Mr. Joaquim Fernandes celebrates his 90th Birthday

On behalf of the Goan Overseas Association Community Members, congratulations Mr. Joaquim Fernandes on your 90th Birthday.

Joaquim Fernandes celebrates his 90th Birthday, 16th August

Joaquim was born in Ahmandriagar, India August 16, 1919, lived in Nairobi, Kenya and currently resides in Toronto, CDA. Mr. Joaquim’s family (Childrens, In-Laws & Grand Children), spent the weekend (14, 15 & 16 August, 2009), in a Collingwood Resort. All family members participated and contributed to mark this special occasion.

On 16th August 2009, Fr. Eric Rodrigues prayed over Joaquim and his name was mentioned at the Mass, at Blessed Trinity Church, Willowdale, ON. The congregation acknowledged with a thunderous clapping of hands, which filled Joaquim’s heart with JOY, on this special 90th Birthday event, which also happens to be the first in Joaquim’s Family Tree. Joaquim also received certificates of Birthday Congralutory, from Prime Minister (Steven Harper), Premier of Ontario (Dalton McGuinty), and Governor General of CDA (Michelle Jean).

While in Kenya, Joaquim worked as an Accountant and raised five children (Isaac, Dolly, Maggie, Cathy and Peter). He emigrated to Plumstead, England in Sept. 1967, followed by eldest son Isaac, Feb. 1968 and then his wife (Helen) and four children, in August 1968. Joaquim worked at City and Guilds for 10 years. He founded the Goan Plumstead Club and was elected Vice President and President. Joaquim and Helen promoted Cultural and fund raising events for St. Patrick’s Church, Plumstead, England, helped the less fortunate Goans in the community, find accommodation for family and friends, so they could start a better life in Plumstead.

Joaquim and Helen emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in June 1992. His enthusiasm is infectious, he loves to play Bingo, Cards and watches News on Television all day on Canadian and US Channels, keeping family and friends posted, with the latest events.

However, his wife (Helen) has a lot of patience and takes good care of Joaquim. The family has also hired an excellent caregiver (Nixxon George) to look after Joaquim, as he suffers from Dementia.

Joaquim’s wife (Helen) and the Fernandes family, wishes to thank one and all, for their kind wishes and prayers in gratitude to Almighty God, for the many graces and Blessings He has bestowed on Joaquim.

Dev Borem Korum
Isaac, Dolly, Maggie, Cathy and Peter (CANADA)

100 Not Out!

Thomas Joaquim Lobo, known to many as ‘TJ’ or ‘Tom’, will be celebrating his 100th Birthday on 22nd September, 2009, in North London UK.

If you would like to send a birthday greeting or memory about TJ Lobo, please send it to Neil Lobo via email address: neil-lobo@o2.co.uk.

Click Here to access a biography of TJ

Kuwait: History in the making - Tiatro 'Kuwait Soddun Vetana'
Printed from www.mangalorean.com | By Gasper Crasto & A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait
Photos: Rosary Ferns and Bernard Fernandes

Kuwait, Sept 6, 2009: Renowned Goan Tiatrist Rosary Ferns is heading to create a history when his Konkani Drama "KUWAIT SODDUN VETANA" is going to be staged at American International School Auditorium, Maidan Hawally, on 25th September 2009 starting at 4.30 pm.

The drama is to be staged by the Mangalorean Konkani followers.

The Original drama was staged in Goan Roman script Konkani on 16th January this year at Hawally A/C Hall with a packed Hall audience. It is now translated into Mangalorean Konkani and is going to be staged under the direction of Lancy Rodrigues. This will be the first time in the history of Konkani that a Goan Tiatro is translated into Mangalorean Konkani and staged on Konkani Stage.

Rosary Ferns hailing from Colva, Salcette, Goa and being a long timer in Kuwait, has written and directed 21 full-fledged Konkani Tiatros, 12 of which were staged in Kuwait itself. Besides, he has written a number of One Act Plays, Operettas, Mandos & Dulpods and countless songs. He is the first person in the history of Goan Konkani world to produce the first Konkani CD and that too from Kuwait. In all, he has produced 13 Konkani Albums in the form of Audio Cassettes & CDs. As a matter of interest, his 14th and new Album "DINARACHO VALOR" will be released shortly this month in Kuwait and simultaneously all over the Konkani world. Additionally, he has produced 2 VCDs Kanvllo Roddlo Lozen and Mogan Tujea Lasota .

Rosary Ferns has also scripted and directed a mighty Konkani show in Kuwait known as SONGIT SANZ under Kuwait Konknni Kendr.

In August 2005, for his enormous contribution in the promotion of Konkani Songit Kala , Rosary Ferns was honored by the well known Mangalorean Association Konkani Kulvar Kuwait . Rosary Ferns has always strived through Konkani Stage and cultural programs to bring about fusion of all the Konkani speaking people in Kuwait in general, Mangalorean and Goans in particular.

The drama "KUWAIT SODDUN VETANA" in Mangalorean Konkani is expected to be watched by a huge crowd as per the forecast and rightly it is a must watch for those who missed it in January. The entire cast will be Mangalorean except Goan actor BERNARDO FERNANDES who originally played an excellent role of a Kuwaiti and since there was no replacement found for him to play that role, the onus fell on Bernardo. It is also to be noted that two Mangalorean artistes will especially fly in to Kuwait from Mangalore and Doha Qatar, namely Mike Simon and Norbert Pereira respectively.

The local Mangalorean artistes are melodious singer Gratian D’Souza, Cynthia Pinto, Valerian D’Souza, Jasson Lasrado, Joyline Gonsalves, Jovita Fernades, Anil Menezes, Renny Menezes, Anil Fernandes, Wilfred Lobo,Vally Sanctis, Ananda D’Souza, Joyston D’Souza, Joe D’Souza, Francis D’Souza, Lancy Rodrigues, Stephen Machado, Rudy D’Souza, Lucy Aranha, Sunny Menezes, Kiran Lobo, Agnel Saldanha, Ibrahim, Master Ansel Gonsalves, Master Aaron Gonsalves and Fr. Melwin D’Cunha.

Musical score will be provided by John Kiran Gonsalves and Joe D’Souza with the accompaniment of Salvador Rebello and troupe, and Sunit Noronha & troupe. The songs will be also accompanied by foot tapping dances presented by one of the famous dance academies in Kuwait, JOVAS XLNC for Dance, choreographed by SUNIL and JYOTHI.

For Gate Passes, contact Numbers are: 66946623 Ananda DSouza; 66522392 Lancy Rodrigues; 99894190 Jasson Lasrado; 97855156 Steevan Mesquith; 66743979 Kiran Gonsalves.

Printed from www.mangalorean.com

An Immigrant’s Story – Editorial Page National Post
Article by Fr. Raymond J. De Souza, on September 10, 2009

Click here to read online