Vol. 10, No. 15, December 4, 2006

Tsinoy Beauties

More projects up in Iligan

Aside from the newly inaugurated Barangay Materials Recovery Facility in Del Carmen and the soon-to-commence Surveillance System Project, Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz has bared other developments to watch for in Iligan City. The DBP has approved the P445 million loan appropriation for the 15-year Comprehensive Program for the improvement of water supply. President Gloria Arroyo has directed the Regional Development Council–10 for the inclusion of the approval for the C3 or Circumferential Road Project, a matter of foremost priority for Iligan, in its December meeting line-up. Mayor Cruz has also cited the need for another highway from Linamon, Lanao del Norte to the hinterlands passing through Barangay Puga-an to Santa Filomena to cater to the needs of a growing population.

Johndorf launches new subdivision

Johndorf Ventures Corp. will launch another affordable subdivision on Dec. 5.  Called Genesis, the new subdivision is located in Sugtungan, Lapulapu City.  Its 522 units are set in excellent landscape.  There are two models to choose from, "Gaia," with 22 sq.m. lot, two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and toilet & bath. Or "Tara," a two-storey house set in 47 sq.m. lot, two bedrooms, living room, dining area, kitchen, and toilet & bath.  Johndorf is also the developer of Aldea Prima in Mactan, Cebu that sold 1,000 units.  The company is owned and operated by Richard Lim and brothers.

Erlito Chio, 74

Erlito Chio died of lingering illness at his residence in Iligan City, on Nov. 19, 2006. He was 74 years old. He and his wife Lily Chio own the famous Snack Inn at Pala-o, Iligan. Erlito Chio was employed with Kim San Company in his younger days. His sister Susan Chio Dano, a teacher at LCHS, is married to Marcelino "Kiao Eng" Dano. Erlito also has a brother, Pepe Chio, who used to teach at LCHS and whose wife is the sister of former LCHS principal Crisanta Alcover. Among Erlito Chio's children are Nanette Chio (Batch '77), Zelda Chio (Batch '77), and Bradly Chio (Batch '79).  We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Letter of thanks
Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:23:41 -0800 (PST)

To Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Lanao Chung Hua School Board of Directors:  No words of appreciation seem enough for the special and momentous support you give to Jim Darrell D. Ang with regards to his participation in the International Young Mathematicians' Competition, Lucknow, India.  On behalf of school principal Ma'am Jing, Siansi Honghong, and our family, we, the parents of Jim Darrell are very grateful for the full support.  Thank you and God bless you richly.
--Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Ang (Batch '83), Iligan, Philippines; email: ang.dennis@yahoo.com

Wonderful memories
Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:54:17 +0000

First of all, I would like to make some corrections regarding the November 20, 2006 issue of the LCHS Spectrum: (1) Dr. Antonio Leo Te (Boy Tin Lu Sing) belongs to Class 1969 (instead of Class 1968). He was my classmate from kindergarten to high school. He was the "A" in our barkada in grade school called THJLA (for T-immy, H-enry, J-immy, L-eopoldo). (2) Bonifacia Co (Pancing) belongs to Class 1965 (instead of Class 1962). She was the classmate of my older brother Ernesto (Dodong).

Reading through that particular issue of the LCHS Spectrum brought forth some wonderful memories of certain people in the past whom I would have wanted to meet in person again, the likes of: (1) Dr. Augusto "Chu-Kok" Sy. We boarded M/V Elena once upon a time on our way home to Iligan from Cebu in the summer of 1974. And that was the last time we saw each other. (2) Johnny Wong Ling (Hay Toy) whose family (Pa William and Ma Petra of King Sing Bazar) used to be our neighbors since I was born till we transferred to Cebu in 1977. He is the younger brother of my best friend (the late Jimmy Wong Ling or Takiong), Remedios (Boy Toy), Helen, and Jerry (Tata). (3) Wilson Lim who is the younger brother of my classmate Josefina (Jolen).

Truly, the LCHS Spectrum "brings with each issue a little touch of home, making waves from coast to coast, to bring our alumni closer from shore to shore." It is indeed one vehicle that allows us to connect to each other despite time, space and distance. Mabuhay ang Spectrum! See you all come 2008 for our 3rd LCHS Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAH). In His Time.
--Henry L. Yu, M.D., (Batch '69), Cebu, Philippines; email: hvty@skyinet.net

Messages of condolences

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:36:56 -0800 (PST)
My heartfelt condolence to the Chio family. All three kids were my classmates, both siblings of Noy Erlito were my teachers back in LCHS.  May God grant you peace and comfort knowing that an end to an earthly life is the beginning of eternal life. God bless you!
--Evelyn Yu-Go (Batch '77), San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.; email: e_go@sbcglobal.net

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:38:02 +0000
Our heartfelt condolence and prayers to Nang Lily Chio and family (children Nanette, Zelda, and Bradley) and relatives, on the passing away of Noy Erlito. God grant eternal rest unto him. May his soul rest in peace.
--Dr. Henry L. Yu and family, Cebu, Philippines; email: hvty@skyinet.net

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:53:43 -0800 (PST)
Our heartfelt condolence and prayers to Nang Lily Chio and family (children Nanette, Zelda, and Bradley) and relatives, on the passing away of Noy Erlito. God grant eternal rest unto him. May his soul rest in peace.
--Antonio Leo Te (Boy Te) and family, Taiwan; email: tonite52@yahoo.com

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:51:58 +0000
May he rest in peace. Our heartfelt condolence to the Chio family.
--Alex Rodriguez & family, Miramar, Florida, U.S.A.; email: alpacino_8@hotmail.com

BACK FROM CANADA.  Jesus "Hesing" Dy (Batch '63) arrived back in Cebu from Edmonton, Canada, last Nov. 12.  He has a house in a posh subdivision, Pacific Grand Villa, in Mactan, Cebu, where he lives with his wife Melania Dy.  Before his trip to Cebu, Jesus joined his brother Greg Dy to Florida where Greg has a house in The Villages, Florida, U.S.A.  The Villages is a luxurious and exclusive little city within a city.  It is ideal for retirement.  The Villages has its own movie houses, golf courses, lakes, and a host of other amenities and recreational centers.  The place has no less than 50,000 units of superb town houses within the village. A unit is said to cost about US$400,000.  Jesus Dy, together with Greg Dy and Peter Dy, also flew to Chicago to grace the wedding of Johnson Dy's son Jason and his Japanese bride Atsuko (in photo). Jason's brother, Jacob Dy-Johnson, has just become a new lawyer.  He passed the bar in California, U.S.A. this November.  Meanwhile, their sister, Jessica, is following her father's footsteps.  She is pursuing medicine proper at the University of Chicago.  Before medicine proper, she completed her four-year college course with US$100,000 full scholarship at the University of New York. In high school, she was rated first among top high school students in the entire state of Illinois.

NEW GRANDMA.  Congratulations to Elsa Ang-Uy (Batch '63), in photo, who very recently became a new grandmother.  Her daughter Tanie gave birth to a healthy baby girl last Nov. 21 in Cebu City.  Tanie is the sister of Candice Uy who used to be a regular contributing writer of the Spectrum.  Tanie's husband is the brother of the son-in-law of Dy Kim Seng (Batch '40).

JITSE EXAM. Derwin Dexter Sy, son of Nelson Sy (Batch '62), was among five students of the University of San Carlos (USC) who passed the Japan Information Technology Standard Exam (JITSE) conducted nationwide last Oct. 1.  There were about 50 Computer Science and Information Technology students from the USC who took part in the exam.  Derwin Dexter is a graduating B.S. Information Techology student of USC.  The JITSE exam is conducted by the PhilNITS, a non-government organization that is implementing a Certification Program from the Japan Information Technology Engineers Examination Center (JITEC) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan.   The JITSE exam is a certification program for IT practitioneers that will give Filipinos an advantage when seeking high tech jobs here and abroad.

GLITTERATI. Spotted in the company of the glitterati in Manila recently was Dr. Vivina Chiu (Batch '61).  Vivina was among the invited guests at the Philippine debut of the Monique Lhullier collection at the plush Shang Palace of the Makati Shangri-la.  The show features the fashion wears of couturier Monique Lhullier whose clientele includes top stars of Hollywood.  Monique is the daughter of Michel and Amparito Lhullier, owners of M. Lhullier Pawnshop & Jewelry.  Among the celebrities spotted with Vivina at the gathering were Lea Salonga, Annabelle Rama, Margie Moran, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Johnny Litton, and a coterie of the country's top models and designers.

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Visit our website:  www.oocities.org/lchsspectrum

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The 68th LCHS Foundation Celebration held last Nov. 12 at the LCHS gymnasium kicked off to a good start with the announcement of this year’s jubilarians.  They are Batch 1956 (Golden Jubilarians); Batch 1966 and 1981 (Silver Jubilarians).  Among the highlights of the affair was the presentation of this year’s awardees.

The Leadership Awardees were Hon. Sy Chu An, president of the LCHS Board of Trustees, for his philanthropic deeds; Hon. Henry C. Dy, LCHS-AA president & City Vice Mayor, for his Exemplary Leadership; Suniel G. Lim, LCHS-AA 1st VP, for his ingenuity and commitment; James T. Yu, LCSPA President, for his dynamic leadership.   The Service Awardees were Engr. Calix H. Tan, LCHS-AA Past President, for his loyalty & generosity; James L. Booc, LCHS-AA executive VP, for his commendable services & commitment; and Eriberto C. Cabilan, Jr., former LCHS faculty, for his willingness to serve.  [In photo: LCHS-AA President & Iligan City Vice Mayor Henry Dy (left) poses with his Leadership Award on stage together with LCHS school director Henry Siao, LCHS-AA past president Vy Beng Hong, and Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Robert Co.]

The affair also showcased the Chinese cultural lion dance (photo), song numbers and funfare.  Pupils (in red & green t-shirts) eagerly awaiting the presentation numbers. The bleachers of the gym were occupied by LCHS students as spectators while the parents and invited guests were seated at the center aisle.

Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69

Once upon a time in 1959, there lived a seven-year old boy who went to school as a Grade I pupil. It was Christmas time in the city and "Yuletide carols being sang by the choir" reverberated around the air. There were children caroling with accompanying tambourines made from soft drink crowns singing "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King..." as well as adult choir groups singing "Kasadya ning takna-a dapit sa kahimayaan..." They brought with them musical instruments to add glam and glitter to their caroling galore.

On that last Saturday afternoon of November, the little boy, together with his classmates, went to school to decorate their classroom and put up the Christmas tree. They all had fun wrapping the twigs of the tree with green crepe papers after which they hung colorful decors and light series on the Christmas tree. They had those different colors of crepe papers connected from one end of the classroom wall to the other end, with a big accordion-type of red paper bell hanging from the center of the ceiling. Other classrooms have Christmas trees made of broomsticks, splashed with white Perla soap that has been beaten and hardened. Done with the task of decorating their classroom, this little boy headed back home to help watch their store. There were lots of things for sale - toys, chocolate bars, candies, apples, grapes, ham, queso de bola, etc. A week before Christmas, this little boy had their class Christmas party in school. The program started with a group singing of "Come on and dance the Merry Christmas Polka, let everyone be happy and gay..." They each brought a gift for the chin-chin gift (Exchanging Gift) which took place after a snack of chicken sandwich, empanada, and candies individually contained in a brown paper bag.

Christmas vacation saw this little boy taking a nap after lunch while he made a countdown as to how many more days were left before Christmas Eve so he could write a letter to Santa Claus and hang a sock by the window. Yes, he really believed in Santa Claus. Early morning of Christmas Day, he woke up to see what Santa Claus has brought for him: a choo choo train, a new pair of Ang Tibay shoes, and copies of Junior Illustrated Classic comics. And he thought he had been a good boy because Santa Claus gave him all the things that his heart desired. After attending the 7:00 o'clock mass, he came home and was so happy to see another bundle of gifts from his ninongs and ninangs, uncles, aunties, and neighbors.

On New Year's Eve, this little boy, together with his friends set up a camping tent in their backyard where they had so much fun in pre-adolescence reverie as they swapped stories, joked, laughed, while munching peanuts and other goodies. At the stroke of 12:00 midnight they campered around the backyard to light the sparklers and firecrackers. He was told to listen intently to the first sound of the animal heard at that moment as that would indicate what the New Year would bring: either prosperity, crisis, or famine. He was also told to jump five times so as to grow taller. Young and innocent that he was, all these were imprinted in his mind year after year after year until he reached the Age of Reason and Rebellion.

He went to high school and on to college. He has travelled along life's many journeys. He committed mistakes along the way. He has loved and lost. He was confused, he cried some tears, he ran and stumbled, he had bruises. He fell and stood again. He learned his lessons. He has really been through a lot. Several Christmases have passed. After college, he went on to take up medicine to become the doctor that he has always wanted to be. The learning never stopped.

Some more years passed and he is now into his midlife. But for always, the memories of the past Christmases will always stay as fresh as when they happened decades ago, reminding him of his happy childhood and the wonderful memories of Christmas in the heart and mind of a little boy that he was, once upon a time.

Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66

Sunset in Ormoc