhood memories back in our hometown for almost half a century past.  These were the places we went to with our barkadas and classmates either after classes in the afternoon, or during Saturday afternoons, or during school hours when some of us would cut classes just to watch our favorite actors/actresses perform in the big screen.

King and Queen Theaters were owned by the Bagatans.  The former being located along Quezon Avenue, while the latter was at corner Roosevelt and Zamora Sts.  King usually showed Tagalog hits, while Queen catered mostly to Hollywood blockbusters.  In the '50s, orchestra rates were pegged at P1.00 while the balcony rates were at P3.00.  Century was located at San Miguel St. and was owned by the Gaites.  Premier was and is located along Cabili Avenue.  Obviously, among the four, only Premier has survived the passing of time.  It is still there, but for now it has become a third run theater.

The orchestra of King has this canteen located near the entrance.  It was where we bought peanuts, Kropeck, crackers, Coke, maruya, etc. The snack bar of Queen was at the lobby of the theater near the tiketera; so with that of Century and Premier. With P5.00 in your pocket at that time, you could already have a relaxing session of watching the movies with matching snacks.  King was among the establishments gutted down in the big fire that hit Iligan on May 23, 1957.  But it has restored its building on the same site in due time until its closure in the '70s.

King was the venue of many a movies starring our favorite stars, like FPJ, Asiong Salonga (Joseph Estrada), Agent X-44 (Tony Ferrer), Agent Lagalag (Eddie Fernandez), Stella Suarez, Divina Valencia, the Sampaguita Stars '66, as well as those from LVN, Larry Santiago, Premier Production, etc.  Queen was the home of Hollywood stars like Charlston Heston, Elizabeth Taylor, Yul Brynner, Victor Mature, etc., while Century featured films of Jerry Lewis, Clark Gable, Lana Turner, etc.  Premier was another home for the Tagalog stars of the era.

All these four theaters had only electric fans to wipe away our sweat brought about by the summer heat, which we never gave importance to as we were much too focused to the wide screen with our favorite movie heroes performing the greatest actions of their lives.  Chinese films got the chance to be shown too during that time. They were usually shown either at Queen or Century.

King Theater was located very near our backyard, so much so that we could even hear the intermission music.  I remember our cook Leona Lantaka, who used to tell us how much she liked that particular song being played at King Theater every morning at 9:00 o'clock.  It was "Bayang Magiliw".  Poor Leona!  It was the National Anthem which was being played to start the opening of the theater.

King had another entrance near our backyard so much so that sometimes we could sneak in, passing through that way and went directly to the balcony without the tiketera noticing us.  But not so with the other three theaters as the watchers were quite strict.  Although we could get inside Century for free, courtesy of Mrs. Gaite (the grand matriarch, the mother of Martin and Maning).  The Gaites were our close family friends, the same people who would serve us soft drinks and snacks each time we went swimming at their rest house at Canaway Beach.

I have fond memories of Premier in 1966 when I went to watch the Star Parade Show of the Sampaguita Stars '66.  It was a personal appearance matinee show featuring my favorites, among them: Bert Leroy-Gina Pareño; Edgar Salcedo-Juvy Cachola; Pepito Rodriguez-Rosemarie Sonora; Ramil Rodriguez-Shirley Moreno; Dindo Fernando-Loreta Marquez; and German Moreno in his younger and slimmer days.  They were billeted at the Al Toro Hotel.  And I got the chance to see them in person, with autograph in hand for their most valued signatures. All these courtesy of my Uncle Cresing who owned Vision Studio.  Just how proud I was the following day telling my classmates about my encounter with these stars, most especially with the pictures that my Uncle Cresing took shots of - me and the Sampaguita Stars '66.  Happily, mission accomplished!

With the passing of time and the distance that segregated me from my beloved hometown, I have no more idea as to what really happened to these four theaters of my youth.  All I have are the fond memories nurtured out of my childhood innocence which were spent in a place called home.  Hello, Iligan, this is your long lost son, calling you from Cebu. (Reprinted from the July 13 & 20, 1998 issues of the Spectrum.)

Of the Big Four movie theaters, only Premier is left standing, but shorn of its former glory.  It used to be an air-conditioned theater showing top-rate movies, run and managed by the Borja family.  Now, it’s worst than a third-run theater showing X-rated movies. It is no longer run and managed by the Borja family, but by some operators who are renting it.

Of the Big Four, the first to go out of business was Century theater.  It was not making money.  This information did not come from the Gaite family, but from some displaced employees.  They blamed the closure of Century Theater on the friends of the Gaite family.  The Gaites were so good to their friends that they allowed their friends' smiling faces to serve as virtual movie passes.  But that's not the way to do business, right?   In its place now is a commercial building housing the family businesses of the Gaites.

Next to go were King and Queen theaters.  When the old patriarch Mariano Bagatan retired from business, both theaters were sold to the Sun family who changed the names of King and Queen Theaters to Sun-O-Rama I and Sun-O-Rama II, respectively.

It was during this time in the early seventies that movie houses proliferated in Iligan.  In Tubod area, the Celdran family opened the Kris and Ritz Theaters.  In Tibanga area, the Kho family opened the Rajah and Ace Theaters.  Along Roosevelt street, just in front of Sacred Heart Hospital, the Ang family opened the ABC Cinema.  In front of what used to be California Bakery along Quezon Avenue, the Mendoza family opened the Maharlika Theater.  And in Palao area, the Bernardo family opened Berds, Derbe, Plaza and Ultra Theaters.

With 12 movie houses for a population of 200,000, Iligan residents never had it so good.  Because each theater showed double programs, every week a moviegoer has 24 movies to choose from. There were no Betamax, VHS, VCD and cable TV then, and boxing events went out the way Century Theater did.  For most of us, going to the movies was our only entertainment.  With competition in the movie industry so keen and fierce, something had to give.  One by one, movie theaters bowed out of business. They could not compete with the business acumen of the Bernardo family.

The land where Kris and Ritz theaters stood was sold to Pryce Property.  It is now a business park -- with no business, no park and no visible income.  There, it sits idle like a white elephant.  Rajah Theater was renovated and is now the site of CITI Hardware while Ace was demolished and its place is occupied by some commercial establishments.

Sun-O-Rama II (formerly Queen Theater) is now being used as a warehouse of Trendline Department Store while Maharlika Theater is now being used by born-again Christians for prayer and worship. ABC Cinema was sold by the Ang family and was renamed Cinema Theater.  Like Premier Theater, it is showing X-rated films that cater to the baser animal instincts.  Sun-O-Rama I (formerly King Theater) is now the site of Maranao traders selling RTW’s, cloth, barter trade products and pirated VCD’s and DVD’s.

By the end of the year 2001, there were six movie houses in Iligan:  Berds, Derbe, Plaza, Ultra (all owned and operated by the Bernardo family), Premier and Cinema theaters (which survived mainly due to the loyalty of their special audience).  Unlike in other cities, each movie house was still showing double programs.  But the national anthem (Bayang Magiliw) was no longer being played.

This year, the movie industry is confronted by a host of problems.  First, there is the economic slowdown due to closure of several industries.  Second, after the Sept. 11 attack, many moviegoers are afraid of grenade throwing by the terrorists inside the movie house as what happened in Maranding and Ozamiz City years ago.  Third, there is a proliferation of pirated VCD’s that compete directly with the movie theaters.  Fourth, Chinese-made but Japanese-branded VCD players are now being sold at only 2,000 pesos ($40) each.  Fifth, rental cost of original non-pirated VCD's has been slashed to only 15 pesos ($0.30).  Sixth, the cost of electricity has become prohibitive due to the imposition of power cost adjustments.  Seventh, the local government has increased its real property tax assessments and continued the imposition of 30% amusement taxes.

With declining receipts and increasing costs and expenses, the movie industry is in a very critical and precarious situation.  Thus, it was no surprise to many of us when we heard that the Bernardo family has decided to shut down the operations of Berds Theater.  The place is now undergoing renovation and is being converted into business stalls, arcades or malls.  Signs are posted in prominent places announcing the availability of spaces for rent.  It would be a great irony if one of the stalls would soon be selling pirated VCD’s.
 

BATCH 1983
Marlon Acedo, Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-2417, cell 0915-5015435; Jimmy Ang, Jim Darrel's Mdse., B.S. Ong St., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-6165, cell 0917-7160150; Johnny Chen, N-Vers Electronics, 0052 Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3883, cell 0917-7220888; e-mail: johnchen@iligan.com; Albert Chiu, 0034 Jorge Sheker, Brgy. San Miguel, Iligan City, tel. 221-7004; Genevieve Co, Rosario Apt. Door #1, Harvard St., Celdran Village, Iligan City; Jennifer Co, Rosario Apt. Door #1, Harvard St., Celdran Village, Iligan City; Steward Co, 19-A Labao St., Iligan City, tel. 221-6256, cell 0917-7160613; e-mail: steward@iligan.com; Nilda Dagondon (Ramasal), Lluch Subd., Pala-o, Iligan City; Juvy Dy, Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3158; Judy Enriquez, Codilla St., Poblacion, Initao, Misamis Oriental; Vinson Ngo, 38 Seminary Drive, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-3729, cell 0917-7220228; e-mail: vinson@iligan.com; Samuel Padayhag, Quezon Avenue, Iligan City; Marie Josiefel Quimbo (Ello), Vancouver, Canada, e-mail: mjqello@eudoramail.com; Eduardo Sia (deceased); Frederick Siao, Seminary Drive, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-5659, cell 0917-7160508; Jorlyn Sy, Nikki Auto Supply, Sabayle St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3201; Ronald Sy, 0031 Ubaldo Laya Ave., San Miguel Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-3388, cell 0917-7160808; Eric Taladua, 97 Noria, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-2515, cell 0917-9820231; Anthony Tan, Cagayan de Oro City; and Yugine Taongan, Cebu Pacific Office, Quezon Ave. Ext., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-5517, cell 0918-4911208.  (Next issue:  Batch '84)
 

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