About two weeks ago, Rodolfo Yu (Batch '69), in photo, was ascending the stairs of the school building in MSU-IIT, where he teaches English, Argumentation & Debate, among other subjects. As he reached the fourth floor, something in his back suddenly snapped, specifically his lumbar area. Since that incident, Rudy has been unable to walk and rendered immobilized. He experiences terrible sharp pain whenever he exerts an effort to take as much as a step. He is now confined to a wheelchair in his home in Iligan. He is also said to have high sugar level.

A livewire in many alumni and campus activities, Rudy has been a perennial emcee in practically all alumni programs and affairs. He is also the mentor and spirit behind the LCHS debating team. A multi-talented person, Rudy is also the perennial life of a party who easily entertains the crowd with his singing and dancing skills. He is also the lone breadwinner in his family.

Any help, in any kind or form, extended for Rudy's recovery shall be appreciated.  Contact LCHS-AA Secretariat: Tel. 063-221-2422, cell: +63917-3305322 or +639189277641.

CONGRATULATIONS
New registered nurse

Jasper Joseph "Jaypee" Lim passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing of the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) in June this year.  Out of 42,006 who took the exam, only 17,821 passed.  Our congratulations to Jaypee for being among this year’s batch of successful examinees.  Jaypee Lim is the son of Suniel Lim (Batch ’66) and Corrie Lim. The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees will be held before the PRC Board of Nursing on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 8:00 a.m., at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City; on August 23, 2006 in Cebu; and on September 7, 2006 in Cagayan De Oro.

Correction please
Mon, 10 Jul 2006 06:05:35 -0700 (PDT)

I just got the latest issue of Spectrum and I couldn't help it, I must point out some mistakes: the name of my club is the Rotary Club of Muntinlupa South, not Mandaluyong, as reported in the "On The Spotllight" column.  And the name of our sister club in Taiwan is the Rotary Club of Taipei Wen Lin.
--Marie Janiefer Lee (Batch '87), Makati, Philippines; email: janieferl@yahoo.com

LCHS needs Yu
Fri, 28 Jul 2006 21:26:00 +1000

It is with great sadness to hear what had happened lately to our multi-talented and debating genius Rodolfo Yu. We hope and pray that his present predicament is just a temporary one. And may he fully recover soon. LCHS needs RODOLFO YU!
--Loloy Tan (Batch '66), Sydney, Australia, email: edtan@iinet.net.au

Slipped disc
Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:34:41 +0000

Dear Sir Rudy: Sorry to hear about your problem.  You happened to have a "slipped disc" or "herniated disc."  Consult an orthopedic surgeon and have an MRI of the lumbar region.  Conservative treatment might be needed instead of surgical approach.  Ayaw sa pahilot; masig ma-complicate.  Hoping for your early recovery.
--Greg Dy, M.D.(Batch '59), Chicago, Ill., U.S.A., email: regdy@comcast.net

Orthopedic surgeon
Sat, 29 Jul 2006 17:56:59

My best friend, Dr. Renan Abellera, is a very good orthopedic surgeon based in Cagayan de Oro.  In case Rudy Yu needs to consult one, I can refer Rudy to him.
--Kenton Sua (Batch '80), Manila, Philippines, email: kentonsua@yahoo.com

Get well soon
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 06:32:50 +0000

Dear Rodolfo:  Reading about Rodolfo's case made me think of slipped disc or herniated disc too, just like what Sir Greg had in mind. It's a condition which is not uncommon among midlifers who lift heavy objects or do PRT exercises or suddenly bend down to pick up fallen objects or while playing bowling or any activity that would make the nerve in the spinal or vertebral column or lumbar disc slip or herniate causing a clicking sound at the lumbar area. I get similar cases in my medical practice every now and then. Do get the opinion of both orthopedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon. And yes, don't ever go to a hilot. Refrain from having a massage/hilot. If and when a surgical intervention is contemplated, the procedure is termed laminectomy.

Hey, you should get well kay manayaw pa baya ta come July 2008 for our 3rd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming nooh. Cheer up, our dear Rodolfo. It's not the end of the world. As the song would put it, "The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar till tomorrow, there'll be sun ..."
--Henry L. Yu, M.D. (Batch '69), Cebu, Philippines; email: hvty@skyinet.net

Don't take injury for granted
Sat, 29 Jul 2006 12:32:42 +0000

We're saddened by this unfortunate incident on Rudy.  I agree with Dr. Greg Dy's suggestion. Don't take that injury for granted. Try to see Dr. Rogelio Chua of Chong Hua (neurologist) or Dr. Amado Layno of Cebu Doctors' Hospital (neurosurgeon) just to be sure that it is not slip disc. The earlier the better.
--Alex Rodriguez, M.D. (Batch '65), Miramar, Florida, U.S.A.; email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

SINGAPORE SWING.  Suniel "Boy" Lim (Batch '66) was spotted enplaning for Singapore last July 22 together with his wife Corrie.  They accompanied their daughter Cherrie Anne Lim-Mosqueda, son in law Joon Joel Mosqueda and granddaughter Andrea who were moving to Singapore.  Joon, who used to be senior system specialist at Del Monte Philippines in Cagayan de Oro, is taking on a new high-paying job in Singapore.  Boy and Corrie are expected to be back in Iligan after a week in Singapore.  [In photo: Andrea Mosqueda, Cherrie Anne Mosqueda, and Corrie Lim.]

PALAWAN ESCAPADE.  Peter Dy (Batch '66) was spotted enjoying a post-summer escapade in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last July 6.  Together with Peter were his wife Tita and sister Fe "Guat Ching" Quimbo.  The group went island hopping and toured the famous St. Paul Subterranean River in Sabang.  Considered a National Park, this underground river flows within a deep cavern under rugged limestone and marble cliffs, a special feature of the park. Known as one of the world's wonders, this river stretches eight kilometers deep into an underground lagoon with crystalline waters. Within the hallowed recesses, one winds through the tunnel aboard a paddle boat outriggers to be enthralled at every turn which reveals stalactite pillars, rock formations and domed amphitheaters.

In our society, it has become a sad reality that most of the couples are not interacting with each other as much as they used to.  They probably believe that since they are already married, there is no need to show as much love and care.  But I believe that as the marriage grows, the love must grow with it.

We often see married couples in restaurants, in the church, and they seem unhappy and bored with life.  But it shouldn't be like that.  Because the courtship must not end once they are married.  Instead, that's when it should begin.  They often fail to connect with each other, and as it builds on, much is lost.  And as it worsens, the perils of unfaithfulness come.  Lies come after lies, and doubts come with them.  After the doubts come, they no longer trust each other completely.  And once the trust is gone, there is no more transparency in the relationship.  The reason most couples get a divorce is because they never bother to work out their problems.  They don't communicate them out.  They give up too easily.  And the worse part is that it is not only the couples that are affected, but so are the children.

Divorces often strain the relationship between the parent and the child.  Most couples feel trapped in marriage by their own fears, fear of losing status, fear of criticism, fear of being alone, fear of gaining a bad name, fear of doing harm to the children, and the fear of raising a child alone.  These are serious matters to consider. That’s why even in a loveless relationship, most couples find the children as reasons to stay married, until one tends to fall into temptation.

There is a command in the Bible found in 1 Corinthians 7:10 "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband."  There is always a consequence for infidelity, just like there is for every sin.  But some married couples avoid expressing their unhappiness to keep peace.  But this isn't how it should be. Because entering into the sacrament of marriage is a serious thing.  This is when one is sure that he has his life partner and is sure that this partner is whom he will spend his entire life with.  Marriage is sacred in the eyes of God, and this is a matter that the youth should take seriously. Unfaithfulness only means that the couple has made the wrong choice.  This sin of unfaithfulness is a burden, not only to the married couple, but also to the home. The children may get insecure, causing them emotional and psychological problems.  Unfaithfulness could lead to guilt, to lack of focus, to emotional instability, and it could lead to the destruction of a family.

As Oscar Wilde once said, "Those who are faithless know the pleasures of love; but it is the faithful who know love's tragedies."

[Editor's Note:  The author, Kate Dorothy Ngo, is the daughter of Roderick Ngo (Batch '70).  She is a third year high school student at the Bethany Christian School, Cebu City.]

Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66