In our Good Friday dinner for the Fabies, Rey asked if I heard from Leah on her planned trip to US-Canada.  We were in limbo if the trip is still on or not.  We are worried that SARS might scare them. 

But they are our friends indeed...SARS won't stop them from visiting us!  The following day,  I got a call from Nilo Espino saying he will meet Mae and the Ponios in Niagara Falls.  I told Nilo we'll schedule a dinner on Monday.  We're playing things by ears so it was late when I told Rey and ask Rey to call Ellen. Rey made it but Nilo just started a new job so he is very tired and with late notice they did not make it.

From the Royal York Hotel downtown, I gave the direction to Leah on how to get to Markham.  They arrived with no problem.  It was great to see Mae and Leah after 25 years and to meet Ben and Abegail (Julia Roberts) and Gideon and Leann (the little  white American girl). 

Rey came with Randell and Russell (Gretchen is working).  And then Nato with his wife Paz and their kids, Francis, Melody and Tintin came.  With our basement borders who were Torresians as well (Hector Esguerra & Rowena Datu) and Nilo Espino (who arrived at 8)  it was a Torresian Reunion.  The kids played while the adults chat and chat and chat.  Time went by quickly but we did not let it pass without the photo sessions. Mae and Gideon stayed with us while Leah, Ben, Abegail and Leann went back to the hotel.  It was a long but wonderful night.

Two days after, Rey hosted another dinner.  Gretchen cooked her especialties for the Ponios.  Nilo arrived late as usual.  (Nilo bagay ka ngang maging Police....di ba sa movies laging huli ang dating ng pulis?)  We chat and we chat and we ate and we chat.  But after the night is through, parang matatagal na kaming magkakakilala sa dami ng kwentuhan.  Parang open forum!!!  Ben issuch a great guy, you can confide with him right away.  The Ponio kids are smart and with no inhibitions yet reserved and well-mannered.   And Mae?....you smoke like a chimney man!!!  But Chona and I had fun talking to you and strolling in the Markville Mall with you.

        Amidst the S.A.R.S. scare in Toronto, which the media has overblown, the family of Leah Espino-Ponio and her sister Mae still dare to come and experience the hospitality of other Torresians living in this great city.

        There is no S.A.R.S. epidemic here.  People wear masks only in hospital environment.  The virus was well contained and is not spreading.

        Leah, Ben her husband, Abigail, Gideon and Lea Ann plus sister Mae arrive in Toronto the good on April 21, 2003 after visiting Niagara Falls with his brother Nilo who lives in Mississauga.  The visit is part of their North American Trip which started earlier from Pennsylvania and New York down in the U. S. of A.

        A dinner was hosted in the Buzon’s Mansion up in Markham where Rey Bisda and family were invited, too.
The night was too short, so to speak, to reminisce the good old friendship that has started since way back when.  This again was repeated on Wednesday night, only this time it was in Rey Bisda’s apartment in North York.

       The rest of the week was spent by the Ponio’s  painting the town red, watching the Lion King in the Prince’s of Wales Theatre downtown, touring the CN Tower, Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, etc. 
        From Toronto the Ponio’s are driving to Montreal, Quebec and will be going down states to Boston, Massachussets. Thereafter they will be heading westbound in a few days to sunny California.