Vol. 7, No. 6, June 23, 2003

It is election season once more for the LCHS Alumni Association.  In the days ahead, LCHS alumni will elect 18 new members of the Board of Directors.  The new board members shall in turn elect among themselves the new officers and directors for 2003-2005.  From this exercise shall emerge a new president for the LCHS-AA.

The choice of the next LCHS-AA president is particularly crucial this year in light of the 2nd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming scheduled in the third week of July 2005.  No less than the LCHS-AA Council of Leaders, composed of past alumni presidents, convened last June 11 to discuss the import and prospects of this year's election.  It is, without doubt, the concern of everybody that this year's election will result in the choice of a new president who can ably pave the way to another successful Grand Alumni Homecoming in 2005.  On the shoulders of the next president and his new team rests this huge and awesome task.

There is no question that the resounding success of the first Grand Alumni Homecoming in 2000 was one tough act to follow.  Yet, there is likewise no doubt that a new crop of officers, carefully chosen for their vision and leadership, may yet pull a few stunning surprises and lead us to an even more successful second Grand Alumni Homecoming in 2005.

An enormous task looms in the horizon for the succeeding batch of officers.  An even greater responsibility now resides in the hands of our alumni in this election to carefully choose the men and women who can best tackle the enormity of the job ahead.  (COS)

LCHS alumni to elect new officers

LCHS alumni will elect a new set of board of directors of LCHS Alumni Association.  The election period will be from June 20 to 25.  Canvassing of votes and proclamation of winners will be done at LCHS Library, Lluch Park, Palao, Iligan City on June 26 at 3:00 p.m.  For those who reside in Iligan, voting will be made through official ballots and for those who reside elsewhere, voting will be made through the Internet.

The candidates for the 18-member board are:  incumbent officers: Luis “Chik Ti" Kho (’56), Alexander “Sandy” Chua (’60), Suniel “Boy” Lim  (’66), Teresita “Terry” Racines (’67), Rodolfo “Rudy” Yu (’69), Santiago “Santi” Ong (’70), Glenda “Hong Hong” Sy-Cabilan (’72), Roger “Bon Cho” Suminguit (’73), Belinda “Bunz” Cu-Lim (’81), James Booc (’82), Chester Dy-Carlos (’87), Ernest Oliver “Wek Wek” Uy (’87); past presidents Andy “Siok An” Lee (’56), Calixto “Hai Pin” Tan (’57), Atty. Guardson “Eng Chuan” Siao (’58), Carlos “Bonnie" Dy (’58), Arturo “Toto” Samson (’59), Sio Te “Olay” Dy (’65) and Manuel “Maning” Te (’65); new nominees Fe “Dy Guat Ching” Quimbo (’55), Juanita Te-Jo (’59), Henry C. Dy (’64), Marion Jaime Dy (’76), Jimmy Mecina Ang (’83), Geraldine Tan (’87), and Oliver Ngo (’88).

Out of the new batch of directors will come the new president and other executive officers who will serve in the next two years. Many alumni are interested in the outcome of this election because of the crucial roles the new leaders will play in connection with the 2005 Grand Alumni Homecoming, which is now only two years away.  The success or failure of the next GAH will depend on whoever will be at the helm by then.

On-line voting for out-of-town alumni

LCHS alumni residing outside Iligan city are enjoined to participate in the election of directors for the LCHS-AA by casting their ballot on the Internet.  The on-line ballot is set up by the LCHS-AA in coordination with the Spectrum for the benefit of out-of-town alumni.  The On-line Ballot is available on this website:  www.oocities.org/lchsspectrum/ballot03.htm.  All one needs to do is log on to the website to browse the list of candidates and follow the prescribed procedures for sending the on-line ballot by e-mail to the LCHS-AA.  Deadline for submission of ballot is June 25, 2003.

Iligan grocers ass'n donates to LCHS library
By Suniel Lim (Batch '66)

The LCHS library (in photo) is currently undergoing renovation.  This was made possible through the cash donation of the Grocery and Supermart Association of Iligan.  The group donated the sum of P224,000 from its collective funds to serve as seed money for the renovation of the library.  Included in the renovation works are the ceiling, flooring, bookshelves, and furniture.  The association is an informally organized group of major grocery stores and supermarts in the city, most of whom are owned by LCHS alumni.  Comprising the group are Gaisano Iligan, Inc., Lian Hong Co., Inc., FK Mart, Emilia Supermart, Iligan Galaxy Merchandising, Inc., and San Cha Trading. The association hopes that other generous groups or concerned individuals will likewise give their share to help make the library become more presentable and conducive to learning for LCHS students.

Ngo Chim Bon, 72

Ngo Chim Bon, of Asia GM Center, passed away in the early morning of June16, 2003 in Iligan City.  He was 72 years old.   He is survived by his wife Cresencia Ngo, and children Yvette (Batch '75), Joel (Batch '77) [Davao], Lyndon (Batch '82) [Taiwan], Vinson (Batch '83), and Oliver (Batch '88).  After he graduated from Chiang Kai Shek University (11th batch) in Manila, he taught at LCHS in the late 50s and early 60s.  He is best remembered by his students as a well-respected disciplinarian during his days at LCHS.  He was buried on Sunday, June 22, at 10 a.m., at the Maria Cristina Gardens, Sta. Filomena, Iligan City.  We request our readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

My task as alumni "tracer" occasionally becomes controversial -- roaming around with my ears catching wordds like an antenna disc.  Sometimes I am branded as a secret agent (it so happens that my nickname is Roger, aka Roger Less, not Moore); the chief of CIDG, NBI, FBI, BIR, PDEA, PAOTC, PACC?  Bahala na. To watch scandal, scam, whatever it is. The worst controversy: being a tsismoso. “WOW!”  Nevertheless, "Tracers" column does contribute some interesting balita, like updates on whereabouts of long lost alumni, teachers, artifacts and others.  But one thing that's usually featured is the Obituary.  I just cannot help it but it is my task, a controversial task.

"Tracers" up to this moment CANNOT seem to track down Leonardo “Loloy” Tan.  It seems my intelligence network is amiss. Palpak?  Maybe due to “too down under” or simply “the number you have dialed is either unattended or out of the coverage area, please try to call later, thank you.” (Attention: Loloy Tan, we need your balita. Gimingaw na mi nimo. Dugay-dugay ka na nawala sa kahanginan. Ang mga alumni bout na sab makighimamat kanimo.)

Alumnus bags dessert & pastry contest
As I have featured some alumni who excelled in various field of interests, now we have another alumnus who excels in baking & cooking. Albert Chiu (Batch ’93) bagged the 1992 Championship in the Maya Cookfeast held in Manila, sponsored by Liberty Flour Mill.  His winning recipe was featured in one of the cookbooks.  He was also a grand finalist in the Magnolia Cook Festival held in Metro Manila in 1996 and became a champion on dessert contest category.  There were two grand finalists in Mindanao; one female was from Davao City.  Albert Chiu is happily married to a former employee of Mister Donut - Iligan. They operate Peek N’ Berry Pastries along San Miguel St., Iligan City, fronting Doctor Uy Hospital.  Albert started his interest in baking & cooking from his maternal grandmother, mother, sister & aunts. The Chiu family produces homemade baked spaghetti, puto with cheese toppings and other tasty and delicious desserts. Albert is a dessert expert.

Vigil for the late Ngo Chim Bon
LCHS-AA officers and members paid their last respects and held a vigil for the late Ngo Chim Bon(in photo) last June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes. During his early years, Ngo Chim Bon arrived in Iligan in 1948 after he graduated at Chiang Kai Shek University (11th batch) in Manila and worked in his parent’s store, Good Luck Commercial, then located at the former Dy Cham Shoe Store on Gen. Aguinaldo St.  He was requested by the LCHS forerunners as a volunteer to teach Chinese classes.  He was known as a very strict teacher and disciplinarian. His wife Cresencia Ngo was also a graduate of Chiang Kai Shek University (13th batch).  He also traveled around Mindanao as a hardware salesman, often bringing along his sons Joel, Lyndon and Vinson, until he retired in the middle of the 1990’s.

Henry Dy to run in LCHS-AA election
Alumnus and former city councilor Henry C. Dy has consented to be a candidate for LCHS-AA director.  With his vast experiences in civic and public affairs, his involvement in our alumni activities is a welcome prospect, especially with the scheduled holding of our 2nd Grand Alumni Homecoming.  This grand event will require more efforts on the part of our alumni officers since part II or any sequel thereof is often believed to fall "below par" compared to the 1st Grand Alumni Homecoming held on August 3-5, 2000.  However, this new line-up of candidates will hopefully surpass or overturn such traditional belief.

Father & son in USA TV ads
Through some reliable sources I have heard that Greg Dy and son Gregory were featured in one of the U.S television ads some few years back. This is another field of interest for both father and son who were together in one of the TV ads.  I was not wrong in my prediction. Perhaps both of them will become actors here in the Philippines in one of the teleserya (TV series) soon? Abangan!

Alumni kid shines in Manila
Speaking of alumni kids, Lilen Sy Uy, daughter of alumna Yok Eng Sy-Uy, Batch '55 (sister of Charles O. Sy), is making waves as a professional photographer in Manila.  Lilen Uy (in photo) and her works were featured in the special issue of the Philippine Inquirer Sunday Magazine last June 15 on Manila's new breed of top photographers.  Lilen is fast becoming one of Manila's much sought-after photographers of movie stars like Kris Aquino, KC Concepcion, Charlene Gonzales, Maricel Soriano, among other celebrities.  Her photographs are regular features in photo exhibits and in such magazines as Metro, Cosmopolitan, Preview, Candy, Seventeen, Smart Parenting, Bride & Home and FHM.  Last May she was chosen by the country's First Family to do the portrait of Pres. Gloria Arroyo's first grandchild at the Malacañang Palace.  A Communication Arts graduate of the Ateneo de Manila, Lilen pursued post-graduate studies in Fine Arts at the San Francisco Art Institute in the U.S.A.  After which she proceeded to take up commercial photography at the Brooks Institute.  She later worked as a freelance photographer in New York before she moved to Singapore where she stayed for nine years honing her skills as a professional photographer.  In Singapore, Lilen also jumped into photojournalism as news and features photographer of The Singapore Strait Times. She has also done photo shoots for a publishing house, editorial work in some entertainment mags, and a teaching stint in photography at a Singapore university.  She came home to Manila in 1999 to start her own studio and has since been doing photography for some of Manila's glossy magazines and advertising companies.

Alumna back home from Taiwan
Ann Jeremy L. Suminguit (Batch ‘95) arrived from Taiwan last June 16.  She worked for almost 2 years in one of the big factories in Taiwan. This was her second time to work in Taiwan.  She is now undergoing mandatory 14-day quarantine process in Manila.  She is the eldest daughter of Romeo Suminguit (’73) & Mely Lagrosas, cousin of Roberto “Henry” Lagrosas (’72), in photo, who is now connected with Geo-Transport & Construction, Inc. in Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City.  Henry works as field administrative officer.  His immediate supervisor is Charles O. Sy, the captain of Spectrum.

The St. Columbanians
Whenever I meet old-time Iliganons, interesting reminiscences almost always take place. I always wanted to have "Tracers" articles featuring some prominent alumni with other locals who studied in one of the famous schools in Iligan, the St. Columban School for Boys.” To mention a few: Eufracio Orbe, the late Atty. Narciso Adeva, Tony Torralba, Romeo Ramos, Fuentes, the Causing brothers and some others. Among some of their contemporaries are our alumni like Calix Tan, Atty. Guardson Siao, Benjohnson Siao, Manuel “Maning” S. Gaite, James Siao, Arturo “Toto” Samson, Greg Dy, and Carlos “Bonnie” Dy.  Former vice-mayor Pedro “Pet” Generalao was their teacher at that time. What interests me are some of the naughty things done by these boys in those good old days. Iba talaga kung puro magkasama ang mga boys. May himala. Abangan!

Birthday to watch
June 25 is a day of celebration. Aha! Kinsa kaha?  Some Tips. Characteristics:  He is a bachelor at large. Very fine gentleman, energetic, articulate, very dedicated to his endeavors.  All generous greetings to be accorded to him.  It seems I cannot completely illustrate his personality.  No doubt he was considered as the TOP.  Magbaha na pud ang beer!  Magkagubot na pud ang mga GRO para sa kasaulogan sa iyang pagkahimugso ning kalibutana. He-he-he.  HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Charles O. Sy!

Messages of condolences

Tue, 17 Jun 2003 09:27:33 -0600
Vinson, Oliver and Ngo's Family:  Our deepest sympathy to the Ngo's family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them.  --Peter, Tita Dy and Family, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, email: pdy@telusplanet.net

Tue, 17 Jun 2003 10:00:23 -0600
Our deepest sympathy to the Ngo's Family. --Hesing and Melania Dy, Edmonton, Canada, email: Jesus.Dy@gov.ab.ca

Fri, 17 Jan 2003 17:16:01 -0600
Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Ngo Chim Bon. To Mrs. Cresencia Ngo, Yvette, Joel, Lyndon, Vinson and Oliver, our prayers and thoughts are with you. From the family of the late Mr. Dy Sun Kang and Mrs. Dy Hui Bian. --Willy Dy, U.S.A., email: willycdy@houston.quik.com

Tue, 17 Jun 2003 17:48:53 -0700
My heartfelt condolence to the Ngo Family.  Joel and I were classmates in LCHS.  May God grant you peace and comfort in your time of grief.  --Evelyn Yu-Go, San Antonio, Texas, eemail: ego@texas.net

Tue, 17 Jun 2003 21:25:20 -0700 (PDT)
Dear Joel, Yvette and Family, please accept our most sincere condolences for the passing of your Dad. May God bless his soul and give you peace and comfort during this time of grief. --Jaime and Lulette Andaquig, U.S.A., email: andaquig007@yahoo.com

Tue, 17 Jun 2003 23:10:15 -0500
To Vinson Ngo & family: Please accept our deepest & sincerest heartfelt condolence.  Your Dad is one of my favorite teachers.  He's strict & a disciplinarian.  It's good coz you got to learn fast.  Which brings out the best of us.  We are surely going to miss him.  May the Almighty Great Architect comfort you all during this time of grief and sorrow.  From the windy city, Greg Dy & family, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A., email: gregdy@juno.com

Wed, 18 Jun 2003 05:09:20 +0800
My heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family of Mr. Ngo Chim Bon.  During our student days at LCHS, we always passed by Asia GM Center on our way to and from school, and as such, we always saw Mr. Ngo Chim Bon in the store.  May his soul rest in eternal peace.  Our prayers. --Henry L. Yu (Class 1969), Cebu, Phiilippines,  email: hvty@skyinet.net

Wed, 18 Jun 2003 19:54:04 +0000
Our deepest sympathy to the Ngo family. May he rest in peace. --Alex Rodriguez & family, Florida, U.S.A., email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

LCHS-AA donates fund for library improvement

The LCHS-AA officers and directors have allocated fund for the renovation of the LCHS library. The fund was drawn from the proceeds of raffle tickets sold during the LCHS-AA Christmas Party on December 30, 2002. The purpose of the facelift is to provide a conducive atmosphere for study and research and to encourage the students to make use of the library facilities.  Jennifer Tan, youngest daughter of Calix Tan (’57) and a graduate of B.S. Interior Designing at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, did the interior design. The chairman of the committee on library improvement is James Booc with Chester Dy-Carlos as member.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

It’s back to school time once again, back to the usual routine, I mean back to the old routine.  We all have to get up early to beat the traffic on the way to the school.  Then try to beat the traffic again in the afternoon on the way home.  My two boys still suffer from the summer vacation hangover, and this means that they still can’t sleep at 9 pm.  And are having a difficult time getting up in the morning.  But for my little girl, she’s already very excited to go to school.  Since her classes started a few days later, she was always asking me why she’s not going to school yet.  On her first day of school she marched into their classroom with a big smile on her face.  Not minding the cries of some of her classmates who were clinging to their mothers or yayas. Now we could just drop her at the main entrance of their school and she’d go straight to her classroom. At least she’s making things easier for me because I have more pressing matters to attend to like the grade one and grade four lessons of her two ahyas.

Now I feel like I’m back to school too, studying the lessons of grade one and grade four.  Although as far as I can remember, my lessons back then were not as difficult as theirs.  I wonder why a lot of people are still saying that our quality of education has greatly deteriorated over the years.  Sometimes when I really ponder on this issue I really get scared wondering if my kids are getting the right education that they really need or not.  Although what’s really the “right” education is still debatable.  Because what’s right for somebody may not be right for somebody else.  So as parents, it’s still our responsibility to monitor and augment what our children are studying in school. I’ve made this is my new mission this school year.

I’m glad the school my children goes to gives us a course outline of each subject on the first day.  This means that we have an overview of the lessons that they will be discussing in class.  They even gave us the dates of quizzes and tests.  Although based on experience this timetable usually gets disrupted by the usual traffic of typhoons going in and out of our country from June to October or November.  One day we have a very sunny day then the next morning we’re awaken by the pouring rain and the gushing winds.  Somebody raised the issue of moving the school opening to September instead of June, just to avoid all the class disruptions caused by the flooding.  But for some unknown reasons this issue never saw light.  It’s maybe because typhoons don’t affect the whole country at the same time.  I know that the typhoons don’t really disrupt the classes in some other parts of the country because back when I was still in elementary and high school our classes were never suspended because of a typhoon.  Our classes would only be suspended to give way for a “Muslim Holiday” which was always welcomed with open arms and warm hearts by everyone.  The main difference though is that with the Muslim Day, it’s announced days before so that all lessons and other scheduled activities would be rescheduled accordingly.  But with the typhoon, sometimes we’re already on the way to school when the Department of Education would announce that classes are suspended.  Although it’s always easy to turn back and head home, the sad part is that had they announced a little earlier then we could have been spared from wading through the knee-deep disease-infected flood water that comes from who-knows-where.  Or sometimes it’s more infuriating when after we’ve painstakingly taken the kids to school only to get a call before noon that we should pick up the kids because they are sending them home. This would always make the parents scramble to get to the school the fastest way possible before our kids would be left all alone in the campus.  Sometimes I want to tell the school to just go on and have the classes since the kids are already there anyway.  But it would be harder to wade through the murky flood water in the dark, so it’s still better to take the kids home before the skies grew darker and the flood rose higher.

The reason why the DepEd doesn’t suspend classes even when it’s already raining cats and dogs is because most of the time there’s no typhoon to blame it to.  It’s just one of those monsoon rains that passes through this part of the country at this time of the year.  But what makes things worse when it pours is that the clogged sewerage system overflows which would eventually cause the flood water to rise.  That’s something the DepEd has to consider for now.  Because rain per se isn’t going to harm us nor our kids because we could always bundle up our kids into walking mummies just to make sure they are kept dry on the way to and from the school.  But there’s nothing we could do about the flood, unless we cough out a good fortune to invest on a yacht that we could use when the flood rose as deep and as wide as the Pacific Ocean.

Last week when the schools opened typhoon Egay also arrived on cue.  As if he couldn’t wait to attend classes too.  So on just the second day of classes my fingers were already pud-pud in dialing the telephone number of the school which was already busy because I wanted to know if they were going to dismiss the kids earlier due to the heavy downpour.  Hay naku!

Years ago there was this TV commercial that says “back to school, back to National Bookstore” but now it’s more appropriate to say “back to school bagyos and all.”

F4: A Meteoric Phenomenon
By Charles O. Sy
Batch 1967

Known simply as F4 (Fantasy Forever), the band is composed of four Taiwanese boys in their twenties, namely Jerry Yan, Vic Zhou, Vanness Wu, and Ken Zhu.  Their hit songs "Meteor Rain," "Can't Lose You," and "I Truly Love You," among a host of others, have consistently dominated current music charts.  Their concerts are instant sellouts. Their songs, most of which deal with the universal theme of love, are characterized by soothing melody with Western pop undertones.  In the Philippines, not a day passes without their music video hugging the prime slots in MYX channel, the Philippine version of MTV.  One hears their songs being played and replayed almost everywhere: in radio stations, record bars, KTV pubs, and jeepneys. Their music CDs and posters are enjoying brisk sales among Chinese and non-Chinese speaking fans alike.  It's amazing how their songs, all sung in Mandarin, can become so popular and successful in breaking the language barriers across Asia.

The rise of the F4 from virtual unknowns to overnight sensation apparently rides on the crest of their commercially successful TV soap, "Meteor Garden," (in photo) which is enjoying top ratings across Southeast Asia.  The series casts the four matinee idols in the lead roles together with Taiwanese entertainment host Barbie Xu.  Adapted from the original 1992 Japanese drama-comedy, "Hana Yori Dango" (or "Boys Are Better Than Flowers"), the F4's "Meteor Garden" is now the hottest series in the Philippine's ABS-CBN networks since its telecast in May this year.  Dubbed in Pilipino for local viewers, the show is raking in unprecedented rating and record-high viewership bordering on mass hysteria and fever-pitch mania, particularly among the young generation.  Its phenomenal success surpasses by the proverbial mile the earlier hits of Mexican telenovelas like "Marimar" and "Rosalinda."

"Meteor Garden" revolves around the story of a poor but tough girl Shan Chai (played by Barbie Xu) studying at the Ying Di University, an elite university populated by rich students with glamorous lifestyle.  Shan Chai's parents insist and labor hard for Shan Chai to be able to study in that university, in the hope that she will find a rich husband, and improve their social status in an elite community. However, Shan Chai feels uncomfortable in the university.  She resents the glamorous lifestyle of the students and their arrogant attitudes. Generous by heart, Shan Chai often stands up for her friends.  However, after entering the university, she becomes meek and keeps a low profile in the presence of a group of guys called the F4, who holds the power in the university as their parents own the university.  And woe to anyone in the university who dares mess around with F4.

All four members of F4 portray roles in "Meteor Garden" that are fairly similar to their real-life personalities.  Jerry Yan, aggressive and straightforward by nature, plays the role of  Dao Ming Si; Vic Zhou, somewhat reticent and uneasy with the attention the group has been getting, is Hua Ze Lei; Ken Zhu, a diehard romantic, is Xi Men; and Vanness Wu, easy-going and fun-loving, plays the part of Mei Zhuo.

Jerry Yan was a part-time model while still in school.  He caught the public eye when he won the modeling competition of "Uno," a Taiwanese men's magazine.  He had already starred in many commercials before he was handpicked for the lead role in "Meteor Garden."  Vic Zhou was a mechanical engineering student at a Taiwanese technical institute. He had accompanied a friend to audition for a role in "Meteor Garden." He was discovered by the producers instead.  Ken Zhu, born in Taiwan but raised in Singapore, was a captain waiter in a Japanese BBQ restaurant when he was discovered by the show's producers.  He actually considered becoming a sushi chef before his fate changed.  American-born Vanness Wu came to Taiwan aspiring to be a part of the entertainment scene in his parents' native land. He joined a male talent contest when the "Meteor Garden" producers spotted him and asked him to audition for the show.

As screen tyros, their amateurish acting skills are certainly not going to earn them any critical acclaim.  Their acting is trite and stiff.  They are apparently better singers than actors. Individually, there's nothing extraordinary about each of their vocal qualities. Yet the combined energy, music harmony, boyish appeal, plus a good measure of marketing savvy and astute packaging will continue to win for these four Chinese hunks the adoration of legions of fans all over Asia.  Incredible as it may seem, the fact remains that their rise to stardom is indeed meteoric.

The Ritual
By Candice Ang Uy

Small woman with teapot
tiny feet shuffling on floor
clatter of teacups loud
ringing in my ears.

Small, piercing eyes stare
words her mouth move
hot liquid from the spout
steaming wisps floating above.

Wrinkled hands clasped together
sunlight on the glittering jade
sweet incense in the air
old portraits on the wall.

Tiny flame from a match
joss sticks gathered together
iron-grey head bows once
twice, thrice ever so respectful.

Beloved Gods and Ancestors
we honor you today
this feast we prepare
invite your presence, stay.

Rustling of silk dress
small woman, my grandmother
walk away on noiseless feet
the ritual is complete.