Upsilon Sigma Phi World Reunion

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Remembering Toronto
by Noy Dy-Liacco '65

As early as when Toronto was declared the Host City of the 2006 Upsilon Sigma Phi World Reunion, I told my wife, Muggsy that we would sign-up. I wanted the opportunity to meet the Brods and Sisters, tour the city and for my wife to visit her siblings who had earlier migrated to Toronto. Thus, the reunion journey seemed like a perfect idea.

As it turned out, we went on our North American journey one year earlier than Otso Otso because someone very dear to me had passed away in Chicago in May 2005 and I decided to be at the memorial services which was held in June. We stayed with the widow for an entire week before we journeyed on, finally ending up in Toronto where on one Sunday afternoon, we met up with Rogie Concepcion, his wife Tess and many other Brods and Sisters.

I will miss Otso Otso and what promises to be a fun-filled, well-organized world reunion. I had long set aside the thought of going back to Toronto this year because of obvious financial considerations.

“Remembering Toronto” is my modest tribute to the Brods and Sisters who welcomed us during our brief visit. I am an amateur photographer, very much a dilettante. I am continuing to learn the ways about this craft and I enjoy every moment when I can snap photos of people and places and objects.

I enjoy photographing people. Everyone generally reacts positively to the camera. I guess each of us has that inherent desire to be looked at that’s why when the camera is focused on us, we can’t help but react, sometimes with a funny face or better yet, a warm smile for that single wonderful moment that’s frozen forever in time. In a museum in Dubai, I took a photo of a Muslim girl, after asking her permission of course. Out of courtesy, I took only one shot. I love that photo – a pair of soulful eyes, a half smile but a somewhat sad look about her. A young Muslim Mona Lisa? Recently, in Banaue, native Ifugaos were such delightful subjects of portrait shots, including one of an elderly man playing his nose flute.

When I take photographs, I look for common sights which others might take for granted or simply ignore. The bikes and doors? I have many photos from my other trips. I think every biker has a story to tell. What’s the bike doing where it is? Where did the biker start? In a university town outside Tokyo, I came across a junk yard full of unwanted bikes, a kind of bike graveyard. And the doors? What’s inside after you’ve come in? What kind of folks live behind a red door? Or a violet one?

About Niagara Falls. I first saw the Falls in 1963 from Buffalo, NY, went on the Maid of the Mist and did the short river cruise. That experience made such a vivid visual impression. Fast forward to 2005, 42 years later. We arrived in Niagara at mid-morning on Canada National Day. It started out as a cloudy day; an overcast always renders colors less vividly but I took all my desired shots just the same, resigned to the fact that I’ve done all I could under the circumstances. It even drizzled that morning. While walking back to the car park, nearly halfway between the US and the Horseshoe Falls, I glanced one more time at the river to my left and saw a spectacular rainbow along the river. The sun was out and in fact, there were 2 rainbows along the stretch of the river, just below where I stood! I was like a little boy let loose in a candy store; I snapped all I could all over again. Some of the results, I am proud to share in “Remembering Toronto.”

One final point. Muggsy and I enjoyed the brief reunion with the Brods and Sisters, the overnight stay with Rogie & Tess plus the city tour with Rogie the next day. I have included as many photos of the Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans in the slideshow and many more of the common sights that caught my shooting eye from the city tour. I look forward to returning to Toronto one day and stay as a paying guest at Rogie and Tess’ bed-and-breakfast place right in the heart of town.

“Remembering Toronto” is my personal way of affirming to the many Brods and Sisters who signed up for Otso Otso that they can look forward to enjoy the colors, sights and flavors of Toronto, to relish the warmth and hospitality of the Toronto Brods & Sisters, and to renew old ties and make new ones.

I also hope that through this slideshow, our Toronto-based Brods and Sisters will continue to appreciate everything that their adopted city has to offer.

Finally, I want to convey that beauty, being in the eyes of the beholder, is often staring us in the face. We just have to keep our eyes open and look around to appreciate the visual delights that greet us everyday.

I wish everyone a wonderful reunion in Toronto at Otso Otso!

Fraternally,

Noy Dy-Liacco