St Xavier’s College, Mapusa in collaboration with Fundação Oriente and Institute Camões recently organised ‘The ‘Portuguese Day’. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Dr Rui Alberto Carvalho Baceira the Consul General of Portugal, and Dr Maria Inês Figueira, Delegate of Fundação Oriente and Dr Delfim Correia da Silva Central Director of the Portuguese language, Institute Camões, were the guests of Honour.
Principal of the college, Fr (Dr) Jeronimo D’Silva, in his welcome address, spoke about the influence of the Portuguese on Goan-culture, traditions, festivals and more. He emphasised on the importance of learning a foreign language because it provides opportunities for students to learn and love a new language. In his address to the participants, the Chief guest Dr Rui Alberto Carvalho Baceira said that Portuguese is the language of all communities, Portuguese has proved to be an important part of globalisation, business and trade. He hoped that the United Nations would promote Portuguese language more fervently. He emphasised that we, as people who love the language, culture and country, should save and promote the Portuguese heritage.
The programme included various on-stage competition such as Quiz- ‘Quem Sabe Sabe’ for school students and poetry recitation- ‘Liricas Goesas’ for the higher secondary students. The off-stage events included Words through colours- ‘Da letra ao pincel’ for school students and A picture says a thousand words- ‘Uma Imagem Vale por mil palavras’ for the higher secondary students.
In the essay writing competition organised on the smae day, students of Shri Damodar High Secondary School Margao bagged the first place, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Panjim secured the second place and Loyola Higher Secondary School Margao bagged the third place. In the Poetry competition Rosary High School Miramar secured the first place, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Panjim, the second place and the third place respectively. Rosary High school, Miramar won the first place, Chubby Cheeks High School, Porvorim the second, and St Britto’s Higher Secondary School, Mapuca, the third place in Quiz competition. In the drawing competition The Rosary High School Miramar won the first place, Loyola Higher Secondary School Margao got the second place and Regina Mundi High School Vasco secured the third place.
The Portuguese day programme ended with a friendly seven-a-side boys and girls football match between St Xavier’s College and the Lusofone team on the college ground. The final score was 3-2 in favour of St Xavier’s College who bagged the winning trophy.
