The prestigious 'Gulab' Awards were announced on Tuesday, alongside the Journalism Award, with Nevil Alphonso, former director of Goa Government's Directorate of Agriculture and a passionate Konkani author and editor, being named 'Gulab’s Personality of the Year'.
Noted Konkani writer, poet, and author of children’s literature, Philomena SamFrancisco, has been honoured with the 'Gulab Writer of the Year' award. Her exceptional contributions to Konkani literature, particularly in children's literature, have earned her this prestigious recognition. Meanwhile, renowned tiatr comedian and writer-director, Comedian Sally, has been selected for the 'Gulab Tiatrist of the Year Award 2023'. His talent and dedication to the tiatr, a traditional Goan form of musical theatre, have made him a standout figure in the cultural landscape, deserving of this esteemed accolade.
Savio João Maria Dias, a reporter and sub-editor of local news channel and a dutiful multimedia journalist has been selected for Felicio Cardoso Journalism Award 2023.
At the recently held meeting of Fr Freddy J Da Costa Memorial Trust, the names of the personalities to be felicitated by Gulab, the popular Konkani monthly and Fr Freddy J Da Costa Memorial Trust, for the year 2023, and also of the Felicio Cardoso Journalism Awardee 2023 has been declared.
The awards will be presented to the recipients on July 2, at a special function to be held at Ravindra Bhavan’s Black Box, Margao at 3.30 pm to commemorate the 71st birth anniversary of late Fr Freddy J Da Costa, the founder of Gulab. The newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Goa & Daman Archdiocese, Simião Fernandes will grace the occasion as the chief guest and renowned Konkani litterateur and poet Guadalupe Dias will be the guest of honour.
Multi-tasking personality in the Konkani field Fernando Santano Costa popularly known as Kalliz de Orlim will also be felicitated during the function with Fr Freddy's memorial Gulab recognition for his extraordinary contribution to the Goan society.
The Gulab awardees have been selected by an experienced jury composed of Guadalupe Dias, Willy Goes, Marcos Gonsalves and Br John M Afonso, while jury for Felicio Cardoso Journalism Award consisted of Marcos Gonsalves, Chetan Acharya, Guadalupe Dias,
Fr Ave Maria Afonso and Br John M Afonso.
Nevil Alphonso
Born on May 4, 1964, at Cottombi-Paroda, Quepem, Nevil recently retired as the Director of the Directorate of Agriculture, after serving the Department for 28 years. As Director of Agriculture, he established the first 'Goa College of Agriculture' in 2022. He exported the Mankurad variety of Mangoes to the United Kingdom for the first time.
He was instrumental in increasing the cultivation of Marigold (rozam) in Goa thus boosting the income of the local farmers. He introduced ‘Millet float’ in Goan Carnival celebration for the first time and popularized the ragi (nachnni) millets of Goa. A prolific Konkani writer on Goan farming and cultivation, his book ‘Nal'lachi Lagvodd’ was an instant success. He regularly contributed his writings to Konkani newspapers and periodicals.
Philomena Samfrancisco
Born on October 26, 1956 at Camurlim, Bardez, Philomena contributed her first short story to 'Sot' the first Roman Konkani daily in Goa. She has 5 Konkani books to her credit till date, one of them published in both the scripts namely, Roman and Devnagari.
She has been regularly contributing her valuable literature to 'Dor Mhoineachi Rotti', 'Vauraddeancho Ixt't, 'Uzvadd', 'Gõykar', 'Goencho Avaz', 'Novem Goem', 'Konkan Mail', 'The Goan Review', 'Gulab', 'Bimb', 'Sunaprant’, 'Ananiya', 'Bhangarbhuim', 'Divo' etc. and on regular basis creates children’s literature for 'Gulab' in recent times.
Comedian Sally
Born on January 5, 1962 at Sao Jose De Areal, Curtorim as Salvador Mascarenhas, he has been acting as Comedian Sally since 1983. Till date, he has acted in almost 450 dramas of topmost directors such as Rosario Rodrigues, Patrick Dourado, Mario Menezes, John D'Silva, Roseferns, Tony Dias etc. Besides, he has also toured abroad i.e Germany, UK, France, Canada, Australia, Sidney, Melbourne, Perth, US, New York, Los Angeles, St Francisco and Huston to participate in dramas. Comedian Sally has also written and directed his own dramas: ‘Maink Lagon’, ‘Daddy Hi Tuji Sun’, ‘Atanchim Bhurgim’, ‘Grandpa’, ‘Xezari Put’, ‘Mai Paichem Besanv’. His current production ‘Kazaracho Chuddo’ is due to be performed in the UK for the first time.
Savio Dias
Born on May 31, 1972 at Madel, Margao, Savio João Maria Dias joined Herald/HCN in 2010 as a freelance reporter and later switched over to another local news channel in 2011 as a staff reporter. He encouraged budding Konkani artistes by publicizing their work through electronic media and gave a big boost to Konkani programmes through vast coverage on electronic media. He did videography for a number of ‘Mannkam Motiam’ episodes of tiatr personality interviews hosted by Teotonio D’Costa for the channel
Kalliz De Orlim
Born on May 30, 1973 at Bironaik, Orlim, Fernando Santano Costa alias Kalliz de Orlim has rendered extra-ordinary service to the Goan Society, such as farming, plucking coconuts, wood-cutting, digging graves, propaganda, providing pork meat, etc. He has also excelled in zomnivoilo khell productions and performances.