Vol. 12, No. 4, June 2, 2008

The occasion kicked off with a motorcade around the city. A 17-car convoy made up the motorcade. No less than Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz was on hand to deliver his inspirational talk at the Fiesta Night.  Congressman Vicente Belmonte, on the other hand, attended the Grand Fellowship Night on May 24 as guest speaker. He vowed to take the cudgels on behalf of Iligan Chinese Filipino businessmen against any harassment by BIR officials in the region.  For his part, Henry Siao, LCHS School Director, welcomed the alumni back to the alma mater and encouraged them to contribute their resources for the improvement of school facilities.

Live bands entertained the assembly of homesick alumni throughout the two nights.  Sumptuous foods were abundant while beer and beverage overflowed.  LCHS students showed off their talents with a series of cultural and modern dance numbers.  Members of the Resurrection of the Lord Filipino Chinese Catholic Community also regaled their crowd with their own creative revival of old songs and dances reminiscent of the rolling 60s.

Another highlight of the Grand Fellowship Night was the tribute to the past presidents of the alumni association.  Recognition was likewise bestowed upon the keymen of GAH 2005, the likes of Suniel Lim as overall chair, Terry Racines as chair of the finance committee, and Roger Suminguit as head of the secretariat.

A consensus was also taken among the alumni at the Grand Fellowship Night on the frequency of the GAH.  The result shows 89 in favor of holding the GAH every 3 years, and 43 in favor of 5 years. Also included in the survey was question of which month to hold the GAH.  The result shows May as the most preferred month with 115 votes, followed by July with 13 votes, and August with 4 votes.

LIST OF DONORS

List of donations and pledges to the LCHS Alumni Foundation Inc. Scholarship Fund made during the 3rd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming, May 23-24, 2008.

Peter Dy, P5,000; Joselyn Ang, P5,000; Charles O. Sy/Geo-Transport, P5,000; Jose Sam Go, P1,000; Joy Cruzabra, P100; Kenton Sy Sua, P5,000; Lalita Uy, P5,000; Dy Pek Giok, P5,000; Ritky Dy, US$500; Delia Dy, P5,000; Ng Siok Ching, P5,000; Batch '82, P20,000; Vicente Booc, P5,000; Christopher Chua, P5,000; Batch '87, P5,000; Cong. Vicente Belmonte, P5,000; Vice Mayor Henry Dy, P20,000; Batch '83, P5,000; Adelfa Tan, P10,000; Andy Ang Lee, P10,000; Johnson Lim/Johndorf, P5,000; James Yu/JY Dimsum, P5,000; Batch '84, P20,000; Robert Co, P5,000; Batch '66, P5,000; Family of the late Dy Tiao Lim, P5,000; Beng Hong Vy, P5,000; Richard Sy, P10,000; Albert Chiu, P5,000; Family of the late Dy Chiu Ping & Anita Racines, P5,000; Ernest Uy, P10,000; Batch '80, P10,000; Family of the late Sy Bing, P20,000; and Stephen "Steve" Gaisano Jr., P50,000.

Let's fix the date
From Henry L. Yu (Batch '69), Cebu, Philippines; email: henrio522003@yahoo.com
Tue, 27 May 2008

To the organizers of the 3rd LCHS GAH: Greetings from the City of Cebu!  From what I've gathered, the 3rd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming was another great success. In this connection, let me congratulate you all for a job well done in being able to continue the culture of excellence that LCHS has always been known for, for the past 70 years. Thank you for making another history. The next GAH will be three years from now. That will be in the year 2011. The 1st GAH was held in August 3-5, 2000. The 2nd in July 7-9, 2005. And the 3rd and most recent one was held last May 23-24, 2008.

I've also gathered that it was decided during the 3rd GAH that the 4th GAH will be held in May 2011. It being so, may I suggest that we stick to a definite and fixed month. So if it's May, then let it be May, specifically on the 4th Thursday and Friday, and thereafter. This way, we can mark this in our calendar of activities from hereon as our LCHS GAH date (occuring every three years). This will allow us (especially the out-of-towners) to adjust our schedules from hereon in order to fit our GAH schedule. So see you all on May 26-27, 2011. In His Time.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

During our 3rd GAH last May 23-24, I personally invited Fidel Fuertes as one of our oldest former teachers and important guests for the occasion. He attended the first day activities at the LCHS gym in the morning and in the evening. He was able to meet many of his former students and he spent precious moments with them rekindling old memories and exchanging pleasantries. Several other alumni came forward to shake hands with him, or to say hello to him.

When I drove him back home for his afternoon rest, he told me he really enjoyed seeing us on a significant occasion such as our grand reunion. He was overjoyed to reunite with his former students. Before we reached his home at Canaway, he asked if I could do a little favor for him. He handed me a handwritten letter and told me, "Please, Roger, since you are now my closest person, would you kindly let some alumni read my letter?"

The letter contained his appeal for financial help due to his illness. He is in dire need of medication to maintain his health. His personal attending physician is an alumnus, Dr. Debalucos, an internist practicing in Iligan City, son of alumnus Kim Huat Debalucos.  A widower, Mr. Fuertes takes care of himself.  He still performs some physical activity, like biking, to keep himself fit.  But at 85 years of age, he looks frail and one could see his health slowly deteriorating.

I fetched Sir Fuertes again early that evening for our Fiesta Night at the LCHS gym. He was moved by so many old memories coming alive once again with the presentations of the songs and dances of the 60s. We were all so engrossed with the party and enjoying ourselves that night that we didn't notice that Sir Fuertes was silently crying. In the thick of the affair that evening, he silently cried at the sight of so many of his former students gathered together before him after so many years.

Mr. Fuertes did not attend the Grand Fellowship Night at Elena Tower Inn the next evening. His blood pressure wouldn't allow him to go up the height (7th floor) of the venue.

I bade him farewell after our Fiesta Night and promised that I would revisit him soon after our 3rd GAH.  Hopefully by then, I could bring him some bundles of joy in the form of financial assistance for his medical expenses.

To all alumni, any help from you will bring so much happiness to him. The only remaining concern of his life now is his health. He has no steady source of income. Let's help him keep himself active and healthy, so we can be together with him again in the next GAH.

Alumni who wish to extend any help may make arrangement with me by email at: teboncho719@yahoo.com, or by cell phone at: +639189277641.

GAH 2008 REVIEW
Enter the New Dragons
By Charles O. Sy
Batch 1967

MOTORCADE. The motorcade, a first in our GAH, started at 3:30 p.m. With Roger Suminguit in the lead pack, the convoy snaked its way around major city streets, particularly Quezon, Sabayle, Cabili, and Aguinaldo. Joining the motorcade gave out-of-towners like us a chance to review familiar scenes along the route. We caught a glimpse of the old Sacred Heart Hospital on Roosevelt St. (now Labao St.).  It was the same familiar sight that greeted us each day on our way to the old LCHS in the 60s. Now idle and forlorn, the hospital building remains astonishingly intact.

MERIENDA BONANZA. Back at the LCHS grounds after the motorcade, we were treated to a feast of sinfully delectable native delicacies prepared by Dy Sio Te, known to her LCHS disciples as Siansi Olay. I particular enjoyed the suman and bibingka.  They were to die for.  The merienda turned out to be a good time to touch base with the other alumni around.  The ambience was warm and cordial. We didn't have to compete with any ear-shattering music to carry a decent conversation. The occasion likewise gave us the chance to meet several alumni we knew only by name in the Spectrum, the likes of Ritky Dy, Willy Dy, Lily Siao, Percy Sy, Janet Dy, Jane Dy Wang, Dennis Khu, and Grace Joy Boniao (daughter of Jam Chiong).  As we huddled ourselves together, Peter Dy initiated a fund drive starting with our group for the benefit of the alumni scholarship program. The move snowballed and by evening of the next day, total contributions soared to over P250,000. (See "List of Donors" elsewhere in this issue.)

FIESTA NIGHT. A sizeable crowd had already gathered at the LCHS gym when we arrived about half past seven for the Fiesta Night. The atmosphere was festive. Earnest handshakes, unabashed giggles, and warm bear hugs greeted the arrival of each alumnus/alumna at the gym entrance. Many alumni came wearing the smartly designed GAH collared t-shirt. Seats were designated by decades. Each table had six chairs around it. Like many other batches, we had to snatch additional chairs nearby for our batch of ten to be seated altogether.  Average number of members in attendance per batch was 6 to 8.  Several batches had 10 to 12 members present.  But the most I counted was Batch 2007 with 18 members. Regrettably, no recognition seemed to have been prepared by the organizers for the batch with the highest attendance. A complimentary token would have served well to reward the largest batch for its inspiring show of solidarity.

Conspicuously absent were many alumni and former teachers who were present in the first and second GAHs. They were sorely missed by their contemporaries.  Fortunately, the void they left with their absence was amply filled by a new wave of younger alumni (Batches 1990s to 2000s) who came in full force. And they made their presence felt with their dancing prowess and infectious vivacity (see title photo on top of this article).

A selection of LCHS students and new batches of alumni regaled the crowd with their song and dance numbers. The dancers, clad in colorful costumes, were graceful in their traditional dance. They spent nights practicing and the result showed in their impeccable performance.  The singing of the school hymn was particularly moving. Although I've forgotten all its lyrics, listening to the hymn gave us goose bumps and an eerie sense of deja vu.

ENTERTAINMENT FARE. The night's entertainment fare was provided by a hired event coordinator.  The package included the services of an emcee. The emcee, a local DJ, was eloquent.  No question about it. But somehow the element of rapport between him and the audience was missing. Try as he did to connect with the audience, his performance seemed detached. That's often the problem when you have an emcee to whom the members of the audience are unfamiliar.

Also on hand to provide live music was Fiona & The Perfect Noise, another part of the package. The band started out well.  They had good harmony. A few alumni got up to dance but returned to their seats after awhile. Still the band played on, sticking to its prepared repertoire, many of which songs were unfamiliar to the older alumni. Despite some requests for songs of the 60s, the band stuck to its repertoire. Only the younger alumni got up to dance. This night belongs to our young alumni, one older alumnus was overheard saying. Most older folks opted to sit it out and chat among themselves. But even that, too, proved stressful to do. The band music was too loud for comfort. I kidded with my seat mates that our only recourse was to continue chatting with each other at our table by text messages. Needless to say, the Perfect Noise band ran true to its name. The noise was perfect; nothing else.

BATCH REUNIONS. The whole morning of the second day was left free for individual activity. Many alumni took the opportunity to gather their respective batches for individual reunions. Many grouped themselves for lunch in different restaurants. For our batch, Lalita Uy was kind enough to offer her place as our venue. Over a lunch of homecooked Chinese valenciana, among other yummy goodies, we spent half the day sharing fond memories of our times together at LCHS and tales of new adventures in each our new separate lives. For many of us, this moment was unquestionably the most meaningful part of our homecoming.

PLENARY SESSION. The plenary session at the Elena Tower Inn in the afternoon of May 24 went on as scheduled. About 60 or so alumni showed up. There was no prepared agenda. So everyone was free to raise any relevant matter for deliberation of the body.  Several matters concerning school facilities and academic standard of LCHS were raised. Discussion flowed freely and Henry Dy, as presiding officer, showed his parliamentary skill in smoothly steering the discussions. As usual, one topic that drew the most attention was the selection of a permanent GAH date. Various options were offered and discussed. Eventually, the body decided to settle the issue during the Grand Fellowship Night where more alumni are present. That way the decision will reflect the voice of a greater number of alumni. (See survey results in cover story on page 1.)

GRAND FELLOWSHIP NIGHT. The ballroom of the Elena Tower Inn was filled to capacity when the Grand Fellowship Night began on May 24. The GAH top honchos made the right move in scrapping the formal dress code. Many alumni showed up comfortably dressed in their casual attire. Live music this time was provided by the RCH band, a more versatile band. But from the very beginning, it was apparent the night's limelight belonged to the talented members of the Resurrection of the Lord group and the younger batches of LCHS alumni. The Resurrection group gave a stirring rendition of the national anthem, followed by a series of catchy and fast-paced dance presentations of the 60s hits. Each number was brisk and brief, leaving the audience craving for more.  I particularly enjoyed the trio of Rosanna Co-Belmonte as they danced the twist with Chubby Checker's "Let's Twist Again."  The number held the audience spellbound. Not to be outdone, the young alumni showed off their own pool of talents with a number of songs and high-octane dance presentations. With talents like the Resurrection group and our new breed of alumni, there's no more need to hire outside talents in our future activity. And, of course, many will agree that Belinda Cu-Lim did a superb job as emcee of the evening. She had stage presence and was great with her ad libs. Touche, Doc Bunz!

All in all, top credit for the success of the affair goes to the remarkable tandem of two young alumni stalwarts, Johnny Chen, as GAH chair; and James Booc, as LCHSAA president. They have ushered in a new wave of alumni who personify a synergy of youth, dynamism and talent. Indeed, the new dragons have arrived.

Hon. Lawrence Ll. Cruz, my dear Fellow Alumni, Respected Teachers, Students, Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen:

I am very happy to welcome you to the 3rd Grand Alumni Homecoming of the Lanao Chung Hua School.  This is truly a happy occasion for alumni of our beloved alma mater to relive old times, to bond, to traipse down memory lane when we were young and carefree and the world was our oyster.

For the info of our younger alumni, LCHS was originally names Lanao Chinese School.  Then during the years when the Philippine Government nationalized Chinese schools in the country, in which the number of hours allowed for teaching Chinese was severely slashed, we were required to change our name to Lanao Community School, whereby the use of the word Chinese was prohibited.  Later on, we changed the name of our alma mater to Lanao Chung Hua School, which is more reflective of our Chinese heritage.

During the last few years, Lanao Chung Hua School has carved out a well-deserved reputation for being a school with high standards in mathematics and the sciences.  This can be attested by the numerous occasions of our students winning citywide or region wide contests on math and science.  For this, we have our very dedicated teachers to thank for.

Starting with the new school year this June, Lanao Chung Hua School is going to shift its focus to improving the English standard of its students, without neglecting to nurture its excellence in math and the sciences.  We hope to become the best school in English excellence within four years.

Our alma mater may be a small school, but I dare say it is a small school with a big bang.  Through its 70 years, it has produced countless alumni who excel in academe, the professions, and in becoming tycoons in their own right.

May I appeal to our fellow alumni to show gratitude to our alma mater by donating resources for the improvement of our laboratories and facilities, like the setting up of a speech lab which will be very much appreciated in the light of the school's new thrust of achieving higher excellence in English.

There is a Chinese couplet which says the mighty Yangtze's rear waves push its front waves, the world's new generations overtake its old generations.  The couplet's imagery is very powerful.  It truly describes the new generation of the 3rd GAH's Steering Committee under the leadership of Johnny T. Chen.  It looks like this is going to turn out to be the most organized GAH.  Kudos.

Again, may I bid you a warm welcome to our 3rd Grand Alumni Homecoming.  Seize the moment, enjoy the bonding, and bring home warm memories of our get together.

Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66

Let's do the Papaya!