Vol. 7, No. 18, December 8, 2003

The renovation of the LCHS library is nearing completion.  About 90% of the proposed renovation works has been accomplished.  The library will be turned over to the LCHS administration as soon as the book cataloging is completed.  The renovation work is a project of the LCHS Alumni Association with James Booc as committee chairman.  Funds for the project come from voluntary contributions of LCHS alumni and friends.  So far the funds amounted to P37,400.00 which will cover the purchase of one set of computer for library use.  Part of the fund was contributed by Santiago Ong (Batch '70).  The LCHS-AA plans to use the remaining fund to purchase blinds for two window panels in the library.  Another recent contribution came from Regalado Chua who donated three rolls of compact foams.  These will be used to cover the floor of the kids' section of the library.  These will serve to protect the children from injuring arising from accidental fall.  James Booc is appealing to our kind-hearted alumni for more donations to help improve the facilities of the LCHS library.  Meanwhile, LCHS is expecting a shipment of books arriving on Dec. 10, containing 10 volumes Websters Encyclopedia and 1 volume dictionary, courtesy of International Student Association Program.

LCHS teachers attend seminar in Zambo
By Christine Veronica B. Uy,  LCHS Assistant Principal

Members of the LCHS Chinese faculty participated in the 5th Chinese Language Seminar held at Zamboanga Chong Hua High School last Nov. 21-22.  They took the 14-hour land trip from Iligan to Zamboanga City for the annual two-day seminar-workshop facilitated by the Philippine Federation of Chinese Schools headed by Emilio Gan, principal of the Philippine Cultural High School, Manila.

Through the representation of LCHS principal William K. Payonan, the following teachers joined him in Zamboanga: Eva Khey (26 years of teaching in LCHS), Evangeline Chiu (20 years), Glenda Sy-Cabilan (19 years), Conchita Cabanlit (15 years), Sun Lay Dy (11 years), Juanito Lim (4 years), Lyn S. Cu (4 years), Wanda Tyching and Minnie Noreen Dy (both new teachers in LCHS).

Around 17 schools in Mindanao took part in the activity aimed at helping update the teachers in their language instruction through new teaching strategies that have been proven effective in the Chinese language study and communication.  Guest speaker/trainers are Chinese professors from universities in Shanghai, Xiamen, and Beijing.  The first such seminar was facilitated by Oro Grace Christian High School (Cagayan de Oro City) in 1999 with the support of Robert Chee, principal and part owner of the said school.  The following year, it was held at Ozamis Union High School under the helm of its principal Ong Hong Tiong and, by the year 2001, at Lanao Chung Hua School.  Last year, Kong Hua School (Cagayan de Oro) played host to the activity.  Next year it will Davao's turn to conduct the seminar.

LCHS students bag Lenchner Medallion awards

LCHS students recently won the prestigious Dr. George Lenchner Medallion Awards.  Kyle S. Tamala, now a First Year student of LCHS, bagged the Silver Pin Award. He ranked 47th among 111 awardees in the Philippines.  The Silver Pin Award is given to participants whose scores fall in the 90th to 97th percentiles.  Kyle Tamala and Ben Alfie C. Oliverio (another First Year student of LCHS) were also recipients of the Embroidered Patch Award which is given to those who scored among the top 50% of all the participants.  Oliverio and Tamala ranked 99 and 100, respectively, among 245 awardees nationwide.

LCHS students pass tests for Math Olympiad
By Christine Veronica B. Uy,  LCHS Assistant Principal

LCHS students, who passed the Mathematics Trainers' Guild's (MTG) qualifying exams for the Mathematical Challenge for Filipino Kids Training Program last school year 2002-2003, received recently their MOEMS Certificates.

MOEMS (Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary & Middle School) is a correspondence mathematics competition participated worldwide by some 38,000 students with 1,900 teams in 35 countries.  In the U.S.A. alone, it serves about 4,000 teams and 106,000 students.  For SY 2002-2003, out of 135,000 students worldwide, 9,000 were Filipinos.  During the competition dates, there were 10 Olympiad problems given in December 2002 and 15 Olympiad problems in February 2003.  These were conducted under the supervision of the MTG Trainers and Center Coordinators in the Philippines.

LCHS students who were recipients of the MOEMS annual math program are Nicole Leslie L. Chua, Kenn Carlson M. Dy, Edda Jasmine V. Lim, Joshua A. Ling, and Kevin Bill R. Taongan (Grade 4); Sarah Grace B. Uy (Grade 5); Karen Andrea L. Chua, and Kevin Bryan M. Dy (Grade 6); Ben Alfie C. Oliverio and Kyle S. Tamala (First Year); New Blossom C. Ang (Second Year), Tristan Ervin G. Lim, and Justin Paul B. Uy (Second Year); and Joni A. Ling (Third Year).

MTG (Mathematics Trainers Guild) is a non-stock, non-profit organization of mathematics teachers in the country, committed to develop and promote excellence in mathematics education and training in the country.  To achieve these goals, it gives upgrading seminars to teachers and trains mathematically gifted students for international mathematics competitions.  The president of this guild is Dr. Simon Chua, school principal of Zamboanga Chong Hua School.

China investors also eyeing NSC

A group of steel operators from China is interested in bidding for the rehabilitation and operation of National Steel Corporation (NSC) if the 90-day exclusivity period granted by creditor banks to Global Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. will not lead to a deal.

Iligan City Mayor Franklin Quijano said a Chinese group had expressed interest in operating the steel firm although it failed to submit a bid on Sept. 30.  This could lessen the chances of the London-based LNM Group to enter the picture if the 90-day period granted to Global Infrastructure fails.  LNM Holdings, which had submitted a bid to lease and eventually buy the steel firm, had initially lost after creditor banks of NSC entered into a 90-day exclusive negotiation period with Global Infrastructure. The LNM Group earlier said it was willing to wait until the end of the 90-day period to negotiate with the government.

However, with the entry of a China-based steel company, the LNM Group would not be the only company waiting for its chance to negotiate with the government.

Buy Christmas raffle tickets now

LCHS-AA Christmas raffle tickets are now available at P100 each. Buy your tickets now and support the Foundation Scholarship Program. You may secure your tickets from James Booc or any alumni officer.  Raffle draws will be held at the LCHS-AA Christmas Party at the LCHS gym on Dec. 30,  2003.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Alumni happenings

Remedios Tan-Wee (Batch '64) arrived home in Cotabato City last week after a brief yet fun-filled trip to the U.S.A.  She landed home waxing ecstatic for having visited such popular tourist destinations like Music Mountain, the Hearst Castle, and the Grand Canyon (one of the seven wonders of the world), among many other famous spots. "They're so amazing, fantastic and wonderful!" says Remie.  "Basta the feeling is so different when you're seeing these sights with your own eyes.  I want to go back and visit more places in the future to enjoy what God has created," she adds excitedly.  After her U.S.A. trip, Remie immediately flew over to Palawan for a family reunion.  Then she was off to her hometown in Quezon Province and Lucena City where she visited her elder sister.  In Lucena, Remie took time out to visit the city's new SM Mall and Pacific Mall.

Back home at the Iligan Golf & Country Club, past LCHS-AA president Arturo "Toto" Samson (Batch '58), in photo at left, struck a rare hole-in-one on Hole #6 during an early morning practice session last Dec. 4.   By golfing tradition, this rare feat calls for big blowout.  So how about it, Toto?  When do we pour out the SMB? Hala beer-a!

Meanwhile, expected to fly home to Iligan this Dec. 8 after a long vacation in the U.S.A. is Elita Ong-Lai (Batch '62), in photo at right.   She spent several months with her sons Alfred Lai (Batch '89) and Bryan Bruce Lai (Batch '94) who are now working in Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.  Congratulations to Linda Ang (Batch '59) and Joselyn Ang (Batch '67) who recently moved into their new home!  Their elegant house is located near the LCHS campus in Pala-o.  Their old family residence still stands on Juan Luna St. and is considered one of the oldest residential buildings in downtown Iligan, having survived the big fire that struck the city in 1957.

Henry "Amang" Uy, 54

Henry "Amang" Uy, aka Uy Khun San, died of pneumonia and other health complications on Nov. 24, 2003 in Iligan City.  He was 54 years old and the second youngest child of the family of the late Sammy and Cresenciana R. Uy.  He is survived by his brother and sisters: Maria, Marcela, Luisa, Eliza (Batch '61), Glicerio (Batch '65) and Lalita (Batch '67). His other siblings (now deceased) were Esteban, Isidro (Angie), Valentin and Flora.  He was laid to rest on Nov. 26 at the Iligan Chinese Cemetery.  We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Virgilio "Tarzan" Yu, 56

Virgilio "Tarzan" Yu succumbed to heart attack in the dawn of Friday, Dec. 5, at his home in Iligan City.  He was 56 years old.  He owned the Iligan Fortune Upholstery on corner Mabini and De Leon Sts.  He is survived by his wife Paz Khu-Yu (Batch '73) and children Johnsmith (Batch '91), Erwin, Vivian (Batch ’94), Sheryl (Batch ’96), Arlene (Batch ’98), Catherine (Batch 2001), brothers Yu Chi Le, Yu Chi Kian (Batch '57), sister Perla Yu (Batch '66), et al.  Virgilio was a member of Maranaw Lodge No. 111.  His body lies in state at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, Iligan.  Interment is set on Dec. 9 at the Iligan Chinese Cemetery.  We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.
 
 

Letters of Condolences

Tue, 25 Nov 2003 00:30:05 -0600
Dear Marcela, Luisa and Family, please accept our deepest sympathy and condolences.  May Amang's soul befitting in that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  May the greatest Architect of the universe guide you all during this time of grief.  --Greg, Mary, GJ and Girlie Dy, Chicaago, Ill., U.S.A., email: gregdy@juno.com

Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:36:58 +0000
To the Uy family, our prayers and deepest sympathy to the family. May he rest in peace.  --Alex Rodriguez & family, Miramar, Florida, U.S.A., email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Tue, 25 Nov 2003 08:37:42 -0700
Dear Glicerio, Lalita and family:  We're sorry to hear the passing of Amang.  Please extend our heartfelt sympathy to all the Uy family.  --Peter (Batch '66), Tita, Petersoon, Princess & Phillip Dy, Edmonton, AB, Canada, email: pdy@telusplanet.net

Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:18:18 -0700
Dear Glicerio, Eliza and Family: Our deepest sympathies to the family of our dear departed brother in Christ Amang.  May our God of power and mercy bless the soul of Amang and welcome him into His kingdom of eternal life and glory.  --Hesing (Batch '63) and Melania Dy, Edmonton, Canada, email: Jesus.Dy@gov.ab.ca

Wed, 26 Nov 2003 14:31:29 +0000
Our heartfelt condolence and prayers to the family and relatives of Henry "Amang" Uy. He was my classmate back in grade school. Flora/Poyang was the classmate of my sister Mila (Batch '63) and Glicerio/Sergio was the classmate of my brother Ernesto (Batch '65). --Henry Yu (Batch '69) and Family, Cebu, Philippines, email: hvty@skyinet.net

Wed, 26 Nov 2003 23:18:15 -0800
I grew up knowing Amang. My condolences to the Uy family. May God comfort you and grant you peace that Amang has joined our heavenly father.  --Evelyn Yu-Go (Batch '77), San Antonnio, Texas, U.S.A., email: ego@texas.net

Can FPJ swim?
Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:41:04

FPJ is still teethering on the edge of the diving board.  Soon, somebody will push him into the water.  The predicament is if he can swim the political deep.  --Rene Tio (Batch '70), Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, via text message +639169565106

Makro in Iloilo too
Thu, 4 Dec 2003 22:05:50

In your news item about Makro CdO (Spectrum, Nov. 24, 2003), it seems you missed to include Iloilo in your enumeration of its existing branches in RP.  --Susan Lim-de la Cruz, Iloilo, Philippines, via text message +63917622238

Guess who?
Monday, December 1, 2003 12:00 AM

Dear Victor,  please convey my warmest "Pasko", "Bagong Taon", "Tatlong Hari" and "Kaarawan" greetings to the LCHS alumni & alumnae.  We know there are more of them; however, my greetings are more than enough to fill up the word "redundancy."  Keep up the good work, A-E.  Au revoir! --John.  P.S. Can you guess now which batch I belong?

[Rejoinder:  The word “redundancy” gave you away.  You were one of the lucky students who studied under Miss Caridad Collantes who peppered their papers with comments like redundant, trite, dense, beating around the bush, etc.  Among these lucky few, there was only one guy named John who rendered Siempre Esta En Mi Corazon (You Are Always In My Heart) unforgettable by punctuating it with “Oh, no!” at the right interval.  There’s no doubt about it.  You belong to Batch ’65 whose class picture is shown in the “Flashback” section.  It’s nice to hear from you, John Go. —Victor Chiu, Iligan City, Philippines, e-mail: perfidia6180@hotmail.com]

Welcome to the club, Tuti!
Thursday, December 4, 2003 11:50 PM

We're pleased to announce that John Go (Batch '65) has joined our list of Spectrum subscribers.  John, better known to friends as Tuti, was a noted campus artist during his student days in LCHS.  He is now a resident of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  In his recent e-mail to us, he wrote: "Hope to see you again one day, who knows. 'Maybe' in the forthcoming Grand Reunion 2005." --Charles O. Sy (Batch '67), Cebu, Philippines, email: syanlok@yahoo.com

Friday, December 5, 2003 4:11 AM
Welcome to the club Tuti.  It's good to hear that you're in the circle now. Hope to see you one day. --Alex Rodriguez (Batch '65), Miramar, Florida, U.S.A., e-mail: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

Not a Bed of Roces

I missed my friends Gerald Lim & Ellen Tan's wedding last week because I forgot all about it.  They can't blame me; the invitation says: Lim-Tan wedding.

-- ooo -- Fernando Poe Jr. says if he's elected president he will apply the law fairly to everyone -- be he a friend or Poe. -- ooo -- FPJ's wife Susan Roces doesn't seem too keen about her husband's candidacy.  Susan knows that life in politics is not a bed of Roces. -- ooo -- I declined a cousin's invitation to watch Mandy Moore's concert in Manila. Except for Mandy's pretty face, I know nothing Moore about her or her songs. -- ooo -- I have a balikbayan friend who stopped using his electric toothbrush because it might injure the enamel of his teeth. I told him his fear is unfounded because tooth is stronger than friction. -- ooo -- A friend of mine wants to create a web site where people can check the days with high tides and low tides.  I suggested to him to name it "Tidal Web." -- ooo -- It is said that the American Indians were the first inhabitants of the U.S.A. because, well, they had reservations. -- ooo -- In our last issue Alex Rodriguez, Victor Chiu and Igdono Caracho had a lively exchange of memories about old tailorings of Iligan, one of which was Nating's Tailoring.  It was such an old tailoring I remember Nating whatsoever about it. -- ooo -- Postscript:  We share the loss of the family of Henry "Amang" Uy who passed away last Nov. 24.  Many of us who knew him would perhaps remember him for his juvenile mischief and occasional pranks as a young boy in LCHS.  Still many others will remember him for his fine penmanship and knowledgeability in world events. What I find most unforgettable about him was his memory and knowledge about  people and the community at large.  I remember one time when we saw each other somewhere near the Queen Theater in Iligan, he greeted me with a hearty smile.  When I asked him if he still remembered me, he took out a piece of paper and pencil at once and wrote down my name on it.  What impressed me even more was when he went on further to write my name in flawless Chinese characters.  No mean feat indeed for a person with speech handicap and who had never gone beyond the elementary grades. -- ooo -- Once during my college days at the University of  San Carlos where I was involved with the radical student movement, Amang and I bumped into each other while I was on vacation in Iligan. He pulled me close by his side and gestured repeatedly at my face with his forefinger, apparently to warn or caution me about something that seemed pretty urgent. Not knowing what he was trying to say I just returned his gesture with a smile and a shrug.  Yet he persisted.  He pulled out a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and scribbled something on it with his pencil.  What I saw on the piece of paper almost floored me.  On it he wrote:  "Beware, subversive!"  Up to this day I still don't have a clue how he came to know so well about my activities at the university when we had not seen each other for years.

Last August 21, I was at the unveiling of Ninoy Aquino’s statue at Roxas Bouleverd. The songs (Bayan Ko, Tie A Yellow Ribbon, etc.), the yellow confetti, the familiar faces of the pre-Edsa freedom fighters, the huge yellow banners, the faces of Ninoy everywhere stirred deep emotions in me.  My wife and I, with my two very young sons, were there at the cemetery when Ninoy was buried 20 years ago. We had camped out there since early morning until Ninoy’s body arrived at dusk, borne by a grief stricken multitude. A mass of humanity, countless as grains of sand, had brought Ninoy from Manila all the way to his final resting place in Sucat, some 13 to 14 kms. distance. Their bodies were drenched in sweat, faces stained with tears, fists clenched and raised. There was overwhelming grief all around.

In the months afterwards, we tied yellow ribbons on our car, wore yellow pins to office, joined Makati rallies. What a glorious time it was! People stood up to fight for freedom, for justice, for love of country, for love of fellowmen, for what is right, for what is good. Yet for me there was also a tinge of sadness, for the times had brought a sharp divergence of political persuasions within the family.  Because of Ninoy’s death, the Marcos dictatorship crumbled.  Freedom was eventually restored.  Ninoy and the Filipino people had won. But, it was only a battle, not the war that was won.  For surely, the downfall of the dictatorship was not the end-all of the struggle. What the Filipino People have yearned for from the very beginning of their miserable existence is not only political freedom, but freedom from poverty, from injustice from oppression. What they want is to see our beloved country governed efficiently and honestly. They want justice to be administered fairly and promptly. They want their police force to protect them, not to victimize them. They want gainful employment. Most of all, they want proper guidance so that together the Filipino people will finally be on the fast lane to prosperity.

But today, 20 years after Ninoy’s death, we see precious little to keep us form sinking into despair. Why can’t we ever rise from our miserable existence?

I do not profess to know the answer, but I can hazard a guess.  I believe that the reason we continue to languish in poverty, injustice, corruption and bad governance is because only very few of us take up the fight.  It’s true millions rose against the dictatorship, but once that battle was won, we went back to our complacent ways.  Most of us went back to merely grumbling and suffering in silence in the face of continuing ills of society.

Most of us, and I must confess that I am one of these, do not care, for as long as we are not directly and severely hit. Worse, most of us are only too willing to participate in our own degradation.

Just think about it.  Just look at ourselves.  A mayor is found guilty of raping and murdering a coed and her boyfriend, yet his constituents continue to support him and his wife.  A dictator plundered the country, yet many of us still revere him and support his associates. And don’t we confer prestige to known crooks by inviting them to join our civic club and electing them to office?  Don’t most keep quiet when an injustice is done, because we don’t have the balls to protest?

In short, if we want peace, progress, prosperity and justice to rein in our country, if we want honesty and efficiency in government, each of us has to enlist in the fight.  Each of us has to make it a personal war, a personal commitment.  The change should start in each and every one of us.  If we don’t, those who have fought for so long will eventually give up the fight.  They will conclude that the Filipino who does nothing to help himself, who waits only for a free ride, is not worth fighting and dying for.  And they will abandon this God-forsaken land and flee to foreign shores.
 

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

It’s Friday already and my article was due two days ago.  I know my bosses are now used to my late articles; they’ve been lenient with me all this time. I know that it’s ok to send something late but it’s a different story when it’s already Friday and I still haven’t started anything yet.

I asked myself what’s wrong.  And I came up with some “excuses.”  For one thing, since it’s almost Christmas I feel that I have to write something related to Christmas but I don’t know why up until this writing nobody answered my ad as to where I could find the Christmas spirit.   So if I don’t feel it yet, I can’t possibly write something about it or if I do, it’s not going to sound like it came from my heart.  So what else should I write about?

I’ve scoured through my notebook of ideas but there’s nothing there that appeals to me at this time.  Normally there’s a word or a phrase there that would give life to something inside me that would inspire me to write.  But not this time.  Nothing in there seems to work.  I resorted to listening to the radio intently just in case there’s a song that would lift my feet off the ground and make me soar in the realm of words.  But all I hear are Christmas songs performed by the Sex Bomb Girls.  My brain is having a hard time right now processing this because their image is that of naughty girls, as portrayed by their gyrating and skimpily clad bodies on a noon time T.V. show.  It seems like they are not “fit” to sing songs that are supposedly “holy” and “silent” in nature.  So while I’m trying to make some sense out of these two very contrasting images, the feeling of panic slowly creeps through my spine that I still don’t have a Christmas article for Spectrum.  For a few seconds I caught myself staring out into space trying to find something in my heart that I could easily write about, trying to escape from the ear-piercing screams of the Sex Bomb Girls, but I got distracted by the string of lights one of my staff decided to put up all over the showcases inside our shop.  For one thing, I don’t like how it’s done because for me it looks so baduy or “trite” but I couldn’t tell him to put it down without hurting his feelings.  Because I saw how excited he was when he went up and down the ladder just to be able to reach the top-most shelves.  Hmmm ... one day when he is not around I would climb up there and rearrange the whole thing to make it look more “acceptable.” I just can’t say when that “one day” would be.  I just hope I could do it before the year ends.  I really don’t like how it looks. Anyway.  So where was I?

I was trying to come up with an article.  Then just as I got to the part where there’s already a spark in my head as to what to write (this is what my writing teacher calls the “aha moment”), somebody just appeared in front of me and said “Missis, merry Christmas ha, saan pamasko ko?!”  All I could muster in my very distant voice was “Ha? Christmas na ba? Di ba matagal pa yon?” complete with dagger looks.  This just shows how unprepared I am for the Christmas this year.  And by taking me by surprise I lost my train of thoughts; what was I thinking a few minutes ago?  I can’t remember it anymore.  That customer will never get a gift from me this year.  His timing was really off.  The spark I thought I had was extinguished and it vanished into thin air.   By this time I really wanted to hang a sign around my neck which says: “Please do not disturb, thinking in progress.”  Because I know I really have to send an article soon before my bosses kick me out of  Spectrum.  What should I write?  What’s wrong with me?

I know that by this time last year my Christmas mood was already in a full-swing. I was already through with my Christmas shopping.  My list of godchildren, which by the way has grown even longer this year, already had their gifts neatly wrapped under our tree.  But this year, my tree has nothing under it yet.  It’s as empty as my Christmas-spirit-less heart.  If my writing teacher were in front of me I know what she would say to jump-start my writing; she’ll say “cluster my dear, cluster!”  This means that I should put down on paper all my thoughts first before I could start a “decent” piece.  But how could I even cluster when my Christmas thoughts and ideas seems to be so elusive.  They seem to want to play catch with me, at this time when I’m already panting for words and thirsty for ideas.  So whoever is listening out there please send me some signs, send me some miracles that I could write about.  Should I light a candle for my prayer to be answered?  Or should I write about candles instead?  Huh, candles for Christmas?  Well, they sure look nice on those glossy American magazines but candles for me are still associated with the All Souls’ Day.  I might end up writing about the dead instead of the birthday celebration of Baby Jesus.  Yes, Christmas is supposed to be the birthday of our savior but how come we’re more focused on the gifts, on the parties, on getting drunk, on eating too much?  Aren’t we a little off track here?  But should I write about birthdays?  The first thing that comes to mind is still food.  So it’s like going in circles. Ok, I give up. I’ll write about Christmas once I found Mr. Christmas spirit, maybe for the next issue.

So, Boss, I know that it’s already Friday. I’m sorry I still couldn’t come up with something with a Christmas message.  If it would help, I’m willing to give up my Christmas bonus. Just don’t kick me out of Spectrum.  Please? Just a small reminder though, that Christmas is a time of giving and forgiving.  So give me another chance and please forgive me for being late again.  Merry Christmas ha!

Traveling angels
Forwarded by Pitrickson So (Batch '95), Iligan, Philippines

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?

"The first man had everything, yet you helped him," she accused.  "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die."

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.  "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.  Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later.

It was a week of fun, feasts and festivities at the LCHS 65th Foundation Day celebration last November 10-14.  Various rehearsals from dances to ramp modeling, sports practices, and meetings were all conducted simultaneously as students, teachers, including the parents, were apparently all stirred up in anticipation of the school’s Foundation Day festivities.

Lanao Chung Hua School was celebrating 65 memorable years of educational service to the Chinese-Filipino community in particular, and to the City of Iligan in general. Through the years, LCHS has established itself as a respectful institution of learning and produced graduates who are now leaders in various fields of endeavor.

For this school year, the administration proposed for a weeklong celebration (Nov 10-14) so it could render two days for a Sports Festival (Nov 10-11) and, at the onset of the actual Foundation date (Nov 12), three exciting days of varied festive presentations.

Indeed, with the fever-pitch F-4 mania sweeping the country, the school environ was inspiringly transformed into an F-festival: sports fests, dance festival of flowers, fun calisthenics, booth fairs, a Family Day (courtesy of Mrs. Lilia Lua-Sy, president of LCHS Parents’ Association or LACHSPA) with families taking part in friendly fetes, students and guests falling in the fast track of food trips, fashion show feasting on the so-called Tsinoy feel. The entire week was simply filled up with fun, food, and frolic.

Recapping then the activities that we are now reminiscing:

November 10 -- The Sports Festival was launched with a simple yet meaningful ceremony with no less than Mrs. Norma “Nene” Siao (the ever supportive wife of our school director, Sir Henry Siao) leading everyone with an appropriate opening prayer. A race among the grade/year levels on banner-raising came next and was highlighted with a symbolic torch lighting. Then, finally, with eager expectation, the tournament proper kicked off with basketball and table tennis games held simultaneously in the gym to the loud cheers of the students.

The afternoon saw the campus literally festooned with colorful booths set up by each grade/year level and ably facilitated by LCHSPA. Practically all the students, teachers and parents trooped in from one booth to another, sampling and feasting on what were interestingly exhibited: food galore, computer games, videoke, marriage booth, jail booth and even a horror booth!

November 11 -- The Sports Festival continued with a 100-meter dash and a 100-meter relay tournament among the primary, intermediate and secondary levels.

November 12 -- The official opening of the Foundation Day celebration. A motorcade, composed of representatives from all the grade/year levels, appropriately signalled the opening rites by touring the city’s main avenues and promoting the school’s Foundation Day activity.

The most awaited part of the day’s program was the Mass Demonstration of the students which was conducted in the school gym. A throng of parents, distinguished guests and members of the academe seated themselves as they earnestly watched the hula presentations of the Kindergarten students who are resplendent in their Hawaiian attires (the boys were clad in print wear using dark shades as accessories, while the girls wore colorful straw skirts with matching halter blouses); the creative Flower Calisthenics of the Primary students as they waltzed around the floor in their dramatic petal-shaped collar costumes; the simple Fun Calisthenics of the intermediate Level as they altogether hurdled their white and red pom-poms, and, not to be outdone were the dance synchronization presentations of the secondary level which captured the attention of everyone including the invited judges, who carefully scrutinized each dance number.

The Juniors started their presentation with a welcome number, dressed in very attractive Chinese costumes, followed by a modern dance version of the Freshmen, continued by a pop dance-cum-Chinese execution of the Seniors and capped by the massive Chinese-inspired dance ensemble (complete with props) of the Sophomores, who eventually won the Grand Prize for the best, synchronized dance number.

November 13 -- Fellowship among parents, teachers and students was the main event of the day as the 4th day of festivity celebrated Family Day. Relay games/parlor games among the parents and their kids were prepared as a lifting activity and which was greatly appreciated by everyone as parents gamely volunteered and showed their athletic prowess.

November 14 -- The last day of the celebration reeled off with a brief battle sport among the faculty and non-teaching force as they competed against one another in a friendly match of basketball and volleyball.

Then in the evening, a cultural show was presented as students showed their talents in a series of performances from drama, singing, Chinese dances, to the most applauded part of the show which was the cultural, fashion parade showcasing Filipino and Chinese Costumes. Students literally threw their hair down as they ramped on stage in all their sartorial splendor.

Special mention of gratitude goes to LCHSPA for their support and involvement in all the activities; the LCHS-AA for its P5,000 customary donation to the school every Foundation Day to be used as cash prizes for the sports and dance tournaments, and to the LFCCCI, c/o the school administration, for the free snacks provided to the teachers and non-teaching personnel throughout the entire week.