Media Release
Singapore, Oct 19: This social gathering was a long time coming. The SingManGo group had been interacting digitally over the past 2.5 years and were eager to meet in the flesh. The relaxation of fellowship restrictions was somehow coinciding with Monti Saibinichem Fest. It feels like God's plans were manifested through Our Lady, Mother Mary, herself. The SingManGo community of Singapore now had something to look forward to.
Once the idea of this celebration was announced on the WhatsApp group, it did not take too long for families to start signing up. Within few days, a substantial number of families confirmed their attendance. The call then rang out for volunteer groups in areas such as F&B, Entertainment and Logistics. The overwhelming response meant these teams were setup in a jiffy. In rivalling the best of today's project management practices, each of these teams seemed to be agile by nature, and self-organised to ensure their team goals were met. Then with the programme, venue and menu all inked in, the countdown began to the magical date of September 25.
The party kicked-off with volunteers coming in early to ensure the stage was set for the occasion. Noel Saldanha extended a warm welcome to all the families, gave an outline of the event, and the basic do’s and don’ts which attracted quick-witted remarks from the eager crowd. As the musicians – Clitus Fernandes and young talent Aaron D’Souza tuned up, children with flowers in their hand queued up. With everyone joining in to sing 'Sakkad Sangatha Melyam', the children and adults offered flowers to Mother Mary, to relive the traditional Mangalorean consecration of The Nativity of Our Lady. The rganising team distributed Vorn mixed with Blessed Novem which was brought from Mangalore. Kids were given goodie-bags, which left most of the older generations screaming out for the good old Kobu. Eventually, each family did get to carry back a Kobu thanks to Adolf and Janet Lobo arranging for the same.
The getting-to-know-each-other bit was gamified intelligently. Families were assigned to seven groups, with each group having an ambassador who was tasked to bring them together. After initial networking, each group took center-stage, each family gave a brief introduction, and some even gave an impromptu performance. All groups excelled, and talents were on evidently, the timeless best-practice of getting kids to perform in front of kith and kin, seems to have borne fruit.
The evening had awesome performances and games lined up. Vinol Joy D'Souza took over the MC responsibities keeping the crowd engaged with his humour and energy. Firstly, SingManGo ladies – Merlie Priya Pais, Amita Prabhu, Karen Saldanha, Andrina Pais, Shalini Lobo, Tianna Kovvuru and the D’Souza family – Giselle, Simran, Shanaia also supported by Jayden danced to ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’. This was followed by the children – Jordan, Yvonne, Lincoln, Lisa, Ian Krish, Hayley Krisha, Shaun, and Ariana dancing to ‘Galti Se Mistake’. Merlie coordinated the dances for adults and kids. Suman Menezes then took us back in time with a lovely rendition of the vintage Konkani song 'Cu ku ru cu'. Jordan accompanied by his mom, Merlie, entertained us with ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’. The children were then kept engaged in some party games by Arun and Shareena Lobo, while the adults were encouraged to ice-break and interact. The buzz picked-up, with people catching up on old times and making new friends.
SingManGo- Sakkad Sangatha Melyan display galore. There was an absence of any stage-fear or inhibition.
The evening had awesome performances and games lined up. Prior to dinner, Fr Venus Praveen Colaco, a Mangalurean priest who earlier this year became assistant parish priest at Church of Divine Mercy, Pasir Ris, Singapore joined and led the gathering in prayer and solemnized the occasion. The Almighty was thanked for his blessings upon the gathering and prayers were said for the sick, suffering, homeless and needy.
One of the highlights of the evening was the pot-luck feast. The F&B volunteer team took care to curate the menu, assign it to families, as well as ensure that there were duplicates kept at the two designated buffet counters so that no patron was left with a disappointed palate. The range of food on offer was like a grand Coastal feast, with no delicacy being spared. There was Novem jovaan of Sanne suke, Keerl ani moong sukho, Kharam, gosale thel piyao, beans sukho with sanna and vorn together with a complete range of starters, an elaborate main course, and an array of desserts. Beverages also kept everyone in good spirits, no pun intended.
Noise levels rose with networking being an able ally to the sumptuous dinner. The constant din of laughing and playing children further lifted the mood of the evening. Alas the crescendo had to ebb as the party approached its conclusion. Literal takeaways were portions of the surplus food, which was pre-empted by the organising team who ensured there was a stack of to-go boxes at their disposal so families could pack up whatever they liked. Satisfied families left for their homes with fond memories, happy bellies, the great community spirit, and the yearning for more such gatherings.
It only takes a spark, to get the fire going it is said. The spark for the SingManGo group started around 25 years ago, when a group of five to six Mangalorean and Goan families decided to form the crux of a network that could become a support system for themselves and for the community in Singapore. At last count, there are more than 90 families on this group. The expansion is picking up speed as the word spreads and more of our brethren continue to come to the shores of Singapore. The group is not only about parties after all. It has become a support structure for fellow Mangalureans and Goans, a reminder of the roots, a common bonding of community, and someone to reach out to when one needs that kind word, a guiding hand, or a shoulder to lean on.
While the credits for the SingManGo group and the evening can run into few paragraphs, it would be incomplete without including the volunteers – Jayant and Cecilia D’Mello, Richard D’Souza, Mabel Prabhu, Laveena Vaz, Priya Lewis, Benita Fernandez, Shalini Lobo, Sneha D’Souza, Heeru Fernandes, Agnes D’Souza, Vidya Lobo, for their efforts and enthusiasm to enable the wonderful evening as also everyone else who willingly assisted. Pratibha and Noel Saldanha were thanked for enabling these SingManGo social gatherings.