Vol. 8, No. 10, Aug. 16, 2004

The LCHS Alumni Foundation, Inc. recently received more cash donations from several concerned donors.  The latest contributions for the Foundation's scholarship fund came from the family of the late Mrs. Sy Cun Tin who donated P5,000, and the family of the late Jose Lim Tek Hua who likewise gave P5,000.  The donations were acknowledged and announced during the Foundation's meeting held on Aug. 2, 2004 at the JY Dimsum House on Gen. Aguinaldo St., Iligan City.

Over the years, numerous deserving children of LCHS alumni have already been beneficiaries of the Foundation's Scholarship Program under the leadership of past president Fe Dy-Quimbo and incumbent president Dy Sio Te.  Last summer, Kenton Sua (Batch '80) also personally handed over his contribution of P10,000 to LCHS-AA executive vice president Suniel Lim during Kenton's visit to Iligan.  Kenton and his family were given a tour of the city by Jerry Ling (Batch '80) and Santi Ong (Batch '70).

Chen Tee, 91

Chen Tee, 91, passed away last Aug. 3, at 12:53 a.m., in Iligan City. He was the owner of Iligan Victoria Bakery. He is survived by his wife Leonora Tamala, and children Jimmy Tamala and Johnny Chen (Batch '83).  He was laid to rest on Aug. 7, 2004 at the Lluch Memorial Park, Iligan City.  We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Declamation winner
Tue, 10 Aug 2004 17:39:31

Congratulations to the daughter of Vincent Uy and grandchild of Engr. Henry R. Uy (a batch mate of Sy Kuan Kuan and Alfredo Bernardo Uy) for winning the LCHS Declamation Contest.
--Calix Tan (Batch '57), Iligan Electrical Supply, Iligan, Philippines

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Alumnus heads Iligan sports body

As early as three months ago just before the local election, rumors were going the rounds that one of our younger generation of alumni will chair the sports body of the city government of Iligan. I first heard about the rumor at our usual hangout in Teepoy's Grill from this dashing bachelor-at-large Philip Jones Lee (Batch '80) who indicated that Frederick Siao will be the next Sports Director of the city.

Well, the rumor turned out be true talaga!  Frederick Siao (Batch '83) has been officially appointed Sports Director of Iligan City.  Another milestone for LCHS alumni in public office!  The city's athletes will soon participate in a major sports competition scheduled in South Cotabato sometime this month.  I hope our athletes, under the stewardship of Frederick Siao, will bring home a big slice of the pie.  Frederick is the son of LCHS School Director Henry Siao.

New Business.  Meanwhile, Frederick's brother Dominic Siao (in photo) has embarked on a new business in Tibanga Highway (now Andres Bonifacio Drive).  Dominic and his wife are owners of a new local dealership of China's well-known Zongschen motorcycles.  The dealership was obtained from the distributor, Saga Motor Sales, based in Mandaue City, owned by Robert Dino.  The China-made motorcycles were once featured in TV commercials with a famous TV personality.  These new Chinese motorbikes are giving Japanese motorcycle manufacturers a run for their money.  They have flooded the Philippine market today.  These Chinese motorcycles have similar features as Japan's Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha models.  Maybe not long from now, Chinese cars of high quality will likewise find their way in the local market.  China has been trying to edge other Asian nations in technology.

Christmas Party Raffles.  During the meeting of the LCHS Alumni Foundation, Inc. held on Aug. 2, 2004 at JY Dimsum, the board of trustees unanimously approved a resolution to the effect that the yearly alumni Christmas raffles shall be handled by the Foundation.  This was the discussion earlier during the regular meeting of the LCHS Alumni Association.  Since the main purpose of the raffles is for the benefit of the Scholarship Fund, therefore, the Foundation shall be the appropriate body to handle the raffle activities during the yearly LCHS-AA Christmas Party held every 30th of December.

Coming Home.  "Tracers" just heard that Ernesto Yu (Batch '65), in photo, is coming home for a vacation together with his family.  The Yu family is expected to arrive in Cebu City from their home base in Buffalo, New York, on Aug. 17.   We are not sure yet if Iligan is included in their itinerary.
 

U.S. Travel Advisory

Beware of pirated stuffs

[This following communication was forwarded to the Spectrum from a message circulating on the Internet.  We are reprinting it here as an advisory, or for whatever it's worth, to travelers bound for the U.S.A.]

Please be informed that it's not only pirated VCD/DVD that are on the hot list of banned items in the U.S.A.  The American Association of Publishers (AAP) has alerted the American customs officers to check out for pirated books as well.  Please warn all nursing graduates who plan to take the NCLEX and CGF exams in the states not to bring in these pirated books because there will be a penalty of automatic deportation as violation of intellectual property rights.

If you have plans of going to the U.S.A., please take precautionary measures on all "padalas" especially those containing fake/pirated compact discs/DVDs. US Embassy employees have been given an advisory that "as US government employees, we should abide by the U.S. laws, including Intellectual Property Rights (anti-piracy) laws.  The Consular Section recently received a report that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) searched the bag of a Filipino entering the U.S. on Northwest Flight No. 72 in Detroit.  During the search, 70-80 compact discs, 30-40 empty DVD jackets and 10-20 DVDs were found. Since the travelers were not American citizens, their visas were canceled and they returned to the Philippines.  If they had been Americans, they could have been subject to arrest and criminal prosecution in addition to civil fines and penalties."

Please remember even one pirated item can jeopardize your trip.  Also, the fingerprinting system has successfully been instituted in all port of entries.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

A few weeks back I was in a semi burnt-out state and decided to spend one Saturday in a cooking class.  I decided that the shop could do without me for one day.  With my almost-bursting preggy sister, we went to the culinary school as early as 30 minutes before the said time.  When we got there, we were amazed to find the room almost full.  The organizers told us later that they were just as amazed as we were because they never anticipated the huge turn out.

We didn’t have a hard time wading through the crowd because with Joan in tow everybody has to give way.  Or else they’d be trampled.  The crowd was comprised mostly of mothers, wives, and grandmothers.  Given this kind of crowd one can just imagine the noise level of that room that morning.  I thought that maybe once the class is on the way, the noise level would go down.  Yes, the noise level went a notch lower but not low enough for my sanity.

Our instructor that morning introduced herself as “Lola” or granny.  I can see that she’s a good cook and she knows what she’s doing but I also noticed that talking and cooking don’t mix well with her.  Because sometimes she forgets to narrate to us what she’s doing.  That’s why it was very necessary that we open both eyes and ears to what was going on.

Almost half of the people in that room were using their ears and their mouth, which caused so many confusion and some very senseless and stupid questions, which further delayed the class.  While we were waiting for the soup stock to boil my temper was also simmering.  The madam sitting on my right side was unintentionally fanning my flame by copying everything that I jotted down in my notes.  She wasn’t looking at the demo in front; she was half listening and whole-heartedly copying.  And it wasn’t helping when she started to ask me some words from my notes which she couldn’t decipher, because my scribbling was starting to look like a doctor’s prescription. I’m not proud of my handwriting so her inquiries were both insulting and annoying for me.

At one point Lola gave us a tip on how to make our meat look presentable. She said that we could ground a tablet of ascorbic acid and add it to the mixture.  So I just wrote down Vitamin C on my notes.  Then Madam-seatmate elbowed me and asked me what’s the vitamin C for.  Arghh!  My sister Joan, who sensed my predicament, answered her on my behalf and told her “iinomin mo.” In English, “you take it!”.  And then we both burst out.  My seatmate laughed too, saying: “Of course, how stupid of me.”  Well, that’s what she get for not listening, a good immune system to protect her from colds and flu.

A few weeks after that cooking class I don’t remember much about the recipes and the ingredients we took up that day but I’ll never forget the vitamin C.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ.

If I'm not wrong, I've given my first testimony last January 2003 at The Grand Caprice Restaurant on how God changed my life and plans after I completed my "One on One" discipleship training. With God's grace, this is my second one!

Last night when Bro. Young Jin called and asked me if I could share my testimony on my Mediterranean trip with you today, since his "Message" this morning is about prayers, I felt obliged to share how God brought us home safely and be able to share to you today His love and protection.

A scare happened to us in our recent trip abroad, on our flight to Europe. Our route was to take Cathay Pacific flight in Hong Kong to London at 7:30 PM, which was delayed and moved to 10:30 PM. We had been in Hong Kong Airport since 3:15 PM. Seven hours was a long wait if you have nothing to do. Tired and hungry, we tried to lie down on the bench at the departure area, hoping to get some nap.

All of my companions had fallen asleep except me, half asleep, half awake. Suddenly, a vision of FIRE appeared! Deep in my mind, I was afraid something might have happened back home. I stretched up and grabbed my Bible in my hand-carry bag. I tried to read but still the FIRE vision was still there. I stopped and started praying instead, very hard, asking God that nothing had and would happen. Eventually, I had fallen asleep, and I saw the FIRE all around. I shouted for help, but nobody seemed to be present nor heard me. Then I shouted with all my strength, "God have mercy!". A white dove suddenly appeared out from the FIRE and the FIRE was suddenly extinguished. There and then I felt somebody jolted me awake and I saw my husband, Ben, saying it was time to board the plane!

While our plane was taxiing the runway for take off, I told Ben that I smelled "gasoline." He didn't mind my concern and told me to fasten my seat belt properly and go back to sleep. It was about 2 hours in our flight, when suddenly I heard a big BANG. I thought it was just a thunder, soon it might rain. But I was wrong, a lady who sat beside me alerted my attention and said that our plane was on FIRE. Indeed, I saw flame on the left wing of our plane. Then, a male's voice, perhaps our plane Captain, announced that all passengers should stay calm, that everything was under control, that there was nothing to worry as the flame was already extinguished, and that we needed to go back to Hong Kong. I had the feeling that this was a serious matter as the in-flight service and dinner were not served. In fact, the flight crew were strapped on their seats at their respective area under emergency posture.

I started to pray, I asked the lady, who earlier called my attention about the fire, to pray with me. But she just looked at me point blank. I didn't know if she knew God, not until I had the chance to share to her about God the following day.  Nevertheless, I tried to concentrate and started praying. But my mind was mixed up, drifting far away and worried about my children we left behind. Thinking whatever would happen to us, could they manage with whatever we left to them? With so much questions in my mind, I asked: "God, why do You allow this to happen, when I had prayed this trip for Your blessing? Have I done any wrong?" I asked for forgiveness. I felt remorse for not trusting Him. By then I cried, and said: "I surrender my life to You and let Your will be done, Oh Lord!". That very moment I could feel His comforting presence, His care, and His love ... Without knowing, we had landed safely. The only thing I saw when we came off the plane were the flashing lights of fire engines and ambulances nearby and they were plenty, seemed all over the airport.

The Bible says that our security is not in human protection but in God Himself. The book of Psalms contains more than 40 references on the Lord as our refuge. Many of them from David's experience, of being pursued by his enemies. In his prayers for help, he centered his hope in the Lord. Psalm 59:16-17 says, "You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To you, O my strength, I will sing praises, for God is my defense, my God of mercy."

God does not guarantee passage from difficulty and physical harm. But He promised us refuge in every situation, if you ask for it. Yes, in Him only, we can find real security.

Brothers and sisters, always remember, never hesitate to pour out your heart to God in your days of trouble. You will find that prayer is the shortest route between your heart concerns and God. God bless you all.

[Note: Flor Sy and company were able to land safely in London after a plane switch in HK. Though much delayed, they were able to take another plane for transfer to Barcelona and catch their Mediterranean Cruise ship on time.] 

My dearest Victoria,

I am writing to you in the dead of the night.  The burning fire provides little warmth from the chilly drafts.  I am at a sudden loss for words.  I stare at the parchment knowing the words I must say and yet my hand has no will left in it to write.  The ink has blotted the parchment and has dried upon the quill.  There is so much to tell you and I have so short a time.  On the morrow we all rise to face another battle.  I cannot judge what will be the outcome of that.  I will not waste what little time I have tonight dwelling on what one cannot know.  The words are flowing and my hand is moving rapidly across the parchment.  I will start by saying that I love you, Victoria.

I love you.  I have loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you three years ago.  How quick is time when one goes through the memories in mind.  You were eighteen then and it was the night of your coming out ball.  Standing under the chandeliers you took everyone's breath away, including mine.  Few would have expected that beneath the great beauty was a woman possessed of a bold spirit and a courageous heart.  Your intelligence, wit, and humor were surprising.  Surprising but not totally unexpected. My heart has been in your keeping since then.

I wonder what you are doing now.  I see you with our infant son, rocking him to sleep cradled against your bosom.  I see you reading my letters underneath the century-old oak tree.  It has been very lonely without you both.  War wreaks such terrible tragedy upon people.  The horrors of war are such that putting them into writing do not even begin to do the acts justice.   I long for the day when I am back in your arms again.  I long for the comfort and peace only you can give me.  I yearn to be beside you where I should be and feel our son's heart beating sturdily against our own.

I do not fear death. I fear only that I will not die with you.  That my breath be cut short from my body without seeing your face one last time.  I cannot promise that I will return to you.  It is not for me to say.  But know that I will do everything possible to return to you unharmed.  However, if it should be that we be parted by death, I know that you will carry on, Victoria.  You have more heart and courage than any woman I have ever known.  That is one of the reasons I love you so.  I know that you will raise our son to be a fine young man.  I shall continue to live on in the memories we have created.

The darkness of night has slowly given way to the dark gray of early morn.  In a few more hours the men will be stirring and we shall begin the long march towards where we do not know.  I have never once removed the gold locket from its resting place.  I have instructed my lieutenant to have it returned to you in the event of my untimely death.  My thoughts will always be of you and Nicholas.  I love you.

Yours forever,
Benedict

[Author's Note: This piece was written with thoughts of the Civil War in mind.  War does indeed come at a terrible cost especially to those whose families and lives are directly affected by it.  This piece was written with memories of movies such as North and South and historical romances set against this period.]