A Goan woman from Verna residing in Kuwait emerged victorious in the heritage quiz competition
‘Parkonnem – Kitem Tem Sang’ organized by Chicalim Bio–Crusaders recently.
Aquila Rodriques, a Kuwaiti Goan from Verna received the silver heritage C. G.
Varkey (IRS) Rolling Trophy and cash prize of Rs 5000 by answering 50 out of 50
‘Parkonnim’ (riddles) posed at this unique competition.
As per the information given by the
organiser of this quiz competition, Cyril Fernandes, Raisa Fernandes &
Ashley Afonso have also answered all 50 but they offered their position to
Aquila Rodriques in a big heritage promoting gesture.
Aquila Rodrigues, having taken part all
the way from Kuwait won the hearts of both the last-year’s winners and that of
the audience and turned the tide in her favour. All three were however winners
of the cash prize of Rs.5000 each besides two mementos each.
Raisa Fernandes and Ashley Afonso are also
eligible for the Rolling trophy next year if they win it for the third
consecutive time. Each of them who win it next year can keep the Silver
Heritage Late. C.G. Varkey (IRS) Trophy permanently if they are successful for
the third consecutive time in 2022.
The Competition titled Parkonnem – Kitem
Tem Sang was organised by Chicalim Bio-Crusaders which is an attempt to promote
the heritage of Chicalim and Goa through this unique contest. The award
function took place at the Chicalim Church today after the solemn feast mass of
St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the Chicalim Church.
Rev. Fr. Kenneth Teles, Dean, Mormugao
Deanery was the Chief Guest on the occasion and handed over the exquisite
trophy to the winner.
George Varkey was the Guest of Honour and
Rev. Fr. Bolmax Pereira, Parish Priest of Chicalim was the Special Guest on the
occasion.
The huge winner’s trophy was designed
especially for the event by the Chicalim villagers to reflect the village
bio-diversity. It comprises window pane oysters shells placed around a silver
plate and was handcrafted locally.
The heritage trophy and the prize money were sponsored by George
Varkey in memory of his father C. G. Varkey, the first Customs and Excise head
of Goa. Lanceleen Karen Lobo, Remedious Fernandes, Jovita Desouza, Jacqueline
Sequeira and Fatima Fernandes were the runners-up. They were awarded with
certificates and specially designed heritage mementos of hand paintings of
birds documented by the Chicalim Bio-Crusaders from their villages of Chicalim
and Dabolim. This was again an attempt by the organisers to promote the
biodiversity and heritage of Chicalim and Goa.
The second memento is made out of local coconuts and its shells
are created in the shape of a coconut palm. Both the mementos were well
appreciated by the prize winners and attendees.
Rev. Fr. Kenneth Teles, the chief Guest gave away the prizes. He
congratulated Chicalim Bio-Crusaders for organizing this unique contest and
wished them well for their future activities. He stated that many in Goa preach
about protecting the Biodiversity but it is only Chicalim Bio-Crusaders who are
just not preaching but also practicing the same with such popular events.
George Varkey, the chief sponsor of the trophy and cash prize
was the Guest of Honour on the occasion. He too had travelled from Kochi to
attend the function. He extended his support to Chicalim Bio-crusaders and
promised to continue his patronage for future too.
Winner of the quiz, Aquila Rodriques expressed her excitement as
well as happiness on winning this contest. She said she initially participated
for fun. But once she had crossed the fifteen right answers mark, the contest
engulfed her like fire and she got involved in sorting answers to every
Parkonnem (riddle) until she cracked all fifty. She claimed that she was well
versed with Parkonnim in her childhood at New Vaddem. She with her husband and
daughter flew from Kuwait to receive the award
Speaking at the function, Cyril Fernandes, Convenor of Chicalim
Bio-Crusaders expressed his huge satisfaction but also his amazement that a
global Goan emerged as winner of this contest. He claimed it is a good boost to
their effort to promote the heritage of Goa in the form of their Parkonnem
Contest universally.
Fernandes thanked Rev. Dr. Bolmax profusely for the support and
encouragement provided by him to Chicalim Bio-Crusaders in all its work.
Rev.
Dr. Bolmax Pereira, the Parish priest of Chicalim thanked all the participants
of the contest. He said the large number of entries is a reflection of the love
and affection Goans carry globally for the heritage of Goa and he sought their
unstinted support to Chicalim Bio-Crusader to carry this work forward on a
larger scale.
