Vol. 11, No. 13, Oct. 1, 2007
The
new officers and directors of the LCHS Alumni Association, led by new president
James Booc (in photo), were sworn into office in a simple yet formal
induction ceremony at the LCHS gym last Sept. 25. The occasion marked
a turning point in the history of the LCHS-AA in which the reins of leadership
have been transferred to the hands of a younger generation of alumni.
Inducted by Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Robert Co were James L. Booc ('82), president; Suniel S. Lim ('66), Executive VP; Johnny Chen ('83), 1st VP; Joan Quimbo-Quidlat ('87), Secretary; Geraldine Tan ('87), treasurer; Teresita U. Racines ('67), auditor; and Alicia C. Go ('78), public relations officer. Also inducted were the new directors, namely Glenda Sy-Cabilan ('72), Dy Sio Te ('65), Vy Beng Hong ('69), Roger Suminguit ('73), Steward Co ('83), Ian Uy ('86), Jimmy Ang ('83), Sherwin Sy ('95), and immediate past president Henry Dy ('64) as adviser.
The induction ceremony was held jointly with the LCHS celebration of Teachers' Day at the gym. This year's Teachers' Day was celebrated ahead of the usual date of September 28. And as a culmination of their term, the outgoing LCHS-AA officers, led by Henry Dy, turned over to the alma mater the association's donation of a set of audio equipment valued at P70,000 for the upgrading of the sound system in the school gym. Another highlight of the occasion was the induction of officers of the LCHS Parents Association (LACSPA) led by its president James Yu
Sy Chu An passes away
Noted
Iligan businessman and civic leader Sy Chu An (in photo) died of
a lingering illness on Sept. 25, 2007 at the Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu City.
He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife Lilia Lua-Sy and
children Elizabeth Sy-Dy, Anna Concepcion Sy-Handria, Reina Regina Sy-Lao,
Sheila Kathryn Sy-Tan, Charito Sy-Yu, Elna Lynette Sy, Anthony Sy and Maria
Theresa Sy. Among his siblings are Sy Chu Pin, Dena Sy-Go, Sy Chu
Eng, Alfredo "Chu Tek" Sy, Rainato "Chu Guan" Sy, Augusto "Chu Kok" Sy,
Amelia Lehua Sy, and Norma Sy-Lim. The late Sy Chu An was a tireless
and highly respected civic leader, having been a past president of the
Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce; past director for Northern
Mindanao of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce &
Industry, Inc.; and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lanao Chung
Hua School. He was also active in many other business, civic, charitable
and religious organizations. His body was laid to rest at the Cebu Memorial
Park, Cebu City on Sept. 30. We request our pious readers to pray for the
eternal repose of his soul.
AFTER
LONG DELAY
Belmonte
proclaimed new congressman
Now
after a long protracted struggle and series of protests, Iligan City has
a new congressman. Vicente "Varf" Belmonte Jr. (in photo) was finally
proclaimed last Sept. 25 by the COMELEC Second Division as the winner of
the congressional race in the May 14, 2007 election. He took his
oath immediately after his proclamation as Representative of the First
Congressional District of Iligan and Lanao del Norte. The final tally
by the COMELEC shows the following results: Vicente Belmonte Jr. (Uno),
60,054 votes; Angelique Badelles (Kampi), 46,630; and former Lanao del
Norte governor Imelda Dimaporo (Lakas-CMD) had 44,343. Belmonte is
the husband of Rossana Co. Meanwhile, members of the Resurrection
of the Lord Chinese Filipino Catholic Community held a Thanksgiving Mass
at the Resurrection of the Lord Church last Sept. 26 for Belmonte's final
triumph.
Re:
Henry Dy & 3rd LCHS GAH
Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:22:43 +0000
Congratulations to my tukayo Iligan City Vice Mayor Henry C. Dy for being chosen as Interim National President of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP). To be chosen for the position in an organization composed of 1,700 vice mayors nation-wide is indeed something for the record. Can you imagine that? Oh, I'm so happy and proud of you, TUX. Cheers to you and LCHS -- the school that made us what we are today. Mabuhay!
Anent the tentative schedule for our 3rd Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAH)
which is on the third week of May 2008, I would like to make some comments
and suggestions. The 1st and 2nd GAHs were held in August 3-5, 2000 and
July 7-9, 2005, respectively. I can't understand why we always change the
month for our GAH. One of the reasons stated was "it will be easier for
alumni in the Philippines to attend the affair as it is summer vacation."
Hey, did you consider those based in the U.S. or those outside the Philippines?
What about them? Not much problem with us here in the Philippines (Luzon,
Visayas, Mindanao) as we're just within the Philippine archipelago. This
is our territory. Now, can you assure me that if we hold it in May 2008,
these "alumni in the Philippines" will attend such event? I suggest that
we stick to July. Let's decide what week in July once and for all and stick
to it from then on and not keep on changing.
--Henry L. Yu, M.D. (Batch '69), Cebu, Philippines; email: hvty@skyinet.net
Happiness can't be found if you seek it for yourself. But when
you give it to others it somehow finds its way back to you.
Stay happy.
--Stela Navarro, Cebu, Philippines; forwarded from SMS, cell
+639173879935
Bridging
alumni across the globe
Sat, 22 Sep 2007 02:56:57 +0800
I checked the LCHS website directory of Batch 1984 and noted that my
family name was misspelled. May I request for necessary correction, it
should be GUIRITAN, not GURITAN. To the writers of LCHS Spectrum
I wish to express my sincere appreciation of your continuous effort in
bridging the alumni across the globe. I always update my brother Hipolito
Guiritan on what I read from the newsletter. He is amazed how updated
I am with what's happening in Iligan despite being away for a long
time. Best regards.
--Josefina Rizalina Guiritan (Batch '84), Makati, Philippines;
email: jrizalina@mac.com
On
friendship
Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:50:22
Friendship is a network that needs no activation, no roaming, no validity
limit, no recharge, no reload, no signal problems. Just do not switch
off your heart.
--Remedios Tan-Wee (Batch '64), Cotabato, Philippines; forwarded
from SMS, cell +639209213613
Alumni on the go
RE-ELECTED
PREXY. Lucio Choa Tan (Batch '67), in photo, was
recently re-elected 13th president of the Tan Family Association, Cagayan
de Oro chapter. Lucio, whose family hails from Initao, Mis. Oriental,
is a major player in the charcoal industry in Northern Mindanao.
Among his companies are Lucio Tan Enterprises (coconut shell charcoal trader),
KS Agro-Industrial Venture (charcoal briquettes exporter), and Initao Tower
Trading Corporation (coco shell charcoal buyer & dealer).
ON TOURS. All set to embark on a seven-week vacation across Europe come Oct. 2 are Leonardo "Loloy" Tan (Batch '66) and his wife Lelian. Their trip will take them all over France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Netherlands. For sure, Loloy will not allow the chance to join first-hand the famous Oktoberfest in Munich pass him by. Their trip will wind up in Virginia, U.S.A. where Loloy is one of those invited to deliver a talk at a relative's wedding. Also getting set to go on a trip to the Middle East is Bonifacia "Pancing" Co-Go (Batch '62). She is joining a tour group from Cebu for a vacation this month in Egypt, Dubai and Turkey. Part of their itinerary is a visit to such exotic sites as the Giza Pyramids in Cairo, the River Nile, the Sphinx, and other world-famous landmarks. Needless to say, a camel ride across the sand dunes would be a must in their tour.
BACK HOME FROM TOKYO. Just arrived home in Cebu last Sept. 29 from a week-long trip to Japan were Derwin Dexter Sy, son of Nelson Sy (Batch '62), and Ted Steven Tan, son of Cristina "Sio Hua" Vy-Tan (Batch '70). Derwin and Ted, along with another colleague at Epson Software Engineering Philippines in Cebu, spent an all-expenses paid week in Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan. They comprised the team that designed a new software for their counterpart in Epson Tokyo intended for a new state-of-the-art digital camera. They came home a few pounds heavier after feasting on sushi, sashimi and tempura all week long.
FINAL TRIBUTE. Several prominent figures from Iligan were spotted at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, Nivel Hills, Cebu City last Sept. 29. They all sailed to Cebu to pay their last respects and to offer their final tributes to the late Sy Chu An during the necrological services. Among them were Robert Co, representing the Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce (LFCCC); Henry Siao, representing the LCHS Administration; Vy Beng Hong, representing LCHS Board of Trustees; Sy Beng Gui and Richard Sy, representing the Iligan Kinmen Association; and Henry Lee, representing the Church of Iligan City. For his part, Iligan Vice Mayor Henry Dy was represented by Spectrum founder & past editor Charles O. Sy who read the full text of the plaque given by the Iligan City Council in grateful recognition of the numerous contributions made by the late Sy Chu An for the welfare of the community and the people of Iligan City. Anthony Sy, son of Sy Chu An, received the plaque on behalf of the bereaved family.
Roger Suminguit, Batch '73
Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69
The October in Our Life
It's OctoBER, the second of the BER months, the month when we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. It's the Rosary Month.
Certain people, things, places, or events remind us of our yesteryears. They bring back so many memories of youth. I remember my younger days back in my hometown in the 60's when we used to attend Catechism classes. Saturday afternoons would see us gather around the church to listen to Bible stories, praying "I Believe in God", "Our Father", "Hail Mary", "Glory be", and reciting the rosary, etc. We were taught how to be good children of God, to obey our parents and elders, to follow the Ten Commandments, to be God-fearing and prayerful. With a child-like faith, we grew up believing in the teachings of the church, of God's unconditional love, with Jesus as the ever merciful and forgiving God. It was a simple and happy life. There was peace and harmony. Our needs were simpler. Happiness to us would mean blowing the candles on our birthday cake with matching balloons and ice cream, opening beribboned gifts, singing "April Love" or "Tender Is The Night", playing tago-tago or patintero, doing the Elephant Walk or Limbo Rock or dancing the Twist or Jerk during jam sessions, going to the movies, swimming, biking, etc. Oh that was all of yesterday. Forty or fifty something years ago.
All the things taught to us were carried on as we journeyed through life, facing it stage by stage until we reached the Age of Reason and Rebellion, in the tradition of "Living together, growing together" and "A Family that prays together, stays together". The valuable lessons were stored within us all these years. They're carved so deep in our hearts that whenever we go wrong, we are simply reminded of the things we learned from our Catechism classes.
It's been almost half a century or over since then but until now we still hold dear the things which were taught to us. Sometimes we tend to forget the teachings of our youth. We slide back and falter. We pause and ponder and ask ourselves "Are these the things taught to us when we were kids?" Then we reflect on life's lessons. We go to confession. We receive communion. We start anew, feeling happy and refreshed. The prodigal son is back. A time to celebrate. Indeed, we need God in our life no matter how old we have grown, or how much fame and fortune we have acquired. There is no better way than to live life according to His teachings, reliving the lessons of the past. Although for now we are no longer the young boy in short pants with runny nose who used to play around the neighborhood or the little girl squatting on the floor while playing jackstone, but we simply remain the God-fearing person.
In this lifetime, there are just things that don't
change. Let this be one - our child-like faith in One God who remains the
same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Let us be the children of the same
God we worshipped and adored yesterday when we were kids. Let the child
in us live forever. In the eyes of God.
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