Vol. 8, No. 11, Aug. 30, 2004

The GAH 2005 Steering Committee has announced the start of the contests for the theme and logo design of the 2nd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming.   Suniel Lim, chairman of the Steering Committee, said all LCHS alumni and students are invited to join the contests.  The contests will run from Sept. 1 to 30, 2004.  The winning entries shall be adopted as the official theme and logo for the grand alumni homecoming scheduled in July next year. The logo design may be submitted as scanned image in JPG or GIF format. A participant may submit up to a maximum of five entries for each category.  The winner in each category shall be entitled to free registration for GAH 2005.  Entries shall be submitted by email to: The GAH2005 Steering Committee, c/o Terry Racines, email: csm-tur@sulat.msuiit.edu.ph. Deadline for submission of entries is Sept. 30, 2004.

Carnapped!

It was a day of tough luck for Robin Sy when he parked his vehicle near the vicinity of the Iligan Medical Center in Pala-o about two weeks ago.  When he returned, his Isuzu Crosswind AUV was no longer in sight.  He reported the incident to police authorities who immediately set up barricades in several exit points around the city.  When the carnappers encountered the police barricade in Balo-i, a shootout ensued between the carnappers and police operatives.  The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned somewhere near the site of the encounter.  But the vehicle was a total wreck as it rammed into a tree before the carnappers abandoned it and slipped away from the police dragnet.  Robin is the son of Richard Sy of Iligan Galaxy Commercial.

Maria Jo Cu, 68

Maria "Iyay" Jo-Cu (Batch '57) died of stroke at 12:45 p.m., Aug. 20, 2004, at the Mercy Hospital, Iligan City. She was 68 years old. She was the owner of J & K Hardware Inc. and the Rural Bank of Naawan, Inc. She is survived by her children, Alicia Cu-Go, Agustin Cu, Belinda "Bunz" Cu-Lim, Chute Cu-Duhaylungsod, and Daisy Cu. She was laid to rest at the Iligan Chinese Cemetery last Aug. 25 after a requiem mass at the Resurrection of the Lord Chapel. We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of her soul.  (See photo of Maria Cu together with her batch mates of Class 1957 in this issue's "Flashback" section.)

Dy Con Yao, 94

Dy Con Yao died at the age of 94 on Aug. 20, 2004 at 2:45 p.m., Iligan City.  He was the owner of Dy Yao Store, Mercado St., Iligan.  He was the father of Ben Hur Dy (Batch '60), Bob Dy, Carlina Dy (Batch '68), Delia Dy (Batch '69), Elma Dy (Batch '76), and Norma Dy (Batch '77).  He was laid to rest in Initao, Misamis Oriental last Aug. 24. We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Letters of condolences

Sun, 22 Aug 2004 09:32:15 +0000
Our prayers for the eternal repose of Nang Iyay and our deepest sympathy to the family.  Our heartfelt condolence to Ben Hur & Bob's family for the passing away of their father Dy Yao.
--Alex Rodriguez & family, Miramar, Fl., U.S.A., email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Sun, 22 Aug 2004 15:07:58 +0000
Our heartfelt condolence to the family of Nang Iyay. We are with you during this moment of your bereavement. Our prayers for the eternal repose of Nang Iyay's soul.  To Carlina, Delia, and family:  Our heartfelt condolence and prayers for the eternal repose of your papa's soul.
--Henry Lim Yu and family, Cebu, Philippines, email: hvty@skyinet.net

Sun, 22 Aug 2004 04:27:54 GMT
To the family of Iyay: We are extending our deepest and sincerest sympathy.  May the good Lord guide you all during this time of sorrow and grief.  To Ben Hur & family: Our deepest condolences for the demise of your father.
--Greg and Mary Dy, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., email: gregdy@juno.com

Sun, 22 Aug 2004 09:50:13 -0700 (PDT)
Dear Alicia, Osting and, Nelson Jo: Remembering you and your family with sincere sympathy in your loss.  May the memories of Ninang Iyay comfort you and live on in the hearts of everyone who loved her.
--Jaime & Lulette Andaquig and family, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, email: andaquig007@yahoo.com

Sun, 22 Aug 2004 23:45:03 EDT
To Elma and family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on the demise of Mr. Dy Yao.
--Ritky C. Dy and family, Clanton, Alabama, U.S.A., email: Ritkydy@aol.com

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 08:10:00 -0600
Dear Ben Hur and family:  Our heartfelt condolence and prayers for the eternal repose of your beloved Papa's soul.
--Hesing and Melania Dy, Edmonton, Canada, email: Jesus.Dy@gov.ab.ca

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 17:29:41 -0700
My condolences to the Dy Yao family. Norma and I were classmates at LCHS, and Elma was just a batch ahead of us. My prayers are with you.
--Evelyn Yu-Go (Batch '77), San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., email: e_go@sbcglobal.net

Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:08:32 -0700
To Ben Hur, Bob and family:  We are very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.
--Peter, Tita Dy and family, Edmonton, Canada, email: pdy@telusplanet.net

Wed, 25 Aug 2004 23:33:09 EDT
Our condolences to the family of Maninay Iyay.
--Alex V. Sy & Handumon family, Lansing, Illinois, U.S.A., email: SyAlex@aol.com

Fri, 27 Aug 2004 23:25:07 +0800
Dear Alicia, Agustin, Chute and family:  Our deepest condolence to your family. Our prayers are with you at this sad time.  To Delia and family: Our deepest sympathy for your loss. Our prayers for your father are with you.
--Boy Te and family, Taipei, Taiwan, email: tonite@ms72.hinet.net

A wedding and visiting alumni

Wedding bells rang merrily for two alumni last Aug. 8.  Pitrickson So (Batch '95) and Debbie Jane Chiu (Batch '98) got married on a day that was memorably labelled "ocho-ocho," it being the 8th day of the 8th month.  Pitrickson is the son of James So (Batch '66) and Debbie is the daughter of Avelino and Adelfa Chiu.  The new couple exchanged "I do's" in a matrimonial ceremony held at the Corpus Christi Parish Church, Iligan City (in photo).  Their wedding reception was held at the Maria Cristina Hotel ballroom attended by over 400 guests and well-wishers.  And as a fitting start of their new life together as husband and wife, Pitrickson and Debbie opened a new restaurant called Debbie's Delight right beside the Iligan Ambassador Commercial on Quezon Avenue last Aug. 18.

Our cheers to Marie Joan Quidlat (Batch '87) who gave birth to a healthy 5.8-lbs. baby boy at the Manila Doctors Hospital last Aug. 24.  Meanwhile, spotted last month in Iligan City were Nelly Co (Batch '61) and her Australian husband.  They were seen shopping at a Mararaw bazaar for souvenir items to bring home to Australia.  Informed about our forthcoming grand alumni homecoming in July next year, Nelly, or Nene as she is better known in Iligan, appears visibly interested to attend the grand reunion.  Another alumni visitor was former Spectrum columnist Ernesto Yu (Batch '65) who flew in from Buffalo, New York, together with his wife Verna and their three sons, Dominic, Sean and Christopher (in photo).  They arrived in Cebu last Aug. 17 and proceeded to Dumaguete City and Bindoy, Negros Oriental where they stayed from Aug. 20 to 24.  Ernie is a successful anesthesiologist in Buffalo, New York.  Verna, also a doctor, is a physical rehabilitation specialist.  Their eldest son, Dominic, 29 years old, works in a large computer and networking company in Boston, Massachussettes.  Sean, 27, and Christopher, 25, are pursuing further studies in PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) at the Northwestern University, Boston.  While in Cebu, Ernie and family spent time shopping around and getting together with the families of his brother Henry Yu (Batch '69) and sister Mila Yu-Ong (Batch '63) and their mother Pacing.  They returned to the U.S.A. last Aug. 27.

Heartland Song
By Candice Ang Uy
Cebu, Philippines

The rocker sits silent facing the quiet land
Its worn surface touched by a wrinkled hand

I slowly slide into the seat
My pulse echoing with a thudding beat

I raise the cup of coffee to my lips
Drinking of the aromatic brew in a long-drawn sip

The sun has begun to settle in the west
Soon you will be beside me, the time I like best

How long ago was it when upon this porch we stood
Imbued with a newlywed's joyous mood

We gazed out as one upon the vast and open land
As we start the long road, hand in hand

You toiled the fields and worked the land
Morning and night like the drifting sand

Our children who came by birth
Blessings upon this sweet earth

Our lives have not been without its share of pain
But tenfold the happiness we have gained

I look at us all seated by the hearth
And I know that all our sacrifices have been worth

Our love has stayed strong and true
Not once have you given me cause to rue

It has been years since that day
And still my heart is here to stay

In this land and in your hand
Faithfully as the glimmering golden band

Now you climb the steps and sit beside me
As we look out beyond the canopy of trees

I feel the touch of your lips against my hair
Its very tenderness leaving my soul bare

The caress of your hand a gentle sweep
Against my lined and weathered cheek

I see my love echoed in your eyes
It is the binding cord that ties

My heart, my land I see
All that I had ever wanted to be.

[Author's Note:  This poem brings to mind the story of immigrants who have gone far to the New World in search of a better life.  It tells of the trials and pain that they had to overcome and ultimately the reaping of the seeds that they had sown.  Although the setting is in rural America, the comparison between it and those of our ancestors who came from China is not to be missed.]