Vol. 7, No. 8, July 21, 2003

Kho Siok We (Batch '57), in photo, is the new School Administrator of the Cebu Eastern College (CEC).  She assumed her new position as the highest ranking school official of CEC after the former administrator, Yap Siok Eng, died of cancer last July 3.  Kho Siok We is an alumna of both CEC (formerly Cebu Chinese High School) and LCHS.  She is a highly respected and multi-awarded teacher with a career that now spans 40 years as a dedicated educator.  She began teaching Chinese elementary education at LCHS after her graduation in the early 60s, after which she transferred to CEC to continue her teaching career.

Joint induction for LCHS-AA and Foundation officers

During the meeting that took place at JY Dimsum on Thursday, July 3, where both presidents and most officers of LCHS Foundation and LCHS Alumni Association were present, it was unanimously agreed that a joint induction of officers, directors and trustees will be held on August 6 at Crystal Inn, Maria Cristina Subdivision, San Miguel, Iligan City.

To be inducted as officers and directors of LCHS-AA are:  Henry Dy, president (photo at left); Suniel Lim, first vice president; James Booc, second vice president; Roger Suminguit, secretary; Teresita Racines, treasurer; Vy Beng Hong, auditor; Rodolfo Yu, PRO; Ernest Oliver Uy, assistant PRO; Glenda Sy-Cabilan, Dy Sio Te, Fe Quimbo, Arturo Samson, Alexander Chua, Chester Dy-Carlos, Carlos Dy,  Calixto Tan, Andy Lee, Manuel Te and Santiago Ong, directors.

To be inducted as officers and trustees of LCHS Foundation are:   Siote Dy, president (photo at right); Mary Ann “Andy” Lee, executive vice-president; Fe D. Quimbo, vice preisident for internal affairs; Roger Suminguit, secretary; Catalina Dagohoy-Decipolo (Batch ’75), treasurer; Suniel Lim, auditor; Roger Suminguit, Dy Sio Te, Christopher “Tek-an” Chua, Mary Ann “Andy” Lee, Suniel Lim, Fe D. Quimbo and Vy Beng Hong, trustees.

The new set of officers, directors and trustees will serve from 2003 to 2005, in time for the holding of the second grand alumni homecoming.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

The medical laboratory of Charles "Amboy" Ang (Batch '71), the Micron Diagnostic Center located in Pala-o, Iligan, has recently expanded to neighboring Cagayan de Oro.  Micron recently opened its new branch in CdO.  Meanwhile, Amboy's sisters Linda Ang (Batch '59), in photo at left, and Joselyn "Angkaw" Ang (Batch '67), photo at right, will soon move in to a new house from their old residence on Luna St., Iligan.   Linda and Joselyn are constructing a new house which is now nearing completion at the vicinity of the LCHS campus.

Next time you pay your bills at the main office of Iligan Light & Power, Inc., try to look for a charming, bespectacled lady accountant who goes by the name of Gladys Joy Tiu-Casiño.  Not many know that she is an alumna of our alma mater at the old Roosevelt campus when it was still known as Lanao Community School.  She belongs to Batch ’88, just one year behind her older sister, Mary Grace Tiu-Tabanao (Batch ’87)  -- and one year ahead of her younger sister, Gay Marie Tiu (Batch ’89) who took up chemistry and is now teaching science subjects at the Philippine Science High School in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.  Their youngest sister, Gwen Marie Tiu (Batch ’93) is now a physical therapist while their one and only brother, Elneil Ian Tiu (Batch ’96), is now an electronics and communications engineer residing in Cebu.

Gladys is quite busy these days, being the secretary of the local chapter of Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants who started celebrating the Accountancy Week yesterday morning.  Instead of enjoying a lazy Sunday at the beaches, she chose to join the company of Ruben Lee (Batch ’66), Victor Chiu (Batch ’65) and fellow CPA's in distributing relief goods to the unfortunate fire victims of Tambacan.

Leonarda Venaviente Lua, 83

Leonarda Venaviente Lua passed away on July 14, 2003 and was laid to rest on July 19 in Iligan City.  She was 83 years old.  She is survived by her children: Lilia (Batch '67), Lolita (Batch '67), Leticia (Batch '68), Roberto (Batch '71), Josefina (Batch '72), Crescencia (Batch '74), Petronila (Batch '76) and Regalado (Batch '78).  We request our readers to pray for the eternal repose of her soul.

Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:56:30
Just read from the Spectrum (July 7, 2003 issue) re Yok Eng Sy-Uy's obituary.  Our condolences to the Sy family.  From Mrs. Hokimsing & Family. --Rene Tio, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, via Globe SMS

To Lilia and family, our heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow.  God bless you and comfort you. --Bonifacio and Virginia Te, Palao, Iligan City, Philippines

Lilia, Lolita, Roberto and family, we are grieved beyond expression to learn of your loss.  May the knowledge that your friends share your sorrow be a solace to you. --Sy-Handumon Family, Iligan City, Philippines

Dear Lilia, our deepest sympathy and condolences to you as you may go through this time of sadness, and may God be with you and your family in this time of need. --Jimmy and Melania Wong and Family, Iligan City, Philippines

Our heartfelt condolence to the Lua family. --Alice Sy Handumon and family, U.S.A.

Spectrum web site
Mon, 7 Jul 2003

I'm glad to have found this site where Kristine Lim Samson spent her younger years ... I really missed her so much.  How I wish I could meet her again. --Joemir Alvarez, Cebu, Philippines, email: koko_219@eudoramail.com

I'm already subscribed thru otan@eudoramail.com.  I have quit using that email account because it receives too many junk mail.  I'd like my subscription sent here.  Thanks. --Jonathan Mark Te, College of Information Technology and Computer Sciences, Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines; Tel./Fax No.: 035-4226033, e-mail: otan@su.edu.ph

Congratulations to Ms Kho Siok We who has been promoted to the position of School Administrator of the Cebu Eastern College, effective last week.  More power to Sian-se Siok We!  You have brought honor and distinction to our Alma Mater, LCHS, and immense pride to your fellow LCHS alumni. --Igdono Caracho (Batch '66), Cebu, PPhilippines, via Globe-SMS +63917-7162000

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

Twice a month I write for Spectrum and twice a month I would deliberate whether I should submit an article or a “resignation letter.”  Yes, this happens to me every month although I always know that at the end of this argument, I would always try to come up with something for Spectrum anyway.  My being a die-hard LCHSian would always win.  I know that I could always give an excuse like “writer’s block” the way my comrades in Spectrum did just to avoid writing.  But I still can’t consider myself a writer, so how could I possibly get a “writer’s block.”  For me, being a writer means somebody who writes like COSy.  And with him as the yardstick all I am in comparison is just a stick.  So here I am once again, this means that the trying-hard-writer in me wins over the quitter in me.

Without any formal background in writing, I always feel insecure when I submit my article.  I always feel that there’s something wrong with it.  That it’s never good enough to be published and read.  And this is the real reason why I’m even tinkering with the thought of quitting.  Although I know that my bosses won’t be too happy with this because just like what I said in my last email to him, “we’re the only ones left.” So how could I even think of leaving?  So before I make another wrong decision, because I’ve made lots of wrong decisions in this lifetime already, I want to explore all the other options I could before finally saying “good bye.”  And thank goodness I finally found one option to make me hold on to my column in Spectrum, and that is to get some sort of a formal instruction on writing, not really a degree but something that’s just enough to boost my confidence.  I’ve always felt that just like anything in this world, there has to be some sort of a formula for writing too.  Because for years I’ve been doing this the “oido” way, as in I play it by ear.  It’s about time I should learn the “proper” way.  Because it seems that each year that passes I’d feel that I need to learn more and more, that there’s so many things I need to know.  So I crawled out of my shell one day and enrolled in a writing class.  I know that my sisters would be shocked at this because this is one bold move coming from me.  For somebody whose the “bayot” or the weakling in the family, I’m sure that they’d have to read this line twice and blink their eyes a few times just to be sure if they are reading the right words.  Yes, I’m now taking a class in writing.

For years I’ve been trying and planning to take further studies on about anything, just to be able to learn something new.  But somehow something or someone would stand on it’s way, but this time I really feel that I should go on with it.  What also drove me to really pursue this this time is something I read from Mr. Conrad De Quiros when he wrote that “the embarrassing thing is not sitting in a classroom with kids young enough to be your grandchildren, it is standing among a faceless crowd lost in a sea of ignorance.” It’s so nice and inspiring.

I graduated from college in 1991, making this the 12th year that I’ve been away from any form of classroom.  So on the morning of the first day of classes I felt so tense that I thought I was going to faint.  I had a stomachache, then my hands were sweaty and cold, my forehead felt feverish.  I thought I couldn’t make it on my first day.  I had to remind myself that I already paid for this class and that there’s no refund I would get if I decided to back out.  With this thought plastered in my head I had no choice but to go.

One by one I watched  my classmates closely as they marched into the room. I instantly got the feeling that somehow I don’t feel intimidated by anyone of them because I can see that we all came here for the same reason and that’s to develop our writing skills. No one appeared too confident, each one seems just as insecure as I am with my writing “skills”.  As for the age difference, well, for one thing I’m glad that our teacher is older than I am and we have a classmate who just turned 76, making me feel comfortable in the thought that I’m not the oldest in class.  Because being the oldest might raise the expectation levels to stratospheric proportion, something I might not be able to fill.  So I’m really relieved that I’m not the oldest nor the youngest in class.  It keeps the pressure away.  I can be as nobody as when I first entered that room.

Our first lesson was about how to write about something, how to start and how to end an article.  The minute we discussed how it works I feel my heart is smiling because I can see that what I’ve been doing is right all along.  That’s one of the things I’m actually seeking in class, the affirmation that there’s some logic in how I start and end my articles.  That somehow it’s correct.  Our teacher also said that we should write naturally, that it should come from the heart.  Once again in my heart I know that I scored two points that day.

I’m looking forward to the rest of our lessons until September, based on our first day I know that I’ll learn a lot more.  I’m truly grateful to have found this class because it seems to be tailor-fit to my needs.

I’m hoping that after this class I won’t have any problems with my writing, that I’d know what’s right and what’s wrong. And instead of dreading my deadline twice a month, I could at least look forward to two special things twice a month and that’s to see another article in my column up on the Spectrum website, another space filled up in cyberspace.

Fun facts from the Internet
By Peter C. Dy, Batch '66

There are so many things that exist around us that we often take for granted.  Or which we simply are not aware of.  Knowing them can surely make life a little more interesting and meaningful.  Consider the following facts:

• It is impossible to lick your elbow.
• Coca-Cola was originally green.
• Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
• The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
• 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
• Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.
• In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden ... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
• And finally ... at least 75% of people who read this will attempt to lick their elbow.

Looking Ahead at GAH 2005
By Charles O. Sy
Batch 1967

Shortly after GAH-2000 we set up an Internet discussion group for our alumni to post their feedback on the just concluded GAH-2000.  The insights shared by the participating alumni offer significant food for thought that can aid our alumni leaders in planning for GAH-2005.

"One of the hardest parts of the event," says Johnny Chen (Batch '83), "was convincing people, especially our local alumni, to participate or register in advance.  That could have at least eased the burden of projecting the number of people attending the GAH.  Also we should try to minimize criticizing and making unsolicited back-biting.  Instead, we should buckle down to constructively help and lend a hand."

Johnny's observation is well placed.  Projecting attendance was a major concern in GAH-2000.  Since it was the first time for the LCHS Alumni Association to hold a gathering of such magnitude, there was no precedent nor solid data on which to base its projections.  Added to the difficulty was the initial lukewarm response of many home-based alumni toward the project.  For a while it appeared that only alumni residing away from home were enthusiastic about the event.  To encourage advanced registration for GAH-2005, it might be good marketing strategy to offer discounted rates for the early birds.

On a related issue concerning attendance, Ernesto Yu (Batch '65) throws in this clincher:  "Clean up the Southern frontiers of Mindanao. Improve the peace and order picture of our city.  I bet my farm that you will have a bigger troop of LCHS alumni-outsiders who will flood the reunion. You may have to breed more backyard pets to satisfy those celebrants who sorely miss the crispy skin of lechon though. Will you have the meat that quick?"

The same jitters on peace and order condition that bugged the GAH-2000 may resurface anew for GAH-2005.   However, with ongoing government efforts to address the conflict in Mindanao, we are hopeful that the situation will be in better shape by 2005.

"One thing I'd like to suggest," says Evelyn Yu Go (Batch '77), "is to give recognition to our former teachers. We owe them what we had learned.  It would be nice to formally present and introduce them individually on stage -- maybe give each teacher a simple corsage or token of appreciation."

This is another area that merits attention.  Only a handful of  former teachers graced the GAH-2000.  Many teachers were not even aware of  GAH-2000.  It will help if the planners for GAH-2005 this time include a committee tasked to track down former LCHS teachers and invite them way ahead of time.  The same committee or another may also be assigned to make necessary arrangements for the accommodations of teachers coming from out of town.  Many will not hesitate to attend if they know a pleasurable stay awaits them in Iligan.

On the selection of the GAH2000 "Outstanding Alumni Achievers" awardees, Leonardo "Loloy" Tan (Batch '66) asks, "Why all males?  Nine of them! Why did we not make it ten?  Perhaps the tenth could have been an alumna.  For sure there are many great and outstanding alumnae among our graduates.  Just look at the roster of honor rolls year in and year out, girls always outnumber the boys.  I know this is not a case of sex discrimination but rather a case of oversight among the community of LCHS alumni/alumnae to nominate them."

Loloy raised a valid question on the absence of female awardees in GAH-2000.  But this is not to say that there were none who qualified.  I was informed there were a few alumna nominees but somehow they chose to decline the nominations.  Let's hope this time around we will have alumnae among the batch of awardees in GAH-2005.  We have many alumnae amongst us, here and abroad, who are deserving of the honor.  But then again, somebody has to take the initiative of nominating them as the awards committee itself, for reasons of objectivity, is abstained from making nominations.

Will three days be enough for GAH-2005?  Or will it prove too hectic?  "If I were one of those who missed the first GAH," Marie Janiefer Lee (Batch '87) says, "I'd be thankful to everyone if we can make a repeat of that gathering sooner than scheduled.  For me the three days in August 2000 were just not enough to catch up with everybody."

"Three days is good, especially for those who are now residing outside Iligan," says Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65).  "If one is exhausted on the second day then he can just stay home.  But for others who didn't have enough of the action, they will not be deprived of such opportunity."

"In my personal opinion," adds Evelyn Yu Go (Batch '77) , "two full days and two nights would be enough: registration, luncheon like the one we had on Day 3 in the first GAH, except this time it will be on Day 1.  We can have the Filipiniana Night with talent show and program on the first night.  Day 2 can be for chika-chika with classmates or a picnic; then at night time, we can have the gala. We can have speakers for the luncheon on Day 1 and gala on the second night."

Much of the issue on duration will depend on the number of activities involved.  If the GAH-2005 activities are similar to GAH-2000, three days will be fairly reasonable.  The activities in GAH-2000 were evenly spaced over a three-day period.  They were neither too cramped nor too sparse.  What we would wish to see in GAH-2005, however, are some innovations.

For one,  it would be fun to combine the barrio fiesta and the batch night to an evening of carnival fair.  Or we can transform it to a festivity reminiscent of a school fair, with each batch manning its own booth or stall.  Each batch can come up with its own offerings or sideshows, as it pleases, to add to the fanfare.  It may sell foodstuffs or beverage, display exhibits, sell souvenir items, artifacts, old photographs, or set up videoke, parlor games, and other amusement stuffs in a carnival-like ambience all night long.  Likewise, we can perhaps eliminate the keynote speech in the evening of the grand ball.  Nothing of significance to our alumni affair can be derived from a guest speaker whose speech may take up a good length of the entire program.  Instead of a keynote speech, such precious time can be better spent by offering a tribute to our former teachers.  Gifts or souvenir items may be presented to our teachers as tokens of our collective appreciation.  We may also allot a few moments of the tribute segment to some selected teachers to share some brief inspirational talks or memories with us.  That would be more meaningful than listening to a guest speaker talk about matters remotely relevant to the essence of our reunion.  Speeches from political figures abound in many other forums any given day.  But the sharing of personal insights by our past mentors in a grand assemblage of fellow alumni is a rarity that we can enjoy only once in a blue moon.

These of course are just raw ideas that can stand some more refinements.   Similarly, other modifications may be applied to other aspects of the GAH to make them become more enjoyable and meaningful for everyone.  The idea is to inject some variations or innovations to what may otherwise turn out to be mere recycle of the activities of GAH-2000.

My Pet Dragon
By Candice Ang Uy

I have a pet dragon
whose name is Lap Seng.
He came all the way from China
where they grow ginseng.

He has eyes of emerald green
and his breath a ball of fire,
with golden claws and golden scales
it makes for a very nice attire.

The ground trembles where he trods
his mighty wings like sails.
A majestic creature he is
from horned head to powerful tail.

With me he is always gentle,
his smoky breath stirring
he watches me into the night
As I lay in bed dreaming.

Sometimes I hear him croon
and heave a pensive sigh.
I think it's because he misses
China and a time gone by.

Might he want to go home
so I thought to ask him one day,
Lap Seng smiled a secret smile
and this is what he had to say.

Though I miss China and always will
My home is with you now, little miss
It is you I love above all
Not for a time long gone will I give up this.

I hugged him tight and kissed him sweet
with eyes of mist we turned to see
That's why I love my dragon very much
for Lap Seng is as fine a pet can be.