News: Dynet Fernandes
Pics: Joachim D’Souza
Muscat, Dec 15: Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP), Muscat, Oman held a fun filled family Christmas Carnival for the community in a big way at Ruwi parish main hall recently. The cultural event engaged all the members in a highly active and joyous way throughout the evening.
Team-26 under the leadership of Sunil Furtado, intended to ring in the festive season in a merry manner with various pre-event competitions and lots of entertainment. A large crowd gathered to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season along with their families and friends.
The event began with a unique skit themed around ‘Christmas in our hometown’ that was put together by sports secretary Terence D’Souza and enacted by every member of the committee, namely, Philomena Saldanha, Naveen Mascarenhas, Suneel Menezes, Jane Castelino, Vijay D’Cunha, Francis Pinto, Dynet Fernandes and Sunil Furtado. The
skit brought back good old memories of the Christmas Eve hustle and bustle in homes in Mangaluru.
The comperes for the evening Zino Saldanha and Renita Quadros then took centre stage and welcomed the audience. Spiritual director Fr Mariyan Miranda prayed for the success of the event and blessed the audience and the participants. President Sunil Furtado addressed the gathering and called upon the community members to widen their sphere of sharing the joy of the Christmas. He commended Dynet Fremcitha Fernandes, cultural secretary, for being the main architect of the event along with the rest of the team. The chief guest for the evening Wilber D’Souza, a well-known entrepreneur and a long time benefactor of Mangalorean community in Oman, was welcomed on stage and felicitated for his kind presence.
The festive event then commenced with the Christmas carol singing competition. The competition started by introduction of the judges by Dynet Fernandes. The judges were Shyline Frank, the co-founder of Creative Communications and a renowned singer; Mula Raikar, a musician by profession and a member of the band ‘Spirit Sounds’ and Clarence D’Souza, a famous karaoke singer and a member of various bands.
The first team to take stage was The Prima Volta, a team of young children Andril Lobo, Aldrean Moras, Leanne and Lael Alva, Shane Menezes, Lester D’Souza, Calida and Calvin Machado. Next were Jingle Stars consisting of Melwin D’Souza, Lavisha Sequeira, Richard Miranda, Prescilla Lobo, Peter D’Souza, Zeeliya D’Souza, Meural D’Souza and Sandhesh D’Souza. Jingle Stars who sang a mix of Konkani and English carols enthralled the crowd and were crowned winners of the evening. The third group was Celestials comprising of Renessa Walder, Harlene Pinto, Laurette Rego, Lovette Rego, Lanette Rego, Glen and Grace Menezes. They performed a mashup of Christmas carols that regaled the crowd. The next group was Ghala Tharaam. They were the second runners- up of the evening and consisted of Gracy and Lizy Barboza, Naveen and Suman Mathias, Praveen Serra, Rony Lobo, PramilaPasanna and Nancy Gonsalves, and made the audience travel on a melodious journey. The last group was Luminous, a group of little children Anishaand Aman D’Costa, Christine and Clive Danthi, Derrick, Rochelle and Reia Correa and Nicole D’Souza. They sang a catchy mix of carols with their
beautiful voicesand left the stage in pure delight. They were rightfully declared first runners-up.
Right after the entertaining carol singing competition, Francis Pinto, the treasurer, honoured the sponsors for the event. He felicitated the three judges of the carol competition, Shyline Frank, Mula Raikar and Clarence D’Souza and two judges of the online fancy dress contest, John Gonsalves and Shilpa Fernandes.
In order to give a chance to the audience to win some goodies, Terence D’Souza entertained the crowd with some spot prizes. On public demand, one of the judges, ShylineFrank, sang a couple of scintillating songs mesmerising the audience with her beautiful voice. The Muscat United Panglaites presented a touching tableau depicting nativity of Jesus. It was choreographed by Violet D’Costa and performed by Trecilla Menezes, Prakash D’Sa, Stany Menezes, Don Fernandes, Michael Lobo, Vinod D’Costa, Teril Saldanha, Remy Lobo, Calida Machado, Daran Fernandes, Calvin Machado, Ashish Martis, Shane Menezes, Steven Quadros, Melvin Menezes, Shyla Machado, Hencil Martis, Renita Quadros, Priyanka Rodrigues, Alan Rodrigues and Felcy Fernandes. Jane Castelino, general secretary extended the vote of thanks to all those who contributed towards the success of the event. The volunteers, Raphael, Lawrence, Sunil, Praveen, John, and Vikas were thanked for their constant support towards Team-26. Photographer Joachim D’Souza, DJ Loveline Rego and decorator Lancy Lobo were specially thanked for their significant contribution to the event.
The proceedings were then taken over by Naveen Mascarenhas, vice-president (Cultural, Spiritual and CS) and Terence D’Souza by conducting a ‘Bid to Win’ session where several cakes were auctioned including a multi-tiered cake donated by Reena Mathais. Several bidders got lucky and won spot prizes along with Christmas cakes. The much awaited prize distribution ceremony was conducted by Vijai D’Cunha, internal auditor. He thanked the participants of all the three competitions and each participant was given a certificate of appreciation.
The star making competition had 12 entries and the winners were; Helen Sequeira (1stprize), Cyril Danthi and family (2ndprize) and Naveen and Suman Mathias (3rdprize). For the first time MCCP conducted an online fancy dress contest which had 18 entries. The winners were Shanana and Sanya D’Souza (1stprize), Johan and Evan Mathais (2nd prize) and Evjeen and Helen Sequeira (3rdprize). The finale of the evening was the grand entry of Santa Claus, who generously distributedchocolate boxes and goody bags to all the children present. The fun-filled Christmas carnival came to end with all present carrying home bright smiles and a delicious dinnerpack.
The event sponsors were Marmul Hospitality Group - Mabel Pinto, general manager (courtesy Vijai D’Cunha), Sweets Of Oman - George Andrade (courtesy Naveen Mascarehnas), Vivian and Jessy Pereira (courtesy Vijai D’Cunha), Modern Dairy Factory LLC (courtesy Suneel Menezes), Assarain Food Products LLC (courtesy Suneel Menezes), Pizza Hut (courtesy Lancy Lobo), Reena Mathias (courtesy Naveen Mascarehnas), Europe Beauty Centre - Maria Gomes (courtesy Flavia Fernandes) and Rafael, Rachel and Jivitha Vas (courtesy Suneel Menezes).
The sponsors for the year were:
Platinum sponsor: Muscat Golden Services LLC (Raphael D’Souza)
Gold sponsors: Omantel (courtesy Eula Pinto) and Technofit Trading LLC (Liguory and Margaret D’Mello)
Silver sponsors: Marmul Hospitality Group of Travels, Exchange & Hotel Golden Oasis (Mabel Pinto - courtesy Vijai D’Cunha), National Finance Company SAOG (Robert Pancras - courtesy Francis Pinto), and Bank Sohar (Sasi Kumar)
Bronze sponsors: Sea Pearls LLC (Riyas - courtesy Francis Pinto), Prestige Projects and Engineering Supplies Co LLC (Denis Mascarenhas) and Zahrat Al Rawdha Trading (Raphael Quadros).