MAPUSA: It's not always easy or straightforward in life. Unexpected events can jolt us, but turning misfortune into a greater fortune is rare, and those who do so are often called trendsetters. One such individual is Anthony Lobo from Arrao-Pomburpa, who has turned adversity into opportunity, earning him the title of a trendsetter.
Hailing from a modest family, Anthony, upon completing his education, found employment with a mining firm. Like many others, he was dedicated to his work and harboured ambitious plans for the future. He even served as a union leader during his tenure in the mining industry. However, when mining operations abruptly ceased in Goa in 2012, Anthony found himself at a crossroads. "In 2012, I was in my mid-forties. It was a severe and unexpected blow. We were all at a loss, unsure of what to do. But life had to go on, so I charted a new course," he explains.
Possessing leadership qualities and a reluctance to pursue conventional paths, Anthony, along with his friends John D’Sa and Armando Gonsalves, decided to organise the Mankurad festival, a celebration aimed at showcasing the diverse varieties of Goan mangoes. "Though we named it the Mankurad festival, it served as a catchy title to attract people. We went about organising the festival, spotlighting and promoting various mango varieties," he recounts. Over time, new ideas emerged, leading Anthony's life in a new direction. "For the past eight years, I've achieved significant milestones in my life, all stemming from spontaneous initiatives without prior planning. Today, I stand with my innovation, Lobo's Mix Wonder, where I produce nets, manage a small nursery, and craft earthen vessels—a three-in-one venture."
"All these ideas came to me through the Mankurad festival which we organized for a few years, and now this venture has kept me completely occupied," he adds.
Lobo's Mix Wonder operates from Anthony’s house in Pomburpa, church fairs, pop-ups and State festivals, big events, or the Friday market. He has no fixed shop in Mapusa, nor does he desire one, as he prefers operating as a one-man army and believes owning a shop would tie him down. “I am passionate about plants, so I started with a nursery. I felt connected to Goan heritage, so I began crafting earthenware. I have a furnace, and every October and November, I produce plenty of fancy earthen items for sale wherever I go. My wife assists with painting and other finishing works. Since the Mankurad festival, people suggested that I should make nets (coblem), so I dived into this art as well”. Anthony today is a wizard at weaving nets, crafting them for various purposes and based on specific orders. He prioritises quality and volume over a particular price tag, believing in customer satisfaction and often compromising on price if the customer desires a lower cost.
“As kids, we would go fishing with our father, and it was during these occasions that he taught us the nuances of nets, their multiple uses, stitching, care, maintenance, etc. As long as I was into mining, these lessons taught by my father were dormant in me, but I awakened them once I decided to pursue it as a career. Today, I can proudly say that my profession and my popularity are somehow linked to the lessons given to me by my father.” he says.
Anthony believes that a person shines in their work based on their quality and commitment to artistry. He emphasises that, to date, he has not received any complaints about his nets. His motto is to provide the best to the customer, ensuring satisfaction and recommendations to others. "Once a person takes a coblem from me, I don't want them to come back with complaints. It should serve them well over a certain period of time. That's why I work with precision and commitment. For me, customer satisfaction is of paramount importance," he claims.
With his three-in-one venture, Anthony has mastered all aspects and can truly be considered a person who has reshaped his life and turned misfortune into fortune. Today, he is satisfied as trust has propelled his business to great heights, with orders flooding in. People trust that if they communicate their needs for the nets, he will provide them with perfect precision.
Anthony has earned the title of the "wizard" of net making in Bardez, excelling in precision and speed in both crafts. Even in his nursery, he treats his plants like his children, believing they possess senses and understanding if communicated with.