FC-WJNet picnic at Withrow Park, Toronto

FC-WJNet picnic at Withrow Park, Toronto

For the first time since start of the pandemic in March 2020, regulars of the Filipino Canadian Writers and Journalists Network (FC-WJNet) met in person in a park east downtown Toronto on Saturday, July 9.

The quickly scheduled get-together had no particular agenda but to enjoy once more each other’s company on that gloriously sunny day at Withrow Park.

Around a table, we savoured delicious pre-ordered meals from Mama Linda’s booth in the Farmers Market at the park popular for home-cooked Filipino dishes.

We shared stories of how we had thankfully coped with the pandemic, ideas on future projects, news about the Philippines after the return of the Marcoses to power; updates on some of our individual writing projects.

We took time to walk around the lovely part, enjoyed the music of a band playing nearby, and even shopped for organic olive oil and other goodies at the market.

Parting ways was difficult at the end of the day, that we ended up enjoying a halo-alo break in Tsaa, a Filipino restaurant on The Danforth — the special treat, compliments of our colleague Lui Queano. Overall, it was all fun, laughter and goodwill in altogether eight hours for those who had stayed behind.

Those who attended were Marites Sison, Patty and Joe Rivera, Louie Queano, Ricky Esguerra, Leon and Isa Aureus and sons Leon 1 and Leon 2, Eric Tigley, Maria Lourdes Polotan, Hermie and Mila Garcia. — MAG