There is a more better approach to interface with LCD is by SPI port and shift register.
LCD ( 4-bit mode) is interfaced with 74HC595 8-bit shift register & 9S12 MCU send commands & data via SPI port to shift register..
This more easy and better approach than parallel approach.
This method is described in The HCS12/9S12, An Introduction to Hardware & Software Engineering by Fredrick M. Cady.
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I use this method with SPI baud rate 12.5Mhz. This run better.
Good Luck
Mian Ahmed Jehanzeb