Vol. 7, No. 24, March 1, 2004

William Payonan (in photo), principal of Lanao Chung Hua School, recently participated in a two-week international seminar in the People's Republic of China.  Held at the Capital Normal University in Beijing, the seminar was attended by top Chinese educators, teachers and students from all over the world.  Officially called "College of International Education and Exchange," the seminar covered advanced studies in Chinese education and culture.  Meanwhile, William Payonan announced that selected LCHS students took part last Feb. 21 in a Chinese Language Contest among Chinese-Filipino schools held in Cagayan de Oro City.  The contests, held under the auspices of the Mindanao Chinese Language Teachers Association, consisted of Chinese writing contest, declamation, and group & solo singing contests.  Payonan is the incumbent secretary of Mindanao Chinese Language Teachers Association.

James Booc heads Manticao Lodge
By Suniel Lim (Batch '66)

LCHS-AA 2nd vice president James Booc (Batch '82) was installed as Worshipful Master, along with Frederick Siao (Batch '83) as Junior Warden, of Manticao Lodge No. 243 in solemn and impressive ceremony last Feb. 4.  Two days later, James' batch mate Philip Steven So (Batch '82) was likewise installed as Worshipful Master of the Valerio Rovira Lodge No. 259.  Fellowships for both affairs were held at the Elena Tower Hotel in Tibanga, Iligan City.

LCHS students to join Xiamen tour

Seven LCHS students will join hundreds of young Chinese-Filipino students from all over the Philippines in the Summer Study Tour in Xiamen, PROC, this year.  The two-month study tour is a yearly educational program sponsored by the Tan Yan Kee Foundation headed by business tycoon and philanthropist Lucio Tan.  Joining this year's study tour are Tristan Ervin Lim (son of Gil Lim); Jan Bryan Anoos (son of Herbert Anoos); Al Natividad (son of Pelegrin Natividad Jr.); Rosemarie Chan (daughter of Ben Chan); Zynth Yap (daughter of Jose Yap); Jamie Lou Racaza (daughter of Philip Joey Racaza & Sholly Portaleza-Racaza); and Irvin Michael Kuan (son of Wilfredo Kuan).   Accompanying them on this trip are William Payonan, LCHS school principal, and Eva Khey, Chinese faculty member.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Currently back in town from Edmonton, Canada is Peter Dy (Batch '66).  He flew home on Feb. 11, 2004 and will stick around until May this year.  Last Feb. 27-29, Peter and his brothers Greg Dy (Batch '59) and Jesus Dy (Batch '63) were in Cagayan de Oro City where they participated in the 18th PAL Interclub Golf Tournament, Seniors Division, sponsored by the Philippine Airlines.  They, together with Nonoy Tulen, Roger Carlos and Jay Arceo, composed the Greater Chicago Golf Team, with Greg Dy as team captain.  This international sport event was held at the Pueblo de Oro Golf Club and the Del Monte Golf Club.  Also seeing action at the tournament were Christopher Chua Tek An (Batch '56), Carlos "Bonnie" Dy (Batch '58), Henry Dy (Batch '64), Franklin "Bobo" Siao (Batch '62), Joe Tan, Concordio Baguio, Roy Trinidad, and Leonard de la Cruz.  They comprised the Iligan Seniors Team with Henry Dy as team captain.

LCHS students and alumni can now browse past issues of the Spectrum published between 1997 to 2003 at the newly-refurbished LCHS Library.  Last Feb. 19, accompanied by Peter Dy, we turned over a copy of the Spectrum CD to Amielyn Sabit, LCHS librarian (in photo).  The CD collection is now available for browsing at the library.  Likewise, alumni interested to have a copy of the CD for their personal collection may order their copy at a very affordable price from our Alumni Association.  For your orders, please call LCHS-AA treasurer Terry Racines, tel. no. 221-3253, cell +639177163387, or email: csm-tur@sulat.msuiit.edu.ph

"Tracers" also learned that Rosalinda Go (Batch '62) was in town last December.  Rosalinda, who is now a resident of San Diego, U.S.A., was spotted together with younger sister Methelde Go (Batch '72) shopping at the Lian Hong Company, Inc. for their Christmas giveaways.  Personally attending to them at Lian Hong was no less than Suniel Lim (Batch '66) himself whom Rosalinda did not recognize at first.  When Methelde pointed out to her sister that the gentlemen attending to them was Boy Lim, Rosalinda asked if he was the same fellow named Suniel Lim that she always reads about in the Spectrum.  A bond of old friendship was quickly established after Boy confirmed that he was the same guy whose name often appeared in the Spectrum.  Back in San Diego, Rosalinda keeps herself abreast of all goings-on involving our alumni by reading the Spectrum.

Another recent surprise visitor was Charles O. Sy (Batch '67) who breezed into town last Feb. 18.  He was attending to their construction project in Cagayan de Oro, after which he made a side trip to Iligan to visit his hometown friends.  And whenever Charley is around, one could always expect to see him in the company of his good old buddies (especially after dark), the likes of Suniel Lim, Peter Dy, Santi Ong (Batch '70), Toto Samson (Batch '59), and yours truly.  The group converged at the Taps Bar in Pala-o for an evening of endless reminiscences and equally endless flow of SMB that lasted way past midnight.  The group would not have called it quits had they not heard the roosters starting to crow in the neighborhood. Hala beer-a pa gyud!

Condolences to Dy family
Tue, 17 Feb 2004 16:01:08 EST

To our friends Henry, Peter, William and to the entire family of Dy Un Suy:  We extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy in your time of sadness.
--Laureto Lao (Batch '68) & Elsie Lao (Batch '70), Stonehill Court, Riverside, California, U.S.A., email: Elsierito@aol.com

Suggestions for Spectrum CD
Tue, Feb 17 2004 12:04:14

I just opened the Spectrum CD Collection.  Very nice.  Better still, why not add a menu and writers index for easier reference?  This can sell well in our Grand Alumni Homecoming in 2005.  How about putting sounds in and charge the additional enhancements to the cost?  Just a thought.
--Rene Tio (Batch '70), Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, cell +639169565106

Ryukyuan Republic
Sat, Feb 21, 2004 04:15 AM

We Ryukyuans are honored  for Rene-san's  interest  in our beloved  former 'Kingdom of the Ryukyus' now sadly temporarily occupied by the Japanese to serve as a military base for their American masters.  We hope that the link above by one of our more fervent Ryukuan Independence supporters would provide a more balanced if not more accurate picture of the sentiments of the Ryukyuan people.

The Muslims of your beautiful Mindanao and the once visionary Christian Reuben Canoy certainly  knows the feelings and aspirations of the Ryukyuans more than Pacificador-san can ever even dream of in his lifetime. Therefore, to all the Muslims and Christians of colonized  Mindanao who also aspire to breathe the fragrance and essence of freedom and independence, I say once again ... Ichariba Chodee!  Again, I would like to personally thank Rene-san's invitation and friendship to a ' non-tribal' outsider.  An old Shuri proverb says: "...The vast gulf  between oceans always ends at the sandy shore."  Respectfully,
--Hiro S. Nobumasa, Okinawa, Ryukyu Republic, e-mail: naruwan4ever@yahoo.com

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

What was supposed to be just a side trip to Iligan turned out to be an auspicious journey. After a brief stay in Cagayan de Oro last week, I snatched a quick detour to Iligan before heading back to Cebu.  As always, a trip to our hometown is never complete without touching base with good old friends and revisiting familiar old haunts.

Iligan has not changed much since my last visit more than a year ago.  Yet, there are quite a few refreshing additions to its slowly changing landscape.  Several new establishments have emerged while some other new outfits have replaced the old haunts along the city's major arteries.

The former King Theater building is now home to a cluster of small shops run by Muslim traders peddling cheap pirated DVD movies.  Some residents now refer to it as Iligan's "SM" (as in "Shoemart Maranao"?).  The Premier Theater and Queen Theater have long ceased operations but their structures, bearing unmistakable signs of age and decay, still stand there like exclamation points to the passage of time.  The Century Theater is gone and on its spot now stands a modest structure occupied by the Gemini Electronic Service Center and Century Video.  The four-storey building of the Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce on corner Quezon Ave. and B. Labao St. is now occupied by the STI Educational Center.  And on the corner of Quezon Ave. and Mabini St., where our family residence used to be, now stands the SBG Merchandising owned by Sy Beng Gui.  Each time I find myself near this spot, memories of my childhood inevitably come echoing back like timeless refrain from an old song.

Across the street, the building once owned by the Shekker family that housed the PCI Bank and DXIC radio station is now occupied by Banco Filipino.  In the adjacent building, what was once the Kian Chiong Commercial is now replaced by the Iligan Electrical Supply of Calix Tan and Southern Mart.  In the same vicinity, the Pacific Commercial and Ang Suan Em Store that once occupied the Deleste building are now replaced by Mercury Drug.  The grand old Padilla building along Aguinaldo and San Miguel streets is still there, though age has now transformed what was once immaculate pink to rusty hue.

Newer additions to the city's landmarks are more evident in the city's bustling area of Pala-o.  The site of Kim San Company has now been converted into an arcade of RTW bazaars and curio shops.  For those of us who are ever on the lookout for a place to unwind in the evening, there are the Taps Bar & Restaurant, the Teepoy's Grill, and Bat-C Restaurant, all of which offer an added sizzle to the city's otherwise sleepy night life.  There's also Pizza d'Amore, maker of homegrown pizza that is fast becoming a favorite among city residents.

-ooo- My trip to Iligan included a visit to the LCHS campus in Pala-o.  We had a fruitful chat with LCHS principal William Payonan in his office.  There was also Chinese teacher Conchita Cabanlit who was gracious enough to show us around the school's computer laboratory facilities.  The lab is named after Tiu Siok Siao, the late mother of Henry Siao whose family donated the computers.  We also got to meet Christine Veronica "Jing" Uy, the amiable assistant school principal, who welcomed us with a big smile. She graciously agreed to continue keeping the Spectrum updated on developments in the school.  We also got to visit the library which is now spic and span with its new ceiling and lighting fixtures, new shiny floor, and brand new bookshelves and cabinets.  The interiors are remarkably neat and well arranged.  The LCHS-AA did an excellent job with the renovation works.  We learned that the library is in need of more reference materials, such as periodicals and magazines.  Our alumni can help the library by donating their used magazines to the library, such as National Geographic, Reader's Digest, and other publications. -ooo- A little incident provided an interesting sidelight to my Iligan trip.  On the night of my arrival, while viewing Iligan's skyline from my 5th floor balcony of the Maria Cristina Hotel, I noticed a commotion on the street below.  Police cars arrived one after another to cordon off the streets surrounding the hotel premises.  I initially assumed that maybe some big shots had arrived for a convention of educators in the hotel's ballroom.  A little later, I saw some people scampering away from the hotel vicinity along Aguinaldo St. just as two military operatives in combat gear approached the hotel, each with a sniffer dog in tow.  Now, something fishy must be going on downstairs, I said to myself.  I dressed up and hurried down to investigate.

At the hotel lobby, there was a small crowd milling around, many of whom were delegates who just arrived for the ongoing convention. A few more guests gathered outside the hotel, looking concerned and uptight. I overheard an elderly teacher asking the security guard, "Is there a bomb?"  Before the beleaguered guard could reply, another jittery guest butted in, "Somebody just sent me a text that there's a bomb in the hotel!"  Now this is exciting, I whispered to myself.  I inched my way out of the teeming crowd and proceeded across the street to see where they brought the pair of sniffer dogs.  But they were gone when I reached the spot and the police cordon had been promptly dispersed.  It turned out that somebody had left a box late that afternoon near the door of a lotto outlet occupying a portion of the hotel's ground floor.  The outlet manager became suspicious when he noticed that the mysterious box was still there as he was closing shop for the night.  So they brought in the bomb disposal squad. Needless to say, it turned out to be a dude.

Now, who says night life in Iligan is a bore?
 

Rummaging through files of old articles I had written, I came upon one that I wrote 16 long years ago which is as relevant now as it was then. The reference to Communist China struck me as particularly prophetic.  If China is an awesome economic and political powerhouse today, can you imagine how far richer and powerful it could have been if it didn’t turn communist in 1949?

Philippine communism, on the other hand, is experiencing a resurgence, like a virulent plague that refuses to die.  Why such a malignant cancer persists is beyond me.  And the Filipinos, well, they’re still poor, getting poorer and multiplying like rabbits in what can only be described as a national death wish.  Here’s the article (in italics) written 26 years ago:

Save, invest, produce. Save invest, produce. That’s the only route to progress. Look at the Chinese. Well, many of them anyway. Instead of spending right away the money that they earn on consumer goods, they reinvest it first in their business. They postpone satisfying their desire for consumer goods till the day when their business are already stable.

Save, invest, produce. Hard work and more hard work. There’s no other formula -- for both individuals and nations.

The poor are not poor because they are oppressed by capitalists.  Sure, there are many, many cases of exploitations by capitalists – where on earth can you find a place where there are no oppressors?  But on the whole, wherever you find a capitalist (bear in mind that producers of bakya, banana cue, toothpick and charcoal are also capitalist), that place becomes proportionately more progressive. Capitalists are those of us who work hard, save, invest and produce. In the process, they create jobs for their fellowmen.

The sad truth is we are poor, the country is poor, because there are very few of us who save, invest and produce; save, invest and produce.

What about the good old Pinoys?  Give them a little cash windfall and they’ll go pronto to the nearest bar, or buy a karaoke, buy the latest model car, build a house, splurge on parties, do anything except the one thing that can make us truly rich: save, invest, produce.

What about our good old Pinoy communists?  After the universal repudiation of the communist ideology, our local reds are unrepentant as ever, clinging for dear life, lest they lose all meaning to their existence.  To a discredited ideology that belongs properly to a museum of the Paleolithic age.
 

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

I promised myself I won’t cry.  When I learned that my grandfather passed away, I told myself that I won’t cry.  Not because I don’t care; not because I don’t respect him enough; not because his passing didn’t sadden me; but because I know that it’s something he badly needs.  I know that we’re supposed to be happy for him -- for finally achieving the ultimate peace.

I promised myself I won’t look at his body inside his casket.  When I arrived in Iligan I didn’t join my cousins when they all went over to his casket to take a look at him.  Not because I was scared; not because I was too proud; but because deep inside my heart I want to remember him the way he was -- when he was still around.  I want to remember the alive Angkong and not the one inside the casket.

But I broke both my promises.

... Just thinking that we won’t see him ever again, just knowing that he is no longer with us.
... Just remembering the times when he was so pleased that I finished at the top of my class.
... Just remembering the time when he arrived just in time for my university graduation.
... Just thinking of the way he proudly walked me down the aisle on my wedding day in behalf of my late father.
... Just remembering how happy he was to see his first great-grandson.

I also shed more tears in silent gratitude to Angkong.

... For giving me my mother and my uncles.
... For raising them the way he did, for making them the persons that they are today.
... For all the cousins that I have, for giving me this big family tree, where I always draw my strength from.
... For living such an impeccable life.  For being a legendary Angkong, something that makes us very proud to be his descendants.
... For being a good example to us on how to keep ourselves healthy, both body and soul.

I promised myself I won’t cry, but how could I stop the tears from falling?  I know that he needs to rest his tired body but we still need his guiding presence.  We still need him around as the binding force that keeps the whole family together.  He was the main reason why my uncles, aunts and cousins would come home from abroad every so often.  When will they come home again?  When will I see them again? Will they ever come home again?  Will there be enough reason for them to come back?

I promised myself I won’t look at him inside his casket.  But how could I stop myself?  Part of me wants to see him for the last time to say my good-byes.  To finally put a closure of his memory inside my heart and mind.  It was hard to face reality, to finally acknowledge that he is no longer with us.  But I know that it’s something I have to do for my heart to slowly accept what my mind already knows.

Angkong, may the tears that we shed reach you in heaven so that you’ll know how much you’re being missed down here.  Good-bye for now; till we meet again.

Women Bonding
Marlinda Angbetic-Tan
Cebu, Philippines

Women bonding is rooted in the values that women hold dear.  It is interwoven with woman's nurturing nature and it transcends feminine whim or quirk.  No matter what kind of women we are, no matter how different in manner and temperament, women come together to gather strength from each other in time of crisis or to draw wisdom from each other in the darkness of doubt and fear.

Late last month, I received an urgent message through my beeper.  It was from my close friend from college days, Debbie P.  Since I was involved in an important project concerning her industry (she designs and manufactures furniture for export), I got really worried since I was only able to check my beeper hours after her requested time for me to call her.  I tried anyway and found out that she got admitted to the hospital for a major surgery.  Everything was so sudden.  No one expected the operation to take place right away.

When I visited her in the hospital that night, I still expected that there was something wrong with the project, which was why she beeped me.  She just had the operation and was still prohibited from talking.  Through written notes, she informed me that she just wanted to talk to me before she would go into the hospital.  Nothing more.  For my part, I was anxious to know how she was, especially since I had to leave for Manila the next day.  I was so relieved to see she was all right.  I felt a surge of affection that I wanted to envelop her with as I kissed her goodbye that night.  I knew she felt it.

In the 27 years that I have known Debbie, we have had our share of ups and downs, of commitment and disagreements.  More of the latter, I suppose, since we have such disparate personalities.  She is deliberate where I am rash.  She is an eclectic avant-garde fashion plate while I am a nonchalant conservative dresser.  She is into numbers while I am into words.  She is precise and accurate while I go into poetic license and artistic freedom.  In weight and height, we are opposites.  Our tastes in men, music, and food run along parallel lines, never meeting.  Yet, we have always influenced each other in more ways than we can ever imagine.

We love art and we love to talk long hours on destiny and origami, of economics and transcendence.  We believe in extra sensory phenomenon and tested each other on our ESP powers.  She is the transmitter and I am a strong receiver, we found out.

In my darkest hours, she was there for me.  She would drive out to get me from my house at 3:00 dawn or in the middle of the day.  We would talk, unravelling the tangled threads of my life.

Just knowing that we are there when we need each other's support makes us confident women.  Consequently, we have become stronger for those we love.

This is women bonding.  Anytime.  Anywhere.  Forging generations of female oppression and pain into a tensile and durable spirit that can withstand the worst of times and shine forth in the best of times.

Paddington.  Has time passed so fast?  Indeed so for Paddington will be turning seven this year.  Seven years old sometime in August.  You see, that was when he came into my life.  I guess you could call it love at first sight.  I was browsing around in the boutique looking for something like him when I saw Paddington.  I immediately fell in love.  He was the only one of his kind.  Even if there were so many others whose prices were more reasonable and more space-friendly, I chose him.

Paddington is red and blue and yellow.  He is dressed in a red collared shirt.  I suppose it's a shirt because all that can be seen is his collar and a yellow straw hat turned up at the brim.  Paddington is so cheerful you can't help but like him.  That smile and those merry eyes make you want to stretch your lips.  I bought him a keychain of himself, too just in case he got lonely and might want for company.

He has been a fixture at my side.  He walks beside me, shares the table with me, and even sits on my lap!  He rides in the jeepney, the taxi, and the family car.  I even take him with me to the fancy restaurants or to the roadside barbecue places.  But I don't think he likes it much.  He'd rather it was him and me alone.  When I have my day-off he has his day-off, too.  He just sits around in his yellow straw hat.   Sometimes, I give him a good bath. There are times when sauces and soups spill over him and he starts to smell like them but good-natured Paddington never complains.  He doesn't get angry, either.  It's just one of those things is what he seems to say.  I wash him with detergent and water, brush him with an old toothbrush, and hang him on the clothesline to dry.  Paddington likes it very much.  He comes back smelling so nice and ready for another adventure.

But Paddington is getting old now.  A tear has appeared above his head and his red color has started to fade.  After being with me for all these years, Paddington deserves to rest.  Perhaps to stay in my closet and tell the clothes and slippers of the things he has seen in the great, big world.  Or to just lie on his back, cross his legs and dream of the endless sky.  I will miss him, though.  Paddington has been a faithful companion.  Rain or shine he has always been there for me.  I think I will be keeping him for a while yet until practicality beats sentimentality.  Perhaps I can show him to my kids someday and I'll tell them the story of Paddington, faithful Paddington Bear.  My lunch bag.

[Author's Note:  Paddington Bear, the lunch bag, is still in use as of this time.  Until the next day-off comes and I can scout around for a new bag, Paddington will remain a fixture yet.  This piece was supposed to be entitled "Requiem for a Bear" but it sounded far too morose and was not in keeping with the light tone of the subject.  Comments are welcomed at candz911@yahoo.co.uk]

FPJ Jokes
Forwarded by Jonathan Mark Te (Batch '96)
Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines
E-mail: otan@su.edu.ph

Talking about crime, Bush asks:  How's your parole system over there?
FPJ:  Oh, we hang them every Christmas.

Erap driving with FPJ on the way to Disneyland when they saw a sign that reads:  "DISNEYLAND LEFT."
ERAP:  Sayang di natin naabutan.
FPJ:  Oo nga, agahan na lang natin bukas.

FPJ & Erap in a museum. (FPJ looking at a mummy)
FPJ:  Pare, what's da meaning of 1232 B.C.?
Erap:  Pare, yan ang plate number ng nakabangga sa kanya.

Romance mathematics
Smart man + smart woman  =  romance
Smart man + dumb woman  =  affair
Dumb man + smart woman  =  marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman  =  pregnancy

Office arithmetic
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime

Shopping math
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need.

General equations & statistics
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

Happiness
To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.

Longevity
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

Propensity to change
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she does.

Discussion technique
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

How to stop people from bugging you about getting married
Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and telling me, "You're next."  They stopped after I started doing he same thing to them at funerals.