Vol. 12, No. 17, March 9, 2009
There's just something astounding as we gaze at the stars in a translucent evening. Their flickering lights twinkle away what could have been a dark and gloomy night, beckoning us to watch a twilight transformation. Such an experience is likened to our Junior–Senior Promenade, which was held on February 15, 2009 at the Elena Tower Inn.
As students, our appearances in school were generally plain and ordinary and when wrapped in uniforms, we were hardly noticeable. In one unforgettable prom night, we were all suddenly transformed. This year's theme, "The Oscars," prompted us to wear stunning gowns and black tuxedos. Something unthinkable to imagine as how we would eventually end up looking! Will we copy our favorite stars or take the brave front of bearing an original outfit? Whatever, we were either in a charming sort of way or "comical size disparity."
It was a sight to watch as the juniors and seniors passed through the usual rites prepared for that glorious evening. From the processional march down to the bequeathal ceremony, guests had to stretch their necks to take a long look at us so they can recall who we were, like cinderellas or cinderfellas, for one memorable night.
The highlights were the waltz dance and announcement of the Prom King and Queen. The coveted titles went to Reggielloyd Aguilar, fourth year, and Shekinah Chua, third year, respectively. But what really brought the house down was the class prophecy. As prophetic pronouncements were declared by Lawrence Kuan, also fourth year student, Power Point presentation showing candid shots of the seniors broke the solemn atmosphere and elicited laughter from everyone.
Now
we understand, as juniors and seniors, why a prom seems to be a huge fixation
in a high school life. No wonder! It was like one magical moment when everything
was in a twilight standstill waiting for us to walk through the Red Carpet.
[THE AUTHOR: Jule Lian C. Racines is one among the creative writers in 4th Year. He's the second son of Julius U. Racines of Batch 1969. Jule recently passed the Ateneo and De la Salle entrance tests and plans to take up a business course in college.]
Field day
Faculty and staff went agog when news of a field trip was brewing in the LCHS administrative office. Initially, Camiguin was earnestly considered since majority had not been to that island but the economic feasibility dimmed any hope of realizing it. And so, the alternative plan to visit the Aquamarine Park in Sinacaban, Ozamis, was carried out.
Last February 22, faculty (both from English and Chinese depts.), staff and dependents – all went aboard the bus which brought them to the marine-themed resort. It was a much-needed breather from the humdrum of school life. Pending lesson plans and school work were all tucked away to give way to precious bonding with colleagues and dolphins. This trip would not have been possible without the financial support of the school, Chinese Chamber, Parents'-Teachers' Association, and some really caring parents who went out of their way to supply them with food. Sometimes, all it takes is to go for it.
Ancestral home
Jesus "Hesing" Dy (Batch '63) and wife Melania recently flew to Kinmen to revisit the ancestral home of the Dy family. They also had a happy get-together with relatives who were based in Kinmen and Taipeh. They were treated to a feast of Kinmen's famous oyster omelet, oyster misua, and other homegrown delicacies.
Speaking of Kinmen, the Cebu Kinmen Association held a grand lauriat luncheon party and turnover of presidency at the Grand Majestic Restaurant last Mar. 1. The new president of the Association is Charles T. Sy, of Llama Construction & Development Corp., eldest son of Chun Wan "Willy" Sy. He took over from immediate past president Sy Chu Tek (Batch '56). Among the alumni spotted at the full-house gathering were Arthur Dy, Elizabeth Dy-Sy, Sy Chu Tek, Rosie "Bian-Bian" Siao-Sy, Aurora Ong-Sy and husband Samson Sy, Bonifacia Co-Go, Nelson Sy, Charles O. Sy, Jesus Dy and wife Melania Dy, Roderick Ngo, Kho Siok We, Betty DyPico-Tan, Bebencio Palang, and Sy Phek Lee.
Our congratulations to LCHS-AA secretary Joan Quimbo-Quidlat (Batch '87), who gave birth to a healthy 5.8-lbs. baby girl at 11:15 a.m. last Feb. 25 at the Manila Doctors' Hospital, Manila.
Kudos,
Dr. Jun Tan!
From Willy Dy (Batch '84), Lake Jackson, Texas, U.S.A.; email:
[email protected]
Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:15:11 AM
Congratulations to our high school batchmate, Jose Uy Tan Jr., M.D., aka Dr. Jun Tan (Batch '84), for completing his Clinical Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery at NUH Singapore. We're all proud of you, Jun. Kudos! -- From your LCHS Batchmates (1984).
Hi Jun: We are proud of your new milestone in your career! Our best wishes.
A perfect life can't be found in wealth ... for riches can be taken away; not in popularity ... for popular people can be forgotten; not in good looks ... for good looks is never permanent; nor in intelligence or talent ... for it doesn't make us a higher creation of God. Instead, a perfect life can be found in CONTENTMENT with the things we have, from the love we give and we get from close people around us, and from FAITH in God who gives us all things.
Of
values
From Kate Ruef, Oklahoma, U.S.A.; email: [email protected]
Mon, 9 Feb 2009 22:29:32 -0600
To realize the value of a sister, ask someone who doesn't have one. To realize the value of ten years, ask a newly divorced couple. To realize the value of four years, ask a graduate. To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam. To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who has missed the bus or plane. To realize the value of one second, ask a person who has survived an accident. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. To realize the value of a friend or family member, lose one.
Lessons
from Noah's Ark
From Ellen N. Lim, Manila, Philippines; email: [email protected]
Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:35:25 AM
Everything we ever need to know in life, we can learn from Noah's Ark. Do read on:
1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something
really big.
5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to
be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the
cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, float awhile.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow
waiting.
Christine Veronica B. Uy
Something really noticeable in our offices at LCHS these days are the newly refurbished chairs. As with all antique objects, it's not about just durability and how they are well-built but more so on how they had become tacky and taciturn witnesses to historic events in the life of its owners.
In 1976, Henry Lee, as board director of the Lanao Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc., initiated the move to equip the Chamber's function rooms with chairs, made of narra and weaved in cane strips, for conferences and social gatherings. These were the affordable (P150) and sturdy type of seats available at that time. Skillfully crafted by a Macau carpenter in the name of Ng Kong, all 300 chairs carried the Chamber's name in Chinese characters located at the backside. Members eagerly pitched in and voluntarily donated according to their capacity. Some had more chairs carved with their names or business names than others. Apparently, this didn't pose any titular problems among members. Somehow these chairs served its purpose and had been mute bystanders of deliberations, whether pleasant or not, and of by-gone festivities. That was more than three decades ago.
In an effort to preserve and make them functional again, Robert S. Co, current Chamber president, resolved to restore all 286 remaining at an estimate of P300 per chair, inclusive of labor and materials. Such noble undertaking may prove to be costly nowadays but the memories, the sentimental value of it, and its usefulness remain priceless, a legacy for our students to appreciate as how their forefathers left behind something solid to remember them by. We look forward to viewing and definitely sitting on these antique chairs during graduation time.
Henry L. Yu, M.D., Batch '69
The rolling '50s brought to the public senses and sensibilities the Rock 'n Roll era where Elvis Presley was hailed as the king. It was the Golden Period in Philippine cinema where movies were shown in black and white and double-program at that.
The fabulous '60s brought in the phenomenal group known as the Beatles, along with the Cascades, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, the Everly Brothers, among others. It was the era of the miniskirts, hot pants, go-go boots, twiggy, fishnet stockings, jam session, Star Trek, Flinstones, James Bond, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, crowning of Miss Gloria Diaz as the first Filipina to win the Miss Universe title, man’s first step into the moon, etc.
The Flower Power generation of the '70s was the psychedelic era that brought to the fashion scene the mini, midi, maxi skirt lengths, the tie-dye shirts and bellbottoms, long hair, the "Peace, man" sign, the hippie, Mary Jane, discomania, Rolling Stones, Bee Gees, John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever, among others. It saw the end of the Vietnam War, Watergate Scandal, Feminism, Civil Rights. It was a period of student activism, political unrest, Martial Law and the New Society.
The '80s brought in the aerobic clothing, parachute pants, shoulder pads, skinny ties, acid wash denims, Swatch watches, the Regal Babies of Mother Lily, the Bagets, EDSA revolution, People Power, etc.
The '90s is best remembered for the Gulf War, the Comet collision, Princess Diana's death, the Hong Kong Handover, Asian financial crisis. It was equally memorable as we commemorated many significant events, among them the centennial celebration of Philippine Independence.
These are but few of the significant highlights of each era that came to pass like seasons in the sun. Our life. Our times.
And then the New Millennium, the Jubilee Year, the Y2K era which is an epoch of life on a fast lane where everything comes in handy, fast, convenient. It is the peak era of the fastfoods, the cellphone and the e-mail - three of the very IN things of today's dot.com generation. And there's no stopping them.
The fastfoods click because they mean fast service. Busy people, like you and me, who are always in a hurry would prefer the fastfoods over a sit-down lunch on a regular working day or a more formal dinner, for obvious reasons. We don't have to wait long for our food order (that's why it's called fastfoods). It saves us time and money. We don't have to call the waiter for the chit/bill, and no need to give tips.
Through the cellphone, we are able to re-connect with friends whom we haven't met or touched base with for the longest time. Like the fastfoods, the cellphone saves us time as we don't need to drive back to the bookstore or supermarket, for example, in case we forgot to buy something. By just texting or calling mom or dad or the driver, it saves us time. The cellphone also proves to be a very convenient tool especially when we're in a shopping mall, in the airport, or when we're stranded in a certain place and we need help.
Unlike the decades past, when we have to wait for days on end for a letter sent thru the post office to arrive in our mailbox (three days for air mail and a week for ordinary mail), with the e-mail system we don't have to wait that long anymore. It's an express way of getting things done and right in the vicinity of our home or office, with just a touch of our finger.
The fastfoods. The cellphone. The e-mail. These are just three of the greatest inventions of this generation. Easy does it. They are the IN things that comprise life on a fast lane. They make life more comfortable and convenient like no other. And they're here to stay because for now we couldn't imagine how life would be without them.
Charles O. Sy, Batch '67
King and Queen of a Bygone Century
Fun time during my childhood meant a trip to any of the three pioneering movie houses in Iligan. These were the Century Theater started by the late Alfonso Sy Gaite, and King and Queen Theaters operated by the late Mariano Bagatan. Their movie houses were the original royal crowns of entertainment in our small community in the 1950s.
These movie houses were distinct from one another by the films they showed. Century Theater had Universal Studios, Columbia and Paramount Pictures. Queen Theater carried 20th Century Fox and M-G-M, and King Theater had Filipino films. It did not seem to matter in those days that these movie houses had no air-conditioning system at all. Somehow movie fans of all ages, unmindful of the combined humid stench of human sweat and cigarette smoke inside the theaters, were content enough to have been able to watch their favorite stars on the silver screen.
Of the three, Century Theater was perhaps the oldest. Built with wooden structure, it also had the least seating capacity. The orchestra section had wooden benches instead of individual seats. Despite its modest image, Century brought to Iligan many magnificent films of the era. Who can forget such screen luminaries as Gary Cooper in "High Noon" (1952), Audie Murphy in "To Hell and Back" (1955), Clayton Moore in "The Lone Ranger" (1956), or Steve Reeves in "Hercules" (1957)?
As a kid, going to the cinema was a luxury for me. In our household, movies were restricted to weekends and holidays. Which was why I always jumped at every single chance to see a movie whenever the opportunity arose, especially if it was for free. Century Theater was only a stone's throw away from the former residence of the family of Fernando Khu along San Miguel street. Every night the theater would open its balcony windows to allow more ventilation inside. So whenever my mother visited the Khus in the evening, I never failed to tag along. It was a joy for us kids to view even a small portion of the screen that was visible from the Khu's balcony. Occasionally we also enjoyed free entrance whenever a fellow named Juan would man the ticket booth while the regular ticket clerk was out for lunch. Maybe Juan, who was an errand boy of the Gaites, thought we were related to the Gaite family. Or perhaps he assumed our parents were valued clients of the Gaites' insurance business.
The Queen Theater, rising four storeys high along De Leon street, was Century's strongest competition. Its towering edifice was a landmark in its time. It had individual folding seats and better comfort rooms. It brought to Iligan many unforgettable movie classics, such as "Gone with the Wind" (1944) starring Clark Gable, "Samson and Delilah" (1949) with Victor Mature, "Ivanhoe" (1952) with Robert Taylor, "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1953) with Johnny Weissmueller, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959) with Pat Boone, and "Ben-Hur" (1959) with Charlton Heston, to name a few. Once in a while, Queen also ran Chinese blockbuster films featuring notable stars like Lim Thai and Dy Leh Hwa, sponsored by the local Tsinoy community. Such occasions, however, were few and far between. So each such occasion was greeted like a big event. It is no exaggeration to say that each time a Chinese movie was showing, business in downtown Iligan would come to a standstill because all the Tsinoys in town were inside the Queen Theater.
There was a time in my youth when I used to sneak inside the Queen Theater without paying, a misdemeanor done more out of childish mischief than economic necessity. I did so by pretending to browse pictures of forthcoming programs displayed on the board beside the entrance. I sneaked in whenever the ticket clerk was not looking. The experience itself offered an inexplicable kind of high.
Of the three movie houses, King Theater occupied the least spot in my memory bank. Not one with the slightest appetite for local films, I seldom visited this theater. Among the few times I went there was to see Cecil B. DeMille's epic film "Ten Commandments" which was shown simultaneously at Queen Theater in 1956. And, well, the other occasions were during its showing of "bomba" stars Stella Suarez and Divina Valencia movies. I hardly missed a single movie with either of them in the lead role. Never mind if their films, as with most other local flicks, were typically wanting in depth and substance. In their prime, Stella Suarez and Divina Valencia could steal the thunder from today's screen sex goddesses the likes of Ara Mina or Joyce Jimenez, pound for pound, flesh for flesh.
Those were the days when a nice weekend meant an afternoon in any one of these three historic movie houses. To a small town like Iligan, they were the reigning king and queen of a bygone century.
Wife
vs husband
From James Booc (Batch '82), Iligan, Philippines
A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."
Igdono U. Caracho, Batch '66
Down by the Riverside
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