Goan Voice Newsletter: Sunday 31 Mar. 2013
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Photo Gallery |
Mumbai and Goa: already here
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30 Mar: Expresso Economia (Portugal). Two glimpses of a country: James lives in Mumbai, "the city of dreams" where anything is possible; Ines is Goa, the Rome of the East … Ines Figueira 37 years old, has been living in Goa since 2011 when she joined Atish Antonio Fernandes after a few years of long distance courtship. He had lived in Angola and Lisbon before returning to Goa and it was easy for her to adapt to his family … She has been without a job since November but is kept busy looking after her son … Goa is like Portugal of the 70s …
"Forget the nostalgia, let's do business" ... with wine … 1956 words + photos. click here.
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Canada: Jeremy Dias: Jer's Vision
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29 Mar: Cape Breton Post (Canada). When Jeremy Dias moved to northern Ontario
from Alberta as a teenager he probably didn't realize the worst days of his life
were just ahead. As if high school wasn't difficult enough, he was first subjected
to racist taunts and violence since he was the first student of colour in his
high school. But once everyone learned he was also gay, things became much worse.
"I was hospitalized twice. I hated my life. Every day something would happen,"
Dias said
he sued the school and school board and won his lawsuit. He used
the money to establish Jer's
Vision: Canada's Youth Diversity Initiative
Text + photo
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Selma Carvalho: Film: The Pool (Premiere TV screening in UK, tonight)
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The Pool. Channel 4. Monday 1st Apr. 01:00 to 02:35. Highly regarded American documentary film-maker Chris Smith film of two young friends in Goa, both scraping a living from tourism, and the older boy’s obsession with a rich local girl he spots lounging by the pool of her father’s walled-off villa.
31 Mar: Herald (Review). Selma Carvalho reviews the film The Pool set in Goa, directed by Chris Smith and winner of the Special Jury Prize, Sundance Festival 2007. "The effortless script, direction and editing makes me think, Director Chris Smith has fallen into the pit of our collective anxiety entirely by accident. How could an “outsider” have so accurately captured the zeitgeist of our times, the complexity of our moral quandaries regarding an unmitigated migration of impoverished labour into Goa and the cannibalisation of land resources by an elite, seemingly uncaring Indian middle-class? " writes Carvalho. Also featured an interview with director Chris Smith, which sheds light on why he chose to shoot this film in Goa… Text + photo. click here. To view the film online click here.
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Canada: Merlyn and Joe Pinto retire from landmark store
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28 Mar: The Peterborough Examiner (Ont. Canada). For close to 30 years Joe and Merlyn Pinto have been turning their patrons into repeat business from the corner of Lansdowne St. W. Locals have long referred to it as Pinto’s Corner. But as of midnight Thursday, the Pintos have sold the 6,000square-foot business, sitting on 4.7 acres, to Hong Kong buyers… The Pintos immigrated to Toronto from India in 1974…Their only child, Anita, is a partner in the family business… The couple doesn’t have any concrete retirement plans, but do intend to take in some travelling… 519 words. click here.
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News Summary |
Death: Eusebio (Bio) De Souza 11 Mar: Volvaddo, Pilerne, Goa. EUSEBIO (BIO) DE SOUZA (Born 1931; Ex-Mombasa - Audit and Government Coast Agent). Brother of Simillien (Sim) De Souza. Condolence to email
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Over 100,000 Abandoned Cows Crowd Streets of Goa 31 Mar: New Indian Express. Goa’s indigenous breed of cows is in danger of going extinct due to the import of foreign-bred cows into the state to increase milk production. Local cows are being discarded by their owners due to their low productivity… A foreign breed gives around 28 litres of milk daily, as against hardly three litres given by local breeds of cow… click here
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Video: Crime Branch’s conviction rate zero in past 4 years 31 Mar: Prudent Media English News. Crime Branch's performance drops tremendously, Conviction rate zero in past 4 years, Special wing fails to tackle major cases … From 2009 there have 186 cases reported, 89 charged and 0 convicted … 2m. 29s. click here
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Lusa Association in Mississauga is almost a 31 Mar: RTP. The Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga is almost a "miniature Portugal" says Gilberto Moniz, president of the community. Created in 1974, this is the center for the Portuguese in Ontario … With about 900 members, of which 700 are subscribers, it has a school for the teaching of Portuguese and a day center, on Tuesdays and Fridays for seniors… It gets five thousand dollars annually from the Regional Government … 496 words. Machine translation. click here
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Death: John Monteiro 26 Mar: Sao Paulo, Brazil. JOHN MANUEL MONTEIRO Aged 56. Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Human Services at the State University of Campinas, Brazil … known for his knowledge and experience in historical document research in the Americas, Europe and India... John is survived by his wife Helena, sons Alvaro and Thomas, and mother-in-law Aparecida Machado; brothers Warren, Mark (Jane), Willy (Paula) and Charlie (Peggy); sisters Marguerite (Bill) Cavett and Marilyn (Tim Allen) Monteiro; and nieces and nephews… A memorial service is planned for this summer… click here Bio + photo.
click here
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India’s always a Goa for TV presenter Jonnie Irwin 31 Mar: The Sunday Post (Newcastle, UK) TV presenter Jonnie Irwin is a familiar face to millions through property shows like the BBC’s Escape To The Country and Channel 4 series A Place In The Sun. He’s about to start work on a new series and also has a BBC consumer programme lined up… He says, “My top destination has to be Goa which I’ve visited more than anywhere else… The last time I was there was just after Christmas … It’s the perfect time to go and you feel like you’re on holiday in every sense…” Jonnie will at the annual A Place In The Sun Live exhibition at London Olympia from April 12 to 14… 389 words + photos. click here To check out Channel 4 series A Place In The Sun,
click here
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In summer, urrack beats beer in Goa 31 Mar: Deccan Herald. Come summer, liquor outlets on Panaji-Margao highway begin to attract footfalls in a big way. Like hundreds of other small joints, a nameless liquor outlet of a former five-star hotel cook Peter Fernandes offers fresh fish and liquor. But liquor here does not mean beer. The bar's USP is 'urrack', a brew made from cashew… click here
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Film on Scarlett Keeling 31 Mar: Times of India. Mexican actress Marimar Vega will essay the role of Scarlett Keeling, the British teenager who was murdered in Goa five years ago, in a Bollywood movie. The movie, based on Keeling, who was raped and killed on Anjuna beach in Goa, will also focus on the local drug mafia in the city… Vega's credits include appearances in theatre, television and films in Mexico… click here
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Goan film shortlisted for Cannes 31 Mar: Times of India. 'Digant' (Boundless), a Goan Konkani movie, has been shortlisted as one of the official Indian entries to the prestigious Cannes film festival in France later this summer. The film's director Dnyanesh Moghe to find out more… It is 90% made in Goa with Goan actors, technicians, and others… it's a Goan film meant for a Goan audience because of the Goan ethos it portrays. Also it already has English sub-titles, so it's not difficult to understand for non-Konkani speaking people… click here
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The Goans of Poona - Stray Thoughts of a Toronto Goan Poona, about 173kms from Bombay, was once the capital of the Peshwas, the prime
minister and governor class of the powerful Bhonsales of Satara who were a formidable
threat to the Mughals and the Portuguese. A small military town, known for its
Camp (Cantonment) area, and India's premier officer cadet school at nearby Khadakvasala,
during the British era it became a summer retreat for the elite of the Presidency
of Bombay (later Bombay State) gradually transforming itself into a non-polluting
industrial hub and the ninth largest city in India.
Poona has had a very strong Goan connection for more than 150 years. Most early
Goans went there directly from Goa or by way of Belgaum and were in self-employed
occupations like tailors, bakers, musicians, people in the armed forces and
professionals directly or indirectly employed in the numerous government and
defense establishments. The lands for the City Church (Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception) the cemetery and the Poona Goan Institute were donated by the Peshwas
to the Goan Christians in appreciation of their service in his army. The parish
was administered by the Padroado with priests deputed from Goa. Official Church
documents until 50 years ago were still written in Portuguese. The Jesuits from
the German-Swiss region conducted their missionary activity with the establishment
of St Vincent's School mainly for Goan boys in 1867. Just 10 years later, opposite
the school, a convent for education of Goan girls was started by the nuns of
the Convent of Jesus and Mary. Both these schools maintain their high standards
until today and are eagerly sought after for education by all communities. Placido D’Souza former Indian Ambassador, Wing Commander Clarence D’Lima who was ex PM Morarji Desai’s pilot, along with many other illustrious Goan and Indian military brass and eminent persons in various fields are all ex-Vincentians.
Goans dominated the confectionary trade and were major suppliers to the military,
hospitals and prisons. The Macedo's and Martyris' were leading city chemists
with high business and social standing. The community excelled in sports, led
the armed forces' bands as well as formed the leading music groups one of which
was D'Souza Brothers' Jet Set performing in the area's top hotels. Among professionals,
W. X. Mascarenhas was the most outstanding. He built the NDA cadet school campus
at Khadakvasala and was the first Indian principal of Poona Engineering College.
Most Goans lived around the Camp, Quartergate and in the neighborhood of the
Church. Just as in a large Goa village, everyone knew everyone else if not personally,
at least by name and face. During Christmas, reminiscent of the Goan areas of
Bombay, the streets would be decorated with streamers and huge stars hung between
low-rise buildings with creatively built cribs around street corners. In the
background you would hear Jim Reeves and other Christmas music and carols emanating
a strong Christmas spirit. Almost all wedding receptions, the Christmas Dance,
Carnival and social functions were held at the Goan Institute to the accompaniment
of Goan brass bands that unfailingly included in their repertoire marching tunes
set to a dance beat. This was a military town after all. Marriage matches were
made at such events. The Army Club was popular with Goan youth for the New Years
Eve dance. What is unusual for a place inhabited by Goans of the day, is that
caste was never an issue except when they were made rudely aware of it during
their vacations in Goa. This was a pensioner's paradise, coming as close to
idyllic small-town Goa as was possible in the British-Indian geography.
No Goan Catholic tale of Poona would be complete without reference to Fr. Thomas
Barco of the Barco bakery family. A Deputy Collector before his late vocation,
he was in his priesthood, simple, down to earth, spiritual and everything a
good priest should be. Popularly known as 'Goribancho Padre' (priest of the
poor), he would minister to the most unfortunate and was in much demand for
family religious events. Never forgetting a name or face even after a lifetime,
he would spiritually tend to his flock anytime, anywhere. People would come
from all over Poona's surrounding areas just to meet him and at his death, there
were mourners from all religions - Hindus, Muslims, Parsis Jains, Sikhs, rich
and poor, mighty and humble. The parish hall has been named after him.
May the spirit and joy of the risen Christ manifested through the simplicity
of Fr. Thomas Barco and Pope Francis and their kind, who are happy doing the
humblest things, touch you all this Easter season.
Comments to roland.francis@gmail.com
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