Vol. 11, No. 21, Feb. 4, 2008

The 3rd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming, slated on May 23-24, 2008, will have as its theme: "Together Blending Melodies & Memories." In a board meeting last Jan. 16, the body approved the theme proposed by Suniel Lim (Batch '66).  Likewise, the board approved the logo entry of Peter Dy (Batch '66).  Early on, several logo entries were received by the GAH committee.  These were evaluated and eventually the design submitted by Peter Dy (Batch '66), with slight modifications, became the basis of the new GAH logo (in photo).

The logo represents the color of LCHS which is blue. The diamond shape on the backgound of the LCHS Alumni Association's logo represents the diamond jubilee (70th year) of our alma mater this year.

Also at the same meeting, the Steering Committee announced the formation of three super clusters.  These are (1) Ways & Means / Solicitations / Treasury / Souvenir Program, under Geraldine Tan, Suniel Lim, Vy Beng Hong, Alice Go, and Terry Racines; (2) Secretariat, under Marie Joan Quimbo and her recruits; and (3) Events, under Ian Uy, Jimmy Ang, and Dy Sio Te. The three super clusters will coordinate with the Steering Committee chair Johnny Chen and LCHSAA president James Booc.  This modified setup will make it convenient for each of the three super clusters to meet independently from each other.

Tribu Iliganon places 4th in Sinulog

The Tribu Iliganon, Iligan City's contingent that competed in the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City last Jan. 19, won 4th place in the Free Interpretation category. Iligan's contingent was a crowd favorite and was much admired for its artistry, synchronized movement, and costume (in which all male performers had clean shaven heads). The winners are: Free Interpretation category: Lumad Basakanon of Basak, Pardo, Cebu, 1st place; Municipality of Carmen, Cebu, 2nd; Alikaraw Organization of Hilongos, Leyte, 3rd, Tribu Iliganon of Iligan City, 4th. Over 50 contingents competed in the festival.

Rejoinder to outstanding alumni awards
From Leonardo Tan (Batch '66), Sydney, Australia; email: edtan@iinet.net.au

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 6:55:59 PM
I just read the latest issue of the Spectrum and I would like to congratulate alumnus Laureto Lao for expressing his views regarding outstanding alumni awards during the forthcoming GAH. He has a very good point and I agree with him to some degree.

As early as the first GAH 2000, I was already apprehensive about the Outstanding Alumni Awards. How are they chosen? Will there be some controversies regarding the choices? Will the awards inspire others?

As I was absent on both occasions, I just went over the archives of the Spectrum for the back issues covering the events of the first GAH 2000 and the 2nd one in 2005 to review these two big events. One of the highlights of the GAH 2000 was the Outstanding Alumni Awards. In fact there were 10 all male awardees in different categories.  All about service to the community or special recognition on outstanding talents with only one in business entrepreneurship. The 2nd GAH of 2005 did not mention any such awards. There was a committee set up for this purpose and nominations were solicited. But nothing else. Was it eventually scrapped? For what reason?

Now here comes the 3rd GAH this coming May. Will there be outstanding alumni awards this time? I really don't know the program or activities of GAH 2008. But when Dr. Henry L. Yu nominated Mr. Richard D. Lim late last year, I was quick to second the nomination thinking that there will be such awarding again. However, I made my nomination with different emphasis which is more on giving job opportunities to our fellow LCHSians which is more noble than focusing on the successful business ventures.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I agree with some of the observations of Laureto. Especially when we give outstanding award merely for being a successful entrepreneur. However, when a successful businessman starts sharing his/her success with the community or providing new job opportunities to his/her fellow LCHS alumni, I think it is worth some recognitions.

The idea of giving such awards during the GAH is, I think, to give due recognition to those who have rendered great services mostly voluntary to the community at large and to LCHS in particular. If it is not done during the GAH, when is the most appropriate time and place then?

I don't think the Outstanding Alumni Awards of the 1st GAH 2000 was a factor which caused less attendance for the 2nd GAH 2005. I would like to think that after 60 years of its existence, there would be so much excitement for the first ever Grand Alumni Homecoming during the millennium year of 2000. It is just obvious then that the 2nd GAH five years after that first ever won't be that exciting anymore except for the fresh or young graduates. So lesser attendance must be expected.

It is a sad reality but we have to face the fact that not all alumni can easily afford the GAH registration fee which is about P1,500 or maybe P2,000 per head.  For others, this money could be better used for other family needs. Imagine if you are living in Iligan and you see many of your former classmates almost regularly, attending the GAH could be a very low priority especially when you think that the registration fee for GAH could be spent for other more important purposes. I think this is the main reason why many shy away from attending.

I will try my best this time to be there. An out of towner who will be attending his first ever GAH. Of course I am very excited!

Corrections on batch directory
From Joy Boniao-Cruzabra (Batch '82), Austin, Texas, U.S.A.; email: gccruzabra@sbcglobal.net

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 1:24:51 PM
Greetings to my fellow LCHS alumni! This is my first time to check our website and it's very uplifting to see good old memories and to see nice familiar faces from other batches in the current issues of the Spectrum. I want to extend my deep appreciation to our fellow alumni who made this concept possible and very accessible, especially for us here in the U.S.A.

I'm currently pursuing my RN school and I'll surely visit our site more often to relieve my stress from 8 hours work in a doctors' clinic, RN school, four kids, and just one husband, of course.  Although I'm not complaining but very grateful with all of these blessings. I'm from LCHS batch of 1982 and I just want to make some corrections on the batch directory, as follows: My name is Grace Joy Boniao not Joy Grace, and I'm currently here in Austin, TX, U.S.A. The second correction is: Genevieve Co of Batch 1983 already passed away (may her soul rest in peace), which you forgot to indicate. Looking forward to, hopefully with God's grace, seeing ya all this coming Grand Alumni Homecoming 2008!
 
 

Rewind: Registration day in GAH 2000

See you in the 3rd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming, May 23-24, 2008, LCHS Gym, Iligan City

CELEBRATING THE STO. NIÑO.  As Cebu City geared up en masse for its annual fiesta and the Sinulog festival, several alumni hied off to Mactan instead and holed themselves up in the house of Jesus "Hesing" Dy (Batch '63), where  Hesing and his wife Melania hosted a small and intimate dinner party for a few friends in celebration of the feast day of the Sto. Niño last Jan. 18.  Among the guests were Roderick Ngo (Batch '70), Jose Sam Go (Batch '67) and Charles O. Sy (Batch '67).  Needless to say, they all had a funfilled evening celebrating the fiesta with, what else ... San Miguel.

Also spotted joining the thousands of devotees in the solemn procession of the Sto. Niño in Cebu City last Jan. 19 were Susan Ngo-Lo (Batch '74), Emily Uy (Batch '71), and Helen Ngo-Lim (Batch '68) who flew in from Ozamis City just for the occasion.  Another dedicated Sto. Niño devotee was John Godwin Lim, son of Suniel Lim (Batch '66), who sailed to Cebu from Iligan for the occasion. Godwin has been joining the annual solemn procession of the Sto. Niño for the last 11 years now. Godwin is connected with Transco in Iligan City as a computer engineer.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?  As the 3rd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming approaches, "Spotlight" tracks down the locations of some fellow alumni based abroad and elsewhere.  Hopefully, this will pave the way for their batch mates to communicate with them to encourage them to come home for the GAH. Otherwise, what's a grand alumni homecoming if there are no out-of-town alumni coming home for the occasion?  Here are some of them and their whereabouts, as of our latest info.

Carlo Bodiongan (Batch '89) is now in New Jersey, U.S.A.; David Lee ('76) is in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.; Dennis Ang ('97), is now in Taiwan; Jaime Andaquig ('75) now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.;  Jane Lim ('71) is in Newburgh, Indiana, U.S.A.; Judith Chu-Bualat ('84) is in Toronto, Canada; Vince "Jojo" Handumon ('80) is in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.; Lyndon Co ('81) is in Victoria, Australia; Maria Theresa Soy Go ('82) has moved from Taiwan to Vancouver, Canada; Marie Josiefel Quimbo-Ello ('83) is also in Vancouver, Canada; Mary Grace Khey ('94) now lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Maximilian Te ('90) has moved from Manila to Canada; Pablito Tan ('66) has likewise moved from Manila to Canada; Randy Chua ('85) is based in Dongguan, Guangdong, People's Repubic of China; Ritky Dy ('76) is in Clanton, Alabama, U.S.A.; Sherly Co ('70) lives in Arcadia, California, U.S.A.; Terence Chua ('89) is in Cavite, Philippines; Tony Lueong ('79) is in Glendale, California, U.S.A.; Willy Dy ('84) is in Lake Jackson, Texas, U.S.A.; Evelyn Yu-Go ('77) lives in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.; and Cherrie Anne Mosqueda ('90) now resides in Singapore.

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

Johnny Chen has replaced Suniel "Boy" Lim as GAH chairman.  Well, it's time for a Chen.

But Boy Lim now heads the important Ways & Means Committee.  So I guess Boy won’t be in Lim-bo after all.

Kumon learning centers are getting popular. There are now so many of them they have become very Kumon.

Jonas Sy now drives a new Hyundai Tucson. His unit was due in summer. But the shipment arrived Tucson.

It's not true that beer makes you fat.  It makes you lean. Like lean on walls.

While in CdO, I was served a cold "goto lugaw" at a roadside cafe. Good thing the waiter agreed to replace my order. Or I would’ve told him to goto hell.

Not long from now, our GAH will be upon us.  From where I sit, looks like it's going to be one big party again. But with a difference.

The difference is that the young ones are running the show this time.  The moment has come for old goats like us to take a back seat.

With James Booc leading the LCHS-AA and Johnny Chen steering the GAH, we anticipate some fresh ideas to be unleashed. Hopefully, they, together with their young troops, will translate their collective energy and youthful exuberance to a meaningful and enjoyable celebration.

Many of us who have been to the first and second GAH look forward to something new this year.  Nothing earthshaking. Just something different; something original, if you will. Not just a rerun of the same old shebang.

The alumni Christmas party cooked by our young leaders last December was a hit.  May that be the prelude to the shape of even better things to come this May.

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

"My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine, you made me smile with my heart. Your lips are laughable, unphotographable, yet you're my favorite work of art. Is your figure less than Greek, is your mouth a little weak. When you open it to speak, are you smart? Don't change your hair for me. Not if you care for me. Stay little valentine, stay. Each day is Valentine's Day."

It's that same old familiar song that we've been hearing time and again, long before our angko's and angkim's era when they used to sing or hum it, with that look of love in their eyes. We remember how we would coyly peep as angko went to visit angkim at home and they would chat at the sala with some background music of Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole emanating from our RCA hi-fi stereo. Oh, the memories of Valentines when we were the young and the restless in a world all our own.

It's Valentine Season and the malls are bedecked again with cut-outs of red hearts in different creative styles along with those bundles of red roses and the many love songs that fill the air with their meaningful lyrics and haunting melodies that would make any Romeo and Juliet fall in love again and again and again. So what are the love songs that we often hear during this Season of Love? Here's a list:

Love Is A Many Splendored Thing * Love Me With All Of Your Heart * I Love How You Love Me * Love Means You Never Have To Say You're Sorry * My Love And Devotion * And I Love You So * April Love * Never My Love * I Love You Because * I'm In The Mood For Love * Love Letters * Love Me Tender * Portrait Of My Love * A Love To Last A Lifetime * The Voice Of Love * To Sir With Love * True Love * True Love Ways * What Now My Love * When I Fall In Love * No Other Love * Somewhere My Love * You Don't Have To Say You Love Me * Endless Love * Can't Help Falling In Love * Puppy Love * Secret Love * Young Love * From Russia With Love * And I Love Her * My Love For You * World Without Love * This Guy's In Love With You * Perhaps Love * Dedicated To The One I Love ...

The list can go on and on, endlessly, just like the promise of love that the bride and groom profess during their wedding day: "To love and to hold, from this day onwards, for better or for worst, in sickness or in health, for poorer or richer, till death do us part." An endless love. A love to last a lifetime ...

Depression

I was depressed last night so I called "Lifeline."
Got a call center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal.
They got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck.

--Contributed by Peter Dy (Batch '66), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66