Vol. 10, No. 16, December 18, 2006
Robert
Booc wins Hershey's photo tilt
Robert Booc (Batch '84) captured the grand prize in the 2006 Hershey's Happiness Photo Contest. Held at the Renaissance Makati City Hotel last Nov. 27, the awards night marked a magnificent culmination to Hershey's extensive 10-week search for the photo that best exuded pure Hershey's Happiness. Over 22,000 entries were submitted from all over the Philippines. Robert Booc is the son of Sheikdin Booc (Batch '52).
The grand prize includes a trip for four to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Robert's winning entry, "My Hershey’s Delight," was a heartwarming photo of his blissful, 7-month old baby Emily Victoria with Hershey’s Kisses (in photo). As part of their trip, Robert and three of his family will enjoy a tour around the town of Hershey and Hersheypark, now celebrating its 99th year, with over 60 exciting rides and many other attractions.
Composing the panel of judges were premier photographer Mark Floro, top baby photographer Remy Bautista, and art critic Emi Pascual. They judged the 15 finalists according to the following criteria: 35% for dramatizing how Hershey’s makes the photo’s subject or subjects happy, 25% for creativity and visual concept, 10% for overall composition and 10% for the photo’s fun and imaginative way of portraying the selected category. To view the winners and finalists of the 2006 Hershey’s Happiness Photo Contest, log on to www.hersheyshappiness.com.ph.
Cebu
International Convention Center
Be
a lotus
Thu, 7 Dec 2006 17:22:44
Confucius said: "Be a lotus." Which means: No matter how ugly,
evil and sinful everyone around you might become, do not allow yourself
to be stained. A lotus remains beautiful even as it lingers in the
filthy waters of the pond. Don't be contaminated, don't be influenced by
worthless means. Remain radiant among the shadows of the darkness.
Be a lotus. It has to start with one to fill the pond with more.
--Glenda "Hong-Hong" Sy-Cabilan (Batch '71), Iligan, Philippines,
forwarded SMS, cell +639177166091
A
good life
Thu, 7 Dec 2006 12:07:06
A long life may not be good enough but a good life is long enough. Content
makes poor man rich; discontent makes rich men poor.
--Stela Navarro, Cebu, Philippines, forwarded SMS +639173879935
Helpful
saying
Fri, 17 Nov 2006
I just want to share with everyone a short yet very helpful saying
that was made by Pope John XXIII (Ioannes PP. XXIII): "Pray as if everything
depends on God, but work as if everything depends on you."
--Guan Keming, Cebu, Philippines; email: aiguohuaqiao@hotmail.com
Family trip to Kinmen
FAMILY
TRIP. Spotted recently gathering Cebu City in full force were
brothers Wilson Lim (Batch '66), in photo, Richard Lim (Batch
'68), and Johnson Lim (Batch '70). They were in Cebu to grace
the launching of the new subdivision of their company, Johndorf Ventures,
in Lapulapu City called Genesis Townhouse Subdivision. A couple of weeks
earlier the Lim brothers accompanied their mother on a family trip to Kinmen,
where they visited their ancestral home and relatives. We heard that
Wilson Lim, who is a successful physician in Manila, is also an avid golfer.
He is often seen teeing off in one of Manila's premiere golf courses after
his clinic hours. Meanwhile, we also gathered from our news spotters
in the field that the Lims' youngest brother Wilford Lim (Batch
'75) also recently visited Cebu City from his home base in Edison, New
Jersey, U.S.A. to assist Richard Lim in overseeing their ever growing home
development business. The Lim family used to reside in their house
right beside the Baslayan Creek along Roosevelt St. (now renamed Labao
St.). Across the street was the residence of the family of
Joel Lituan
Dy (Batch ‘65). Both their houses were considered landmarks during
the years of the old LCHS Roosevelt Ext. campus as students going to school
passed by their houses practically everyday.
ON TOUR WITH A STAR. Also spotted recently in the company of a popular movie star was Spectrum's point man in Cebu, Igdono Caracho (Batch '66). He accompanied Ilonah Jane Santos on a sightseeing tour around Cebu. Along with a few other friends, they toured the famous tourist spots of Cebu, like the Taoist Temple, the Lapulapu monument in Mactan, the highest viewing peak in Cebu called the Tops, among several other landmarks. Ilonah starred in the hit movie, "Fengshui." She is also a member of the cast of such popular telenovelas as "Maala-ala," and "Pangako Sa Iyo." Ilonah and her crew flew in to Cebu last November to film the "Basilica del Sto. Niño" segment of the "Maala-ala" tele-series.
Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69
Christmas Songs of Our Time
Say, how do you feel each time you hear "Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light, from now on our troubles will be out of sight" or "Chestnut roasting on an open fire, Jack frost nipping at your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up like Eskimos" and other such Christmas hit songs? It sure transports us back to that era somewhere in time when the world was much simpler and more peaceful in more ways than one, when we were so young and innocent and carefree then, devoid of so many responsibilities about the business of life and living. Yup, nothing beats the memories of those Christmas Songs of our youth. We just couldn't help but feel nostalgic as we look back and remember those Christmases of our childhood, Christmas being the most wonderful time of the year, a season of non-stop merry making, shopping galore, gift-giving, sharing, eating, singing, dancing, caroling, ad infinitum. Truly, there are just so many memories of Christmases past that remained intact in the inner recesses of our beings, no matter how old we have become. Now, let's take a walk in the park and listen once again to these Christmas songs of our youth. Here goes:
Blue Christmas // Deck The Halls // Frosty The Snowman // Give Love On Christmas Day // Hark The Herald // Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas // I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus // I'll Be Home For Christmas // It Came Upon A Midnight Clear // Jingle Bells // Joy To The World // Little Christmas Tree // Merry Christmas Polka // O Come All Ye Faithful // O Holy Night // O Little Town Of Bethlehem // Rudolph The Red-NosedReindeer // Santa Claus Is Coming To Town // Silent Night // Silver Bells // The Christmas Alphabet // The Christmas Song // The Christmas Story // The First Noel // The Little Drummer Boy // Twelve Days Of Christmas // We Wish You A Merry Christmas // Whispering Hope // White Christmas // Winter Wonderland // You're All I Want For Christmas.
When
I decided to resign from the hospital I was working with for the last 13
years, it raised many eyebrows. It became a headline news every inquirer
mind wanted to know. I didn't seem to be the type of person who would quit
my job, decided to stay home, then look for a new job. Who can afford that
when you're a single parent! Some thought I must be out of my mind.
Several of my co-workers begged me to stay. Our new director asked me during
my exit interview to re-consider staying. Several doctors as well as people
I knew from other departments were sad of my decision. It was quite emotional.
I wasn't just leaving my seniority, but also the bond of friendship and
sisterhood of my work family.
The truth was, I was burned out from the never ending problem of understaffing that seemed to worsen over the years. To top it off, there was the pulling system, on call and sending us home two hours early when the census dropped.
It was all about the "numbers"! Many times I came home very exhausted, had pounding headache, palpitation, achy neck and shoulders, back pain, sore legs and throbbing feet. I tried taking a vacation, and it did help, but didn't last long. I went through pity-party -- you know, that "poor me, I don't know where else to go, I don't have a husband" sort of feeling. I cried out to God many, many times behind closed door, but I didn't do anything about it. It was like I was just expecting God to do all the work to make things better while I wait and see for the result.
Sometimes God would allow situation to happen as a wake-up call. Sometimes God needs to push us to realize "Hey, I better do something or nothing will change." If we continue to contain ourselves within our comfort zone due to fear of the unknown then we'll just end up in the recycle bin. Looking back, I am truly grateful to God for that horrible weekends that pushed me to the edge.
That was my turning point. I was sobbing out of desperation at work. I talked to my daughter about it then I called our pastor to seek spiritual counseling and prayers. One of the scriptures our pastor shared with me was Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths." The power of God's Words gave me so much peace and clarity. The following day, I submitted my two weeks notice to my manager.
I resigned without a job waiting for me, without knowing where to go. I took a step of faith. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. This is according to Hebrews 11:8. For what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." It is the opposite of "To see is to believe." Faith is believe first then you will see result.
As a single parent, I had always worked full time. This is a privilege for me to be able to stay home for awhile especially around the holidays. It feels so good not to wake up as early as five in the morning and rushing to go to work. What a relief not to put on those roller blades at work. It's great to stay home, relax, just take it easy and catch up on things. But the best part of all, I have so much time to fellowship with the Lord everyday.
You're probably wondering how am I making it financially? Let's just say, when you put God first in your life, He will provide. I had to release it from my system and surrender it completely to God the desires of my heart. I stop worrying and started praying without ceasing. I put God in-charge of my job search. I made a decision not to limit God's power to pour out blessings into my life. I asked our Cell Leaders and members of the congregation to pray with me. James 5:16 says, "...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." I waited patiently for His response everyday, and never stop believing that He would. With God, delay doesn't mean denial. It means be patient and wait for God's best. We are used to remote control operation, but God doesn't work that way.
Did I finally get a job? You bet! Did God honor my requests? Yes, and He gave me more than what I asked for. I will be starting my new job in January 2007. I believe in what Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, "says the Lord." They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
It is my hope that this article will inspire readers to give God a chance to show you His immeasurable, unbeatable goodness when you put Him in-charge of your life. That as we celebrate Christmas, we will be able to look beyond the yearly festive decorations and material gifts, but rather, a daily celebration of Jesus in your heart. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you His grace and peace.
There
was a time when I had a thick crop of hair on my top. That was many
moons ago. I did not have to contend with such problem as dandruff
or split-ends. My problem was getting a simple haircut.
As a kid, I dreaded having a haircut or alut, as it was called then in Iligan. The mere thought of getting one would make my hair, well, stand on end. I threw tantrums each time I had to have a haircut. No amount of coaxing by my mother could persuade me to step into a barbershop, least of all be seated on a barber's chair. So my father had to bring me with him whenever he had to have his hair cut by his barber named Panyong.
Panyong did not work in a barbershop. He was a freelance barber who did home service. Twice a month he would do the rounds. And one of his stops was at the Keng Hong Trading where he had a group of regular customers. They included Suniel Lim's household and friends in the neighborhood, including my father and me. I was often the last in the queue to be served. Understandably so. I was Panyong's most difficult customer. I squirmed on my seat each time Panyong's vintage hair clipper touched my nape. It must have taken Panyong twice the time it took him to cut people's hair to finish mine. I never knew if my father paid Panyong twice the normal fee for cutting my hair. I was too busy flinching and wriggling in fits of near hysteria throughout the session.
Eventually I overcame my fear when I reached high school. It was the time of Elvis Presley. And every boy in town wanted to follow his famous shiny and well-coiffed hairstyle. Next to music, his hair was the "mane" event, so to say. Thus, from crewcut and flattop we started fashioning our hair ala Elvis Presley. To make our hair stick, we used a variety of cheap pomade like Pals, Three Flowers, Brillantine, Colonial, Waling-Waling and Sunflower. Not all at once of course, silly. For this reason, getting a haircut in barbershop became fashionable. I started patronizing barbershops on my own free will.
My regular barber was named Toto. He was one of the mainstays at Dina's Barbershop along Del Pilar St., one of the city's few airconditioned barbershops. Like Panyong, Toto enjoyed a good following in the Tsinoy community. He was soft-spoken, gentle and always seemed to remember how you liked your hair done. There were other barbers at Dina's who were equally unforgettable. Among them was Peter who was noted for his sartorial taste. He often wore white shirt neatly tucked in his white pants. And there was Henry Henson who also sidelined as a vernacular writer of the Lanao Mail. The barbershop was a daily beehive of activity. As a teener, I always found it entertaining to listen to the exchange of current events, juicy gossips or kwentong barbero, among the barbers while having my haircut.
In time, the famous Elvis pompadour went out of fashion. The Beatles has conquered the music world. Mop tops and long hair became the "in" thing. And soon enough we, too, started to grow our hair long in keeping with the fad. Consequently, pomade lost its market. And instead of the barbershop, we started visiting hair saloons where we simply had a hair trim instead of full hair cut.
Through the years, men's haircuts evolved from one style to another. They appeared and disappeared just as quickly. Yet, all that has ceased to concern me now. For today I have already lost my hair for all eternity.
Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66
|