Vol. 7, No. 1, April 15, 2003
6TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Fire of undetermined origin razed the mezzanine office of Emilia Supermart, owned by Sy Chu Pin, on Aguinaldo St., Pala-o, Iligan City, at about 12:30 p.m. last April 12.  The presence of a pharmacy located adjacent to the entrance of Emilia Supermart somehow saved the store from further damage.  Personnel from the pharmacy called the fire station. They broke the glass panel that separated the pharmacy from the store and carried pails of water to douse the fire before the arrival of the fire trucks.  Emilia Supermart was closed for lunch break at the time of the fire. It occupies a portion of the Dy Chu Tee building that also houses the Derbe Cinema.

Henry Dy turns over three school buildings

In his capacity as President of the Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc., Henry Dy, in photo, turned over to DepEd Superintendent Deborah A. Andrales three school buildings in Tubod Elementary School, Abuno High School and Mimbalut Elementary School on April 14 and 15, 2003.  For the school year 2002-2003, ten school buildings have been donated under the Operation Barrio Schools program.  Beneficiary schools are Abuno High School donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Siy Chin; Kiwalan Elementary School donated by Mr. & Mrs. John K. Tan; Maria Cristina Falls Elementary School donated by Don Jose Tanconkong (Avesco Marketing Corporation); Maria Cristina High School donated by Sen. Franklin Drilon; Mimbalut Elementary School donated by Cathay Pacific Steel Corporation; Puga-an High School donated by Nation Paper Products and Printing Corporation; Sta. Elena Elementary School donated by Mr. & Mrs. Gan Tiak Kheng (Globe Paper Mills - Iligan); Tubod Elementary School donated by Philippine Union Realty Development Corporation; Villa Verde Elementary School donated by Stick-O ECCO Food Corporation; and Bayug Elementary School.

Vivina Chiu is "Operation Smile" coordinator

Dr. Vivina Chiu-Yrastorza (Batch '61), in photo, joined the annual "Operation Smile" in Cebu and other cities as its clinical coordinator.  The medical mission is an international project offering free operation for cleft lip and palate among indigent children.  The joint team of American and Filipino surgeons and nurses traveled recently to Cebu, Naga and Davao where they operated on over 300 patients.  Joining the mission was "Operation Smile" founder Dr. William Magee, of Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A. together with his nurse-wife Kathleen Magee, and "Operation Smile" national president Dr. Edith Yotoko-Villanueva.  Vivina is also active in the Cebu Arts Council, the Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung Charitable Foundation, and various other civic clubs and medical organizations in Cebu.

Campus Keeper successfully revived

In a surprise move, the LCHS senior students released the maiden issue of Campus Keeper (The Revival), in photo, a few days before their graduation.  Consisting of fourteen pages, it carries news items, editorial, feature story, poetry and literary compositions, interviews, sports, brain teasers and comic script.  The staff is composed of Cromwell Jansen Co, editor-in-chief; Elbert Louie Eslao, managing editor; Farley Ong, features editor; Maria Shahanah Cabili, news editor; Peter Chan, graphics editor; Ben Nahshon Sy and Bryann Krisoffer Quing, cartoonists; and Ms. Silmarie Emperio, adviser.  The original Campus Keeper was a publication of junior and senior high school students of LCHS in 1968.  It was founded and co-edited by Henry L. Yu (Batch '69) and Emelita O. Lee (Batch '68).

Virginia Handumon-Te joins Spectrum staff

Virginia Handumon-Te (Batch '62) is the newest addition to Spectrum staff.  Wife of Bonifacio Te (Batch '62) and mother of new graduate Phoebe Vanz H. Te (Batch 2003), she has a wide experience in business and education.  Known for her ebullience, vivacity and bubbling enthusiasm, Virgie will surely uplift the morale of the staff of the sometimes moribund Spectrum.  Many alumni and friends are happy for her entry and expect things to perk up.

Rodolfo Yu to speak in int'l confab

Rodolfo Yu (Batch '69) is scheduled to travel anew to Bangkok, Thailand to present a paper at the International Convention for Teaching English as a Foreign Language on Dec. 13-15, 2003.  The convention will be held at the Mahidol University.  Rodolfo is an English professor at the MSU-IIT.  He is also an acknowledged organizer and adjudicator of various debates among colleges and universities in the Asia Pacific region.  He is currently on a three-week vacation in Quan Zhiu, China, where he is visiting his relatives.

Suniel Lim's granddaughter crowned Little Miss McDo

Proud alumnus Suniel "Boy" Lim (Batch '66) was his granddaughter's loudest cheerer when she was crowned "Little Miss McDonalds -- CdO 2003" at the McDonald's Limketkai grounds, Cagayan de Oro, last January 26.  Carla Andrea Lim Mosqueda, in photo, bested 10 other candidates, whose ages range from 5-8, in a pageant-like competition consisting of 3 portions: talent, gown and question and answer.  Andrea is only 5 years old but she wowed the judges and audience alike with her talent and wit.  Aside from winning the title, she also garnered the McSmile award and the McTalent award for her spectacular dance interpretation of "Ang Pipit."  Andrea had presented a surprise Hawaiian dance number at the Annual LCHS Alumni Homecoming on December 30, 2002 to the delight of the audience.  She just completed kindergarten at Kong Hua School, Cagayan de Oro, last March.  Andrea is the daughter of Joon Mosqueda and Cherrie Anne Lim-Mosqueda (Batch '90).

Special awards, High School

In the recognition program held on March 29, 2003 in the Lanao Chung Hua School Gym, Enjoy Faith C. Ang (in photo at left) was bestowed the Best in Science, English, Filipino, Social Studies, T.H.E. and deportment awards while Jian Leih C. Racines (in photo at right) was bestowed the Best in Mathematics and Athlete of the Year awards.  For their excellence in science and mathematics, both of them are recipients of the Metro Drug Corp. awards.  In addition, Jian Leih C. Racines received the Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Medal for outstanding leadership while Enjoy Faith C. Ang received the Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco Award for national discipline and the Kulintang Jaycees Excellence Award.

Special awards, Grade School

In the recognition program held on March 29, 2003 in the Lanao Chung Hua School Gym, the following grade school students were awarded for being the best in each subject:  Pao-Ju L. Chiu, Best in Mathematics; Darryn Michael W. Chiu, Best in Science; Samantha Fae D. Chan, Best in English; Franzemyll V. Dy, Best in Filipino; Darryn Michael W. Chiu, Best in Hekasi; Pao-Ju L. Chi, Deportment Award; Darryn Michael W. Chiu, Leadership Award; and Pao-Ju L. Chi, Kulintang Jaycees Excellence Award.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Alumni in motion

With the SARS scare sending shock waves across Southeast Asia, many alumni have changed their travel plans for this summer.  Instead of traveling abroad, many have now embarked on domestic tours.  Roderick Ngo (Batch '70) brought his family on a whirlwind trip across the hinterlands of northern Luzon.  They travelled to Baguio, Banaue, Bontoc and Sagada. They visited the famous Rice Terraces, mingled with ethnic folks in tribal Ifugao villages, and scaled the steep Cordillera mountain ranges to ogle at the Sagada burial caves and cliffs.  Meanwhile, Rod's eldest son Kenderick Ngo is in Xiamen, China, where he is participating in a 7-week summer study at the Chip Bee University together with some 200 Tsinoy students from different cities in the Philippines.  Another alumni kid taking part in the summer study is Agnes Gail Sy, daughter of Nelson Sy (Batch '62).   Both Kenderick and Agnes are second year high school students at Cebu's Bethany Christian School.

Currently enjoying the gentle sea breeze with his family at a beach resort in Tagbilaran is Rene Tio (Batch '70), in photo at left.  In Cebu, Calix Tan (Batch '57), in photo at right, was spotted at the SM City Mall last week doing some shopping and sight-seeing after his successful eye treatment at the Aces Laser & Surgicenter.  Also seen shopping at the SM City Mall last week was Dy Sun Lay (Batch '68).  Another alumna who breezed into town was Ursulina Bernardo-Esteban (Batch '63), who stood as principal sponsor at the wedding of Mila Yu-Ong's son Mark Ervin Ong in Cebu last April 6.  In Manila, "Tracers" learned that David Dy (Batch '74) is currently constructing a big new house at a prime location in Loyola Heights.  David is now a successful oncologist and surgeon at the St. Luke's Hospital.  He is the eldest son of Dy Tiao Un (Batch '40).

Also based in Manila now is Peachy Lynn Lim, daughter of Suniel "Boy" Lim (Batch '66).  Peachy is now working with Headstrong Int'l., Inc., a multinational consultancy firm.  Peachy is a B.S. Information Technology degree holder from the MSU-IIT and a digital multimedia specialist.  Her elder brother John Godwin Lim, on the other hand, is now based in Cebu.  He is connected with the Research & Development dep't of KSS Philippines, Inc., Minglanilla, Cebu, a Japanese firm manufacturing quartz and other electronic products.  Godwin is an Electronics & Computer Engineering graduate.  Jasper Joseph S. Lim, Boy Lim's youngest child, completed his Diploma course in Industrial Automation and Controls Engineering Technology (IACET) last March 28 at the MSU-IIT. Apart from being a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholar all throughout his course, Jasper is also an active member of the Redemptorist Youth Ministry and the Octava Choral Society (8va). Octava is one of Minadanao's finest choral groups that has garnered not just local but international awards as well. Jasper was recruited by the group after winning the 1st place in Choral Singing Competition during the MSU-IIT Intstitute Palakasan last year.

On Spectrum's 6th anniversary

Sat, 05 Apr 2003 02:44:50 +0000
To all Spectrum Staffs, kudos to a job well done. Time flies so fast and we didn't even notice how long this wonderful movement has been going on. To the founders who through the years have persevered inspite of all odds ... I bow to you. To the present baton bearer of the Spectrum, my sincere thanks for accepting this extra responsibility and may it continue through generations. --Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65), Miramar, Florida, U.S.A., alpacino_8@hotmail.com

GAH 2000 & GAH 2005

I have some comments and suggestions regarding the 2000 Grand Reunion and our upcoming 2005 Grand Reunion.  Few weeks ago, I had a very long phone conversation with one of my batch mates from Chicago that really touched my deep attention. The topic was the enjoyable moments and disappointments at the entire 2000 homecoming reunion. Since I was not present on that previous occasion, I have no doubt in my mind that it was a great success, and my imagination was that each and every alumnus had a very good time.

However, it wasn't the way I have imagined, and this is something that I want to address. All along until few weeks ago my understanding was that there had been no hindrance to attendance for each and every alumnus, and that every alumnus who desires to attend and participate can do so as it is our privilege. I've learned only lately about the P1,200.00 registration fee for attendance. I know it was realistic to be imposed at that time, but the sad part was it also deprived those fellow alumni who have financial difficulty. Hey, as what they say, P1,200.00 is equivalent to one sack of rice!  In my opinion, I think that in our next grand reunion, every alumnus shall be allowed to attend with no restriction, and that there shall have no disparity of intellect and higher education, and end to financial prejudice.

So I would like to propose an idea that will eliminate the registration fee but still our reunion can have the funds necessary. My idea is to help our less fortunate fellow alumni, but this idea might not be appreciated by some of our fellow "elite" alumni whom I have due respect.  My proposal is addressed to the officers and to the president of our alumni association Mr. Vy Beng Hong to create or form a committee (consisting of alumni members who are in the Philippines) responsible for a budget plan that should cover all the desired and prospective expenses of the entire reunion events. Whatever amounts the committee decides to come up on the budget, funds must come from unlimited voluntary contributions from all alumni abroad and in the Philippines. Prizes & gifts and honorary presents likewise must be solicited by way of donors.  Any ideas from all alumni ideas are also needed, so whatever you can add to this proposition is kindly appreciated. --Laureto C. Lao (Batch '68), Riverside, California, U.S.A., e-mail: Elsierito@aol.com

This pertains to the suggestion of my good friend Laureto Lao, from California, U.S.A., to eliminate registration fees in our Grand Alumni Homecoming 2005. A grand reunion that's totally free of charge for all alumni would be ideal.  But it's easier said than done.  Staging a three-day grand reunion entails a huge budget.  Voluntary cash contributions and sponsorships are essential.  They can cover a large percentage of the expenses involved.  Unfortunately, they are often insufficient to underwrite the entire costs of an affair of such magnitude.  We simply can't risk the success of the GAH by relying only on funds raised from voluntary contributions.  They often fall short of expectations and that could consequently derail the budget which has to be fixed long before the event.

Looking back at GAH2000, we did have numerous corporate sponsors, too, whose contributions in cash, materials, and foodstuffs, helped considerably in offsetting the costs.  But they were not enough despite the massive efforts undertaken by the GAH2000 committees in the fund campaign.  That's why our GAH, as in all similar affairs or conventions of such magnitude, requires registration fees.

Our GAH2000 had P1,500 (not P1,200) for registration fee.  Yet, it covered four full-course meals, a hard-bound souvenir program, convention kit, and 3 days and nights of unlimited fun, fellowship and programs. While it's true that P1,500 can already fetch a sack of rice, it's not everyday that one has to shell out P1,500 for a grand reunion with our fellow alumni.  Our GAH comes only once every five years.    Thank you, Laureto, for sharing your thoughts with us.  Looking forward to see you in GAH2005!  --Charles O. Sy (Batch '67) Cebu, Philippines, e-mail:  syanlok@yahoo.com

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

In one of my trips back home I had a chance to rummage through my old study table and tucked under my old test papers from way back elementary and high school was my first diary.  It’s lying there on a bed of dust.  The sight of that carefully wrapped notebook with pasted pictures made me gasp in amazement as to how this thing has survive all these years.  I thought my mother must have burned this stuff years ago.  A big part of my childhood is documented in that piece of notebook. It’s like a big part of me is right there in words.

When I leafed through the pages it was like opening my own Pandora’s box of memories.  It was like getting to know the “mini-me.”  How I think at an early age of 10.  And how I changed through the years.

It was only then that I realized that writing has been and is actually my first love. And as the saying goes “first love never dies”.  And my first love is alive until today all because of the trust Spectrum gave me.

I started contributing for Spectrum in the middle of 1999.  So this year is my fourth year in this column.  It was in that dusty diary where I saw my first attempt at writing.

My first diary was mostly a record of how I feel, whether I was happy or sad, what or who made me happy or sad. The handwriting was that of a child, who was still mastering the art of script writing, they were big, bold and crooked.  My words consist of some very wrongly spelled words. Words that would drive any English teacher out of her skin.

As I grew older and my grammar and spelling grew better, I was more open with my true feelings which at some point must have posed a problem because I resorted to writing in codes.  During high school we invented our own alphabet so that whatever we write will be kept a secret and will only be read by those who belong to the group, who knew the codes.  It was during that time when I was already trying to hide what I wrote in my diary because it was already about something very personal, about fears, hopes and wishes.  But even if my words had to be written incognito, the feelings were still there.

When I was in college my essays were never good enough.  I’d always get a note on it from our professor telling me that it’s flawed.  Which eventually killed any aspiration I had of taking a major that’s related to writing.  The only “good” writing that I was into back then was my diary-like letters to my sister Jojo.  I’d write to her almost everyday.  Some letters were even tear-stained from all the frustrations I encountered in college, which I had more than my fair share of.

When I got married I still wrote letters, and most of my letters were for my husband. It's not that he is an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker), he is just an arms-length away but sometimes there are words and feelings that are better expressed in writing.

Now, aside from wiritng for Spectrum twice a month I write emails everyday.  I write mostly to some very important people in my life.  I write everyday hoping that they'd have the time to write me back.  Even if some of them just never write back, I wonder why?

Once, I proudly said to somebody that I write for an Internet newsletter and his initial reaction was "so how are you being paid?" I told him that I write because I love writing.  He had a hard time comprehending what I said.  It’s probably hard for some people to accept that not everything has a tag price.  Another thing that keeps me writing is a text message I got from a friend, which says, “happiness comes not because we do great things but because we do small things with great love”.  That’s how I do my writing; I do it with great love.

Some people may think that writing is like a lost cause, but for me writing keeps me grounded. Writing keeps me focused on what’s important in my life.  It keeps me humble because I’ve already bared my soul to whoever cares to read a piece of me in each issue.  I have nothing more to hide.  Writing keeps me true to myself; I don't pretend to be someone else I’m not, I am the person I am in every issue.

So on this 6th anniversary of Spectrum, let me thank my bosses, once again, for giving me a chance and for allowing me to share bits and pieces of my heart, and more thanks to those who care to read what my heart has to offer.

It was a transition prompted by force of necessity.  A move made more as a matter of course than personal choice.  After five years in exile, the Spectrum had to be brought home to Iligan where its heart is.  Yet, it was by no means easy.  The idea itself was met with reluctance, if not outright resistance, at home.  There were no takers even if the Spectrum was offered on a silver platter, as it were.  The Spectrum was not feasible in Iligan, many argued.  No one was prepared to take on the job.  Or so it seemed.

Then came along Victor Chiu and Roger Suminguit who stood out where others bowed out. Victor and Roger (in photo during a caucus at Charles Sy's office) rose to the occasion and salvaged what would have been the end of the Spectrum.  And for the first time on April 15, 2002 and thereafter, the Spectrum was to be published right in its own hometown.

With its new home, the Spectrum ushered in more home-based writers to reinforce its staff.  Like fresh winds, the new recruits breathed new energy into the pages of the newsletter.  In addition to the diverse insights from the Spectrum mainstays and regular contributors, the paper sparkled even more with fresh inputs from the newcomers.  Charmaine Molo, of Batch '65, charmed Spectrum readers with fond memories of alumni personalities old and new; our former Grade VI teacher Fidel Fuertes regaled us with his perspectives on some highlights of Philippine history; and alumni rookie Michael John Siangco kept us abreast with his dissection of current issues and events.

In due time students of LCHS also joined the bandwagon.  Needless to say, it was refreshing to see so many young talents emerging from the new crop of LCHS students.  Long deprived of a medium through which they could ventilate their ideas, the students added dimension to the Spectrum with their own viewpoints and updates on activities in and out of the campus.  The heat soon caught fire and the idea to reestablish a school paper exclusively for LCHS students was hatched anew.  Motivated by Spectrum top guns in Iligan Victor Chiu and Roger Suminguit, high school seniors with a knack for writing set out to revive the Campus Keeper.  It is hoped that the Campus Keeper will become a continuing project for LCHS students year after year.  The paper would serve as an effective training ground and creative outlet for budding student writers.

Eventually, however, with dwindling inputs from the student sector, we saw the pages of the newsletter likewise thinning out.  While news stories were aplenty at the onset, succeeding issues saw an apparent shortfall of news materials about alumni activities at the home court.  On several occasions, news stories had to be lifted from local papers and other published materials.  It would have been ideal had every staff member taken the effort to do his part, more so those stationed in Iligan on whom we relied so much for hometown news.  This, after all, was one of the principal reasons for the Spectrum's migration to Iligan, the main source of news that we all long for.  Meanwhile, a few regular columnists too had to take a leave of absence to attend to more pressing individual concerns or work priorities.  Yet despite these setbacks, the Spectrum sailed on and managed with aplomb to go the distance.  And today it chalks up another milestone as it celebrates its 6th anniversary.

We look forward to another fulfilling year of service to our alumni across the globe who thirst for news from home.  From them we continue to derive our inspiration.  For them we shall carry on with this thankless job.  As editor Victor Chiu so aptly put it in his editorial "The Beat Goes On" on April 15, 2002: "We draw our strength and resolve from the thought that through the Spectrum, we will be able to bring to our friends in exile the ambience, atmosphere and setting of our old hometown."
 

BATCH 1998
Quenie Angkee, 0027 Grajeda Compound, Tambo, Iligan City, tel. 221-1501; Debbie Jane Chiu, Andrada Heights, Del Carmen, Iligan City; Alfredo Dagondon Jr., Merlyn's Bakeshop, cor. Aguinaldo & Mercado Sts., Iligan City, tel. 221-1231; Wifridis Deloy, 0007 Olive St., Zone 3, Del Carmen, Iligan City, tel. 221-4683; Minnie Noreen Dy, 004 Chico St., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-3433; Clive Jonathan Dy, Empire Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-2189; Clark Lai, Lai Bldg., Quezon Ave. Ext., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-6388, e-mail: superman_clarky@yahoo.com; Stephanie Lim, Pala-o, Iligan City; Joan Ling, Gemini Industrial, Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3688; Aileen Sia, Airsun Marketing, Cabili Ave., Iligan City, tel. 221-5537; Anthony Sia, Airsun Marketing, Cabili Ave., Iligan City, tel. 221-5537; Christiane Levi, Cherry Blossom, Tibanga, Iligan City; Caroline Jean Sy, #0011 Tibanga Highway, Iligan City, tel. 221-1931; Jennifer Tan, Iligan Electrical Supply, Quezon Ave., Iligan City, tel. 221-5588; Abigail Louise Te, 0139-C Quezon Ave. Ext., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-3264; and Arlene Yu, 0020-D Barros Apartment, Torralba St., Iligan City, tel. 221-5649.