Vol. 7, No. 14, October 13, 2003

Iligan Mayor Franklin Quijano (in photo) expressed his disgust on the performance of police officers in preventing carnapping in Cagayan de Oro City.  He said there is a bigger chance of catching carnappers if only carnapping cases are reported within an hour of their occurrences.  Records show that all stolen vehicles from CdO en route to Iligan that were reported within 30 minutes or an hour were all recovered, he added.  The mayor also slammed police officers for not manning checkpoints between CdO and Iligan on a 24-hour basis.  Quijano is the second mayor to lambast the PNP in Cagayan de Oro and the provincial police for their laxity in preventing carnapping incidents.  CdO Mayor Vicente Emano himself voiced his disgust earlier on the performance of the city police officers when it comes to carnapping.  Lately there has been a remarkable rise in the number of carnapping cases in CdO involving expensive vehicles, such as Isuzu Crosswinds, Troopers, Pajeros, Ford and Mitsubishi pick-ups and other luxurious cars.

LCHS ALUMNA New CEC administrator Kho Siok We (second from left) poses with top officals of the Cebu Eastern College during her formal installation as School Administrator of CEC.  With her on stage is Atty. Augusto Go (first from left), Chairman of the CEC Board of Trustees, and two other officials of the Board (at right).  Kho Siok We is an LCHS alumna belonging to Batch '57. The photo is reprinted from the Chinese newspaper, United Daily News.

Donation for LCHS library

More positive response is slowly pouring in for the renovation of the LCHS library.  The latest contribution comes from Roderick Ngo (Batch '70) who donated P20,000 to the LCHS Alumni Association.  His donation was solicited by Igdono Caracho together with Teresita Racines during her recent visit to Cebu.  The LCHS-AA is currently undertaking the renovation of the LCHS library from funds contributed by concerned alumni.  Earlier, the LCHS Alumni Foundation also received cash donations for the Scholarship Fund.  The donations came from Aurora Tansiokhian (Batch '58) and Santas Tan-Seitz (Batch '61) who contributed US$100 each.

Haydee Wang graduates magna cum laude

Jean Haydee Wang (Batch '99), in photo, graduated magna cum laude in Accountancy from the University San Carlos, Cebu City, this October.  She was also adjudged second highest in academic excellence among her entire batch of Accountancy graduates.  She was also a recipient of several leadership and achievement awards during the commencement exercises held Oct. 11, 2003 at the USC auditorium.  Haydee is the daughter of  Johnny Wang and Chiok Hian Dy-Wang (Batch '69).  She was the salutatorian of LCHS high school Class of 1999.  Also among Haydee's batch of mid-schoolyear graduates is Anna Katrina Dira, who graduated cum laude in Accountancy.  Anna is the daughter of Nelson Sy (Batch '62) and Josephine Sy.

Starbucks invades Cebu coffee market

Coffee lovers in Cebu have reason to rejoice.  Starbucks, maker of the world-famous coffee, opened its newest outlet in Cebu last Oct. 3.  Located at the Cebu Business Park, right across Ayala Center, the outlet is its first coffee shop outside Luzon.  The Rustan Coffee Co. (RCOC) reportedly invested about P10 million in its newest Starbucks outlet.  RCOC is the licensee of Starbucks Coffee Int'l in the Philippines.  The opening of Starbucks Cebu adds to the growing number of coffee shops in Cebu and widens the field of choices for an increasing number of people who savor the irresistible aroma of good coffee.  Local coffee shop operators, for their part, said they are not threatened by Starbucks’ entry because of the lower prices of their coffee products compared to Starbucks’.   From the looks of it, a coffee war is abrewing in this corner of the world.  Somehow all this fierce competition has brought the art of coffee appreciation to a new high. To which incurable coffee drinkers are unanimous in saying:  Hmmm ... that smells good.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Alumni in orbit

From spot reports sent in by its paparazzi squad, "Tracers" learned that Bonifacia "Pancing" Co-Go (Batch '65), in photo at left, is currently on a well-deserved vacation in Europe.  She joined a tour group that jetted off from Cebu last Oct. 12 for a swing across Europe.  The trip covers the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Normay, Finland, and other exotic destinations such as Germany, Switzerland, and Russia.  By the time this issue hits your computer screen, Pancing will be somewhere out there in Moscow enjoying her caviar.  Either that or she will probably be cruising leisurely along the same route where the Vikings once ruled the seas.  Pancing owns Hug Marketing, home of a complete line of weighing scale products in Cebu City.

Meanwhile, golf aficionado Greg Dy (Batch '58), in photo at right, flew home last week from Chicago to attend the 57th Philippine Airlines Interclub captains meeting in Cagayan de Oro on Oct. 10.  The 57th PAL Interclub Golf Tournament is scheduled to be held in February 2004, by which time Jesus Dy (Batch '63) and Peter Dy (Batch '66) might also fly home to join their brother Greg in the team representing Chicago and Edmonton in the tournament.  Also spotted recently in Cebu City was Jack Dy of Cuadro Ocho, Inc., Iligan City, who couldn't seem to resist the urge to stop by the Ayala Business Park where a durian festival was ongoing last Oct. 4.  Jack was seen feasting on the exotic fruit in the company of another certified durian gourmet, Charles O. Sy (Batch '67).  The durian festival offered an eat-all-you-can feast of fresh durian for only P150 per head.  The durians came from the Cojuangco Farms of Bacolod City where the company has successfully cultivated the famous Thai variety in commercial quantity.  Its durians included the TD4 variety, which is characterized by big fruits that are creamy and subdued in smell; the TD1 variety (or Can Yao) which is round in shape with a faint coffee taste; the TD2 variety (Kraduntong) which is a little spicy and garlicky with hints of burnt sugar and bitter coffee; and the D24 or MN4 which tastes somewhere between TD4 and TD1.

A remarkable class

Batch '74 is indeed a remarkable class.  Last year, they held instant class reunions three times.  Every time one of their classmates arrives, they immediately gather together to spend one night like a bunch of high school kids.  Like the arrival of Alicia "Sho-Ann" Yu-Nicolas (Batch '74), sister of Rodolfo Yu (Batch '69), who came home to Iligan, together with her family, to settle down. Her return brought about an instant class reunion of Batch '74.  It was held on December 3 last year at Cafe Hermoso, their favorite place where they also celebrated the arrival of Tita Go and Jovencio Samson.

Once again "Tracers" was invited to cover the special occasion of Batch ’74 holding another remarkable reunion dinner last October 7 at Café Hermoso in honor of Johnny Wong Ling who arrived in Iligan City from Canada last September 27.  Johnny and his family moved to Vancouver, Canada five years ago.  He is now connected at the Vancouver International Airport. Johnny is on vacation and will stay until October 25, 2003.

The dinner reunion would not be enthusiastically lively without the presence of the ever-dashing and bachelor-at-large Farley Sy together with Kelly Dy, Edgar Lim, Edelino Dagondon, Nida Te, Elynor Rodriquez and Miguela Sy.  Witnessing the special occasion as guests were Prudencio “Wahoy” Tan (Batch ‘72), Delfin Tecson (Batch ’75) and Roberto “Berto” S. Lim (Batch ’75).

As usual, SMB Pilsen and Lights coupled with red wine and complemented with softdrinks and delectable foods. The best part of the night was spent looking at their grade one class picture with Chinese teacher Miss Virna Sy (Sy Kuan Kuan of Batch ‘62) showing their innocent young faces (see "Flashback" elsewhere in this issue).  The high school life story where they were throwing the same old kantiaw and some unforgettable jokes and experiences and rekindled past naughty things.  Mura’g walay nausab sa usag-usa kanila.  At the middle age of 40’s, medyo dunay white hair, wearing reading glasses, ug dali ra katulgon dayon at past 10:00 p.m.  Pero ang mga boys siga pa ang mga mata kay dunay mga naughty things pud nga pagka istoryahan!   He-he-he.

Mobile numbers, please
Mon, Oct 1 2003

Re: your LCHS Batch Directory web site, please have some pages of mobile numbers of alumni for us to catch up with them easily.  Good only for those who allow their mobile numbers to be displayed. Please include email addresses too, if possible.  Thanks.  --David So, cell: +639185100491, Republic of China, email: hoykinsaka@yahoo.com

[Thank you for your suggestion.  As much as possible, we wish to include all mobile numbers and e-mails of our alumni in the Batch Directory.  However, we would need the alumni themselves, or their respective batch leaders, to provide us with their inputs so that we can include them accordingly.  --Charles O. Sy, Spectrum Website Administrator.]

The LCHS Alumni Foundation, Inc. is happy to report the names of students whose tuition fees were fully or partially shouldered by its Scholarship Fund:

SY 1997-1998:  Jefforson Wong and Elizabeth Lee;  SY 1999-2000, 1st semester:  Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Elizabeth Lee, Stevenson Lim, Mac Vincent Siangco and Giza Lyn Kho;  SY 1999-2000, 2nd semester:  Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Elizabeth Lee, Stevenson Lim and Mac Vincent Siangco;  SY 2000-2001, 1st semester:  Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Mac Vincent Siangco, Ma. Christine Samson and Roxanne Conol;  SY 2000-2001, 2nd semester:  Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Mac Vincent Siangco, Ma. Christine Samson and Roxanne Conol;  SY 2001-2002, 1st semester:  Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Mac Vincent Siangco, John Paul Gerona, Joanna Marie Suminguit and Roxanne Conol;  SY 2001-2002, 2nd semester:  Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Mac Vincent Siangco, John Paul Gerona, Joanna Marie Suminguit and Roxanne Conol;  SY 2002-2003, 1st semester: Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Mac Vincent Siangco, John Paul Gerona, Joanna Marie Suminguit and Roxanne Conol;  SY 2002-2003, 2nd semester: Sylvester Siangco, Jill Ann Wong, Mac Vincent Siangco, John Paul Gerona, Joanna Marie Suminguit and Roxanne Conol.

From 1997 to 2002, a total amount of 236,155.00 pesos was spent for tuition fees.  This was taken from the interest earned from bank deposit of the Scholarship Fund.

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

The vicissitude of life is indeed amazing.  Up to this day, I still marvel -- not without childish awe -- at a facet of mother nature as it is translated in the metamorphosis of a wriggly caterpillar to an elegant butterfly.

Such a seeming paradox somehow underscores the reality that we are in.  Such wonder becomes even more amazing and awe-inspiring as we shift our focus to the transition reflected in the case of our human kind. We have often come across stirring sagas of innumerable individuals who have risen to great heights of achievements despite certain limitations each one invariably has had to bear; of people who have transcended the bounds of their weaknesses to become what others expected the least of them to be.  And though it is decidedly true that such feats are, by far, exceptional and hard to come by, the fact remains that these things do happen.  And they can be possible for us, too, if only we, by the sheer resolution of our own will, make them be.

That is the fire that kindles within each one of us.  It is the will which only we ourselves can muster that fires us to surmount obstacles, to break barriers, to overcome the odds.  It is of such a fire within us that we shall be made.

Back in my college days, I had a classmate who was a precise personification of shyness; a living enigma confined within the solace of her own private world.  She could not as much as look into the eyes of a person talking with her.  She fidgeted and quivered when called upon to recite in class.  A reticent girl, her voice, her utterance often came out a pitiful staccato of barely comprehensible syllables.

I only realized that deep beneath the silence of her being was a cloistered desire to reach out when our classroom acquaintance grew into friendship.  Having shared a common predicament and triggered by the same impulse to seek avenues of overcoming our shortcomings, we somehow got to dare each other to see that we both attend all available campus events from which exposure we may become better accustomed to the nuances and tribulations attendant to effective speaking.  For two timid souls, it was no easy chore to brave into.  But propelled by a burning determination, we pulled through a dazzling regimen of series of symposia, campus debates, student demos and elections, and in time, spectators became participants, observers became protagonists.

Her progress was definitely no quantum leap by any measure. Nevertheless, after three semesters I parted the school with her in the forefront of the student council, and had not heard from her since.

Today, 30 years thence, I am told the same girl now teaches speech and drama in the university.  The same girl I once knew to be a timid classmate confined to a corner of our classroom.  A once wriggling caterpillar now turned butterfly in flight -- all because of the fire within her to improve herself by going out of her way to do exactly that.

Pacificador M. Lluch Jr.

What, really, is the root cause of the Muslim rebellion in Mindanao?  Many scholars and policymakers believe that it is poverty. They say, if poverty is eradicated, then the Muslim rebellion will fizzle out.

But is poverty really the root cause?  If poverty in Mindanao is eradicated, will the rebellion stop once and for all?  This Mindanaoan doesn’t think so.  I think poverty is just one of the causes.  One other very important reason for the rebellion is the desire of many Moros to have a separate homeland where they are completely free to live the way they want to live.  Self-determination!  That is the cry of ethnic minorities all over the world today.  Any proposed solution, therefore, that does no address this basic desire might not be enough to stop the rebellion

Peace advocates are happy we’re going back to the negotiating table.  But will the talks address the basic desire of the Bangsa Moro for self-determination?  If it does not, I’m afraid the ensuing peace will last only until a new crop of idealistic young Moros will again agitate for a homeland (either in the form of an autonomous region, federal state or independent republic).

This Iliganon’s position vis-à-vis the Muslim secessionist rebellion is simple.  Our Muslim brothers want autonomy, give it to them. They want a federal state, fine.  Give it to them. They want complete independence, let’s talk about it.  Why should we prevent them from exercising the right of self-determination?

There’s just one condition this Iliganon would insist on, and that is, leave Iligan out of any Muslim autonomous region, federal state or independent republic. That’s all.

Just as we should be prepared to grant any ethnic group the right to self-determination, so too do we reserve for ourselves the same right. Historically, Iligan was never a Muslim territory.  The indigenous natives here were most probably anito-worshipping Maragats. Then as early as 1596 to 1604, Christian migrants from the Visayas started trickling in.  Since then, Iligan has remained overwhelmingly Christian.  So we should never be forced to join any Muslim-dominated autonomous region or federal state or independent republic. As for other Christian-dominated provinces, let them express their own preference on the matter.

But supposing in a plebiscite, the people of, say, Sulu and Tawi-tawi, overwhelmingly indicate that they want to be independent?  To any such suggestions, our leaders automatically respond by summoning their most solemn tone and saying: “I will never preside over the dismemberment of this republic.”  But do we really have the moral right to deny freedom to a nation (for that is what the Bangsa Moro is, a separate nation) that longs to be free?  In any case, what overriding interest do we Mindanao Christians have in those islands that we should want to keep them at all cost?  Are we willing to fight 30, 50, years for territory we have no vital interest in, for territory that belongs to the Bangsa Moro in the first place?

But, you protest, the problem is the Moros want the whole of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan as their independent homeland.  That to me, is the crux of the problem.  I just hope that the Moros have by now realized the futility of achieving this goal and have accordingly scaled down their expectations.  They will have to be content with less if permanent peace is to be achieved.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

My Body, A Radio

Push the right buttons, a spark, and I come to life,
I’ll sing for you an endless symphony of the present and the past
I’m powered by those long lasting batteries
That could keep me going all day.

Push the right buttons, and with the right signal in the airwaves
I’m all yours for company
Rain or shine I’ll be there you’ll see.

Push the right buttons, and I could preach and teach
I may not always practice what I preach
But you’ll learn that it’s some rule you shouldn’t breach.

Push the right buttons, and let’s have fun.
I can boogie and cha-cha till the sun comes down.

Push the right buttons, and with that final click, I end my day
I should recharge my batteries
So that tomorrow I can sing for you another symphony.
 

Five years ago this month, a close friend of mine finally made a  most difficult journey home.  To the place of his youth with all its painful memories.

For most of us, homecoming is a poignant event after many years of being away from the beloved place.  For others, it is a bittersweet reliving of happier times with familiar faces.  But for those of us who have never gone away from home, our homecoming may transcend the parameters of measurable space.  Coming home may not involve a specific place at all.  It may mean the haven of a loved one's embrace wherever it may take place.

Yet, the memories of home may not be welcomed.  Like those of my friend.  When the home of his present fell apart, it was an event that created a crack in his formidable armor of self-assurance.

I observed the crack and sensed the wounds that were well-hidden therein.  The initial probings were purposive but tangential to the focal points.  Years of subconscious denials made the events in his past blurred, almost obliterated.

Let me share an enlightening moment.  One time, we were having lunch fastfood style.  Everyone was reaching for the ketchup, like me.  I gave my friend a stick of barbecue which he refused.  Not his type of food, he said.  Then I handed him the ketchup bottle since I saw him eating adobo.  Not his type of condiment, he said, as he again refused.  Why didn't he like ketchup, I wondered aloud, since it was a common enough condiment?  He gave me a wry smile and replied, misty eyed: "I willed myself not to like things that I could not afford when I was a child."

I later found out that he was orphaned at eight years old.  He and his brothers lived with relatives and finished secondary school through the support of these relatives.  Bananas from his grandmother's little farm were the only food he could bring to school.  So he willed his taste not to like the foods he could never have at that time -- until now when deprivation has long been over.

How can one reach out to such pain that lies beyond sorrow, deeper that the chasm of tears?  How can one even attempt to empathize with the little boy within the man?

Slowly -- through the respect and affection in real friendship -- I made him realize that he had to heal the wounds of his past for him to get a handle of his future.  No matter what stringent measures he may have to do to rectify his present life, these will not suffice.  Past wounds are extra baggage that will bog you down in the end.

And so, five years ago today, my friend made that very difficult homecoming to that little town up north.  He did not want to get off the car for almost an hour after arrival.  He just drove around the familiar narrow streets.  Concrete and neat but little changed.  He did not want to meet anyone from his boyhood days.  Until someone from a group huddled at a corner store called him by name.  It was a name he never heard addressed to him since he was in high school.

He left his hometown for college studies in Manila.  He supported himself.  He willed to become a success one day.  He did.  But he never came back to the town of his painful past.  Until that day, five years ago, when he was finally persuaded to face his memories to heal himself.  When he heard his former classmate call him by his childhood nickname, he smiled.  And the past became less painful than it seemed just moments earlier.

Well, hello there, good old friend of mine,
You've been reaching to yourself for such a long, long time ...
There's so much to say, no need to explain.

Just an open door for you
to come in from the rain ...

The Homeless Guy
Forwarded by Peter Dy (Batch '66)
Edmonton, Canada

A man was walking down the street when he was approached by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless guy who asked him for a couple of dollars for dinner.

The man took out his wallet, extracted two dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead?"

"No, I stopped drinking years ago," the homeless guy said.

"Will you use it to gamble instead of buying food?" the man asked.

"No, I don't gamble," the homeless guy said. "I need everything I can get just to stay alive."

"Will you spend the money on green fees at a golf course instead of food?" the man asked.

"Are you nuts!" replied the homeless guy. "I haven't played golf in 20 years!"

"Well," said the man, "I'm not going to give you two dollars. Instead, I'm going to take you home for a terrific dinner cooked by my wife."

The homeless guy was astounded, "Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty bad."

The man replied, "Hey, man, that's okay! I just want my wife to see what a man looks like who's given up beer, gambling and golf!"
 
 

EDITORIAL STAFF VICTOR L. CHIU, editor Correspondents: Roger Suminguit,Teresita Racines, Charmaine Molo, Rodolfo Yu & Virginia Handumon-Te; Castor Ong Lim, business manager (Iligan); Igdono Caracho (Cebu); Marie Janiefer Lee (Manila); Peter Dy (Canada); Leonardo Tan (Australia); Ernesto Yu & Aurora Tansiokhian (U.S.A.); and Charles O. Sy & Henry L. Yu, past editors. Founded Aug. 1, 1968.  Published fortnightly since its revival on April 15, 1997. Distributed free on the Internet to LCHS alumni & supporters worldwide. Postal address: LCHS Alumni Association, Lanao Chung Hua School, Pala-o, Iligan City, Philippines. Web site: www.oocities.org/lchsspectrum. Spectrum welcomes articles, news reports & comments from LCHS alumni, students and readers. For subscription, contact Roger Suminguit, tel. 221-2422. For contribution, e-mail manuscripts to the editor: spectrum@iligan.com with cc to: perfidia6180@hotmail.com