NRP Sagres: Portugal’s tallest Navy ship in Goa

It was a wonderful experience to have a visit to Portugal’s tallest Navy ship, NRP Sagres, which arrived in Goa. The Sagres is visiting Goa as part of its 2010 circumnavigation of the world to mark the arrival of the Portuguese to the Orient and Extreme Orient 500 years ago.

About Sagres:

The Sagres was built in 1937 in shipyard of Blohm & Voss in Hamburg and named the Albert Leo Schlageter. She was the 3rd of four ships built by the German Navy including the Horst Vessel (now the US Coast Guard ship, Eagle). and the Gorch Fock (now the Tovarishch of Ukraine). A sister-ship, Mircea, was also built for the Romanian Navy. During World War II she was taken to Bremerhaven shipyard after damage from a mine and captured by the U.S. forces in 1945. The ship was given to Brazil in 1948 and sailed in as a training ship in the Brazilian Navy under the name Guanabara. In 1962 she was purchased by Portugal purchased to replace the old sail training ship Sagres and is often referred to as the Sagres II.

News article as reported by the local daily the Herald

Portuguese ship anchors in Goa

HERALD REPORTER

Portuguese ship anchors in Goa
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, NOV 12

Portugal’s tallest Navy ship, NRP Sagres, arrived in the State on Friday, amid protests and police protection at Mormugao Port.

Consul General de Portugal Antonio Sabido Costa welcomed the Portuguese ship, which is visiting Goa as a part of its 2010 circumnavigation of the world.

“The training ship Sagres, built in 1937 at the Blohm and Voss shipyards in Hamburg, is presently on its 2010 circumnavigation of the world. The ship departed Lisbon on January 19 and will conclude its journey in Portugal on December 23, after taking voyage in almost 18 nations,” said the Captain Proenca Mendes.

Due to the protests from freedom fighters and BJP workers, Vasco Police had deployed police force at the main entrance of the port as well as near the ship at Berth No 10, where the ship is anchored.

The welcome ceremony remained low profile, as media persons, police force and General de Portugal Antonio Sabido Costa along with two naval officers were present to welcome the ship.

Flag Officer of Goa Naval Area Sudhir Pillai, who was to receive the ship along with Costa, skipped the function, while his subordinate officers accompanied Costa.

Sagres is visiting Goa as part of its 2010 circumnavigation of the world to mark the arrival of the Portuguese to the Orient and Extreme Orient 500 years ago.

General de Portugal Antonio Sabido Costa said the ship is on goodwill visit, as it earlier visited Latin America for the 200 centenary freedom celebration, later it visited Japan for 150 agreement of signing of friendship treaty among both the nations and sailed in Shanghai for World expo. From Goa, the ship will sail to Alexandria, Egypt.

“This is one of the best ships of Portugal and I request the people to visit and see this ship,” said Costa.

The ship will be docked at Mormugao Port from November 12 to 16 for the general public.

Our lady of Piety (Nossa Senhora da Piedade) Chapel at Parra celebrates 150 years.

Our lady of Piety (Nossa Senhora da Piedade) Chapel at Parra celebrated its 150 years.

The villagers of Parra celebrated 150 years of the chapel of Our lady of Piety at Parra. The Chapel of our lady of Piety was completed on 13th November, 1860

The priest in his sermon emphasized on the parents and children relationship and following the footsteps of our lady and Jesus in our day to day lives. He stressed on the view that today parents are not showing active interests in the children day to day activities and in not doing so the children tend to go on the wrong path. He also stressed on the fact as to how parents in their old age are put into old age homes.

He stressed on the life of Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz and stated that he had great love for Mother mary and In 1677 at foot of the altar of blessed virgin Mary, church of our lady of heath, sancoale, Goa he wrote his letter (a classic) surrendering himself into her hands to be disposed off as she wished.

After the mass cake was distributed to all those present as the Brass band played its music.
Happy Feast to all.

Lusofonia Festival 2010 - Macao

Lusofonia Festival

Origin

The first Lusofonia Festival was held in 1998 on the Portuguese Expatriate Day (10 June) to celebrate Portuguese-speaking individuals who have contributed to Macao’s development. Originally known as the “Carnival in a Portuguese Style”, the festival has turned into a cultural event incorporated with Portuguese culture. Its Chinese name denotes Portuguese live music in the Carmo Area, entertaining visitors in the picturesque setting of the Taipa Houses-Museum.

Aims

In its infancy, the festival attracted mostly expatriates of Portuguese-speaking countries living in Macao. Today, it has become a magnet for all residents as well as visitors. The festival in 2008 was held in combination with the Cultural Week for the first time. Since then, this annual event has been a holiday celebration of gastronomic and other cultural delights that immerse participants in the Chinese and Portuguese cultures wedded together. To visitors who have taken in Macao’s downtown architecture in its Chinese and Western styles, it is a not-to-be-missed fun in a beautiful town on the southern border of China.

Activities for 2010

The Lusofonia Festival and Cultural Week of China and Portuguese Speaking Countries 2010 was hosted by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for the Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries and the Macau Government Tourist Office, in Carmo Area and Carmo’s Fair of Taipa, Senado Square and Park of Iao Hon Market. It was be a multi-day programme featuring shows from China; Portugal; Angola; Brazil; Cape Verde; Goa, Daman and Díu; Guinea-Bissau; Mozambique; São Tomé and Príncipe; East Timor and Macau. The event included a Traditional Craft Fair of the Portuguese-speaking and Chinese Communities, Portuguese food, song and dance (by ensembles from Macao, mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries), Art Show of Angola and Cape Verde, Craft Fair of Portuguese-speaking countries, and performance by the groups from Goa, Daman and Díu.

From Goa Daman and Diu the group that performed was Kepechim Kirnnam and Belinda.

News extract from internet

Photo credits Ms. Priyanka Pereira

"Resurgence" -Jacinta Luis Releases Fourth Musical CD

Jacinta Luis Releases Fourth CD "Resurgence"

www.jacintaluis.com

Jacinta has a unique musical background; she was born in Tanzania to the thriving African songs & rhythms and enveloped by the swing tunes of her father, Jerry Luis’ group, the "Jazz Swingers". Jacinta began performing at an early age on radio, television and for heads of states.

A part of Jacinta’s education was in Goa (India) and former Portuguese colony, land of her ancestors. Goa is a paradise that blends the music & timbres of Konkani, Portuguese, & Hindi.

Upon Jacinta’s arrival in Quebec, the language of Molière and Shakespeare, as well as the rich harmonies of 70’s music added to her wide range of musical influences.

Jacinta pursued musical studies in classical piano since the age of six. She continued to sing and to study piano throughout her schooling. After high school, she decided to pursue musical studies at Dawson College, Concordia University and later at the University of Victoria where she completed her Masters in Music Education, and developed her interest in Jazz arranging and Vocal Jazz.

Jacinta has had a full performing career as a solo vocalist/pianist and in quartets in Montreal.

Jacinta's life turned upside down when her brother became ill with AIDS and then passed away in 1999. This was followed by the illness of her husband. Jacinta needed time to grieve and to heal as well as to assist her husband through his illness.

Jacinta is back!

Since November 2009, Jacinta has produced five concerts in Montreal and Toronto, as well as a few nights at the Upstairs Jazz Club where she just launched her fourth CD "Resurgence". Her music is a style of Jazz Fusion influenced by four continents: "Jazz World Fusion”

Happy Diwali - 2010 - Goa