Attribute to Goanet & George Pinto.
"International Goan Women's Appreciation Day" organized by Goa Sudharop Community Development Inc., was celebrated on November 16, 2003 at Caritas Complex, St. Inez,
Panjim - Goa, from 4.30 pm onwards.
Tea and snacks was served to the participants before the programme got underway at 5.00 pm.
Olav Menezes, Goa Representative of Goa Sudharop, as the host, welcomed the participants. He spoke about the transition of Goan women from homemakers to family co-providers and eventual excellence in their chosen careers. He gave a background of Goa Sudharop, its past support to individuals, groups and organizations in Goa and invited members from these groups to come forward and join hands with Goa Sudharop for the betterment of Goa and Goans worldwide.
Olav made an announcement that to commemorate "International Goan Women's Appreciation Day", Goa Sudharop has gifted $500.00 to Margao-based Bailancho Ekvott, part of the amount collected at the North American Goan Reunion this year. He hoped this grant would assist Bailancho Ekvott in their work.

Ms. Isabel de St. Rita Vas then introduced the four Speakers for the day who spoke on some women's issues that need to be addressed today:
1. Ms. Auda Viegas, Founder of Bailancho Ekvott "The Girl Child"
2. Mrs. Serena Mascarenhas, Founder of AL-ANON (Goa) "Alcoholism and its impact on Women"
3. Mrs. Prachi Khandeparker, SANGATH "Women and Mental Health"
4. Ms. Maya Chodankar, Positive People "HIV/AIDS and its impact on Women"
During the proceedings, Tome Fernandes and Francis Rodrigues came in to serenade Goan women with traditional Goan folk songs. The participants got off their chairs to dance to their tunes!
This was followed by presentations of appreciation to various women categories:
Mother: Mrs. Linda Menezes by her two year old son, Gavin. His "I love you, Mama!" was a very touching moment.
Wife: Mrs. Xavier George by her husband.
Daughter: Elizabeth D'Souza by her father.
Grandmother: Mrs. Quadros by her grand-daughter, Noel-Anne
Journalist: Sharon Sequeira of "Herald" by Cyril D'Cunha of the "Times of India"
Law-enforcer: Anita Rodrigues, Dy.S.P by Alex Rasquinha, S.P (Retd.)
Educationist: Ms. Philomena Serrao of Nirmala Institute of Education by Siddarth Tendular
Lawyer: Caroline Colasso by Olav Menezes
Caroline Colasso, Goa Sudharop Trustee, ended the evening with a vote of thanks.

Pio Gama, a Goan who fought for Kenya’s cause
Recently reports have appeared in the Kenyan press, of the release of Kisilu Mutua after 36 years in prison for the assassination of the Kenyan MP, of Goan origin, Pio Gama Pinto, in Nairobi on February 25, 1965. Mutua has consistently denied his role in the murder. Pio Gama Pinto, born in Nairobi on March 31, 1927 to Goan parents living Nyeri, North of Nairobi, disliked publicity. At the age of eight, Pio was enrolled in a boarding school in Bangalore. Later, he completed his matriculation at St Joseph’s High School in Arpora. He studied journalism in Bombay and at Karnatak College, in Dharwar. He got immersed in the political movement quite in life in Bombay. Pressed by his family, he returned to Kenya in 1949. He did clerical work in Magadi and journalism in Nairobi. Worked for the “Daily Chronicle” and “Colonial Times” and got involved in Kenyan politics, to overthrow colonialism. He became a man driven to work for human dignity, justice, democracy and equality. He produced anti-colonial journalistic material in English, Swahili and even in Konkani. He made outstanding political speeches in English and fluent Swahili. On January 9, 1954, Pio married Emma nee Dias, but barely five months later, he was detained for activity deemed ‘detrimental to the interests of the State’. Pio sided with the resistance by working as a strategist and by secretly obtaining and delivering funds and arms for the movement. He was incarcerated for several years. His party, KANU (Kenya African National Union), was victorious in 1961, and in 1963, following independence, Pio was elected a member of the Kenya Central Legislative Assembly. In 1964, he was appointed a Specially Elected Member of the House of Representatives. Unfortunately for Pio, his wife, and three young children, and the many people for whom he had worked so selflessly, he died in the driveway of his residence from a hail of bullets fired from a very close range. The assassination was well planned and executed. (Abridged from an article in “Herald” by Cornel da Costa cornel@btinternet.com, a prelude to a biography “Pio Gama Pinto: A Life and A Cause”.)

Mando still moves Goans

It seemed like a change for the better, when a near-houseful audience flocked to the Kala Academy on November 26 for the 37th Mando Festival, organised by the Goa Cultural and Social Centre, after years of lean crowds and declining interest in this form of traditional Konkani song. Participants were seen decked in their traditional finery, some carrying the traditional Goan drum “ghumott”, large artistic fans, top-hats and Western suits for men and traditional Goan attire for women.

St Francis: Goencho Saib
The Goan Christians, who left Goa in the 16th century and migrated to what is now Maharashtra and Karnataka, come to Old Goa in a walking pilgrimage lasting at least five days; a small group starts from the Kolhapur district in Maharashtra and the pilgrimage gains momentum as it passes through Azra, Halkarni and crossing the Ram Ghats, the pilgrims reach Bicholim. Another two groups join them in Goa—one from Belgaum area and another from Sindhudurg. Even children take part in this walking pilgrimage joined in by Hindus too, about 100 to 150 of whom mingle with the Catholic pilgrims. This pilgrimage was organised by Swami Prabadhar Constant, a Jesuit of the Goa Province. By the time they reach “Pornem Goem” Old Goa) on 2 December, this number swells to about five hundred. (Fr Moreno de Souza, sj, in GT)

Grand closure of Ven Fr Agnel platinum jubilee

A number of events werelined up for the culmination of the Platinum Jubilee year of Venerable Fr Agnel de Sousa, most illustrious son of Anjuna. In Anjuna, Bishop Alex Dias, Andaman Islands, was the main celebrant at the mass service held at St John's Chapel at Ganvaddi, in the vicinity of the ancestral house of Fr Agnel. A girls's group from Ambernath performed prayer dances at the religious function.

IFFI benefits for Goans
The Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, said that the International Film Festival will bring about an economic spin in the State, thereby giving benefits to the people. He asked the authorities to enlist the works which could be handled by the people particularly young entrepreneurs of the State. He said the government has initiated all schemes and projects of IFFI in a way that promotes Goan interest.