As usual and as a matter of tradition, the LCHS-AA officers and directors are ready for the holding of the annual LCHS-AA Christmas party on December 30, 2005. There are raffle tickets to be drawn with lots of attractive prizes at stake. The raffle proceeds will finance the scholarship project of the LCHS Alumni Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with Batch 1980, this year's 25th Silver Jubilarians. Batch 1980 is headed by Jerry Ling.  This move on the part of the members of Batch '80 will serve to inspire other batches to join and take active part in LCHS-AA affairs and projects in the future.  We welcome and appreciate the very commendable involvement of  Batch 1980.  This initiative was started during the 2nd Grand Alumni Homecoming, where batches from 1980’s sent signal to their contemporaries on the importance of being part of the LCHS-AA activities.  As I have observed, 1st VP James Booc took the initiative to make the alumni affairs more memorable and meaningful.  This signaled the unfolding of a new era of the younger generation in the forefront of our alumni activities.  This is what we have always wanted to see happening in our midst.  May their tribe increase.

Henry Dy elected to PNRC anew

LCHS-AA President & Iligan City Vice Mayor Henry C. Dy (in photo, website edition) was re-elected as 6th officer of Philippine National Red Cross last November 23 in Manila.  Among those elected together with Henry Dy to the PNRC national board were Congressman Miguel Zubiri, Senator Richard Gordon, former DSWD secretary Alma de Leon, former Los Baños Mayor Nocon, Allan Lee, Subic Administrator Arezza, and former Congressman Dante Liban.  Henry Dy also holds an important position in the Boys Scout of the Philippines as member of the board of governors.  He has been elected to these national positions several times already over the past decade. Again, our congratulations and God Bless!

Billy Debalucos

Billy Debalucos, aka Kim Tay, passed away last Oct. 30 in his home in Mahayahay, Iligan City.  He was the younger brother of Kim Huat, Deborah, Edilberto and Felixberto Debalucos. He was laid to rest last Nov. 12.  We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Like Father Like Son
Mon, 24 Oct 2005 02:10:28 +0000

Congratulations to Jeremy Tan (Batch '93) for a very nice article ("Eighteen Years Absence", LCHS Spectrum, October 24, 2005 issue). Reading it really brought forth so many wonderful memories of my own time: about Iligan (our hometown) and Lanao Chinese High School (our alma mater).  Honestly, while reading the article, I didn't have the slightest idea that Jeremy is the son of Leonardo "Loloy" Tan. It's only at the latter part that I had the feeling that he could be Loloy's son. True enough, my suspicion was answered at the last part of the article when it was noted there that "Jeremy Tan is the son of Leonardo Tan." I could only say "Mao diay!".  No wonder Jeremy writes well. It's congenital. Like father like son.  I was thinking, if Jeremy was a grade four pupil in 1987, then he must be 28 now. And what about us?  Pila naman diay among edad? Hehehe. Oh, just how fast time really flies!
--Henry L. Yu, M.D. (Batch '69), Cebu, Philippines, email: hvty@skyinet.net

Missing the GAH
Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:16:13 -0000

I had not been to GAH-2000 and GAH-2005.  I had been very busy with my work and travelling to other countries.  I hope to be able to join the next GAH in 2008.  I really wanted to see long time friends and classmates whom I haven't seen for a long time.
--Terence Chua (Batch '89), Mandaue, Philippines, email: tlchua@lenbertfurniture.com

[Hi Terence!  I know you are very eager to attend our GAH.  Maybe you can make it in the 3rd GAH by the year 2008. We will just announce the schedule.  Please give us your information so that we can have your profile in our records.  Thanks & regards! --Roger Suminguit, LCHS-AA Secretaryy]

Thanks, Jesus!
Sat, 19 Nov 2005 18:42:39 -0800 (PST)

Hello Jesus Dy. I've been reading the emails you sent to our group.  Thank you.  Hope to see you in the near future and be able to communicate with you thru my email address: tonite52@yahoo.com.
--Antonio "Boy" Te (Tin Lu Sing), Taiwan, email: tonite52@yahoo.com

Birthday greetings
Tue, 15 Nov 2005 04:56:32 +0000

Birthday greetings to our beloved Vice Mayor of Iligan Henry C. Dy (Class 1964), a dedicated public servant, a good friend, my tux, on the occasion of his special day on November 14.  To My Tux Henry:  I'm remembering you with loving thoughts and prayers. I join you and your loved ones in thanking God for giving you another birthday to celebrate. I pray that you'll have more GOODS in life - GOOD health. GOOD times. GOOD luck. GOOD tidings. GOOD friends. GOOD looks. GOOD food. GOODAH ... Life begins at 40. It peaks at 50. Slows down at 60. Declines at 70. Rests at 80. May yours be far and beyond that and more. Happy birthday. In His Time. Cheers.
--Tux Henry Yu, email: hvty@skyinet.net

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

BIRTHDAY PARTIES.  Last November 14, LCHS-AA President & Iligan Vice Mayor Henry C. Dy celebrated his 59th birthday (making him 60 years old in the Chinese lunar calendar). The local Chinese community & various associations were invited, including personal friends, close friends and city department heads.  The party lasted until 12 midnight while a few guests stayed on for a toast and additional rounds of wine & beers.  Earlier, on November 2, a birthday bash was also held for PP Carlos “Bonnie” Dy at the residence of Cristina & Pipo Deleste.  His birthday actually falls on November 4.  Some very close friends & relatives were invited, especially his golf partners like Joe Tan and others.  The celebration was held two days earlier due to the presence of his daughters from Manila and Cebu and siblings like Dr. Greg Dy & Fe S. Quimbo who would be flying back to Manila the following day.  "Tracers" was unable to attend the affair. He was somewhere in the outskirt of the city.

FLIGHT TO CEBU.   After almost three months of resting and recuperation (following a vehicular accident), PP Carlos “Bonnie” Dy took off for a short vacation along with brothers Dr. Greg C. Dy, (who flew in together with son GJ for All Souls Day), and LCHS-AA President & Vice Mayor Henry C. Dy, together with Jose ”Joe” Tan & PP Chistopher “Teck An” Chua, to attend the three-day 70th Founding Anniversary of Cebu Long Se Dy Association.  While in Cebu, the group's enjoyment would not be complete without the company of the amiable Bebencio “Bebe” Palang.  The 3-day activities started with a round of golf at Cebu Country Club. The Iligan delegates stayed at the famous Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, which was also the venue of the 3-day celebration.

NEW MALL.  A new multi-level commercial mall will soon rise along Gen. Aguinaldo St., Pala-o, Iligan City, fronting the Maratel-PLDT administrative building and Emilia’s Supermart. Construction of the new mall was started last September.  It will house imported Chinese products.  This is the newest addition to the Pala-o commercial district which is expected to be a beehive of commercial and shopping activities, especially during Christmas season.

FOUNDATION DAY AWARDEE.  Congrats to Spectrum founder and former editor Charles O. Sy.   He was one of the recipients of the Plaque of Appreciation given by LCHS on the occasion the school's 67th Foundation Day last Nov. 12.   He was awarded "for aptly ingraining his advocacy of valuing vintages of school life and rekindling remnants of fellowships with schoolmates from the past through his articles in the Spectrum (a newsletter which he envisioned to reach, if possible, all alumni all over the globe).  This has ignited many alumni to respond back with stories of their own and sharing their senses of appreciation to their Alma Mater."  The plaque was signed by Henry Siao, LCHS Director; and Robert Co, President of Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

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

We have just been through celebrating A.S.D. (All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day) by remembering our dear departed thru prayers, candles, flowers, food offerings, etc.  But one thing reminded me (again) while we were at the memorial park the other day. It's the reality that all of us will be joining all the departed souls in that place called the cemetery someday, somehow, somewhere as in "there's a place for us, somewhere a place for us, peace and quiet and open air, wait for us somewhere".  By then we will be the ones being visited by relatives and friends as we rest in peace (RIP).

So while that someday is still to come and quite far away (hopefully), let's live life to the fullest. Let's savor and enjoy the sunrise and the sunset of each day. Let's do the good things we ought to do. Live, love, and share the blessings that God, in His infinite generosity and goodness, has given us.  Dwell on the positive traits of a person rather than focus on his negative characteristics and behaviors.  Don't bear grudges. Get rid of hatred and be at peace with everybody.  Don't say things that would hurt people as we might not have the chance to say "I'm sorry".  Don't procrastinate. Remember, death comes unexpectedly like a thief in the night. Nobody knows when that time will come. So while still alive, let's continue doing good and be nice to everybody, to whoever we meet in this lifetime, either in the office, school, library, hospital, coffee shop, gym, theater, bank, mall, bowling lane, golf course, badminton court, internet cafe, bookstore, resto, hotel, or anywhere else.

Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66