Vol. 7, No. 23, February 16, 2004

Pres. Gloria Arroyo (in photo) led officials of the National Steel Corporation (NSC) in the reopening of the giant steel plant in Iligan City last Feb. 3.  The president pressed the ceremonial button to signal the startup of the plant.  The president said the reopening of the steel plant should create 5,000 jobs and restore Iligan as the center of Mindanao's industrialization.  Gracing the ceremonies were officials of the NSC, the city government and leaders of the Iligan business community.  With a capacity of 1.5 million metric tons a year, NSC is expected to generate roughly $750 million in annual revenues from domestic and international sales.  Pres. Arroyo thanked the founding chairman of Global Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. (GIHL) Mhan Lal Mittal, and his son Prammod Mittal, president of the NSC management board, for their confidence in NSC despite its P13.8 million debt owed to some of the country's biggest banks.  GIHL is the overseas holding company of Ispat Industries Ltd., one of India's largest steel-based industry group.

Rolando Uy kidnapped, rescued

Rolando Uy was kidnapped last Sunday afternoon, Feb. 1, in Bacolod, Lanao del Norte.  He was with two employees from Iligan City when four men flagged his truck in Sitio Bandol of Barangay Rupagan, Bocolod town.  They were forced to stop as three of the men looked like law enforcers who were donning blue camouflage uniforms of the Philippine National Police.  He was then taken with one of his men aboard his truck. As the bandits flee with the victims, they set ablaze a car in the middle of the national highway, obviously to divert attention.

Shortly after the incident, police authorities gave chase and engaged the kidnappers in an exchange of gunfire.  Sensing that they were overpowered and outnumbered, the kidnappers retreated and abandoned their victims.   Law enforcement authorities immediately brought the victims back to Iligan. Rolando Uy is the brother of the wife of Melanio Siao.  Melanio is the brother of Marcelino "Kiao Eng" Siao who was kidnapped in August last year and was freed after more than two months in captivity.  Rolando’s family owns a string of businesses in Bacolod town that includes a gasoline station, bakery, distributorship of San Miguel Beer and Coca-Cola products covering several towns in Lanao del Norte.

BIGGER THAN SM CdO
Limketkai Mall starts expansion

The Limketkai Mall is embarking on a multibillion peso expansion of its 30-hectare complex in Cagayan de Oro City.  Currently, it is renovating the 8.5 hectare mall to accommodate more businesses.  The shopping complex is bigger than the SM City Cagayan de Oro which occupies about six hectares of commercial space.  The Limketkai Mall, located within the heart of Lapasan district, has more than 200 tenants and 60 more will be opening this year.  Among these are Watson's, Freeway, Cinderella, Esprit, and Bayo Sari Boutique.  Its latest addition was Kenny Rogers which opened last December.  Also in the drawing board is the construction of two hotels -- a businessman's hotel and a five-star hotel.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Our hats off to Derwin Dexter Sy (left photo) who scored the highest among first year students in the Dean's List of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences of the University of San Carlos for the first semester of this school year.  He is a first year B.S. Information Technology student.  He shared the top honor with another student taking up B.S. Applied Physics.  Both of them were ranked No. 1 in the Dean's List with the average grade of 1.28.  Derwin is the son of Nelson Sy (Batch '62) and Josephine Suralta-Sy.  He was one of the Ten Most Outstanding High School Students of Cebu in 2003 sponsored by the Rhine Marketing, Inc., Kiwanis Club of Cebu, and the Department of Education.

Our congrats to Jesus "Hesing" Dy (Batch '63) and Melania Dy on the completion of their elegant new house at the Pacific Grand Villa in Mactan, Cebu (photo below).   Hesing and Melania were spotted in Cebu City last Feb. 2 busy shopping around for furniture and furnishings for their new home.  The house, an architectural marvel, took only six months a half to finish.  Not far from their house in Mactan, a new subdivision, La Aldea Buena, will soon rise.  It is one of the projects simultaneously being undertaken by Johndorf Ventures Corporation.  Another project is a new subdivision in Iligan City called Abigail Homes II.  The subdivision, with 64 low-cost housing units, is located in Luinab adjacent to Barangay Del Carmen. It's near the new Iligan Bus and Jeepney Terminal some 2 or 3 kilometers only from the city proper.  The fast-growing company has also ventured in Butuan with its Happy Homes subdivision.  Johndorf, as you know, is owned by the family of Richard Lim (Batch '69). The company has several alumni among its staff in Iligan.  Among them are Reynaldo Suminguit (Batch '72) who is its project engineer and Leodigaria Lagrosas (Batch '69) who is connected with the administrative staff.

Another alumnus balikbayan is Dennis Khu, younger brother of Paz Khu-Yu (Batch '73).  Dennis is currently back home in Iligan for a vacation from his career as a seaman.  He is connected with a Dutch shipping company and is often out at sea aboard an ocean-faring fishing ship that sails to Hawaii, New Zealand and other major ports in the Pacific.  At the moment he is enjoying a well-deserved vacation in Iligan and catching up on things with hometown friends and relatives.  Land ahoy!

Jesus & Melania Dy in their new house in Mactan, Cebu.

Where on earth is Ryukyuan Republic?
Wed, 04 Feb 2004 15:58:36 +0800

I find it strange and my first time to hear "Ryukyuan Republic."  I made a short research and I'd like to share my findings with everybody.

Ryukyu Islands is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, in southwestern Japan, between Kyúshú Island and the northern tip of Taiwan.  Their combined area is about 2,260 sq.km. (about 870 sq. mi.).  The population is 1,222,458 (1990).  The Ryukyus consist of three major groups: the Amami Islands in the north, the Okinawa Islands in the central area, and the Sakishima Group to the south.  The larger islands are volcanic with mountainous terrain, and most of the smaller islands are flat coral formations.  Principal agricultural products are sugarcane and sweet potatoes.  Manufactures include Panama hats, textiles, and pottery.  Naha, on Okinawa, is the principal city.  After World War II (1939-1945) the United States occupied and administered the islands.  The last of the islands were returned to Japan in 1972.

Indeed, Mr. Hiro S. Hobumasa of Okinawa is a brother to us, LCHS alumni.  He has been writing through the Spectrum and shown interest to the "tribe" of people that we are.  "Ichariba shoodee!", we are all brothers and sisters -- once we meet and talk.  Like many alumni living abroad, I wish he can travel and join us in a great "get-together" for our Grand Alumni Homecoming 2005!

Regarding the Spectrum compilations, I hope you can spare me a copy of the Spectrum CD, so that I can free my hard disk of the files, issues collected since the start of the newsletter. They must be tons by now, but worth millions, less a million.  Why? Peso devaluation. Hahaha! When we started the Spectrum in 1997, we didn't have the "Asian Crisis" yet. Look now! The peso has gone down to P56.00 to a dollar!  Perhaps GAH 2005 should put into consideration our "economic crisis," specially by then, chances are, we shall have a new president -- FPJ!  Will we have the mass attendaance and support of the local resident alumni?  Will we still have the "appeal" for alumni based abroad?  Hahaha! We have to entice them to come and pour their dollars here, thereby helping our feeble national economy, specially the coffer of LCHS Alumni Association.
--Rene Tio (Batch '70), Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, e-mail: fishers2@cdo.weblinq.com

Dy Un Suy, 96

Dy Un Suy (photos in "Flashback" section), the grand patriarch of the Dy clan in Iligan, passed away in the afternoon of Feb. 7, 2004 in Iligan City.  He was 96 years old.  He was one of the founding members of the board of trustees of LCHS and a highly respected member of the Philippine Dy Family Association, the Long Se Temple Association. He was also one of the pioneers of textile business in Iligan.  He is survived by his children, Fe "Guat Ching" Dy-Quimbo (Batch '55), Carlos Dy (Batch '58), Gregorio Dy (Batch '59), Jesus Dy (Batch '63), Henry Dy (Batch '64), Johnson Dy (Batch '64), Peter Dy (Batch '66), and William Dy (Batch '71).   He was laid to rest at the Iligan Chinese Cemetery on Feb. 13, 2004.   We request our readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.
 

Letters of Condolences

Sun, 08 Feb 2004 12:00:42 +0000
To Guat Ching, Bonnie, Greg, Hesing, Henry, Johnson, Peter, William, families and relatives:  Our heartfelt condolence to you on the passing away of your papa Dy Un Suy. God grant him eternal rest. With all our prayers.
--Henry Yu and family, Cebu, Philippines, email: hvty@skyinet.net

Sun, 8 Feb 2004 02:00:53 -0800 (PST)
To the family of the late Dy Un Suy:  We convey our heartfelt sympathy and profound sadness on the passing of your father.  His strength and goodness are an inspiration to us all.  His demise represents the passing of a generation of pioneering spirits in Iligan that blazed the trails to enable our generation to live our lives today in relative comfort.  Our thoughts and prayers are with your family members.  May the good Lord grant him eternal rest.
--Nelson Sy (Batch '62), Lydia Sy-Chona (Batch '65), Charles Sy (Batch '67) and Jane Sy-Limtin (Batch '70), Cebu, Philippines, email: syanlok@yahoo.com

Sun, 8 Feb 2004 21:46:02 EST
To the family of Mr. Dy Un Suy:  On behalf of my family, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy and prayers at this time of bereavement.
--Ritky C. Dy, M.D. (Batch '76), Alabama, U.S.A., email: Ritkydy@aol.com

Mon, 09 Feb 2004 03:36:57 +0000
To the Dy Family:  Our solemn prayers to the eternal repose of Mr. Dy Un Suy and our heartfelt condolence to the family.
--Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65) & Family, Miramar, Fl., U.S.A., email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Mon, 9 Feb 2004 02:01:39 -0700
We have lost a great and wonderful Godfather.  We shall pray for his soul.
--Mike Lee (Batch '66) and Nancy Lee, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, email: mnmm@telusplanet.net

Mon, 9 Feb 2004 11:15:00 -0600
May God comfort all of you in the family and grant you peace on your father's return to our heavenly home. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
--Evelyn Yu-Go (Batch '77), San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., email: ego@texas.net

Tue, 10 Feb 2004 18:15:27 -0800 (PST)
Dear Henry, Bonnie, Hesing, Greg, Peter and family:  Please accept our most sincere condolences for the passing of your beloved dad.  Although words seem to say so little, we hope they help in some small ways to ease the sense of loss that you are experiencing today. May good memories comfort you, all the cherished moments of the past, the blessings and the laughter, the joys and the celebrations, the sorrows and the tears that all add up to a treasure of fond yesterdays that you shared and spent together.  With heartfelt sympathy in your loss, our prayers and thoughts,
--Jaime Andaquig (Batch '75) & Lolit Andaquig and family, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 00802, email: andaquig007@yahoo.com

Wed, 11 Feb 2004 21:54:14 -0800
To the family of the late Dy Un Suy:  May the perfect peace that only HE can give abide with you now and always.  With our deepest sympathy.
--Wayne & Gloricita Kinnan (Batch '66), and the Racines' family, email: wgkinnan@earthlink.net

Thu, 12 Feb 2004 17:53:58 -0500 (EST)
God had been faithful in our lives despite the deep sorrow that comes with losing a loved one.  In our relationship with Christ, we find encouragement, consolation, love, fellowship, affection and mercy (Philippians 2:1).  God comforts us so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4).  So let's "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).  We would like to convey our profound and heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family, relatives and close friends of Dy Un Suy (one of LCHS board of trustees' pioneers), with our prayers for the eternal repose of his soul.
--Family of Go (Fely, Romy, Tessie, John, Mario & Antonio), email: johnygo2@yahoo.ca

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

Poultry sales are down by 15%.  Because of bird flu, people have chickened out. -- ooo -- I saw this sign in a flower shop on Valentine's Day:  Kiss your Valentine with our tu-lips. -- ooo -- I have a friend who fell in love with a coal miner's daughter.  He told me, "Someday, I'm gonna make her mine!" -- ooo -- What's the definition of endless love?   Stevie Wonder and Andrea Bocelli playing tennis. -- ooo -- Many readers were intrigued by Candice Uy's imaginary love story in our last issue.  They all seemed to chorus: Candice be love? -- ooo -- They say marriage requires a lot of give and take.  You give in and she takes over. -- ooo -- A survey says eighty percent of married men cheat in America.  The rest cheat in Europe. -- ooo -- Roger Suminguit wants to know why we only see brides cry during weddings.  That's because the husbands cry afterwards. -- ooo -- Postscript:   There's talk going the rounds about shortening the 2005 Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAH2005) from three to two days.  The move, while still tentative, appears to be gaining grounds among some alumni quarters.  Offhand, I think the idea merits positive consideration. A three-day program can be quite taxing for the organizers, and hectic for many others.  We can hold it in two days without necessarily compromising the fun and the essence of the grand shebang.  Some activities can either be combined or eliminated altogether.  A review of the schedule of activities of the first GAH in 2000 will show that the entire affair could be accomplished in two days instead of three.  Many of the events were sparsely spaced, leaving ample free time in between.  As a matter of fact, we had two entire mornings and one whole afternoon that were practically free of any major activity. -- ooo -- On the first day of GAH2000, for instance, there were no major activities except the registration, opening ceremonies and exhibits.   These can be incorporated with the plenary session which was held separately on another day during GAH2000.  Likewise, the barrio fiesta and batch reunions can be combined in just one evening affair, with a grand ball on the following night.  A party for the benefit of alumni and families can take place in the picnic on the first or second day.   With only two days for the next GAH, many alumni coming home from out of town will thus have more spare time to unwind or to visit their relatives and friends outside our alumni circles during their limited stay in Iligan.  And best of all, a two-day affair will require a leaner budget, and correspondingly, also a lower registration fee. -- ooo -- We join the Iligan community in mourning the demise of Dy Un Suy.  At 96, he was, until his death last Feb. 7, one of the few longest surviving Grand Old Men of Iligan.  He belonged to the second generation of the Tsinoy population in Iligan and was highly respected by his contemporaries as well as the succeeding generations of Iligan residents for his magnanimity, gregariousness, and wisdom.  He single-handedly reared a large family of eight children who all grew up today following his footsteps of leading illustrious lives of their own.  I remember once while visiting his sons in his house in the mid 1980s, he asked me if I was already married.  I said I was not, to which he retorted in his characteristic wit, "Stop chasing fun by fooling around all the time, young man. Get married first and you'll find more fun in your life than you ever imagined."  Well said from a man who lived his life to the fullest.

My grandfather just turned another year older.  I’ve lost count of how old he really is, and I won’t dare ask him too.  Unless I want to be kicked in the rear-end.  Because I know full well that he is still very capable of giving me a flying kick.  You might think that my grandfather is a superhero, well, I think so, too.  I mean, growing up he was our peso-man.  My cousins and I would never forget how we’d get a peso every time we get a perfect score in school.  Back then our small hands could hardly grasp the big round one peso coin. Our grandfather puts so much importance on education and he is the one who encouraged us to do good in school.

So to my Ang Kong, Mr. Dy Un Suy, thank you, with the peso you’ve religiously given us, we’re now where we are supposed to be.

[Editor's Note:  This piece was written two years ago after the 94th birthday celebration of the late Mr. Dy Un Suy.]

I was once lecturing to a group of bank employees on the highlights of the New Bouncing Checks Law when I noticed that some of them were not paying attention to me.  A few were yawning and several others were looking through me, not at me.  I decided to do something about the situation.  I deliberately mispronounced the word "check," making it sound "chick."  Heads immediately moved and anxious eyes focused on me.  Then I gave the coup de grace: "Always remember this," I said.  "There is a marked difference between a bouncing check and a bouncing chick.  A bouncing check bounces because no deposit has been made; a bouncing chick bounces because a deposit is being made."

The audience reacted with a boisterous laughter.  Thereafter, I had its undivided attention.  This scenario brings into action the most important function of humor in public speaking -- to attract and hold the attention of the audience.

Humor, according to Webster, is the quality of anything that is funny or appeal to the comic sense.  It is a joke or jest, satire, a twist of logic, an irony, incongruity, understatement, exaggeration or an interplay of words, making use of their sounds and meanings which make people laugh or inspire them to react with a warm smile of appreciation.  In the field of communication, humor may also be utilized to dramatize a point; change the pace of a program; and illustrate ideas vividly.

To dramatize the indestructibility of the institution of marriage, one may say, "Marriage is like the army, everybody complains but you'd be surprised at how many re-enlist!"  To insinuate the increasing pounds which go with middle-age, this line may come handy:  "Middle age is when your clothes no longer fits and it's you who need the alteration."

I emceed a program once where the guest of honor and many of the other guests were high ranking members of the military.  Towards the middle of the program, I noticed that many in the audience which was predominantly civilian, were tense, if not bored.  I changed the pace of the program by inventing an anecdote, the punch line of which was:  "Whether the military authority should prevail over the civilian or vice versa is not important; what is more relevant is that the civilian is militant and the military is civil."  The audience loved it.  It must have been a relief for them from emotional and intellectual tension.

As a teacher, there are times when I find it extremely difficult to explain the meaning of words which form part of the legal parlance.  Considering that man becomes more mentally receptive when he is in high spirits, I inject humor to my illustrations in such critical situations.  In explaining the phrase prima facie for instance, my best bet is this:  "When you see a man and a woman going out of a motel room, prima facie, they should have done what you think they did.  But since this is only a prima facie presumption, the couple may quash it by introducing proof that all they did inside the motel room was pray the rosary."  Only the dullest of minds could miss the import of this vivid illustration.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.  The great Romanticist John Keats once said that humor is the ability to laugh at the things we love, including ourselves, and still love them.  When you dish out a dash of humor and your listener reacts with a warm smile, unknowingly, you smile too.  Humor has lighted up your lives and the old saying "Laughter is the best medicine" has scaled new heights in meaning.

[About the author:  Tirso Antonio C. Ferrer Jr. writes from Cebu, Philippines, where he is a law practitioner.  He is a retired law professor of the University of Southern Philippines, Cebu City.  A past president of the Cebu Toastmasters Club, he is also a past district governor of District 75 of the Toastmasters International.  An eloquent speaker, he is a much sought-after speaker who never fails to entertain his audience with the magic of humor in his speeches. ]

Eat and run
My Vietnamese student was trying to convince me that the best Vietnamese noodle soup could be found on the side streets and not in the cozy restaurants. After office, we explored the old streets of Hanoi to find the best pho ba (beef noodle soup).  As we started to enjoy the aroma and taste of my favorite pho ba, my student said: “Teacher, be ready to run with your bowl because eating on the side street is illegal and the police can show up any time to run after the side street vendor and the customers.”  I almost choked, I would not want to end up in jail because of a bowl of pho ba.

Visa and passport
During the 22nd Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, I watched the swimming finals at the National Aquatic Sports Complex in Hanoi every night. There, I met some Filipino expatriates who were also avid spectators like me. Because of our varying schedules, we simply agreed to meet inside the Sports Complex straight after office. As foreigners, we were asked to present our passports at the gate and the ushers were accommodating enough to lead us to the front row seats. We usually ended up mingling with the parents and relatives of the swimmers. In one instance, one of our friends forgot his passport. At the gate, the guard stopped him: “Show me your visa,”  the guard said. Frantic but still trying to maintain his composure, my friend took a VISA CREDIT CARD from his wallet and showed it to the guard. The guard took a close glimpse of the plastic card and was convinced when he saw the word “VISA.” He signaled his hand allowing my friend to enter the gate.

The Romanovs
By Candice Ang Uy
Cebu, Philippines

The Romanovs were Imperial Russia's
ruling Royal family
and they remained so
until the early years of the 20th century.

Tsar Nicholas was to the manor born
and though he liked it not,
he was heir to the throne
in life that was his lot.

It was the Princess Alexandra who won his heart
of all the princesses he could have had.
And his father prepared a lavish nuptial feast
of his son's choice he was glad.

Of their early married life
the years were blissful.
Four lovely daughters, and at last a son
they had so much to be thankful.

Olga, Maria, Tatiana, and Anastasia
and Nicholas's heir, Alexis
to be soon marred by tragedy.
Who would have thought a Fate as theirs could exist?

The old king suddenly died
and Nicholas was thrust into the glare.
The people's expectations, his weighty duties and obligations
all conspired to strip him bare.

For Nicholas was a gentle man,
more suited to stay behind the scene.
He would have gladly yielded his throne,
at his happiest he would have been.

His people were restless
driven by poverty and hunger.
The clamors and cries for revolution and revolt
posing an imminent danger.

They felt that their Tsar
had been derelict in his duty,
concerning himself with interests of opulence
and objects that caught his fancy.

But Nicholas was shielded from all these
by his advisers' own ambitions.
Protecting the king from reality
rejecting change in the name of tradition.

So dependent had the queen on Rasputin become,
the self-appointed healer of her son's affliction.
In court matters did he interfere
tainting his majesties' decisions.

His people all felt at a loss
with the Bolsheviks they toppled the monarchy,
leaving in its stead
tattered remnants of a once-powerful royalty.

The Tsar and his family
left a captive in their own country.
In his beloved Alix's arms
he found steadfast love and loyalty.

On a cold winter's day
they were herded unceremoniously into the basement room.
The sounds of gunfire and the
bloodstained walls permeated the eerie gloom.

Such a tragic fate to have suffered
their lives quickly snuffed out.
One can only wonder
what their last thoughts were about.

In the hearts of those whom they have touched
the scarred wound silently grieves,
for they who have died
vanishing like the snow upon the eaves.

The Momma with 15 kids
Forwarded by Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65)
Miramar, Florida, U.S.A.

A woman walks into the downtown welfare office, trailed by 15 kids. "Wow," the social worker exclaims, "Are they all yours?"

"Yes'am they is all mine," the flustered momma sighs, having heard that question a thousand times before. She says, "Sit down Leroy."  All the children rush to find seats.

"Well," says the social worker, "then you must be here to sign up.  I'll need all your children's names."

"This one's my oldest -- he is Leroy."
"OK, and who's next?"
"Well, this one, he is Leroy, also."

The social worker raises an eyebrow but continues.  One by one, through the oldest four, all boys, all named Leroy. Then she is introduced to the eldest girl, named Leighroy!

"All right," says the case worker, "I'm seeing a pattern here.  Are they ALL named Leroy?"

Their Momma replied, "Well, yes -- it make it easier. When it is time to get them out of bed and ready for school, I yells, 'Leroy!'  An' when it's time for dinner, I just yell 'Leroy!' an' they all comes arunnin.'  An' if I need to stop the kid who's running into the street, I just yell 'Leroy' and all of them stop.  It's the smartest idea I ever had, namin' them all Leroy."

The social worker thinks this over for a bit, then wrinkles her forehead and says tentatively, "But what if you just want ONE kid to come, and not the whole bunch?"

"Ah, that's so easy," said the momma. "Then I calls them by their last names."

EDITORIAL STAFF VICTOR L. CHIU, editor Correspondents: Roger Suminguit,Teresita Racines, Charmaine Molo, Rodolfo Yu & Virginia Handumon-Te (Iligan); Igdono Caracho (Cebu); Marie Janiefer Lee (Manila); Peter Dy (Canada); Leonardo Tan (Australia); Ernesto Yu & Aurora Tansiokhian (U.S.A.); and Charles O. Sy & Henry L. Yu, past editors. Founded Aug. 1, 1968.  Published fortnightly since its revival on April 15, 1997. Distributed free on the Internet to LCHS alumni & supporters worldwide. Postal address: LCHS Alumni Association, Lanao Chung Hua School, Pala-o, Iligan City, Philippines. Web site: www.oocities.org/lchsspectrum. Spectrum welcomes articles, news reports & comments from LCHS alumni, students and readers. For subscription, contact Roger Suminguit, tel. 221-2422. For contribution, e-mail manuscripts to the editor:  perfidia6180@hotmail.com