Jenifer Fernandes
Joseph@herald-goa.com
ALDONA: At 80, when most people choose rest and retirement, Paul Alphonso still walks into his humble printing press in Aldona, every single day. A resident of Coimavaddo, Paul is not just a printer by profession—he’s a shining example of what hard work, faith, and a simple life can achieve.
“I don’t feel like I’m 80. Maybe because I never stopped working. I believe my printing press is the medicine that keeps me physically and mentally fit,” he says.
Paul’s early life was grounded in hard work. After completing his primary education, he pursued a course in agriculture, followed by another in land surveying. His strong math skills helped him secure a government job as a surveyor — a post he held for 14 years. He travelled across Goa—from Pernem to Parcem—climbing hills, mapping land, and living a life far removed from luxury.
Just as a promotion neared, Paul made a bold decision. In 1981, he left his secure job and moved to the Gulf in search of better opportunities. “In the Gulf, the work was different. We worked from paper to ground. In Goa, we worked from ground to paper. It was tough, but I did it well.”
He spent nine years overseas but returned to Goa when he felt his family needed him most. That turning point led him to a new chapter.
In 1990, with no formal training in printing, Paul set up a small printing press at the Parish Centre. With equipment sourced from Belgaum and only basic knowledge, he started a business that would soon serve the community for decades.
“I learned everything from my friends in the printing industry,” he says. “They taught me how to operate machines, how to set letters, how to bind books.”
Back then, printing was a manual, time-consuming job. “We used to place each letter by hand to form words before printing.” he recalls. But with the digital revolution, everything changed. Today, designs are ready-made, templates are easily available, and printing happens in an instant.
Still, Paul’s dedication never faded. From wedding cards and calendars to flyers and books, he continued to print for all occasions—serving students, families, and local businesses alike.
One of Paul’s fondest memories is how students used to bring leftover pages from old notebooks at the end of the school year. “We’d bind them into rough books. Nothing went to waste,” he says. “Today, children throw away even half-used notebooks. The value of things has changed.”
He doesn’t shy away from calling out the shift in attitude among today’s youth. “No one wants to work hard anymore. They look for easy lives, white-collar jobs. But success only comes through effort.”
Paul speaks from experience. As a child, he would walk long distances to and from school—four times a day—and often through fields and shortcuts in the summer sun. “We didn’t have bikes or cars. But we never missed school.”
He credits his good health and long life to his routine, clean eating, and unwavering faith. “We only ate food cooked at home. No fast food. And I always stayed active—trekking, walking, and climbing, especially as a surveyor.”
His day still begins early, dressed and ready for work. “If I didn’t go to the press, I’d just sit idle. That’s not me.”
Paul also emphasises prayer. “You must pray first. God helps you in whatever you do.”
Apart from his professional life, Paul has served the community in various roles on the parish council — elected, selected, or nominated over the years. But now, he’s fully focused on his printing work, where he finds not only a livelihood but a sense of belonging.
“This place is like my second home. Through this work, I’ve met so many people, shared so many stories. That’s how life goes on.”
Though he sometimes thinks of closing shop, especially as each Sunday passes quietly, Monday always reignites his routine. “I can’t stop. It’s in my blood now.”
“I gave four interviews in my life — I passed all four and resigned from all four. Nobody ever sacked me,” he says with quiet pride. “Hard work, prayer, and honesty — that’s all you need.”
Paul reminds today’s youth that nothing is wasted if you value it — whether it’s leftover notebook pages or life’s lessons. He walked miles to school, climbed hills for work, and built a business from scratch without formal training.
To today’s youth, Paul Alphonso is more than a printer—he is a beacon of inspiration. His life is a powerful reminder that age is just a number, and that the true secret to youth lies in purpose, perseverance, and passion.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment — start with what you have, where you are. Hard work builds strength, not just in your hands, but in your heart. Stay humble, keep learning, and never be afraid to struggle — because success isn’t found in shortcuts, it’s earned through perseverance.
Believe in prayer, believe in purpose, and above all, believe in yourself. Like Paul Alphonso at 80, let your life be proof that passion, faith, and effort can keep you young forever.