Vol. 9, No. 2, May 9, 2005

The officers and directors of the LCHS Alumni Association have set their priorities in the preparation for the 2nd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming slated on July 7-9.  The first activity will focus on the sponsorship & ad campaign among alumni suppliers.  This will be followed by campaign sorties for GAH registration starting in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro on the fifth Sunday of May.  The next campaign trip will bring our GAH keymen to Cebu in the first week of June.

Meanwhile, GAH2005 Steering Committee Chairman Suniel S. Lim recently received some 10 pieces of tarpolin poster, courtesy of the Vice Mayor of Iligan and LCHS-AA President Henry C. Dy.  The tarpolin poster reads: "The City Government of Iligan welcomes the LCHS alumni on their 2nd Grand Alumni Homecoming on July 7-9, 2005."  These tarpolin materials will be posted in different strategic locations along the city's main thoroughfares.  More tarpolin posters are expected to arrive from Manila from other sponsors.  As preparation for the forthcoming GAH starts to heat up, the LCHS-AA has hired an aide to assist Secretary Roger Suminguit on his voluminous tasks in the GAH Secretariat.  She is Riza C. Reuyan, 21 years of age, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at St. Peter's College last March 22.  Riza is single, 5'4" tall, and presently residing at Pindugangan, Brgy. Tipanoy, Iligan.

Iligan: Next tourist paradise?

Will Iligan become the next major tourist destination in Mindanao?  Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz has vowed to make tourism one of the major industries in the city. He announced that a lot of tourism projects are now on the drawing board while some, which have been previously planned have already been accomplished. Among them is the city’s anti-littering campaign, making the city more attractive because of its cleanliness.

With its rich history, an active cultural and art scene, and it’s numerous waterfalls including the renowned Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City can very well stand on its own.  Recognizing promotions and information dissemination as a vital component in the success of a tourism campaign, the city government recently opened a liaison office in Manila to handle this task.  To date, Iligan has 20 hotels which Cruz believes is enough to accommodate tourists. Also underway are talks for direct flights to Iligan to boost its tourism potentials.

Its top tourist attraction, the "Kahayag Festival," is a feast in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. Undoubtedly, the most colorful event in the city, the people of Iligan honor their patron saint every Sept. 29 and the celebration is highlighted by three traditional events. The "Pagpakanaug" is the traditional transfer of the old, black San Miguel figure from the main altar to the side altar; the procession and street celebration attended by devotees garbed in angel costumes; and the "Yawa-Yawa," the San Miguel Comedia first staged in the late 1800’s depicting the triumph of Saint Michael over Lucifer.  Maria Cristina Falls is the famous landmark of Iligan. It stands at 320 feet and is the veritable source of industrial life in the city. Its pristine beauty, only seen today in old photographs, has become a magical glow and an industrial lifeline through the turbines of the Maria Cristina Hydroelectric Power Plant.  [Photo of Maria Cristina Falls courtesy of Julius Vacalares]

Iligan to host nat'l chess tournament

Iligan will play host to the 2005 National Open Chess Team championship on June 13-19. The tournament will be sponsored and hosted by the city government of Iligan headed by Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, City Councilor Vart Belmonte and city sports director Frederick W. Siao.  It is open to all chess teams from private and government sectors, schools and universities, clubs or associations. It will serve as major highlight of the 2005 "Araw ng Iligan" festivity.  Each participating team, to be composed of four regular players and one alternate, may include only one titled player (GM, IM, FM or NM) in its line-up.  Cash prizes and medals for the winning teams and individual members will be at stake, with the top prize of P100,000 going to the champion team, while the first and second runners-up will receive P60,000 and P40,000, respectively.

Sy-Dy Nuptial

Sandy Sy and Scarlet Dy, both of Batch '96, exchanged marital vows at the Sacred Heart Church, Cebu City, last April 24.  Sandy is the son of Sy Bing Gui and Donata Sy.  Scarlet is the daughter of Ben Hur Dy and Ellen Dy.  Among those who stood as principal sponsors were Robert Co, Samson Sy, Vy Beng Hong, Nicanora Sy, and Delia Dy.  The wedding reception was held at the Cebu Grand Convention Center.  Among the alumni who composed the bridal entourage were Sherwin Sy, as best man; Desiree Dy & Cheerine Dy, maids of honor; Hilton Neil Sy, groomsman; Sharon Sy, bridesmaid; and Michael Phillip Lim, secondary sponsor.

Fortunato Edusma, 77

Fortunato Edusma, aka Dy Soon Sin, passed away recently at the age of 77.  He was the father of Abraham Edusma (L.A., U.S.A.), of Batch '67, and Noel Edusma, Batch '70.

The late Fortunato Edusma was a member of the LCHS Chinese faculty in the early 1960s (see photo hereunder).  During his years at LCHS, he was scout master of the LCHS boy scouts and band master of the drum & bugle corps.  Many students learned to play the trumpet, xylophone, clarinet, flute, harmonica, drums and many other musical instruments from his tutelage.  Many LCHS students of the 60s will likewise remember him as the creative director behind numerous cultural shows and musical presentations by LCHS students during school festivities and programs at the LCHS auditorium and at the City Auditorium during city fiesta celebrations.  We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Letters of condolences

Mon, 02 May 2005 13:35:41 +0000
With our deepest sympathy and fervent prayers for the Edusma family.
--Alex Rodriguez & family, Miramar, Florida, U.S.A., email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Mon, 02 May 2005 23:51:25 +1000
My deepest sympathy to my friend and classmate Hing Sim and his family over the loss of his father,  the late Dy-sian.  Although it has been so many years ago, I still could vividly remember the late mentor who spent some years at our beloved LCHS and left some unforgettable legacies.  Who could forget his big smile?  May Dy-sian now rest in peace ... and sporting that big smile always in a much better place. With prayers.
--Leonardo "Eddy" Tan (Batch '66), Sydney, Australia, email: edtan@iinet.net.au

Tue, 03 May 2005 04:35:07 +0000
My prayers and condolence to the Edusma family.  Although Fortunato Edusma doesn't ring a bell to me maybe because I was just a grade schooler when he taught in LCHS in the early 60's and was not under him.  But certainly, the names Abraham and Noel Edusma sound familiar as in.  Abraham was two years ahead of us.  Noel was my classmate in Chinese class.  Wonder where they are now and what's the latest about them?
--Henry L. Yu, M.D. (Batch '69), Cebu, Philippines, email: hvty@skyinet.net

Tue, 3 May 2005 06:54:15 -0700 (PDT)
Our deepest sympathy to Abraham Edusma and family.
--Peter & Tita Dy and family, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, email: pdy50ca@yahoo.com

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Wazzup, fellow LCHS alumni?  Well, lots of things are happening among our alumni here at home and elsewhere this summer.

LAND TRIP UP NORTH.  Last April 24, a group of alumni and their brother Masons went on a gruelling expedition by land trip from Iligan all the way to Luzon via Surigao, passing along the long and winding San Juanico bridge linking Mindanao, Visayas & Luzon along the Leyte, Samar route.  The group had been planning the trip for a long while.  This group of adventurers was composed of alumni PP Carlos C. Dy, Dir. Alexander Chua, Peter C. Dy, and James So, along with brother Masons Lino Pardillo, Nilo Ratunil, Felix Advincula and a hired driver.  Felix Advincula acted as the navigator, being familiar with the route leading to his hometown in Catbalogan.  They took off on the Hyundai Starex van of James So.  After they arrived back home, "Tracers" had a chance to interview one of the adventurers.  We learned that it was a week-long adventure trip to visit Balanga, Bataan, where James So's daughter is currently residing.  From there, they proceeded to a posh resort in Tagaytay to attend the annual national convention of the Freemasons.  Carlos Dy, for his part, said it was his first land trip adventure which turned out to be an exhaustive yet enjoyable and fascinating experience.  Maybe in their next expedition, they can have it sponsored by the National Geographic Society.
 

DIE-HARD BASKETBALL AFICIONADOS.  After graduation from high school, a group of alumni in Iligan has continued playing basketball at the LCHS hard court.  This was part of the extra-curricular activities of many alumni who opted to pursue their college studies in Iligan.  It started in the late 60s with noted LCHS basketball stars, like Fernando Khu (Batch '65), Agripino Jo ('60), PP Carlos C. Dy ('58), PP Calix Tan ('57), the late Jose Lim Tek Hua ('62) & PP Guardson Siao ('58), to name a few.  They were later succeeded in the early 70s by Eddie Lueong ('71), Dominador Tan ('71), Roberto Lagrosas ('72), Jackson Wong ('72), Prudencio ('72), Wahoy Tan ('72), Roger Suminguit ('73), Jorge Racines ('73), and Anastacio Uy ('73), among others (in photo, taken in 1971). Calix Tan subsequently formed the YTB Basketball Team with some alumni along with some other non-alumni and the regular players residing at the Roosevelt area.  I can still recall those bygone days when we were in the apex of our youth.  Every Sunday morning the LCHS hard court at the old Roosevelt campus would find us playing as many as five rounds of mean basketball under the scorching heat of the sun.  The Roosevelt boys would regularly spend time playing with us.  Yes, we were all hyperactive in those days until the school was demolished in 1987.  To this day, a few in the group continue playing with some young alumni belonging to batches of the 80s at the new LCHS gym in Pala-o.  Some of us would have wanted to join them in the hard court but we have to accept the fact that we are not that young anymore.  We have already graduated from our youth, so to speak.  So we now move on to other less strenuous yet still exciting extra-curricular indulgences at sundown.  Our good friend and perennial night owl, Charles Sy, knows this kind of nocturnal activity very well.

Presently, some young alumni and non-alumni are engaged in a basketball tournament at the LCHS gym during nighttime. The games are on their last seasons.  The Big Four are the ICC Team; Stag Team, led by players Raymund Sy ('94) & BJ Siao, son of alumnus Benjohnson Siao; the Superable Team; and the Probiz Team, led by players Jerry Ling ('80), Chester Dy-Carlos ('87) & Pipo Deleste, Team Manager, husband of Cristina Dy-Carlos ('90).  The ICC Team comes from the cement manufacturing industry while the Probiz Team is from the professional & business sector.

TRAVEL BUG.  Roderick Ngo (Batch '70), in photo, together with his wife Marivic and their children, flew off last May 2 for a lengthy summer holiday in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.  Their trip took off from Clark Air Base on board Air Asia. They are due back in Cebu by the end of the month.  Meanwhile, Atty. Kenton Sy Sua (Batch '80) took a breather from his hectic law practice in Manila to spend his summer vacation in Cebu together with his wife Pauline and children last April 16 to 26.  While in Cebu, Kenton and family took time out to enjoy lots of sun and sand at the Tambuli Beach Resort in Mactan.  Kenton, whose birthday falls on April 25, also celebrated his birthday in Cebu at a joint birthday bash with his aunt Jane Sy-Limtin (Batch '70) whose birthday falls on April 23.

CELEBRATIONS.  Last April 6, Carmela Aryana, the third daughter of Dir. Chester O. D-Carlos ('87) and wife Angelie Tan-Dy ('87), had her baptismal at the Saint Michael's Cathedral.  The affair coincided with the homecoming party for Annaliza Tan-Solidum ('91), who arrived from Los Angeles, U.S.A.  Annaliza is the sister of Angelie.  She is married to a mechanical engineer. The dinner reception for the double celebration was held at the new and elegant Celebrity Dome in Pala-o, Iligan.

ERRATUM.  Joni A. Ling, this year's high school valedictorian both in English & Chinese curriculum, is the daughter of the late Jimmy Wong Ling ('69) and Meley A. Wong.  She was mistaken in our previous issue of the Spectrum as the daughter of Jerry Wong Ling.  Our sincere apologies for the error.

EARLY BIRDS.  Many early birds have now registered for our forthcoming GAH.  The latest to register is Dr. Gregorio C. Dy who paid his GAH registration in the discounted amount of US$25 through President Henry C. Dy.  The amount was received by Dir. Teresita U. Racines last May 4.  We encourage our alumni living abraod to pay in dollars at a discounted rate of 20%. Local alumni will enjoy a 20% discount as well for early registration.  The deadline for the discount is on May 15, 2005.  Several alumni in Iligan have already paid while many others are making appointment for their payments to be collected in their offices.  Among them are Marciano Tan ('65) and the Sim family. The secretariat has scheduled to pay them a visit very soon.

Well, fellow alumni, the 2nd GAH will be our second time around to meet and mingle with our former schoolmates.  This is another grand occasion for reminiscences of our high school days.  Yaah! It is only in our GAH where you will be seeing and remembering those very familiar faces, those naughty things, the old flame which we cannot erase for a lifetime, those exuberant youthful emotions we once shared.  You should come and enjoy!  We have met & seen you in 2000.  Now 5 years have gone by.  GAH 2005 awaits your homecoming. Our Alma Mater too is waiting for your arrival!  Don't miss it! You have seen them in GAH 2000.  You can see them again in action come July this year. LCHS: LOOKING BACK & MOVING FORWARD, THE BEAT CONTINUES!

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

"April love is for the very young,every star's a wishing star that shines for you. April love is all the seven wonders, one little kiss can tell you this is true. Sometimes as April day will suddenly bring showers, rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet. But April love can slip right through your fingers so if she's the one don't let her run away."

Yo! That's Pat Boone over there singing one of the most popular songs in the summer of my childhood. It was a hit song during that time, so popular that you'd hear it practically everywhere: from radio station DXIC, the jukeboxes of either Tan's Refreshment Parlor (fronting Century Theater owned by the Gaite's) or Nena's Luncheonette (along the public market in Washington St., owned by the Reston family), the amateur singing contests held Sunday nights at the city plaza, or from the four non-aircond movie houses like King, Queen, Premier, and Century, etc.).  That song has been imprinted so deep in my memory that each time I hear it, I couldn't help but reminisce that particular era, somewhere in time:The short pants days, my yaya Takya who used to hum it while ironing the sun dried clothes and I listened to "Dear Tiya Dely" over the bedside battery-operated AM radio, the games we used to play at the backyard (jolen, lastiko, bato-lata, patintero, kondisi, koti, karang-karang, tago-tago, pitikpitik, takingking, etc.), the memories of listening to Darigold Jamboree during lunchtime ("Hello! It's 12:00 o'clock high noon, welcome to Darigold Jamboree" and "Gusto ko ang gatas na Darigold, Darigold..."), or hearing the neighborhood's radio drama in full volume during siesta, and waking up to the scent of freshly-baked breads (pan de coco, pan de leche, pan de agua, etc.) emanating from a nearby bakery.

Oh, those were the summers of my very young life when the world was much simpler and more peaceful in many ways than one, when there was less of the more now (less pollution, traffic, congestion, crime, rape, drug addiction, etc.).  It was a beautiful era gone by, but certainly not forgotten. For as long as there's life, there'll always be those memories of yesteryears to recall, to reminisce, to remember, and smile at the thought that once upon a time, I had such a wonderful childhood spent in the city of Iligan, my birthplace.

Classmates
Forwarded by Johnny T. Uy, Cebu, Philippines

Have you been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, "Surely I can't look that old"?

I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist.  I noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name.  Suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 40-odd years ago.  Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought.  This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate.   Hmmm ... or could he?

After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.  "Yes, yes, I did.  I'm a Mustang,"  he gleamed with pride.

"When did you graduate?" I asked.
He answered, "In 1963. Why do you ask?"
"You were in my class!" I exclaimed.
He looked at me closely and asked, "What did you teach?"

Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66

Chocolate Hills