Vol. 7, No. 3, May 12, 2003

Iligan City Mayor Franklin Quijano (in photo) was among eight honorees of the University of San Carlos (USC) Law Alumni Association during its 1st Grand Alumni Homecoming last May 3.  Held at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel, Mayor Quijano was conferred a Special Citation for his outstanding record and exemplary achievements in government service.  Quijano is a law graduate of USC. Among the other alumni honorees were Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide, Atty. Expedito Bugarin, Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, Ret. Justice Fortunato Vailoces, Atty. Augusto Go, Atty. Napoleon Rama, and Dean Fulvio Pelaez (posthumous award).

Alumni son among Cebu Top Ten students

Derwin Dexter Sy of Brithany Christian School (in photo)  has been adjudged one of Ten Outstanding High School Students of Cebu for 2003.  The selection is an annual project of the Kiwanis Club of Cebu in cooperation with the Rhine Marketing, Inc.  Derwin bested over 200 other top student achievers from different schools in Metro Cebu to land among the top ten list.  The candidates underwent rigid screening, interviews, on-the-spot essay writing, and various tests during the two-week selection process.  Among the other awardees are students from the Cebu City National Science High School, Sacred Heart School for Girls, University of San Carlos -- Boys High , Colegio de Immaculada Concepcion, Mandaue City National Science High School, University of the Philippines -- Cebu, and the Science & Technology Education Center of Lapulapu City.  The formal awarding ceremonies will be held at the Cebu Country Club on May 15, 2003.  The awardees will each receive a trophy and college scholarship. They will also be treated to a week-long program of activities that includes courtesy calls with the Cebu city mayor and provincial governor, radio and TV appearances, visits to various companies and lunches at the city's top hotels, and a host of other official and social functions.  Derwin Sy is the son of Nelson Sy (Batch '62) and Josephine Suralta-Sy.  He graduated from high school last April. He is a consistent honor student and a past president of the Student Council of the Brithany Christian School.

Fire hits Cebu's Carbon Market

A midnight fire hit the Carbon Market in Cebu City last May 1 destroying several Tsinoy commercial establishments along M.C. Briones St., across Unit II of the city's central market.  Gutted down were the LGC Merchandising, a kitchenware shop owned by Celerina de la Cerna, where the fire was alleged to have started.  The fire spread next door to the Washington Grocery owned by Felisa Uy. Two other adjacent stores suffered considerable fire and water damages, namely Melvin Enterprises owned by Melvin Uy, and the Cebu Prince Marketing owned by Robert Go.  The Cebu Sun's Trading, owned by Nelson Sy (Batch '62), located barely two doors away, was spared by the fire.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Alumni news roundup

"Tracers" recently tracked down LCHS-AA treasurer Terry Racines (Batch '67), in photo at left, currently on a well-deserved vacation in the U.S.A. She left for the U.S.A. last April 19 together with her sister-in-law Evelyn Racines (wife of Julius Racines).  They are visiting Gloria Racines-Kinnan (Batch '66) in Keno, Oregon, and Elsa Lagrosas (Batch '67) elsewhere in California.  They also toured Las Vegas, San Diego, New York, among many other exciting cities.  They are due back in Iligan about middle of June.  Seen golfing together with military top brass at the posh Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila last April 29 was Henry C. Dy (Batch '64).  Henry participated in the 2nd Stradcom-LTO Golf Tournament at the invitation of LTO director Gen. Roberto Lastimoso.  With Henry on the same flight at the tournament were Greg Dy (Batch '58), Maj. Gen. Benjamin Libarnes (ret.), and Engr. Cris Dinopol of the MWSS.  And if you happen to notice a dashing and debonaire young man starring in the latest Kentucky Fried Chicken TV commercials, that's no other than Gregory James Dy, son of Greg Dy.  Like his father, Gregory James is not only good-looking, he is just as Greg-arious.

"Tracers" has just learned that LCHS Chinese teacher Aurora Ong-Sy (Batch '66), in photo at center, is moving over to Cebu City where she will join the faculty of the Child Links Learning Center starting with the forthcoming new school year in June. Aurora and her family will become permanent residents of Cebu as soon as their new apartment building in Guadalupe, now under construction, is completed.  Iligan's loss will be Cebu's gain.  Now also a resident of Cebu is Emilia Bernardo-Chiong (Batch '75).  She is connected with the Magallanes Branch of Equitable PCI Bank.  Also seen last week having a routine medical checkup in Cebu was Jimmy Co Kepte.  Accompanying Jimmy at the Chong Hua Hospital medical lab was his golfing buddy Bebencio Palang (Batch '56), in photo at right, who took time off from his hectic business schedules at his Seawalk Trading Corp. in Mandaue City to lend Jimmy a helping hand.  Asked what he was there for, Bebencio, who worked at Kim San Company, Inc. in his younger days, replied, "What are friends for?"  Spoken like a loyal friend through and through.

Congrats to Derwin Dexter Sy!

Sun, 04 May 2003 16:05:45
I'm glad to hear about Derwin Dexter Sy's award as one of the Ten Outstanding High School Students of Cebu for 2003. Please extend my heartfelt congratulations to Nelson and Josephine Sy for their son's triumph.  --Santi Ong (Batch '70),  Iligan, Philippines, by text message, Cell +639177162680.

The LCHS Batch Directory is currently undergoing data update.  You might like to take a look at your batch listing and see if the data of your batch members are correct. The directory, covering batches from 1955 to 2001, is accessible on the Spectrum web site at:  http://www.oocities.org/lchsspectrum.  If you have any correction or addition to the list, please send your data to: syanlok@yahoo.com.

Sun, 4 May 2003 11:23 PM  +1000
Here is another congratulation to you for a job well done. This directory is indeed very helpful in contacting our batch mates, schoolmates and friends.  I know it is not easy to prepare such directory.  I know you tried your best to make it as accurate as possible.  However,  let me try to make some corrections as you requested us to do:  ( 1) Batch 1958: Alicia Bernardo (Mundo), Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, listed as in Iligan City and without the married surname;  (2) Batch  1991:  Honorary Member Edison Tan, 14 Hughes St., Kings Langley, New South Wales, Australia, 2147 tel. 61-2-96744989; email: edtan@idx.com.au, listed without any contact address.

I don't know how we arrived at the listing of Honorary Members.  I am really confused.  Some who studied at LCHS for a year or two are listed as regular members.  Does a class have to adopt a formal resolution for the inclusion of their names?  If there is no need, then maybe I should also suggest that my younger son, Jeremy, be included as an Honorary Member of Batch 1993, for the sake of accuracy and uniformity of listing although he stayed with his batch only until just finishing Grade IV.  His elder brother Edison stayed with his batch only until graduating the elementary grades.  (3) Batch  1993: Honorary Member Jeremy Tan, 14 Hughes St., Kings Langley, New South Wales, Australia, 2147, tel. 61-2- 96744989, email: edtan@idx.com.au, not listed at all.

This is only a suggestion for the inclusion of Jeremy Tan on the list.  If he doesn't deserve to be on the list, so be it.  Thank you very much. Again our congratulations for a job well done! --Leonardo Tan (Batch 66, or am I also an Honorary Member?), Sydney, Australia, edtan@idx.com.au

Mon, 5 May 2003 12:58 PM  +0800
Thank you, Loloy, for your inputs on our Batch Directory.  Your additional info is now entered in the directory. Every single fresh input from our alumni goes a long way to help us construct an accurate or updated batch directory.

Most of the batch lists were prepared and submitted by members of the respective batches themselves in 2000.  They were originally intended for inclusion in the GAH-2000 souvenir program.  The directory, however, did not see print as envisioned because many failed to meet the deadline while some others did not submit any data at all.  As a result, only a list of names for each batch was published instead in the souvenir program for purposes of uniformity.  Hopefully, with the help and new inputs of our alumni belonging to different batches this time, we can produce a more comprehensive directory in time for GAH-2005.

Some batches took the extra effort of including an additional list of "honorary members" among their batches.  I personally do not know how these batches categorized "honorary members."  It's possible they meant members of their class who later transferred to other schools before reaching graduation year (be it in the elementary or high school level).  Most other batches, however, included everyone among their batch mates without any distinction -- regardless of whether they graduated altogether at LCHS or elsewhere.  Unless the LCHS-AA issues a guideline on this matter, I guess for now it is best that we leave it to each batch on how it prefers to present its list of members as it deems fit.

What is essential, I guess, is that everyone who belongs to their batch year should be included, and that no one should be left out, in their batch list.  The main purpose of the directory, after all, is to serve as a useful data base that will enable our alumni to get in touch with their former classmates wherever they are. --Charles O. Sy (Batch '67), Cebu, Philippines, email: syanlok@yahoo.com

Tue, 6 May 2003 22:43:25 EDT
This is my current address:  Alex V. Handumon (Sy), 2602  178th St., Lansing, IL 60438, U.S.A., Tel No. 708-895-1941. --Alex V. Handumon (Sy), (Batch ''68), U.S.A., e-mail: SyAlex@aol.com

Tue, 06 May 2003 00:39:47 +0000
Kindly update my address to my new place:  2372 S.W. 195th Ave., Miramar, Fl. 33029, U.S.A., Tel: (954)442-1143. --Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65), Miramar, Florida, U.S.A.. e-mail: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Fri, 9 May 2003 06:01 PM
My e-mail address is:  ireneady@hotmail.com.  Which batch is Antonio Benolerao and Nelson "Toto" Dy of Manticao?  I also noticed Fernando Chin was listed in Batch 1964 and 1965.  I think he should be in batch 1964.  Thanks. --Johnson Dy (Batch '64), M.D., Orland Park, IL, U.S.A., e-mail:  ireneady@hotmail.com

Sat, 10 May 2003 00:24:28 +0000
I think Nelson Dy transferred to another school before reaching 4th year high school. --Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65), Miramar, Florida, US.A., e-mail:  alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

Since it’s almost Mother’s Day I’d give myself a break and write about something “light.”  This means that I’m writing this article in a relaxed mood complete with whistling, even if I’m already late for my deadline.  Normally, I’d have been typing ferociously by now but not today.  It’s Mother’s Day!  Or it’s actually the Mother’s Day weekend.  So as a mother of three, I think I deserve a break.  Let’s pretend that we’re chatting over a cup of coffee under one of those outdoor umbrellas.

Let me tell you about what happened when we took the kids to watch "X-Men 2."  We took the three kids including my little girl, because we felt that it would be unfair if we leave her behind.  I know this isn’t her first time because I know we took her to watch "Little Stuart 2" before but she was still so small then that she didn’t remember anything since she was asleep most of the time.  "X-men 2" is our test movie for her, if she could sit through the whole movie then she’s old enough; if not, then she’s still too young.  And that next time we would just leave her at home, guilt-free.  This time we thought that she’s a lot older, but it turned out that she’s still not old enough.

As we were groping our way to our seats inside the movie house in SM Bicutan, she was already covering her ears because the sound was too loud for her.  Then as we got seated she said, “How come their TV here is so big but they don’t have a remote?”  Opps, I dearly hope nobody heard that.  She said she needs the remote control to turn down the volume and to change the channel.  Ngek!  My husband was of course very embarrassed already and so was I.   I was thankful for the blanket of darkness inside, or else people would see who we are.  They’d think “who’s this family with a weird and loud little girl”.   It took a bucket of popcorn to silence her, but by the time the popcorn was gone she was also up on her feet already and begging us to go home.  So before somebody kicks us all out, my husband took Shania outside. That’s where they spent the rest of the time, watching real men, I mean real people, and not some powerful mutants.

Now my husband and I are thinking of watching the movie again alone, because we were so distracted that time, especially me.  I felt I needed eight arms that night because I was either covering Shania’s ears or covering her eyes.  Then I had to help her with her cup of soda before it all ends up on her shirt, then I had to catch her bucket of popcorn before everything lands under her seat.  And speaking about the seats, well, I had to put some weight on Shania’s seat or it’ll fold up and squeeze her.  I probably missed half of the movie.  The sad part is that the half that I missed is the half in the middle.  I can only remember the beginning and the ending.

As a mother, sometimes I wish I were a mutant, I mean an X-men kind of mutant, complete with powers too.  So that I could have wings to be able to be beside my kids the second they need me so that they won’t get hurt.  Like when Justin fell down our stairs, I wish I were home earlier so I could have caught him.  Or when Shania stumbled last December during our Christmas party, where she ended up with a stapled chin, I wish I had the foresight to have prevented the whole thing.  I wish I had the power to be in two places at the same time, so that I could be working while at the same time I could be home with them.

Sometimes I feel that there’s a very high expectation placed on mothers than on fathers.  The reason behind this is caused by us mothers too. We feel we could do everything for our kids.  But we have to accept the fact that mothers are still human beings. I believe that we may have been created with bigger hearts and longer patience but we have physical limitations too.  There’s no such thing as Supermoms.  We still have to wait for science and technology or witchcraft to come up with a potion that would make real X-men mothers.  This is something which may take forever -- or never.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers.

The Heirloom Ring
By Candice Ang Uy

It lies on my grandmother's hand
wrinkled brown like the desert sand
upon her finger it lingers
softly now and then with a shimmer.

It is an heirloom ring
more beautiful than anything
fashioned of rubies and Spanish gold
it is a century old.

From Spain it came
to rest on America's Nevada plain
stories and tales it has to tell
to one who has worn it well.

It has always been for the Chavez brides
a tradition they wear with pride
every so often, Grandmother says
it will be mine to wear on my wedding day.

It was an opportunity that was too irresistible to pass up.  I and fellow Iliganons Roderick Ngo and Glicerio Uy were invited to a business conference in Beijing.

And so one summer day in 1995 we packed up and headed for the world's third largest city.  We arrived in Beijing in the evening of May 18, 1995 and were promptly escorted to the Beijing New Century Hotel in Haidian district.  After going through the check-in routine, we joined the rest of the delegates in a cocktail reception.  From the crowd I spotted the eminent columnist, Maximo Soliven, huddled at a table, engaged in a lively discussion with a group.  What a great coincidence to chance upon Max Soliven in this sprawling city of 13 million people over an expanse of 9.6 million square kilometers.  Small world!

It turned out that Max Soliven was the keynote speaker at the start of the conference the following day.  He spoke on the political and economic prospects of China.  As usual, he was in his best element regaling the crowd with his prognosis of China, punctuating his commentary with his witticism and broad knowledge of international affairs.

I later came to realize that this was no ordinary business gathering.  When it came time for the delegation to tour Beijing, we found ourselves in the company of  government dignitaries and top guns of the engines of Philippine economy.  Together with them,  we scaled the Badaling section of the Great Wall.  We visited the Summer Palace, the imperial garden of the Empress Dowager Cixi.  We also strolled along Tiananmen Square, and savored Beijing's famed Peking Duck.  We almost didn't get to visit the renowned Forbidden City because Rod Ngo, the only guy in our group who spoke literate Mandarin, quipped, "This city is forbidden!"

We were given a tour of several commercial landmarks, among which was a jar factory.  Our guides first led us to several halls where the jars were intricately handcrafted and then concluded the trip in an even larger hall where the finished products were up for sale.  Not a bad sales strategy.  The hum of jar grinders promptly shifted to the ring of cash registers here.  If America is the land of milk and honey, China may well be the land of tea and money.

After our Beijing tour during the day, it was time for the testimonial dinner in the evening.  This was no ordinary lauriat dinner.  This was an imperial banquet!  And the biggest surprise had yet to unfold.  Rod Ngo, Glicerio Uy and I found ourselves seated at the huge presidential round table in the hotel's grand Century Hall.  Sharing the same round table with us were then-Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Congressman Tanjuatco, Philippine Ambassador to China Romualdo Ong, Bishop Escaler, top honchos of the Alcantara chain of companies, Max Soliven and his wife Preciosa. Needless to say, while this was the most exquisite lauriat dinner I've ever partaken, it was also the least that I've ever consumed.

Holding court at our table was naturally Max Soliven.  He carried the conversation all throughout, mesmerizing us with tales of his travels.  The three of us, misplaced Iliganons, could only listen, overwhelmed and speechless with awe. When the conversation shifted to China, Preciosa Soliven, as refined and erudite as Max himself, spoke of how great an influence Confucius must have been to Chinese culture and its people.  "Mind you," Max Soliven butted in, "Confucius was a male chauvinist."  His philosophy influenced ancient China to relegate Chinese women to the background in society, kept constantly in the house to perform domestic chores, he explained.

"Maybe so," a voice came from my corner. "But it was Confucius' teachings that galvanized the Chinese character and solidified the Chinese family."  It was Rod Ngo speaking out of the blue.

"Confucius gave China its values of fealty, industry, and frugality,"  Rod elaborated in plain English. I saw Max in deep thought as he lit his cigar, while the rest turned their ears to Rod's succession of spontaneous retorts.

The discussion rolled on and veered this time to the Great Wall of China.  Max displayed anew his knowledgeability as he regaled us with a running commentary on the wall's fabled history, adding his observation on the cruelty and barbarism imposed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di on his subjects. But before he could finish, Rod interjected, "But remember, it was this same emperor who unified China in the year 221 B.C., after which he envisioned the Great Wall to serve as China's fortress of defense against foreign intruders."   Now on a one-on-one collision course with  Max Soliven, Rod had kept the group in rapt attention as he unleashed his account of China's 5,000-year civilization and cultural heritage.  For some moment there, Rod was holding court and calling the shots.  The big names at our table were all ears.  So was Max Soliven.

The trip to Beijing was not just a trip of discoveries.  More than that, it was also a trip in which one night at a royal round table a kababayan from obscure Iligan named Rod Ngo almost silenced the legendary Max Soliven.

[Reprinted from the article, "The Night Rod Ngo Almost Silenced Max Soliven," by Charles O. Sy, published in the Nov. 17, 1997 issue of the Spectrum.]

BATCH 2000
Arnie Angkee, Grageda Compound Ext., Tambo, Iligan City, tel. 221-1501; Romeo Joji Babatido, Luga-it, Misamis Oriental; Michael Anthony Cerna, Bayug, Iligan City, tel. 221-7425; Prince Dane Chan, 0038-B Sabayle St., Iligan City, tel. 221-5181; Ryan Cliftonne Chio, 0032 Woodpecker St., Isabel Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-4548; Rene June Dagoc, Zone 3, Del Carmen, Iligan City, tel. 221-4714; Jonalyn Dy, Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-6453; Jeromae Lee, 0025 Ubaldo O'Laya Ave., San Miguel Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-5369; Ramona Racheal Lee, 0016 Abragan Compound, Tambo, Iligan City, tel. 221-3166; Mac Kimley Lim, Lluch St., Pala-o, Iligan City; Jody Ling, 0013 Aguinaldo St., Iligan City, tel. 221-3688; Lonielyn Loa, 0024 Doña Juana Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-6399; Ryan Lua, 54-B Sabayle St., Iligan City, tels. 221-6499, 221-2318; Kristine Hong Maglasang, Blk. 8 Lot 5, Molave Rd., Maria Cristina Subd., Bara-as, Iligan City, tel. 221-9167; Earl Migriño, Steel Town, Blk. 5 Lot 17, Iligan City, tel. 221-4215; Rosalyn Sy, 0106 Quezon Ave., Villaverde, Iligan City, tel. 221-2762; Sharon Sy, 0134 Noria Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-2508; Leo Michael Uy, 0012 Woodpecker St., Doña Isabel Village, Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 221-5230; and Danilo Zorilla, 6-02 Doña Juana Subd., Pala-o, Iligan City, tel. 223-7993.