The Santo Estevam Blog

A candidate for the March 3 state assembly elections, Fr. Bismarque Dias , who is contesting as an independent candidate from the Cumbharjua constituency, has launched a website Vote For Kindness. Here's the link: http://VoteForKindness.org

Jackson Dias Jezuk kiteak khursar jivexim marlo? Ho proxnn mhoje lagim zaito kall suttavo zainaslo. Jezuk khursar marunk nam apli dotorn xikoita mhonn. Jezuk khursar marunk nam to apunn Devacho put mhonnta mhonn. Jezuk khursar maruk na to milagri korta mhonn. Punn Jezuk khursar marlo to vaittacher zhuzta dekhun. Aiz somazant kitlem vaitt ailelem asa? Veta thoim bhroxttachar (corruption). Ami tor atam vaittacher zhuzo naum zalear fuddle pillgek ekdom vaitt zatelem. Atam vechnnuko lagim pavleat. Boream munxeank vinchun kaddunk zai. Zaito lok mhonnta apleak dan (scheme) dilea. Ti kosli dan? Rajkarbari (politicians) “vattli bhor ditat ani panttli bhor vhortat”. Lokacheam dolleank panam bandtat. Osleam vostuncher Jezu aplea jivitant zhuzlo. Look backward to move forward Patthleam disani Ponnje Regional Plan-hacher meeting zali te meetingek konnuch Zunvencho lok ajir zavunk nam. Konn montri apoit zalear lemddeam bhaxen dhanvon vetat punn osleam gorjecheam kamank konn ienam. Halim Gr...

Jackson Dias Bairo Palmar Santo Estevam Goa 28th Jan 2012 To The Chairman Gram Sabha V.P. Santo Estevam Subject : Gramsabha to be held on 5th Feb 2012 Dear Sir/Madam, I the undersigned want the VP Secretary to answer the following questions: 1. Have you given any press statement on the letterhead of the Panchayat regarding the discussion in the Gram Sabha of the Fortnight Meeting held on 18th Dec. 2011? 2. If not you, has any other person from the Panchayat including members and staff given any press statement regarding the discussion in the Gram Sabha dated 18th Dec. 2011? 3. Have you or any other person in the Panchayat given any press statement on the letterhead of the Panchayat which is not discussed in the Gram Sabha of the Fortnight Meeting held on 18th Dec. 2011? In case there is any difficulty due to Code of Conduct, I want the clarification well in advance. Thanking You, Yours faithfully, Jackso...

This news item appeared in the December 16, 2004 issue of Herald Panjim, Dec. 15 - In one voice, raised at the second and final public hearing by the Delimitation Commission in North Goa on Wednesday, the general public including Opposition parties urged the Commission not to approve the alleged manipulated draft proposals pertaining to constituencies of Cumbarjua, Ponda and Pernem. The Public hearing on Wednesday morning witnessed a mass turnout of citizens from all three constituencies, the first of which demanded that Juem, (Jua Saza) currently a part of Cumbarjua constituency, should not be included as part of Mayem constituency. Secondly, there were major objections raised over the proposed removal of Usgao from Ponda constituency and its inclusion in Valpoi and the proposed removal of Ozorim from Pernem constituency and its inclusion in Tivim constituency. As far as objections to the inclusion of Juem with Mayem constituency, the views raised were that the said proposal was...

Composed by Jackson Dias Ch. Are fottoile amkam fotoile, montri babani Goenkarank amkam fottoile (twice) I Regional Plan sarko nam, soglleak zala boball Serkara plan sarko kor, nam tor poddot mal II Dongor zhaddam katrun soglleak Goem zalem kabar Azunui tum nhidlai tor, utth! Goenkar III Renvenche truck, minache truck, Goenchem zalam got'tthon Chorio-kirmi soglleak zatat, Goenchem nisontton

Jackson Dias Mhaka iead ieta mhojea bhurgeaponnachi. Bhurgem jivit tem ani Portugez xikop tea Portugez kallar. Mhojea jivitant zaite Professor ieun gele pun mhaka chodd avoddlo Prof. Mario Filomeno Pereira ganvant Sirlim, Chinchonnecho. Atam thoinsor Panchayat asa. Vorsak don-tin tiatr zatale Konkani-Portugez kantaram ason. Adim tiatr vo kazaram ugttea zagear matvan zatalim. Jedna Casa do Povo toiear zalem tiatr and kazaram thoim zavpak laglim. Goemchi suttka (liberation) zali teach vorsa (1961) Casa da Povo toiear zalem ani ondum 50 vorsam bhortat. Goemkarank toxech Zunvemkarank borem ies anvddetam. Forear (ganvant) adim ek bhatt (property) aslem tantunt gonzareo, chinchechim zhaddam, ambeachim zhaddam adi aslim. Ami interval poddtoch tea bhattant vetaleaum follam khaunk. Khuxeal dis te! Hanv St. Theresa iskolant ek “boarder” koso aslom punn Portugez xiktalom. Atam iskol-konvent bandla thoinsoruch punn adim Joesager, Konvent aslo Filomena saddiekarniger. Te...

Marcelant Zatrek Vetam. Lyrics: Jackson Dias Music: Mukesh Ghatwal Video: Aggy Dias

News item in Herald dated 14 Sep. 2011: Kala Yuvak Sangha, Juve, St. Estevam felicitated the following stage artists: Jackson Dias, Xavier Gomes, Alwyn Gomes, Domnic X. Monteiro, Tania Rosa, Veleni Dias, Chiara Gomes, and other Marathi artists at Juve, St. Estevam at the hands of Chief guest Tapobhumi Pithadhishshwar Param Pujya Srimad Sadguru Brahmeshanandacharya Swami Maharaj.

Here's wishing one and all a very happy and prosperous New Year 2011. I am glad to announce that my new CD of Konkani songs entitled Mogachi Kanni (Love Story) composed by Jackson Dias (that's me!) and sung by local singers namely Aloma, Alwyn Gomes, Antoneta Dias, Astria, Chiara Gomes, Joylita Silveira, Reiny, Snayha, Tania, Veleni and Xavier Gomes, and set to music by the talented Mukesh Ghatwal, was officially released on the auspicious occasion of St. Stephen's Feast on 26th December 2010. The CD costs Rs. 200/-. If you would like to avail of a copy you may contact me on my mobile no. 919657031787. You may also obtain the CD from "Jameel" - the residence of Mrs. Soccorina Dias in Marcel, Goa. The house is right by the main road in Marcel. I'd like to thank Joseph de Santo Estevam for posting a review of my CD on the Niz Goenkar blog. Here's the link to the review: http://nizgoenkar.blogspot.com/2011/01/jackson-dias-mogachi-kanni-konkani.html Viva Goa! ...

Jackson Dias has recently released his Konkani CD entitled Mogachi Kanni (Love Story) featuring Konkani songs by local youngsters. Singers: Veleni Dias Snayha Menezes Alika Mascarenhas Tania Rosa Astria Fernandes Cindy Mascarenhas Joylita Silveira Carran Monteiro Other credits: Conchita Mascarenhas - Violin Weslee Dias - Guitar Darwin Pereira - Ghumott Jackson Dias - Composer & Instructor Aggie Dias - Video For details on how to obtain the CD please contact Jackson Dias (Mobile: 919657031787).

Lucas Mattos This year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the International Youth Year. Pope John Paul II started the International Youth Year in 1985 and Pope Benedict XVI has taken the same theme for the jubilee year and he speaks of “Youth and Hope”. What does it mean to have hope? A person has hope is a person who has got eternal value, eternal life. We say that the young people are the hope of the world. But you must know that you are the hope not only of the world but of the church – the hope for us – the bishops, the priests and religious and the church at large. 25 years ago, under the able guidance of our parish priest Fr. Almir D’Souza, our parish youth got together and celebrated a 3-day Youth Festival in our village. I remember the banner with Thomas Hardy’s words, “Days of our youth are days of glory”. All our youth participated with full enthusiasm and by the charisma of our youth our elders, especially the seamen, showed the youthful charisma in them and rejuvena...

by Jaime Afonso From the 2006 Souvenir of St. Estevam Sports Club Late Prof. Luis Manuel Afonso wrote an article in the second last edition of this souvenir wherein he had given us glimpses of the earliest developments of our village to the present facade of our church and mentuioning about priestly ordination of his brother Late Fr. Antonio. He is no more among us as this edition unfolds today. He left for his heavenly abode on 4th April 2006. May his soul rest in peace. L. M. Afonso as he was popularly known among the teaching fraternity, obtained his educational degrees from the University of Bombay and served in Mumbai for some time before coming to Goa soon after liberation for which he had made his personal contribution and was later recognised as freedom fighter by the State and Central Governments. An honour to the village indeed! In Goa, he was first appointed as professor of English language in the prestigious Portuguese medium Liçeu Nacional de Afonso de Albuquerque, a leaga...

By Jose Lucas Mattos (From St. Estevam Firgojechi Zap, February 2010 issue) This year (1759-2009) we Zunvenkars got together to celebrate 250 years of our structural church. If we go back to the history of our faith, it is not of suit, boot and glamour of today, but our faith is of our poor "fottekars" who were ready to mortgage their lone possession "fottem" to build this magnificent architectural grandeur. As we see it today, it is not only the faith but a strong commitment and hard work which we inherited and flourished throughout the world. Under the spiritual guidance of our Parish Priest Fr. Olavo D'Souza, our village grandson, and Fr. Alexandre Fernandes, our assistant to the Parish Priest, we began this year's celebrations with a spiritual renewal of heart and mind and family life too. As the saying goes, "The family that prays together stays together" we began a five-day family mission conducted by Fr. Kenneth Telles of the Diocesan ...

- Late Justice Remedios; First Goan Chief Justice of Goa. - Late General Medico Minguel Caetano Dias. - Late Lt. Col. Fr. Vitor Dias. - Late Dr. Alvaro Dias; Chief Justice of Goa. - Late Rev. Fr. Leandro da Rosa; Bacharel em Sagrada Teologia. - Angelo Fonseca, exponent Indo Christian Art (acclaimed artist and painter). - Late Dr. Estevam Afonso; Founder Director of Vaccine Institute, Goa. - Late Fr. Crescencio Monteiro; Professor of Rachol & Saligao Seminary and Konkani scholar. - Late Major Vincente Joao de Santana Dias. - Late Jose Ladislau Saldanha; freedom fighter and Tamrapatra awardee. - Late Canon Angelo D’Costa; Professor at Rachol Seminary. - Late Professor Dr. Bailon D’sa; Chief of UNESCO Project entrusted with the founding and manning of new University in the Ivory Coast and Ghana. - Late Dr.Olivinho Gomes; Konkani scholar and Head of Konkani Dept., Goa University. - Victor Magalhaes;freedom fighter and Principal, Govt. College, Canacona. - C...

Emidio F. Monteiro President of Carnival Committee (2003) - His message in the SECASA 2003 bulletin - All "Honrad Zunvenkars", specially as cultivators of our popular "Bhenddes". When a group of us decided to participate in the Traditional category of the Carnival Parade in differnt towns of Goa, in spite of opposition and criticism form disgruntled elements, we opted for the concept of vegetation with "Bhenddes" as prime product and the slogan "Be Vegetarian For Healthy Living" which ultimately conquered the cities of Panjim, Mapuca and Vasco and we deservingly got the 1st prize, while in Margao we had to be content with the 2nd prize. The large number of participants in ur floats which constituted an impressive number of females, and the original music, is something for all of us to remember for years. All this was possible due to the generous donations from all our villagers. The historic achievement has proved beyond doubt that we Zunvenkar c...

By Late Prof. L. M. Afonso Amidst the picturesque islands of Goa surrounded by the magnificent and placid waters of the River Mandovi one comes across a colourful island with a colourful history. The isle of Jua today glories in the memories of old kingdoms and mighty kings. The story goes back to the sixth century when it was known to the people around Konkan desh as “Shakecho Jumvo”. This green jewel originally consisted of three small islets viz Jua, Tolto and Vantso with a canal connecting them. It has been observed thanks to the silt deposits of the River Mandovi, that these small islets have been joined together into one island - that of Santo Estevam which has expanded rapidly, especially since the Second World War. Around the hill on which stands the imposing statue of Christ The King is a vast expanse of rice fields and in the distance rise small hillocks and dunes covered with forests, which are fast vanishing. Relieving the monotony of the scene there are lines of tr...

Manddo composed by Jackson Dias -I- Mudans korunk kednaim tunvem Goeam ieunk zai Zunveam oslo gaum tuka meuncho nam go bai Pordesant ami astanam, ugddas tuzo ietanam, Poddta amka tujim sopnam.   Ch: Ubo raulear dongrar, Nodor marlear ganvar, Polounk to srungar Mhonntat amkam bhenddekar, Purvoz amche varvemkar HONRAD AMI ZUNVENKAR   -II- Amchea Zunvear lhan vodd asa sobit tim ghoram Picavoll zaiti hanga khuxal tim poram, Sobit igroz kopelam xetamni rongoilam, Doria deger nettoilam   -III- Voddvik tuji sogleamkuch naum tin letramchem Lhan-tiko mapar tum istimossamchem Bhangar tum putamchem, Douloth tum dhuvamchem, Sobit JUA naum tujem.

By Late Prof. L. M. Afonso History is not just about quests or conquests. Beyond the ramparts and battlefields there were the ordinary men and women, the farmers and vegetable cultivators and the housewives who helped them, to keep life going. But their narratives lie frozen and unheard amid the dead debris of times. If you look around carefully you will find that every place has a nook or cranny which records history. It could be a decaying log or thatched hut of a farmer. All these have their own stories to tell. Jua then was a group of seven islets intercepted by swamps and marshy areas of the river Mandovi, Mangueral, Polvado, Tonca and St. Francisco was the biggest islet followed by the twin islets of Tolto, separated by “Karem Bath” Bairo Santissm and Aldeia Grande, Palmar and Cupa were the tidal islets. All these islets were systematically joined together by constructing culverts and causeways and by building defending bunds by our ancestors and later maintained by Comunida...

By Dr. Rufino Monteiro Viva Jua!! Honrad amu Zunvenkar!! Lovely Green Island!! These are the exclamations we are used to hear and feel proud of and this year at Carnival time in Goa, we are all delighted to see our Zunvenkars all in true Goan Traditional attire and way thrilling the crowds in all the major cities of Goa and winning laurels besides the hearts of people from Goa, other parts of India and abroad. Thus, the villagers of our great Green Island of Santo Estevam proved the point that if they come together for doing something constructive, they can surely be second to none. Over the years, our islanders have been shining lights all over Goa and even abroad with their hard-work, dedication and clever minds. Our village has produced many holy priests, famous architects and engineers, renowned doctors, illustrious teachers and artists, good sports persons and numerous other well known and respected people in their fields. But alas! What is the state in recent years? Despite hav...

Courtesy O Heraldo Jackson Dias, a noted singer, writer, conductor and composer from Jua has come out with an audiovisual CD titled "Iliana" under Bhenddekar Productions where Jackson pays tribute to his mother, who inspired him to follow his heart in Konkani music. The CD consists of Cantaram, duets and groups singing Mando in expression of Jua style and Goa in general. Jackson has trained some of the village youth to sing and dance in his album. This album introduces some new voices, mostly from Santo Estevam, such as Chiara Gomes, Antonetta Dias, Alwyn Gomes who are the new finds of Jackson Dias. The CD also features Xavier Gomes, Reniy Dias and Velany Gama a young co-producer. Mukesh Ghantwalhas rendered melodious music for the album while Marthalisa Afonso, Jelda Fernandes, Lee Ann Monteiro, Eden Marques, Anna Lisa Silveira, Diasa D'Costa, Stanley Marques and Anthony Sylvester have lent their voices for the chorus.