After a two-and-a-half year sojourn as Consul General of Portugal in Goa, diplomat ANTONIO JACOB CARVALHO is proceeding to Palestine. Having served his country in Angola, Mozambique, Canada, Italy and Brazil, Carvalho strove to strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Portugal. He really felt that the existing ties between the two countries could be cemented further. His proposal to set up a Cultural Department at the Consulate is one step towards this end. Collaboration between Lisnave ship repair company and Western India Shipyard, Portuguese collaboration with Goa Shipyard, is a manifestation of the friendly ties. Through Carvalho's efforts, Portuguese footballers may be seen in action here next year, and even their coaches could be in Goa soon to train our youngsters.

DR ALFREDO BRUTO DA COSTA, Portugal's minister for Health, Social Welfare and Social Security, is presently on a week-long visit to see his aged mother in Margao. Dr da Costa, who hails from the distinguished Bruto da Costa family in Margao, is also a professor in the Catholic University, Lisbon, where he teaches social policy, poverty and social exclusion. Despite his other preoccupations, Dr da Costa is also the president of the Casa de Goa, which was established in 1987, and has nearly 800 members drawn from a wide section of Goans, Damonese and Diuese. Seeing that the quarters were not sufficient for social activities on a larger scale, Dr Bruto da Costa acquired a more spacious area for the institution through the Municipal Council of Lisbon. His main ambition is to have better cultural links with Goa and Goans everywhere.

Beauty and brains go together, at least in the case of charming CHERYL ANNE ABRANCHES. During a talent search, Cheryl was found to be possessing a high IQ. She is too good at sketching, singing and at playing the piano. Moreover, this bright student of the Manovikas English medium school in Margao, distinguished herself recently by topping in Portuguese at the ICSE, Delhi board, by securing 90 per cent marks.

VINAYA KRISHNA GAUDE of Goa has been chosen for the Indian squad for the Fourth World Karate Championship, which will be held at Hanover in Germany from August 26 to 29. The agile Vinaya forms a part of the 14-member Indian team.

The 4th congress of the Western-Pacific region of the International Diabetes Federation will be held in Sydney. The major topics to be discussed at the meet will be the "Effect of Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome", Hypoglycemia Insulin resistance, the burden of Diabetes and erectile dysfunction. Goa will be represented at the distinguished meet by eminent physician-cardiologist DR RUFINO MONTEIRO.

Girls perform better not only on stage but even at their place of work as has been proved by JANET GONSALVES. A cashier at 998 LIC branch in Panaji, Janet has been adjuged the best staffer by virtue of her dedicated and speedy work, polite and cheerful behaviour and for keeping and excellent rapport between the staff, policy holders and agents.

Few Goan youngsters dream of becoming national heroes by joining the army, navy or air force nowadays. They probably think that we should be quite content with Gen Sunith Francis Rodrigues, super cop Julio Francis Ribeiro, intelligence man John Lobo, pilot Oswald Pinto and such distinguished Goans. So, when RAJENDRA D'PIETRO, son of Konkani novelist Bonaventure D'Pietro from Anjuna, decided to join the military, we really felt proud of this youngster, who had already distinguished himself in music and vocals. Nearly half-a-dozen Goan boys had left for Belgaum to join the military band but Rajendra is the only one who managed to stay on to don the services uniform.

A charming face spotted in the Goa media recently is that of Ms LARA B PEREIRA. Lara distinguished herself by standing first in the annual exam of the National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, conducted by the ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. She securEd distinction with 77 per cent marks.