COMMUNITY NEWS

Allan Menezes (allan@pilates.net ) of Sydney, Australia has achieved outstanding success in promoting the Pilates (pronounced pi-lah-tees) technique in coping with back pain. Past and present clients include comedian Barry Humphries, actresses Greta Scacchi and politician Bob Carr.
	Allan discovered the system because of his own back problem - during a university rugby match in Canada he was kicked in the back. He stumbled across the technique after his return to England. Now he has two studios in Sydney, trains instructors, is the author of a bestseller book, and has produced DVDs and 17 videos. In August 2003 Business Review Weekly ran a profile on him with the headline “Mister Pilates.” Some quotes by him: “You can still have a great backside in your 70s, because Pilates will give it to you.” “The Pilates technique will get rid of the lower stomach bulge that is the bane of many women.” “Everyone's got bad posture; the culprit is computers and television.”
The Nov. 2003 issue of Good Medicine has a mini-workout devised by Hayden Ozcan and Allan Menezes which you could try at your desk whilst using your computer or watching TV. For the special supplement containing this article, his profile, bio, publications, some press reports etc., click here

Sunday 9 Nov. @ 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Patricia Rozario appears in Another America: Earth by Errolyn Wallen, one of 3 short operas, specially commissioned by the Royal Opera House and Nitro 2003. Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House. Covent Garden. Free admission. See: http://info.royaloperahouse.org/Nitro/index.cfm?ccs=521&cs=1127 Wed. 19 Nov. @ 7.30 p.m. Wigmore Hall. A Programme Of Chamber Music By Howard Blake. Patricia Rozario Soprano. Howard Blake Piano. The Schubert Ensemble. See: http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/asp/masterframeliteralie.asp

31 Oct. Leicester Mercury. Mr Blair wore a traditional bindi mark on his forehead and smiled and greeted some of the 250 guests before lighting the symbolic Diwali lamp. At the reception in the Members' Dining Room at the Commons, Mr Blair received two flower garlands from the children of Keith Vaz.

1 Nov. Leicester Mercury. MP Keith Vaz is spending next week in India and Turkey investigating asylum and immigration systems at British consulates there.

5 Nov. Croydon Guardian. Hockey Results: Goan 5 Croydon MO 0. Headline: CMO can't get Goan. Excerpts: CMO slumped to a heavy defeat against a well organised Goan side. Goan scored three times inside the opening seven minutes. For full text click here.

Goa will participate in the World Tourism Mart to be held in London, November 10-13. After many years Goa will have its own pavilion rather than being part of the India one. Details at: http://www.worldtravelmart.co.uk/

Two items from Flavio Gracias – President of the Goan Association (UK)

1. Goan Crewmen
The appeal process has begun and the three Goan crewmen have completed the "form filling" formalities and the necessary documentation will be lodged with the Appeal Court shortly. It is expected that legal aid will be granted for this process and, if successful, the earliest expected date for the first hearing will be in March or April next year (2004). As the appeal process is expected to be protracted (seven to eight years if it goes to the House of Lords), we will be requesting the Immigration Authorities to remove the restriction forbidding the crewmen from taking gainful employment here. In the meanwhile, we plan to approach the Indian High Commission, who have already indicated a willingness to help, to discuss the fate of the crewmen. We also intend to raise the matter with Keith Vaz, MP, as he has agreed to help in whatever way he can.

2. Colva Union Feast.
On Sunday 19th October 2003, the Colva Union celebrated the feast of the Infant Jesus with a concelebrated mass at which four Salesian priests were present [Ref Fathers Tony Fernandes (Nairobi), Bennet Aranjo (Nairobi), Fr Colis Goncalves (Bombay), Fr Thomas D'Costa (Bombay)]. This 30th Anniversary function which was organised by our charming young President, Fiona Fernandes (from the second generation of Colvenkars) and her team proved to be a memorable occasion by all accounts. Entertainment was provided by live band Equinox well supported by the lively Say One Do One Disco with their handsome DJs Paul and Nigel. Tony and Suzy Rodrigues provided an excellent buffet and the bar was well run by a dedicated group of volunteers. For the first time, after a good many years, the function was a complete sell-out and value for money was the order of the day. A very affectionate touch was added to the celebration with a presentation to existing founder members, but it was sad that some of those who founded this village organisation had passed away. The dedication and hard work displayed on the day by this up and coming committee bodes well for the future.

DEATHS

4 Nov. Assagao, Goa. FRANCISCA DE SALES E MENDES D'SOUZA ( Born 1914, ex East African Railways, Nairobi). Wife of late Caitan. Mother of Luciana/late Cosma Oliveira (Ucassaim), Vithina/Peter Noronha (Bombay), Victor/Claudine (Texas), Lawrence/Irene (Texas), John/Anna Marie (Texas), Joseph/Sandra (Calgary, Canada), Tiburcio /Effie (Assagao), Anne/Trindade Fernandes (Siolim) Frantina/Simon D'Souza (Moira). Condolences to annajohnd@hotmail.com or cfmvc@allstate.com. [Data from Joel D'Souza]

3 Nov. Mardol, Goa. JOHN RODRIGUES. Husband of Marcelina Lobo, father of Julio/Bertha, Flavia/Anthony Rodrigues (London), Fatima/Caji Falcao.

1 Nov. Divar, Goa. JOSEPH AZAVEDO. Husband of Donatina. Father of Edward/Marja-Liisa (Sweden), Elizabeth/Klas (Sweden), Edna & Mervyn (Canada).

31 Oct: Cardiff, Wales: CLARA COTTA SILVA ROSA: daughter of late Ninfa/Valente, wife of Francisco da Silva Rosa (Chiquito), mother of Christopher and Maria de Lourdes, sister/sister-in-law of the late Alfredo/Selma, Sr Berta, Blasia/Sixto Mascarenhas, Antonio/Elisa Silva Rosa.

30 Oct: Aldona, Goa: JUSTINA FERNANDES: Daughter of late Joaquim Agostinho/late Rosalina, sister/sister-in-law of late Lucy/late Thomas Vaz, Constantino/Brigida, late Severina/Piety Alphonso and Dr Felix Fernandes (Zanzibar).

FLIGHT INFORMATION

2 Nov. Sunday Telegraph. Airtours (0870 241 5339; www.mytravel.com) has seven nights' all-inclusive in Goa for pounds 299 per person. Departures are from Manchester on Friday.

2 Nov. People. Goa (7nts), Nov 13, Manchester, £378, Travelcare (www.travelcare.co.uk)

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

31 Oct. GoaNet. Evaluating the Chief Minister three years on. Adv. Aires Rodrigues on the 10 Failures and 10 Achievements. http://article.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/7959

31 Oct. Smash Hits. US filmmaker Willard Carroll is to write and direct 'Marigold' a musical romantic comedy starring Salman Khan. It has been dubbed as a Bollywood-Hollywood collaboration and will be shot in both English and Hindi. Filming will take place in Mumbai, Goa and Rajasthan.

1 Nov. Financial Express. Gravity Adventure organises bungee jumps at North Anjuna Beach in Goa and charges Rs 500 a go “which is really cheap compared to the $ 40 or $ 50 you would pay abroad.”

2 Nov. Times of India. Among the saints with an unusually low profile is Gonzalo Garcia, the patron saint of Mumbai. The successful businessman, who was born in Bassein to a Portuguese father and an Indian mother in 1556, was one of 26 missionaries crucified in Nagasaki. "He is the only Indian to be canonised,'' said Fr Pravin Fernandes of the Catholic Communication Centre, adding that there are five Indian saints-in-waiting-Mother Teresa among them.

2 Nov. Deccan Herald. Goa expects two million tourists by year-end. See: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov02/n4.asp

2 Nov. Herald (Goa). Dr Joaquim I Goes (jgoes@bigelow.org) of West Boothbay Harbor, Maine, USA, is off to Antarctica, aboard ice-breaker Nathaniel Palmer, with a bunch of very well known US scientists on a National Science Foundation-sponsored mission to examine the ozone hole and its ultraviolet implications. Dr Goes is the lead investigator of one of six teams, which departed from Christchurch, New Zealand, at the end of October. See Dr Goes' bio details at http://www.bigelow.org/pi/goes.html You can follow progress of the mission by logging periodically to http://www.suscom-maine.com/~jflanaga/nlohrman/

3 Nov. Indian Express. A systematic campaign is underway to distort and rewrite the history of Goa's freedom movement. The RSS is trying to take belated credit for a struggle in which its role was, at best, marginal. This is being done with the patronage of the BJP-led governments in Delhi and Panaji. See
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=34620

4 Nov. Indian Express. The International Film Festival of India is to be held in Goa in future. Goa’s CM Manohar Parrikar has some plans up his sleeve. To begin with, he would like the festival dates shifted to immediately after December 3, the death anniversary of Saint Francis Xavier. This, the CM reckons, would work up the crowds. As thousands flock to pay homage to the Saint, the crowds would come not only from and around Goa but also across the shores. Close to Rs 35 crore is being spent on improving infrastructure in the state. Plans are afoot to have multiplexes and a floating theatre with a capacity to hold nearly 300 people. See: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=34654

6 Nov. The Hindu. Bangalore IT.Com 2003 ended on Wednesday with a high-profile visit by the Prime Minister of Hungary and a quiet, unnoticed, pop-corn munching stroll through the stalls, by the Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar. Mr. Parrikar, dressed as "commoner", strolled through the stalls with a couple of security men in plainclothes behind him. With a reputation for being accessible, the IIT-educated Chief Minister is credited with putting Goa on the IT map of the country. See http://www.hindu.com/2003/11/06/stories/2003110608730400.htm

IN THE NEWS

27 Oct. BBC. Keeping Goa's girls safe from prostitution. Big hearted Bristol icon Sapphire is lending her face to a new campaign to raise money for an orphanage in Goa which keeps young girls off the streets and safe from pimps who prey on them. See: click here

30 Oct. Swindon Business News. Headline: The Jewel in the Crown brings the taste of Goa to Swindon Excerpts: The restaurant has appointed a “star” new chef from Goa. Constantino d’Souza, a 27-year-old chef specialities will be Goan Sausage, a spicy delicacy which is much sought after in the region, backed up by Lamb Xacuti and Chicken Cafreal, each with a unique blend of tastes from the former Portuguese colony of Goa on the Indian Ocean. The hotels where Constantino trained include the Goa Marriott, the Paraiso de Praia, the Hotel Delmon Goa and the Cidade de Goa. See:
http://www.swindon-business.net/oct2003/oct36.html

30 Oct. The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ). 2003 marks the 75th anniversary of the Luso Americano newspaper of Newark. It is now the largest and most consequential Portuguese-language newspaper in the United States and it has been published in Newark since 1928. Its founders were Jose Lobo, a physician from Goa, the former Portuguese colony in India, and Ironbound merchants Manual Conceicao Jr., Francisco de Castro and Valentim Rocha.

30 Oct. Star-Tribune, Minneapolis. The stylish Bombay Bistro offers a couple of specialties from the former Portuguese colony of Goa, including a spicy lamb stew flavored with a complex blend of spices that includes cardamom, cloves and cinnamon ($10.95), and a savory Goan shrimp curry, served in a rich coconut cream sauce ($10.95).

31 Oct. Indian Express. Photographer Atul Kasbekar has just done a shoot for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). ‘‘I’m a Goan, so it’s hard to stop eating fish, but I’ve almost cut out all meats,’’ said Kasbekar. The fashion photographer is also looking forward to shooting for the Kingfisher calendar in Thailand early next month. ‘‘PETA campaigns have always had an edge with celebrities making fun of themselves, so they have to trust me,’’ he quips. For full text click here.

31 Oct. The Guardian. Highly skilled migrants welcome in Britain.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,11026,1075279,00.html

3 Nov. Computer Weekly (UK). Two years ago, Travelpack, a UK-based provider of specialist holidays to India, moved most of its data entry and accounting functions to offices in Goa. "The downside was rapidly escalating phone bills," explains Travelpack's IT director Tim Bushell. He looked into voice over IP, which provides voice calls at local internet access rates. Travelpack adopted eight VoIP lines between Harrow and Goa. The cost was less than £5,000. "As we already had 1mbps leased-line links to our UK and Indian ISPs, our voice call tariff costs were nil," says Bushell. "Without IP telephony, our monthly telephone bills between the UK and India would top £100,000 a month," he says and adds, "We have just bought a new building in India, capable of taking up to 1,000 staff, primarily because we can see the cost savings in taking calls over there." For full text click here.

3 Nov. Liverpool Echo. The holiday postcard that Karen sent from Goa ten years ago to her mother, Jacqueline Swan of Knotty Ash finally arrived this week. A Royal Mail spokesman said, "It could have been floating around Goa, or been sent somewhere else." For full text click here.

5 Nov. Star Ledger, Newark, NJ (USA). Headline: Home turf propels Vas to victory. Excerpt: Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas won the Assembly election. Text, 759 words at: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1068017505182200.xml?starledger?nmx [Agencia Lusa revealed that Joseph Vas’ father was born in Goa at the beginning of the last century and his mother is of Puerto Rican origin].

6 Nov. Daily Nation. Kenya hit by a five-hour power blackout.
http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/05112003/News/News0511200333.html

6 Nov. Navhind Times. Power supply was disrupted in Goa for nearly 5 hours.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=110617

6 Nov. East African Standard. Leopards will hold a fund raiser tomorrow at Goan Institute starting from 5pm. Proceeds from the function will be used to offset players’ allowances. See:
http://www.eastandard.net/sports/sport06110304.htm [Has the Nairobi Institute reverted to the original name?]

10 Nov. Time Asia. One of India's richest men, liquor baron Vijay Mallya has houses, racehorses, fancy cars and soccer teams. Now he's chasing what really counts in India: political power. The photograph shows him lounging beside the swimming pool of his seaside mansion in Goa. See: http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501031110-536271,00.html

FORTHCOMING

Click here for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon

Sun. 9 Nov. G.O.A. MASS FOR DECEASED at 1.00 pm followed by FAMILY DAY at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Free to all members and their guests. Three course meal available at £6.50 per head. ADVANCE BOOKINGS ONLY. Contacts: Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322. Nina Pinto 020 - 8767 0663

Sun. 9 Nov. St Diogo's Association (Guirim / Sangolda) Feast at Bishop Thomas Grant School.

Sun. 9 Nov. Nuvem Feast at White Hart Lane School. For tickets contact: Greg Carvalho 01245 261302 - e-mail: greg@god.co.uk

SOLD OUT! Sun. 16 Nov. The Union of Navelim. Feast. SOLD OUT - No tickets will be available at the door.

Sat. 22 Nov. 06:00am. South East Goans Sports & Social Club. Day trip to France via Le Shuttle departing Folkestone 08:45. Members and guests at £20. First come first served basis. Please send form details and remittances to Chris Pinto, 4 Plaxton Road, Erith, DA8 1NL. Contacts: Chris: 01322 400732; Victor: 020 8303 5106

Sun 23 Nov. 2.30pm. Fr Agnelo’s Day. St. Georges Cathedral, Westminster Bridge Road, Southwark. Tube: Lambeth North.

Sat. 29 Nov. 7pm to midnight. Goan Association (UK) Disco Fever for ages 16 and over. Say One Do One playing all your favourites. Bina Banqueting Hall, 4-8 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 (opposite Tooting Bec Station). Licensed bar. Entrance: £5 including snacks. Contact: Lily/Tony D'Souza 020-8644 5310; Wilma/Cedric D'Cruz 020-8954 1596.

Sun. 30 Nov. Moira Feast at ATC Hall, South Wimbledon. Contacts: Anthony D'Souza 020 - 8689 6447.

Sun. 30 Nov. 2.00 p.m. Norbury Manor High School for Girls, Kensington Avenue, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8BT. Konkani Dramatic Association presents ROGTACHO FORS." Comedy written by Rosita Pereira and Michael Alfonso. Produced and Directed by Judith Pacheco Fernandez and Antonio Fernandes. Play written by Zeferin Silveira. Tickets adults £9.00. Children under 11years £6.00. Discounts for group bookings. Please contact Judy Pacheco Fernandez 0208 7632606/07949403741. Cornelius Monteiro 0208 6818716 or Domacian Moniz 0208 3761609/07940501196

Wed. 3 Dec. 7pm. Special Holy Mass to commemorate the 451st anniversary of St Francis Xavier at the Holy Family Church, Trelawney Avenue, Langley, Slough. The mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Oliver Antao s.f.x., and will be followed by a get together after the service. Further information from Ciril de Quadros (ph 01753-540981, e-mail dequadrosc@halcrow.com)

Wed. 3 Dec. 7:45pm. The South East Goans Sports & Social Club will be celebrating the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. St. Stephen Church, Deepdene Rd, Welling, Kent. Principal Celebrant: Right Reverend Bishop Charles Henderson. Food and refreshments will be available in the Church Hall after Mass. Contacts: Victor: 020 8303 5106; Bonnie: 020 8851 4677; Damaciano:020 8316 1473.

Sat. 6 Dec.: YLGS Christmas Party (Thames Boat Cruise & Disco) from 7pm-11pm on M.V. Erasmus. Tickets are £12 (Including Snacks) B4 21st Nov and £15 thereafter. STRICTLY ONLY 250 TICKETS. For More Info & Tickets, Contact Myra 0798 449 6221 or funds@ylgs.org.uk

Sun. 7 Dec. G.O.A. FEAST OF St FRANCIS XAVIER at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon starting with Mass at 12.30 pm. Choir by the GOAN MUSICAL SOCIETY Contacts: Diego Pinto 020 - 8767 0663 Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457 Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322

FOR LATER EVENTS SEE http://www.goanvoice.org.uk