Vol. 10, No. 19, January 29, 2007
Iligan
tourism picks up steam
Iligan City's thriving tourism industry has reported a total of 70,910 registered foreign and domestic tourists from January to October of 2006. Visitors to Tinago Mountain Resort (in photo) alone reached 17,801 since its return to full operation in June 2006. The city government's Program of Works for the development of Mimbalot Falls is also hoped to help boost local tourism in the future.
The City Tourism Office continues to welcome local residents who have
extra rooms in their homes and are willing to earn additional income by
accommodating tourists to register under the "Iligan Homestay Association"
(IHA) which aims to cater to visitors who express their preference to stay
in houses of locals than in hotels. This is also to heed the call of the
Department of Tourism to give tourists safety, security and convenience
during their stay. Eight homeowners have already enlisted under the IHA
in the past three years and interested parties are invited to visit the
City Tourism Office, Bahay Salakot, Buhanginan Hills, Pala-o, Iligan; or
call 221-3426 for details.
Cesario
Ong, 74
Cesario Ong, aka Ong Hui Hong, passed away last Jan. 11 in Cebu City. He was 74. He was the husband of Conchita Te-Ong (Batch '62). They have two children, Stanley Ong and Stewart Ong. His remains were cremated at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, Cebu City, on Jan. 16, 2007. We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.
Basilia Gadiane, 79
Basilia Gadiane passed away at the age of 79 last Jan. 13 in Iligan City. She was the mother of Aida Chou-Ipili (Batch '67). Her body was laid to rest in Iligan on Jan. 17, 2007. We request our pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of her soul.
Door
of happiness
Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:15:07
When one door of happiness closes, another one opens. But often
we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has
been opened for us.
--Stela Navarro, Cebu, Philippines, forward SMS +639173879935
Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:02:22 -0700
To Aida Chou-Ipili & family: May peace and love comfort you in
this season of sorrow. Our deepest sympathy.
--Peter & Tita Dy & family, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;
email: pdy@telusplanet.net
Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:05:39 -0700
To Conchita (Keng Diok) Te-Ong & family: Wishing there was a way
to make your heart feel whole again. So Sorry for your loss.
--Peter & Tita Dy & family, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;
email: pdy@telusplanet.net
Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:15:08 +0000
Our prayers and sympathy go to the family of the late Cesario Ong.
May he rest in peace.
--Alex Rodriguez & family, Miramar, Florida, U.S.A.; email:
alpacino_8@hotmail.com
Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:19:32 +0000
Our deepest sympathy to Aida Chow Ipili, Vison Chow & family. We
regret the early demise of their mother. Our prayers for her eternal rest.
--Alex Rodriguez & family, Miramar, Fl., U.S.A.; email:
alpacino_8@hotmail.com
Tue, 16 Jan 2007 05:17:28 +0000
Our heartfelt condolence to Conching, children and family. Our prayers
for the eternal repose of Cesar's soul.
--Dr. Henry L. Yu and family, Cebu, Philippines; email: hvty@skyinet.net
Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:47:56 +0800
Our deepest sympathy to Aida and Veson.
--Teresita Racines and family, Iligan, Philippines; email: csm-tur@sulat.msuiit.edu.ph
Wed, 17 Jan 2007 04:29:22 +0000
Our fervent prayers to Aida and Vinson and family for the passing away
of their mother. May she rest in God's eternal peace.
--Henry L. Yu and family, Cebu, Philippines; email: hvty@skyinet.net
Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:31:16 +0000
To Aida, Veson & family: With deep regret on the early passing
away of Mama Basilia. Our fervent prayers for her eternal rest.
--Elsa Lagrosas & family.
Alumni newsbits & other tidbits
NEW
ILIGAN BRANCH MANAGER. Spotted back in Iligan is the debonaire
and amiable
Henry James Go (Batch ‘68), in photo, new branch manager
of China Banking Corporation in Iligan City. Prior to his Iligan assignment,
James was manager of the Chinabank’s Butuan branch.
James will undoubtedly feel at home with his new assignment as he has many good friends in Iligan. He, however, will continue to commute on weekends between Iligan and Cagayan de Oro where his family is based. James is the younger brother of Jose Sam Go (Batch '67) who resides in Cebu.
MALL
EXPANSION. The Cebu Holdings Inc. has poured in P800 million
for the expansion of its shopping mall, the Ayala Center Cebu (in photo).
The expansion of the main mall started in June 2006 and will be completed
this April. The mall's expansion building and lagoon redevelopment
will add 6,000 sq.m. and 8,000 sq.m. of leasable space, respectively.
The project will convert the lagoon area into a development similar to Greenbelt in Makati but with Cebuano characteristics. The new building will have popular restaurants with al fresco dining areas on the first level; and trendy shops and lifestyle outlets, bars and entertainment clubs to add to Cebu's pulsating night life.
The lagoon area building will be connected to the main mall through covered walkways and outdoor escalators, while an outdoor stage will become a venue for shows. There will also be a multilevel sparking building to provide more parking spaces.
Roderick Ngo (in blue shirt) and his family on
a visit last December to their ancestral shrine at the communal village
of the Ho clan in Kinmen, Fujian.
Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69
The Kids of Yesterday
As Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), we were the kids of yesterday and the midlifers of today. We're sandwiched between two generations of the young ONES and the young ONCE, between taking care of our children or grandchildren and our aging parents or grandparents. What a privilege it is! Let's thank God for allowing us to reach this far.
As midlifers, let's get acquainted with today's IN things so we will be updated and not be left behind. Let's adapt to our kids' dot.com generation. Let's sing their songs. Dance to their music. Eat their food. Utter their lingo as in: Hellouer. Friendship. Seecreet. Ko-reck. Mag sure ka. Grabeh. Gets mo. Astig. Joke Joke Joke. G. Sosy. Gimik. Malling. Surf the net. Virus. WiFi. Sci-Fi. Ma at Pa. Me (as in "Eat muna me"). Mader. Papa. Musta. K. Spag. Longga. Di kita ma-reach. Over. Anyways. Cool. Pasaway. Ikaw pah. As in. K ka lang? In. No probs. LOL. MU. Walang paki. Feel ko lang. Sobra. Oo naman. Go na. Type mo? Wala lang ... and a lot more.
As parents, let's try to bridge the communication or generation gap. Let's not just be a parent but most importantly be a friend to them, one who would understand the aches and pain of growing up, and the fun of being young. Afterall, we were once kids ourselves. Remember how we went gaga over Jam Sessions? The Twist, Jerk, Limbo Rock, Elephant Walk, Shing-A-Ling, Bogaloo, Soul, Grind, autographs, penpal writing, stamp collection, radio dedication programs, Tancho, Fanbo, Kokoryu, Banlon, Express Week magazine, Song Cavalcade songhits, 45 rpm records, Pat Cline's Crazy, Cliff Richard's Constantly, Matt Monro's Walk Away, the Beatles' hits, Amalia-Susan, Guy and Pip, Maria Leonora Theresa, and so much more.
Yes, the only difference is: We were born ahead of them. Once upon a time, we too passed that stage of being the young and the restless. Yes, we had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. All in a world of our own.
On many occasions I tried to recite the verses and poems of the renowned Chinese poet Li Pai, specially when he was under the influence of Etoh and warrior Yee Fei, with his famous piece "Man Chiang Hoong." We were required to memorize them, like Dr. Jose Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios." You can memorize the verses and the poem, word for word, unless you totally understand the meaning behind it. I struggled to recite with Bian Bian (my 4-soh) many times but forgot most of the verses in "Man Chiang Hoong," etc. I have to look for the Chinese book for reference but couldn't find it. Very frustrating indeed, not being able to recall what I once memorized. Sign of old age? Pardon me; I am speaking for myself.
Our students today may be interested to know that once upon a time in LCHS we did have a group of dedicated Chinese teachers who entered our youthful lives and created very deep and everlasting imprints in our young minds. They were not only great teachers, they also had good bonding with everyone of us at the old campus near the Saray beach.
Our Spectrum editors are the younger batches of dedicated, visionary alumni. Perhaps they, and the rest of our new crop of alumni, may not have been familiar with the earlier generation of Chinese teachers that we had during our time. Yet, I believe these Chinese teachers during the good old days of LCHS deserve to be remembered and honored. They once exerted a deep and positive influence in our youthful lives. Otherwise, I would not be bringing this up, after years of passively reading the Spectrum.
I suggest that a concerted effort be made, starting with the Spectrum, to locate and invite our old Chinese teachers who stood out during our time, like Tang-sian (Tang Chin Zen) and Tan-sian (Tan Gee Hun), to name a few. It will be worth the effort to trace their whereabouts and invite these outstanding teachers, if they are still around, to grace the next grand alumni homecoming and reunion.
As many older alumni are aware, in the early years of LCHS we also had mentors, the likes of Sy Seng Chiok, Kho Pek Yong, along with my mother and father, who were among the pioneering educators of our small and growing community. They, too, might have left valuable imprints among our older batches of students who are now in their 70s or 80s. These pioneering mentors are part of our LCHS legacy. Let us honor them as well. You can request our historian, Sy Chu Pin, to head this project to compile a database of these great mentors of our time. With the advances of modern computer technology and the Internet, this project is indeed feasible and ought to be given due course. You can invite the teachers, who are able to travel, to our next school reunion or share some of their thoughts in the Spectrum. Given the proper motivation, I am sure they will only be too glad to join.
The Spectrum staff, hand in hand with our alumni officials, have the resources and capability. Your group efforts and individual initiatives have made the Spectrum last this long. Let's do that now before it's too late.
Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66
After the rain
|