Vol. 8, No. 1, April 15, 2004
7th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Robert "Toto" Co (Batch '66) was elected president of the Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce in a meeting of the LFCCC board of directors held last April 12.  The initial lineup of new officers is composed of the following:  Robert Co (Cromwell Marketing), president (in photo at extreme left); Dominic Siao (Kim San Company, Inc.), executive vice president (2nd from left); Suniel Lim (Lian Hong Company, Inc.), first vice president (3rd from left); Vy Beng Hong (San Cha Trading), second vice president (4th from left); Henry Siao (Krisland Commercial), secretary; and Johnny Sim (Lanao Milling Corp.), treasurer.  A complete list of new officers and directors will be announced upon their official confirmation soon.  The induction of new officers is set on May 2 at the Crystal Inn, Tibanga, Iligan City, in a general assembly of Chamber members.   Robert Co will assume the chamber presidency from outgoing president Henry Dy (Iligan Apollo Electrical & Industrial Supply, Inc.).

ANNIVERSARY TREAT
Spectrum August 1968 edition reissued

As part of its 7th special anniversary offering, the Spectrum has reissued its maiden issue, first published in August-September 1968.  The issue, with slight modifications to suit its new digital format, is available on the Spectrum home page at: www.oocities.org/lchsspectrum

The Spectrum republished the maiden issue to provide its readers today a visual perspective of the Spectrum's humble beginning.  The new issue, slightly recomposed and re-edited, bears the same contents found in the maiden issue.

BATCH 2004
Gladys Uy is this year's valedictorian
By Christine Veronica B. Uy

Gladys Uy led this year's batch of graduates as high school valedictorian (in English & Chinese classes) during the LCHS 66th Commencement Rites held at the LCHS gym last Mar. 27.  Gladys is the daughter of Hanse Uy, a cousin of Glenda Sy-Cabilan and Farley Sy of Crown Paper and Stationers, Iligan City.  Henry Dy, president of the Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the LCHS Alumni Association, was the guest speaker at the Commencement Rites.  He spoke on the theme "Educational Vision for Iligan and for LCHS."  His presence was timely as his daughter, Heidi (a fourth year student) was among the graduates of Batch 2004.

Highlighting the culminating rites was the recognition of the class honorees with the scholastic and special awards.  Comprising this year's high school honor students were (English Department):  Gladys Uy, valedictorian; Roxanne Conol, salutatorian; Kenneth Ong, 1st honorable mention; Krissa Hanika Cabaqui, 2nd honorable mention; and Lionel Bryan Yap, 3rd honorable mention.  And (Chinese Department): Gladys Uy, valedictorian; Claire Lorraine Co, salutatorian; Roxanne Conol, 1st honorable mention; Krissa Hanika Cabaqui, 2nd honorable mention; and Kenneth Ong, 3rd honorable mention.  (See "Campus Beat" column elsewhere in this issue for complete list of honor rolls.)

Alumni receive special awards from LCHS

Several alumni were among the honorees who received special recognition during the LCHS Commencement Rites on Mar. 27, 2004. The special awards were given to individuals in the community who had contributed to the advancement of the institution in specific areas of concern, such as facilities, developmental planning, spiritual feeding, among others).  The awardees for this year were:

Henry Dy (Batch '64): As President of two formidable organizations (Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and LCHS Alumni Association), he helped forged these two influential organizations to help lift up the condition of the institution through his effective leadership.

Lilia V. Sy (Batch '67):  As President of LCHS Parents’ Association for two consecutive school years, her philanthropic deeds to the institution and her compassionate leadership had been noteworthy in building the right, productive camaraderie among the parents thereby achieving school projects successfully, foremost of which was in the improvement of school facilities.

Vy Beng Hong (Batch '69):  As Executive Vice-President of the LCHS Alumni Association, his dedication, support and untiring guidance to his fellow alumni in directing the energy and resources to assist the school in whatever capacity that will benefit foremost the institution, had been the catalyst in building a conducive school environment in LCHS which is now better equipped and comfortably facilitated.

James L. Booc (Batch '82):  As Chairman of the LCHS Alumni Association Library Committee, his effective mandate had brought visible and viable results in the renovation of the school library that is now facilitated with a useful reading environment benefiting the students and teachers.

Teresita Racines (Batch '67):  As member of the LCHS Alumni Association Library Committee, her commendable involvement had been instrumental in the provision of a feasible, developmental plan for the library so that it can expand its facilities, in the coming years, into a progressive, multi-media center that can render better learning services for the students and teachers.

Fr. Daniel S. Sormani:  As parish priest of the Resurrection of the Lord Church, his servitude and passion in articulating the gospel message of Christ in a compassionate manner (rendered to the Chinese community during Mass services) has brought renewed interest to understand the essence of Christ in a spiritual dimension that is realistic and more inspiring.  This has therefore reaped the trust and assurance from the institution to entrust its members to avail of this valuable spiritual service.

A special award, the Distinguished Alumni Award, was presented by Mr. Sy Chu An, School President, and Mr. Henry Dy to a school alumnus, 2nd Lt. Roger Pohino Ng (Ng Teng Kie) for his successful completion of his military training with second honors at the Philippine Military Academy during their graduation rites in Baguio City last Mar. 1.  His achievement elevated him with a rank of second lieutenant of the Philippine Air Force.

Happy Anniversary!

Sat, Apr 10, 2004  1:13 pm
Happy 7th Anniversary, LCHS Spectrum!  A salute to our dedicated staffs for a job well done, especially the editors who have made this movement flow all these years.  To Victor Chiu, our present baton bearer, more power to you.
--Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65), Miramar, Florida, U.S.A., email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Tue, 13 Apr 2004 11:03:24 +0800
Hello!  Happy Anniversary to all of us!  For this special anniversary issue I would like to send out my heartfelt thanks to Uncle Sandy (Chua), Mr. Santi Ong, and Sir Yu (Mr. Rodolfo Yu) because every time I see them in Iligan they always tell me that they never fail to read my articles.  Thank you so much for your support. I just want to let you know that simple words like that mean a lot to me. Daghang Salamat!
--Marie Janiefer Lee (Batch '87), Makati, Philippines, email: janiefer@pacific.net.ph

By Christine Veronica B. Uy

LCHS Honor Rolls 2004

LCHS concluded the school year (2003-2004) with its 66th Commencement Rites last Mar. 27.  There were two separate graduation ceremonies -- Kindergarten 2 was conducted in the mornnning, and the Grade 6 and Fourth Year in the afternoon.  The highlights of these culminating rites were the recognition of the class honorees with the scholastic and special awards.

Kindergarten 2, Scholastic Awards:

English Curriculum:  Annamitz A. Rapliza, Valedictorian; Ronamae Darlene Q. Alivio, Salutatorian; Danielle Ann A. Ranido, 1st Honorable Mention; June Leah U. Tabasa, 2nd Honorable Mention; and Kleos K. Narita, 3rd Honorable Mention.  Chinese Curriculum:  Annamitz A. Rapliza, Valedictorian; Danielle A. Ranido, Salutatorian; Roname Darlene Q. Alivio, 1st Honorable Mention; Shaun Harvey K. Yu, 2nd Honorable Mention; and June Leah U. Tabasa, 3rd Honorable Mention.

Kindergarten 2, Special Awards:

English Curriculum:  Annamitz A. Rapliza, Best in Mathematics, Reading, Language, Science, and Writing; Roname Darlene Q. Alivio, Best in Filipino and Art; Ernest Mikkhail G. Uy, Deportment Award. Chinese Curriculum:  Geraldine Grace N. Dy, Best in Language; Shaun Harvey K. Yu,  Best in Writing; and Ernest Mikkhail G. Uy, Deportment Award.

It is interesting to note that the valedictorian and salutatorian including the 2nd honorable mention (English Curriculum) are daughters of Mrs. Annabelle Rapliza (Math teacher in Grade school), Mrs. Normita Alivio (Dept. Head of High School), and Mrs. Leonor Uy-Tabasa (Math teacher in Grade school), respectively.

Grade 6, Scholastic Awards:

English Curriculum:  Karen Andrea L. Chua, Valedictorian; Kevin Bryan M. Dy, Salutatorian; Jason Louie G. Lim, 1st Honorable Mention. Chinese Curriculum:  Kevin Bryan M. Dy, Valedictorian; Karen Andrea L. Chua, Salutatorian; Jason Louie G. Lim, 1st Honorable Mention; Sydney Francine D. Chan, 2nd Honorable Mention; and Marie T. Acedo, 3rd Honorable Mention.

Grade 6, Special Awards:

English Curriculum:  Karen Andrea L. Chua, Best in Mathematics, Science, English, Filipino, Makabayan, Deportment Award, Excellence Award, and Kulintang Jaycees Medal.  Chinese Curriculum:  Karen Andrea L. Chua, Best in Language.

Fourth Year, Scholastic Awards:

English Curriculum: Gladys A. Uy, Valedictorian; Roxanne P. Conol, Salutatorian; Kenneth A. Ong, 1st Honorable Mention; Krissa Hanika F. Cabaqui, 2nd Honorable Mention; and Lionel Bryan C. Yap, 3rd Honorable Mention.  Chinese Curriculum:  Gladys A. Uy, Valedictorian; Claire Lorraine L. Co, Salutatorian; Roxanne P. Conol, 1st Honorable Mention; Krissa Hanika F. Cabaqui, 2nd Honorable Mention; Kenneth A. Ong, 3rd Honorable Mention.

Fourth Year, Special Awards:

Kenneth Ong, Best in Mathematics, Social Studies, Athlete of the Year, and Mercury Drug Corp. Medal; Gladys A. Uy, Best in Science, Mercury Drug Corp. Medal, Best in English, Filipino, Deportment Award, Excellence Award, Pres. Gloria Arroyo Medal, Kulintang Jaycees Medal, National Discipline Award, Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco Medal; Roxanne P. Conol, Best in T.H.E., Leadership Award, Pres. Gloria Arroyo Medal; Dianne Marie B. Solis, Best in Art;

Cdt 2Lt Dave A. De Jesus, C.A.T. Cadel Leadership Award; Cdt Kenneth A. Ong, Cdt Sylvester L. Siangco, Cdt Gladys A. Uy, Cdt Diane Marie K. Zorilla, C.A.T. Cadet Merit Awards; Claire Lorraine L. Co, Dave A. De Jesus, Heidi U. Dy-Henry, Kenneth A. Ong, Sylvester L. Siangco, Gladys A. Uy, and Diane Marie K. Zorilla, Loyalty Awards.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Summer reunions

It was a happy reunion for some members of Batch '63 as they got together for dinner in the elegant new home of Jesus "Hesing" Dy and Melania Dy at the posh Grand Pacific Villa, Mactan, Cebu last April 3.  The gathering saw members of Batch '63 exchanging endless pleasant memories of their LCHS days and keeping each other updated on their lives and families.  They were Siok Ching Dy-Ng, Elsa Ang-Uy, Mila Yu-Ong and Hesing Dy (in left photo hereunder).  Among the topics they talked about was the LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming in 2000.  They all vowed to see other again in the next grand alumni homecoming in July next year.  Also present at the party were brothers Nelson Sy (Batch '62) and Charles O. Sy (Batch '67), among other guests and friends of Hesing and Melania.  The following night, Hesing and Melania hosted another housewarming dinner for relatives and members of the Dy clan in Cebu, the likes of Dy Shek Tong, aka Tonga Dy, Dy Tiao Un, and Alex Dy-Tian, among others. Hesing is scheduled to fly back to his work soon at the Property Assessor's Office in Edmonton, Canada.  He will come home again in January next year.

Seen breezing into town last April 13 was Kenton Sua (Batch '80), now a practicing lawyer in Manila.  Kenton brought along his wife Pauline and two kids to show them the place where he spent his early childhood until Grade 5.  Together with his wife and kids (in right photo hereunder), Kenton visited a family friend Santi Ong (Batch '70), who later took them on a sightseeing tour of Timoga, Maria Cristina Falls, the Macapagal ancestral home, and the Tinago Falls resort (or what's left of it).  Kenton also visited Suniel Lim, to whom he handed over a check for P10,000 as his donation to the Alumni Scholarship Fund.  A pleasant surprise during his brief visit was his reunion with his former classmates of Batch '80 at Sunburst, namely Jerry Ling, James Racines, Precila Rosario and Caroline Sy, whom the visiting Kenton has not seen after Grade 5 when he transferred to Cebu.  From Iligan, Kenton and his family sped off to Cagayan de Oro to visit a former college buddy who accompanied them on a brief holiday on the island resort of Camiguin.

Also on tour during the Holy Week were Maria Jo-Cu (Batch '57) together with daughter Alicia Cu-Go (Batch '78) and several friends.  They visited their ancestral home in Kinmen.

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

As the Spectrum chalks up another milestone with this anniversary issue, we take pause and share with our readers a few significant insights on what it was like when we started the Spectrum back in 1968.

Then as now, we had our share of good times and bad times.  Along the way, we had our moments of triumphs and our share of frustrations.  Through the years we lost a few good writers. Yet, as quietly as they vanished, we also had staff members who slugged it out with us through thick and thin without any fuss.  All of them, in their own special ways, contributed and formed what is now an indelible part of Spectrum's history.

When the Spectrum first saw light in August 1968, it was originally conceived as a joint publication of the students and alumni of LCHS.  Yet, the participation of LCHS students was minimal.  Their contributions were few and far between.  We experienced the same problem as we face today in eliciting contributions from LCHS students.  LCHS did not suffer from a dearth of talents.  Many of them just needed encouragement or motivation.  In due time, the Spectrum did see a fairly notable trail of inputs from the LCHS campus, coming from the likes of Castor Lim, Emelita Lee, Janet Lee, Jesus Chin, Rodolfo Yu, and Antonio Te, among others.

I was a second year college student in Cebu when we founded the Spectrum.  Thus, Cebu became our base of operations.  With me in Cebu were Peter Dy and Teresita Racines who stood by us throughout the years.  Despite meager resources contributed by alumni and friends, we managed somehow to have the Spectrum printed by Linotype press. The maiden issue cost us P60.  Which certainly was no pittance considering the value of Philippine currency at the time and that our donors were asked to chip in only P2 each for an issue.

Manning the fort in Dumaguete were the Spectrum's dynamic duo, Henry Yu and Ernesto Yu, who helped us transform the Spectrum concept to reality.  Henry and Ernie were the associate editors.  They were later joined by Emma Yap as correspondent for Dumaguete.  And comprising our pioneering staff in Iligan were Miguel Ong, Antonio Te and Castor Lim, who filled us in with news updates from the home court.

As the Spectrum grew in resources, more alumni came forward and strengthened what was once just a skeleton force. A new staff was formed and the paper modified its name from The Spectrum Bulletin to The LCHS Spectrum.  We brought in Artemio Lagrosas to join us in Cebu as our staff artist.  Our growing network likewise soon reached Manila where Leonardo "Loloy" Tan volunteered as our correspondent.  Loloy took it upon himself to act as our single link to alumni in Manila who, we soon realized, were as famished for news from home as everyone else stationed away from Iligan.  In their joint letter to the editor (Spectrum, May-June 1969 issue), Corazon Tan and Lalita Uy echoed the general sentiments shared by alumni in Manila.  They wrote: "Our compliments to the editors and staff members of the Spectrum for their wonderful work.  Likewise, our thanks to Eduardo Dy (Leonardo Tan) for devoting his time in distributing the paper personally to us."

Reinforcing our staff in Iligan were Yolando Siao as correspondent and Victor Chiu as managing editor.  They played a key role in the subsequent growth of the Spectrum from its fragile state to a full-fledged newsletter circulated nationwide.  Aside from contributing articles, Yolando Siao was instrumental in raising funds that enabled the newsletter to sail through dire straits.  For his part, Victor Chiu revitalized the Spectrum with fresh inputs and a series of editorial innovations that gave the Spectrum new impetus and dynamism to go the distance.

Today, the Spectrum has gone the distance.  It has stumbled over a few times.  Yet, like the mythical phoenix, it has risen anew from its own ashes.  Needless to say, we have gone this far all because of the men and women who, driven by a shared vision, threw in their share to make the Spectrum what it is today.  In each their own way, they shape the bedrock upon which the Spectrum stands today in the service of our alumni far and away from home.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

Wow! Another year for Spectrum!  It’s been seven years now since it first appeared on the Internet.  And for the past seven years it has served as a bridge to reconnect old friends and for old friends to meet new ones.

When I started out writing for Spectrum, I considered her as a good venue to air out thoughts and ideas that normally will be left in the farthest recesses of my mind.  Thoughts that I felt wouldn’t really count for much.  But Spectrum was able to coax me into coming out of my shell to share some of my deepest thoughts.  And to bare all that my heart holds.  For me it was an avenue where I could be heard.  In short it was all self-serving and self-centered.  And since we can write about anything under the sun, it was just the right place for me.  For me whose ideas sound crazy most of the time and whose thoughts sound crazier.  For me and for so many others who have contributed some pieces for Spectrum, this is just the right place.  I’m not saying that their pieces were as crazy as mine; I’m just saying that Spectrum never limits its scope.  Although personally I’ve veered away from controversial topics like politics and religion, topics that should be left to the experts and to the people with brave hearts.  But my being self-centered changed though when I got caught up in the global crusade for the first GAH in 2000.  It was the turning point for me, to write something for a cause, to write something without expecting any personal gain in return, or without seeking any personal gratification.  It was the time when I first told myself that if I don’t do this, who else would?

From then on, I’ve considered Spectrum my second home.  It’s a kind of place where there’s always somebody home, that I’m no longer alone.  It’s the thought that there’s always somebody there who would care to listen, at the same time just hearing about the successes of the other alumni makes me feel this certain glow and makes me feel proud just knowing that somehow somewhere we all once shared something in common.  It also made me realize how far and wide have all the LCHS alumni gone but at the same time it made the whole world seems a tad smaller because with just one click we can reach as many and as far as we want to.

It was with Spectrum where I felt that my world has finally opened up.  I met lots of friends both old and new, actually most of them are my uncles’ contemporaries but we end up like old buddies. Some of them refused to be addressed as “uncle,” so we end up on a first name basis.  To which my mother would always raise her eyebrows in astonishment.  But that’s how Spectrum was able to bridge the gap of distance and of age.  Even if we’re all miles and miles and miles from each other, and we don’t see each other as often as good friends should, and even if we’re generations apart, we have this special bond of camaraderie.  I’ve found friends who have become my daily source of inspiration.

Spectrum is like an answer to all my prayers, since being away from home it’s always my wish to go home.  But circumstances dictate otherwise until Spectrum entered my life.  So for the years that I’ve been with Spectrum, it’s always like I’m just home.

Spectrum has been with us for seven years.  May we all help it reach seven more years, seventeen more, maybe seventy more years.

To Spectrum, happy 7th birthday.  And to all of us, happy 7th anniversary!

Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69

April is that time of the year when the heat of the summer sun is just terribly penetrating, enough to scorch one's flawless skin. But the young ones love it nonetheless.  Like them, we too loved the sun and the sea when we were kids back in the 60's. But as today's midlifers, we have become solar-phobic, dreading the heat, for fear of accumulating more hyperpigmentations to our astringent-laden faces.

April is my birth month. I was born on the 3rd day of April (Tres de Abril).  April is the name of the lady drug agent who covers me with samples on Tuesdays or Fridays. There are the April Sales promos in the mall stores. There's April Love, the theme song of many a lovebirds of the 50's as sung by Pat Boone. There's April Fools, observed every 1st day of April. Indeed, April means so many things to so many people. But as far as the SPECTRUM is concerned, April means a celebration of another year in cyberspace.

Flashback:  Cebu City. Tuesday, April 15, 1997. It was the day the first issue of the new LCHS SPECTRUM came out. I said new because there already was such a thing as the LCHS SPECTRUM existing in the past, back in 1968 to be exact. So it was actually a rebirth, manned by the same people, more or less, who brought it back to life after almost thirty years. The editorial staff then was composed of Charles Sy (Editor-in-Chief); Victor Chiu (Managing Editor); Ernesto Yu (Associate Editor); Henry Yu (Associate Editor); Leonardo Tan (Correspondent); Miguel Ong (Correspondent). Staff Writers were Yolando Siao, Emma Yap, and Peter Dy. Staff Artist was Artemio Lagrosas.

The SPECTRUM has always been the pet project of Charles Sy, an idea which he brought up again to me one sunny Sunday afternoon seven years ago in 1997. Certainly I didn't have any second thoughts of joining the staff as his associate editor.  I personally feel that this could be a very good vehicle to reconnect and be in touch with fellow LCHS alumni, not just nationwide, but on a global scale. I remember the very first article that I wrote for the new LCHS SPECTRUM.  It was entitled "Just A Matter of Time". Through the SPECTRUM, we have successfully gathered around fellow LCHS alumni with unlimited journalistic talents who wrote regularly for our publication, and along the way have discovered some hidden talents. Through the SPECTRUM, I get updates on the what and where or the who's who among fellow alumni here, there, and everywhere. Through the SPECTRUM, we are able to communicate by just a touch of our finger to this and that classmate or friend whom we haven't seen or heard about for ages.

As the saying goes "You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories". Today, I join all the rest of us LCHS alumni scattered all over the world in celebrating another milestone -- the 7th anniversary of the SPECTRUM.  Yes, "For no one throws away memories".

Leonardo Tan, Batch '66

It seems as if it was only yesterday when our very good friend, Charles “Anlok” Sy, reconnected our lives with his born again Spectrum Bulletin.  Only this time it's through the Internet, the inexpensive and instantaneous medium that reaches every corner of the globe.  But that was exactly seven years ago with this very issue.  What an achievement for all the voluntary and dedicated writers who never fail to bring to us the news from our hometown Iligan and sharing their great thoughts for all these years.  No doubt, this must be one of the great things that had happened to the LCHS worldwide community.  With the obvious reason that Spectrum does temporarily quench our thirst for anything Iligan.

And what a spectacular seven years of SPECTRUM!  Kudos to the men and women behind this very successful news-magazine.

It might be lamented that while the out-of-towner LCHSians do really look forward to its every issue, many back in Iligan just don’t seem to care while some others are still ignorant of its existence.  Maybe that's because they are right there in Iligan and, of course, they don’t feel homesick.  And Spectrum may mean nothing to them.  Well, they just don’t know what they have been missing.  For Spectrum is not only about home-town news but it also carries very interesting articles not only from the usual writers from our fellow LCHSians, but also from guest writers from Iligan, Cebu and everywhere.  Spectrum is no longer the exclusive domain of the LCHSians but it has also embraced the concept of globalization.  Everyone is welcomed to share his or her views.  And I, now more than ever, enjoy reading our Spectrum.  More variety with unlimited talents.

I am still officially listed as Spectrum’s correspondent for Australia, but I have not contributed any news dispatch or article for many years.  There was even a time when I wanted my name to be stricken off the list.  I know I don’t deserve my name to be included here but I am just too proud to be associated with this baby of my very good friend Anlok.  Which has rendered tremendous service to all LCHSians and our friends all over the world.

I stopped writing some 3 years ago when I ran out of imagination.  That’s why I really admire our remaining regular writers like:
 

Marie Janiefer  Q. Lee -- who could transform any simple scenario into a very interesting story.
Roger Suminguit -- for his TRACERS with the regular updates of who is who, what is what and where is where.
Igdono Caracho -- for his occasional special projects such as the recent sleuthing for the whereabouts of our former class adviser Miss Catalina Daan.
Charles Sy -- I don’t have to elaborate; his humorous articles always tickle our funny bone and his excellent writing skills on various subjects are just mesmerizing.

I am of course saving my great tribute to our present editor, Victor “A-E” Chiu, for his dedication in continuing a thankless job.  It’s no mean feat to come out with a quality issue every fortnight.  A challenging tradition set by Charles Sy and Dr. Henry Yu.  And to think that its rebirth started with a weekly issue for awhile!  How was it possible?

There are many stories or topics that I could contribute from where I am here in Down Under.  I just thought many of these are not interesting or just plainly irrelevant to most of the readers of the Spectrum.  But then I could be wrong.  I could be just like the Iliganon who is oblivious of the news about Iligan.  Perhaps anything about Sydney would be interesting subject to the others but me.  With this thought of mine, I hope to return regularly as an active correspondent from Down Under.

One such story was about the election for local officials held two weeks ago here in the state of New South Wales.  There were a handful of Filipinos who ran in different council areas as councillors.

In one of our Filipino gatherings just days before the election, a friend of mine was campaigning for one particular Filipino candidate.  He told the crowd that we would be proud to have a Filipino council member in our local city.  We should vote for this particular candidate for his just simply being a Filipino.  His campaigning was not enthusiastically received.  Another friend argued that that is precisely what is wrong with us Filipinos.  We don’t talk about issues but mere attachment, connections and friendship in electing our officials.  I would like to think that Filipinos here in Down Under are mostly better enlightened than their relatives back home.  That particular Filipino candidate did not win although he ran in an area where most of the Filipino migrants concentrate.

By the way, the election here was a non-event compared to what is happening now in the Philippines which is the mother of all circuses!  Save for the occasional posters on the supporters’ front lawn, flyers on the letterbox and advertisements on newspapers, no one will know if there is an election going on.  I was very careful to remind everyone here in the house that they have to get out and vote on election day.  Otherwise they will be charged with $55 penalty.  Without this penalty, most people won’t bother about this basic democratic exercise.

However, just beware of circus, there will be so many clowns!

Echoes from the past

A real college education does not consist only of attending classes regularly and studying assignments daily.  Nor does it consist only of the courses that one takes up.  Rather, it consists of what one does with his stay in college.  For most of us, such a period will never come again, and whether the experience has been fruitful and meaningful or barren and meaningless, it all depends upon us.
-- Jesus Chin (Spectrum, Oct.-Nov. 1969)

Vandals is the right word for wall writers.  And we ought to be shamed of them -- these kooks who live with us in LCHS campus.  What will our visitors say?
-- Pablo Lim Jr. (Spectrum, May-June 1969)

To me, college has a special meaning.  It is a place where one finds a chance to realize the verities of his existence.  It is a place where one should be conscious enough to face the sweetness and difficulties of life.  I say conscious enough for when one fails to get acquainted with all these things, he may become one of those countless desperate individuals who, after college, fall into the den of failures.  Alas, repentance never comes ahead; it will always be at the last.
-- Emelita Lee (Spectrum, Oct.-Nov. 1969)

Love is a four-letter word that means everything in life -- to a teenage, at least.  But you must treat it with caution because, who knows, you may get hurt someday.  However, don't be too careful.  You may have stumbled on a true love that deserves the lives of Romeo and Juliet.
-- Gloria Tecson  (Spectrum, May-June 1969)

The mark of  man is initiative; but the mark of woman is cooperation. Man talks about freedom; woman about sympathy, love, sacrifice.  Woman’s unhappiest moments are when she is unable to give; her most hellish moments are when she refuses to give.  Denied an outlet for the bursting need of giving a woman feels a deeper sense of emptiness than a man, precisely because of the greater depths of her fountain of love.  Woman is slower to love because, before she could, she must be surrounded by a totality of sentiments, affections, and guarantees.  Man is more impulsive, wanting pleasures and satisfactions, sometimes outside of their due relationship.
--Perla Bernardo (Spectrum,Oct.-Nov. 1969)

Origin of the pu-su

Do you know that the famous Philippine "hanging rice" locally called pusu originated from the Chinese delicacy, bachang?  Folklore has it that when the first generation of Chinese migrants came to the Philippines, they introduced bachang to their Filipino friends.  The Filipinos found the delicacy delicious and proceeded to copy it.  Their version, however, contained rice only without the standard ingredients like pork, mushroom, etc.  When they showed their version to the Chinese to see if they got it right, the Chinese told them they got it wrong by saying in Mandarin, "Pu-sheh! Pu-sheh!"  -- From the Spectrum, Jan. 26, 1998 issue

Summer has always meant to me a season of galivanting and frolicking, of abundant fun and endless sun.  Like all my contemporaries in our tender exuberant years, the season means the start of a long recess from the monotony of life's pursuits, a period that somehow gives us a blanket authority to break away from the reality of day-to-day rigors.  And through the years, it has always remained that way.  Until one day.

It was April.  I woke up early at dawn, still groggy but earnest and aglow with excitement and anxiety.  For it was my day to enplane on an early morning flight to visit my aunts and uncles in Cebu.

Along with my sister and kid brother, we arrived in Cebu and were met at the airport by relatives who greeted us with: "Oh, how big you've grown!" and "Hey, look at you. You're a big girl now!"  And such other meaningless salutations to which I simply did not know how to ideally respond.  For a while, my mind toyed with the sarcastic idea of replying with: "Of course, I've grown! Who hasn't?"

We drove around the city in what my cousins described as an instant crash tour of the "Queen City of the South."  And indeed instant it was, for in a matter of three hours we practically covered all there was to be seen in the city's downtown and uptown districts.  The Cross of Magellan was still in the same spot since I last saw it in my earlier visit a couple of years ago.  Historical though it may seem, yet I no longer stare at it with wonder and awe as I did before. They have spruced up the poor structure with decorative amenities in an effort to satisfy the curiosity of foreign tourists.   Somehow I felt their efforts only resulted in desecrating the holy relic of its natural significance.  Man really has a nature in him to tamper with the beauty of nature.

The scenery of the city has changed considerably.  There are now skyscrapers in several areas where once stood only makeshift shanties, which prompted me to remark to my hosts, "Oh, you're buildings have grown too!"

Giant shopping malls and trendy restaurants and movie houses seemed to be everywhere.  The Rustan's and other Makati mainstays have even joined the fray, clogging the skyline cheek-by-jowl with local magnates like the Gaisanos, the Gokongweis, and the Aboitizes.  And I wondered whether in these times of economic doldrums, there are enough people with enough means in this city of almost a million inhabitants to give all these establishments their business.

Ironical as it may seem, the people in Cebu remain a happy lot.  I noticed with envy the carefree lifestyle with which they go about their daily chores.  There is a kind of distinctive leisureliness that characterizes their personality.  Unlike Metro Manila, the pace of life in Cebu is not too hectic to catch our breath, nor too slow to be a drag.

As our tour of the city progressed, I found that one of the more prevalent sights that abound all over the city were the sign boards, posters, streamers, and outposts staged by political parties of various persuasions and sizes.  Indications of the fever hitting the entire country today, in desperate preparations for the forthcoming elections.  And all proclaiming in bold letters high and ambitious pledges.  But except for the sight of all these litters of campaign propaganda, they were all silent today.  But then, as my uncle was quick to remind me, that was because of the observance of Lent.  The days before today, the city has been treated to an endless barrage of noises from every corner where these political parties assembled for their rallies.  Rallies that, to me, only bring loud messages of empty promises.  "Today," my uncle said to me, "is only the calm after the storm; the silence after the fury."  It was a very simple statement, minor compared to the bold pronouncement of the politicians in the streets but to me, it carried a message that speaks of an even louder expression of truth, of life.

I pondered over that statement as our tour wore on.  And I can't help but come to the realization that although nothing really spectacular occurred on this one summer day, I was awakened to a more profound fact of life -- that nothing stays permanent; everything has its end.  In life, there is always a season for everything.  As there is summer, so must there be winter.  There is a sunrise for every sunset, a tear for every joy.

As the day ended with the arrival of night, I looked back to my arrival at the Mactan airport and recalled how I reacted with nonchalance when my cousins greeted me with "How you've grown!"  Yet, now it dawned upon me how fittingly the statement related itself to a basic reality of life which we all must live by.  As I have been born, so must I grow.  For on this one summer day of my life, I've become more aware of life itself.  Yes, I have grown indeed.

[About the author:  Lilen S. Uy is the daughter of the late Yok Eng Sy-Uy (Batch '55).  She is a professional photographer in Manila whose photos are regular features in such glossy magazines like Cosmopolitan, Metro, Candy, Seventeen and many others.  She is a much-sought after photographer of movie stars like Kris Aquino, KC Concepcion, among other celebrities. A Communication Arts graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, Lilen pursued post-graduate studies in Fine Arts at the San Francisco Art Institute in the U.S.A.  She also took up commercial photography at the Brooks Institute.  She later worked as a freelance photographer in New York before she moved to Singapore where she worked as a photojournalist for The Singapore Strait Times.]

What is this thing called love?  Some people consider love as an affair.  An affair consisting of three rings:  the engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the suffering.

Love, to me, is an essential part of life, without which life would be meaningless.  That was also how my friend felt when he came to me one day feeling depressed.  He wanted to end his life because he couldn't find anyone to love him.  I said:  "Look, that's not a problem.  If nobody loves you, why don't you love yourself?"

That was exactly what he did.  And to this day he never has had any competition.

I have been in love many many times before.  I am what you may call the macho type.  I go after anyone I see in skirts.  And the other day I almost got slapped by the Mother Superior.

Well, I guess love needs to be properly expressed to be truly appreciated.  I had a girl who wanted me to reaffirm my love for her.  She asked me: "Darling, do you truly love me?"

"Yes, my dear!"  I assured her.
"How much do you love me?" she asked.
And I replied: "How much do you need?"

But my pretty little Juliet couldn't quite figure out how much.  She finally brought me to her Dad, who asked me why I believed I loved her.  "Well, sir," I said, "you see, the first time I saw her, my knees felt weak.  My heart pounded real fast and I had a hard time breathing."

"That's not love, stupid!" the father roared.  "What you have is asthma!"

That knocked me out.  So I proceeded instead to court my pretty Chinese neighbor.  For two months I kept sending her siomai and hopia.  When she finally asked me why, I answered:  "I want to siomai love for you.  Hopia like it!"

Well, what do you know!  She liked it.  And so for two years she and I were delirious and happy -- until we got married.

Our marriage was a true example of co-operation.  When she coos, I operate.  But then that modus operandi didn't last long.  It ended when she started to keep pets in our house.  Now, we have all breeds of dog.  I simply couldn't stand them.  We have two Dobermans, a pair of Chihuahua, one German Shepherd, and the only one that barks is the wife!

Yes, marriage may be made in heaven.  But so are thunder and lightning!

That's what I told my wife too.  And she accused me of not having any sense of humor.  I told her, "Are you kidding?  In fact, I even have an official document to prove that I have a sense of humor."

"Oh yeah?  Show me your proof!" she demanded.  I showed her our marriage contract.

It's really ironical.  Despite the popular adage that we should never bring our troubles to bed, I still sleep with my wife.  At any rate, that helps somehow to maintain the sanity in our love life.  As a matter of fact, we still go to movies holding hands.  She holds her hand and I hold mine.

Well, love may mean never having to say you're sorry.  But marriage means never having the chance to resign.  Nevertheless, true lovers like you and I can endure the travails of love, come what may.  We should be like King Richard who said:  "Take my money, take my throne.  Just leave me with my wife alone."

[About the author:  Iggy Enerio writes from Mactan, Lapulapu City, Philippines.  He is a retired terminal operations officer of the Philippine Airlines and a past president of the Sinulog Toastmasters Club in Cebu City.   A master in the art of incorporating humor in his speeches, he is a past national champion in the Humorous Speech contest of Toastmasters clubs in the Philippines.   He is noted for his deadpan humor and scathing one-liners that never fail to bring the house down each time he delivers a speech.]

Top Bets Henry Dy (left), candidate for Iligan City vice mayor, and his runningmate Lawrence Cruz (right) for city mayor, poses with presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. at the recent Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) rally in Iligan.