Vol. 12, No. 5, July 21, 2008

The Iligan City Council in its recently approved Resolution No. 08-413, reiterated to the general public and the various national offices, bureaus, and local government units that Iligan City is neither a part of Lanao del Norte nor a component city and therefore correspondence and all other communications destined for addresses in Iligan City do not need to include "Lanao del Norte."

The primary reason according to Councilor Bayani Areola, author of the resolution, is that Iligan City has never been a component city, but was classified in 1983 as a Highly-urbanized city. Hence Iligan City is politically and administratively separate from the province of Lanao del Norte. This move also aims to put an end to the misconception that Iligan is still part of the province of Lanao del Norte .  Iligan was reclassified as a highly urbanized city in 1983 after its population reached 200,000.

Ballroom dancing at the park

Dance enthusiasts in Iligan City gathered in the evening of July 4 at the newly renovated Rizal Park, the city's main public plaza (in photo, courtesy of Rene Pernia). City Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz opened ballroom dancing at the park for free. Through the City Tourism Office, dance instructors were organized to train those interested to learn the basic steps in ballroom dancing every Friday at 7 p.m. for free.  Mayor Cruz further directed that every city department will take turns in leading the activity at the city palza and encourage groups or individuals to join the ballroom dancing. Eventually this will attract local and foreign tourist specially since Iligan City fiesta is fast approaching. It is also possible that the City will sponsor a ballroom dancing competition, the mayor added.

LCHS class advisers

The LCHS class advisory assignments for this school year are as follows: Marjorie Alingal, Nursery; Revian Mangubat, Kindergarten 1; Elvira Raganas, Kindergarten 2; Revian Mangubat, Grade 1; Marjorie Alingal, Grade 2; Windel Villastique, Grade 3; Eiress Lugod, Grade 4; Annabelle Rapliza, Grade 5; Elvira Raganas, Grade 6; Sun Lay Dy, First Year; Charito Agcopra, Second Year; Christine Lacastesantos, Third Year; and Jude John Mana Jr., Fourth Year.

ON TO SYDNEY. Belinda "Bunz" Lim (Batch '82) flew off to Sydney, Australia recently to attend the World Youth Day (WYD). The WYD, the largest youth event in the world, ran from July 15 to July 20, 2008. Organized by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith.  The event drew over 125,000 international visitors to Sydney more than the 2000 Olympics. Through the WYD experience, young people from all over the world made a pilgrimage in faith, met and experienced the love of God.

GET-TOGETHER IN CEBU. Shortly after the GAH, Nelly Co-Palmer (Batch '61) and hubby William "Bill" Palmer proceeded to Cebu City for a few days' vacation before flying back to Australia.  While in Cebu, Nelly made good use of her time by having a get-together with her batch mates. Among those who joined Nelly in their get-together dinner in Cebu were Aida Lim Uy, Eddie Rodriguez, Conchita Te Ong, and Juanita Te Jo, among others.  (Accompanying photo shows Nelly and Bill Palmer enjoying themselves at the recent GAH.)

SIGHTED. Spotted in Cebu City last June 4 were Carlos Dy (Batch '58) and Peter Dy (Batch '66).  They attended a grand affair of the Dy Family Association at the Cebu Long Se Temple, were members gathered to pay tribute to their ancestors. Also in Cebu City last June 11 were Suniel Lim ('66) and wife Corrie, and Robert Co ('66) and wife Joy.  Meanwhile, Mike Lee ('66) and his wife Nancy are back in the Philippines from Edmonton, Canada for a month-long vacation.  They arrived in Manila on June 8 and proceeded to Palawan with a group of Filipino expats from Canada.  From there they went on a tour of Tagbilaran, Bohol, after which Mike and Nancy will wind up in Cebu before going on a week-long trip to Taiwan.

ALUMNI NEWS BITS. Aida Lim Uy ('61), owner of Cebu Fortune Travel, was a recipient of Northwest Airlines (NWA) award in a dinner ceremony held recently at the Abaca Boutique Resort & Restaurant in Mactan.  The award was given in honor of top producers for 2007 in the Visayas and Mindanao. Handing out the awards were top executives of Northwest Airlines in Asia Pacific who flew in for the occasion.  Meanwhile, Henry Siao ('56) recently opened a new pension house, called Celadon Suites, at Pala-o, Iligan. It's situated right in the vicinity of the Iligan Medical Center. Peachy Lim, daughter of Suniel Lim ('66), is now based in Singapore.  She is connected with the Intercontinental Hotel as revenue analyst.

NUPTIALS.  Wedding bells will ring for Christine Ong Galenzoga on Aug. 3 in Iligan City.  Christine is the daughter of Linda Ong Galenzoga (’72).  And on Aug. 8, Bryan Bruce Lai (’94) will have his wedding in Cebu City.  Bryan is the son of Alfredo Lai and Elita “Po-Hua” Lai.  Bryan is an occupational therapist based in Chicago, U.S.A.

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

Cigarette smoking, says Roderick Ngo, is hazardous to health -- if you smoke the wrong end.

Workers of Global Steel in Iligan walked out of the steel mill while it was in operation.  They believed in the tenet: strike while the iron is hot.

Many friends who expected to see Laureto Lao at the recent GAH were dismayed when Laureto failed to show up as he promised earlier.  Maybe what Laureto meant was the GAH in 2011.

Johnny Chen raised an interesting question at the GAH plenary session. He asked: If students and alumni of Ateneo de Manila are called Ateneans, what do we students and alumni of LCHS call ourselves?

The issue was discussed briefly by the body but nothing conclusive was arrived at. The alumni association has made no statement on the issue. Neither have officials of the alma mater. As far as we in the Spectrum are concerned, members of the LCHS community are called LCHSians. The term has been used several times over in various articles in the Spectrum since 1968.

There's no hard and fast rule on the correct application of suffix or nomenclature for members of a school. At least none that we are aware of.  Generally, it is customary to apply the suffix "-an," or "-ian," or "-ite," or "-er," to the name of the school, or its acronym, whichever is applicable.

We use "-an" as in "San Bedan" for San Beda U; "Theresean" for St. Theresa's College.  "-Ian" is also applicable, as in "Sillimanian" for Silliman U; "Easternian" for Cebu Eastern College. "-Ite" may likewise be applied, as in "La Sallite" for De La Salle U; "Michaelite" for St. Michael's College. And "-er" is also applicable, as in "Maryknoller" for Maryknoll College.

It's relatively easy for these schools because each of their names has a proper noun to which an appropriate suffix can be affixed without making it sound odd, such as "Michael" in St. Michael's College, or "Theresa" in St. Theresa's College.

In the case of our school, the two proper nouns available for suffixing are "Lanao" and "Chung Hua," both of which will sound funny if we apply any of the aforementioned suffixes to them. Can you imagine ourselves being called "Lanaonian" or "Chung-Huanian"?

In our particular case, it's better to use the school's acronym to apply the suffix. Thus the applicable word is "LCHSian." It's a tongue-twister but we don't have much of a choice, do we?

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008
Get High with God
By Belinda "Bunz" Cu-Lim, M.D., Batch 1982

I stepped on Melbourne soil on July 9, 2008. The temperature was 11 degrees Celsius. Yup! It's winter in Australia now.  "Receive the Power when the Holy Spirit will come upon you. And you shall be my witnesses." That's the theme of the World Youth Day 2008.

My mind was all suroy-suroy, and my feet were ready for the long walk in the shopping malls and sight-seeing. Is that the mind set of a pilgrim to the Holy Land? Do I need to go to Australia to receive the Holy Spirit?

I went through the schedules, attending almost all the activities arranged by the Parish that housed us during the Days in the Diocese. It was routine, there was the mass, the usual fellowship. Then came the day of the Commissioning Mass in Melbourne by the Archbishop. He was thanking us, pilgrims from all over the world, for what we have done to Melbourne and to all the Australians. And then it came to me, the very purpose of my trip, I don't need to go to Australia to receive the Holy Spirit; I was there to bring the Holy Spirit to the Australians that I meet in the bus, trains, trams and stores that didn't care nor minded that the Holy Father was coming to their land for the first time to spread the good news of Jesus Christ! I am not very religious, but it made me cry.

I must have raised five or six pairs of Australian eyebrows, when they'd ask me for the reason of my visit, and I would answer: "To attend the World Youth Day." And I'd then ask in return: "Why are you not attending?" Which would make them just speechless. In fact, some looked stunned.

If am able to put a seed (I hope in fertile ground) in the 5 or 6 Australians that I meet, then multiply it by the 250,000 or more pilgrims attending the WYD and imagine, if that is not being a witness to the Holy Spirit, then what do you call it?

Every parent should save money to send their children to even just one World Youth Day. I tell you, it gives you a "high" feeling and it's addicting.

Get high with God.

Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66

Ritky's Dy-nasty