UP High ‘68 Reunion: Toronno, eh?
UP High ‘68 Reunion: Toronno, eh?
By Junie de Veyra
Fortunate that we knew/learned about the bed & breakfast houses owned and operated by Rogie and Tess Concepcion of Toronto (urbannorthinns@gmail.com). Choosing the right place to set-up base helps quite a bit, for both travel and reunions. So even as we were tourists of Toronto, our being reunionistas was also made that much more convenient.
Locating in Chinatown is rewarding, being within walking distance to a lot of the must-see places/areas of downtown Toronto. Then to come home to a comfortable room in a very clean house after a long day of touring and/or partying, is the main value of choosing the correct setting.
Even with the many different attractions which make Toronto unique, the energy of having so many new immigrants is what still stands out. We see this in the way their real estate is booming, with a proliferation of so many high-rise developments, residential and commercial. The energy you can feel in their streets, is bolstered by the obvious visuals of so much diversity.
A happy reunion comes from being around people you grew up with while trying to learn some of the theories of life. And then through choice and planning, to be with some of them again 48 years later in a new place of wonder and excitement, this time in Toronto, Canada. And so now, it is a blessing to be around people who learned stuff while actually experiencing life, with most of us ending-up with an abiding attitude of thankfulness, expressed in quiet ways, rather than of the ostentatious variety. That so relaxes our spirits.
T’was also very refreshing that we did not have to contend with the old stereo-type regarding white anglos thumbing their noses at our brown spines. Quite the contrary, our one white anglo attendee (a husband) actually out-did himself. An avid fisherman, he caught some white bass in serious quantity, cleaned and properly preserved the fish to make sure it was still outstandingly fresh when he brought same to the reunionistas (driving all the way from Ohio). He then cooked and served the fish himself ! The said fish viand then became one of our main fares, preferred by all trying to avoid too much meat. The same white dude also had the thoughtfulness to have brought a guitar. Well, so much for those old anglo stereo types.
It is also curious that for days the melody of that old song “Father & Son” could not seem to leave many in the group. Perhaps it was a yearning that some of our still-unmarried daughters and sons give us (more) grandchildren, sooner rather than later. And within such context, it was much easier to appreciate this continued welcoming of immigrants by Canada, the welcoming of new young life. Or might it have been the other parts of the same song which indirectly asks just how far one should cling to ideals, which may also be a good (healthy?) way to deal with some ghosts of the past. Even as the same question is now being actively wrestled with by some of our sons and daughters.
Yes, Toronto was a good trip. Yes, Toronto was a good reunion.
The attendees : UPHS 68
• Alma Apelo-Manahan (Toronto)
• Abe and Didi Tomas (Toronto)
• Jun and Marichi Adel (New Jersey)
• Emilia Subido-Laquindanum (P.I.)
• Fe Cuyugan-Albano (P.I.)
• Beck Fajardo-Nacino (P.I.)
• Bella and Bert Apelo-Cayabyab (P.I.)
• Aida Cruz-Josef (P.I.)
• Malu de Peralta (P.I.)
• Lorna Valdez-Straw (Ohio)
• Joy Socrates-Scott and Eric Scott (Ohio)
• Mike and Chica Lacsamana (SoCal)
• Junie and Annie de Veyra (SoCal)
• Maeng and Mila Nacino (SoCal)
• Ginnie Valarao-Farinas (SoCal)
• Nestor Melocoton + Christine/daughter (Las Vegas)
• Ana Alabado-Segovia (NorCal)
• Nina Quesada-Resmini (NorCal)
• (A guest from U.P. Prep ‘65 was Mila Astorga-Garcia of Toronto / a cousin)
Comments (3)
Categories