Dear Friends.

March 8 and it is once again that time of the year when we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD)– a great milestone in the history of Women’s struggle.  It is a great day for every woman to cherish, celebrate and honour those women who have made a difference to the society and women in particular in their own little way.  IWD was first celebrated in 1908 and very soon it will be a century since it all started.

Has IWD meant anything to you as a woman? In what way can I contribute to the society must be a common question many women must be asking themselves. The answer lies within all of us.  Before reaching out to others, we have to first ask ourselves “Do I feel proud to be a woman?”. Do we have self-esteem, a positive self-image and confidence?? “Charity begins at home,” it is said and before helping others, you have to first help yourself. It is good to have the five important “F’s” in our life.

• Faith in God
• Faith in yourself
• Focus on your goals
• Fortitude to work towards your goals
• Financial stability.

Surely you can achieve your dreams – if you are focused and committed and to be mentally and emotionally strong, you have to be physically strong which only comes by having faith in God.

On IWD let us remember all the women – those who have come into the open silently but more so for the ones who are still not recognized that they may be like “Shining Stars” for others to emulate.

To all the readers of Women Vision I take this opportunity of wishing you a “Happy International Women’s Day”.

Women Vision brings to you Patricia Mary Aspden Serrao – a talented musician par excellence. Not only does she play the clarinet with such élan and grace but also is a good singer, songwriter, pianist, sight-reading keyboard player and bass guitarist. Born to a British father and a Chinese mother, she met Mangalore-born Warren Serrao, fell in love with him, married him and now she is in love with Mangalore too!
 
Patricia's talent for music had already surfaced by the tender age of eight. Already playing guitar and showing a natural aptitude for singing, she was entered in a song-writing competition, by her first music teacher, sponsored by the local radio station in  Lancashire. Singing her own composition and accompanying it herself on guitar, she took the first prize. From that day on, she never looked back.

Patricia went on to study music at both Ordinary Level and Advanced Level where voice, clarinet and piano became her first instruments and were studied in depth to a standard of Grade 8+. During her time at secondary school, she was again entered in a competition as a singer / songwriter, this time sponsored by Edgehill Music College and the famous singer-songwriter, Paul McCartney. For two consecutive years she took First and Second places with four compositions. Her reward for her labour was to have her songs professionally recorded at Cloud Nine Recording Studio, Liverpool and her certificates presented by Paul McCartney.

At the age of 15, still studying, she became the lead singer and first clarinetist of Lancashire's top 20 piece Jazz band and by 18, she had already formed her own band with session drummer, David Wilson.

Not only calling on her talents as a vocalist, she developed her skills as a proficient, sight-reading keyboard player and bass guitarist and went on to work as a musician with Greek cruise-line, Epirotiki, touring such exotic places as Greece, Turkey and Egypt. In England she also spent her time working and performing at institutions for the physically and mentally challenged and homes for the elderly. 

Having done a course in Light and Sound besides her B.A.(music), Patricia went on to tour the British Isles, Germany and Holland with her backing band,