DR STEFANO FILLETTI, BA, LL.D, LL.M (IMLI), M.Jur (Oxon), was recently appointed honorary consul for Ecuador.
Dr Filletti graduated Bachelor of Arts in Legal and Humanistic Studies and Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta. He furthered his studies in Intenational Law, Shipping Law and Law of the Sea at the International Maritime Law Institute, where he was awarded a Master's of Law with distinction.
As a Chevening Scholar at Oxford University (Pembroke) he studied Advanced Criminal Law, Law of Evidence and Law of the Sea and obtained the degree of Magister Juris with distinction. While in Oxford, he was engaged as a tutor in Public International Law at Wadham College as part of the Sarah Lawrence Project.
Dr Filletti, a lawyer by profession, lectures at the Faculty of Laws, University of Malta. He is a member of the Chamber of Advocates, the Oxford Union, the Chevening Alumni Association (Malta) and a national correspondent for The European Source-Book of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics.
EMANUEL FARRUGIA, MIM, M.Inst CM(Dip)UK, Dip.Mgt, Dip.Trib.Eccl.Melit, recently successfully followed the diploma course of studies in Canonical Marriage Cases Jurisprudence and Procedure organised under the auspices and direction of the Metropolitan Tribunal of Malta.
Mr Farrugia graduated from the University of Malta after studying Management Studies. He is currently reading for a BA in Religious Studies and is preparing his thesis on "Baptism in the Acts of the Apostles" under the supervision of Rev. Dr M. Ghirlando.
Mr Farrugia is the son of Mr and Mrs E. Farrugia of Tarxien. He is married to Theresa née Garcia and have four children, two sets of twins, Tiziana and Samantha Jo, and Luigi Consuelo and Juan Carlos.
MS RAMONA BENCINI recently graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Environmental Biology from the University of Reading in England.
Her programme of study focused mainly on the biology of botanical and zoological subjects as well as the study of anthropogenic interference with natural ecosystems.
Her thesis, entitled "Human population growth and its impact on water quality globally", analysed the detrimental effect of human civilisation on the global water cycle in the 21st century. The University Chancellor, Lord Carrington, conferred the degree.
Ms Bencini is the daughter of Col. Dr Raymond Bencini of Rabat and of Mrs Marie Hotham of the UK.
MR GODFREY CARMEL XUEREB was recently elected second representative of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) on the executive committee of DOTA (Declaration of the Americas).
This is a multisectoral committee responsible for the development of Diabetes Prevention and Control Strategies for the Americas.
Mr Xuereb formally joined the committee at the last executive meeting which took place at the American Diabetes Association Annual Scientific Conference held in San Francisco.
Mr Xuereb is also the honorary secretary of the Diabetes Education Study Group (DESG) in Europe and a member of the PAHO/WHO Caribbean Task Force for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.
Mr Xuereb is currently undertaking research in diabetes in the Caribbean. He is married to Kay née Parker.
Honorary citizen of Sicilian town
Ray Bondin, executive co-ordinator of the Valletta and Floriana Rehabilitation Project, was recently awarded the honorary citizenship of Palazzolo Acreide, a town in Sicily in the province of Syracuse.
The award was given to Mr Bondin for his work for the heritage of Palazzolo Acreide and the other towns and villages of Val di Noto.
The citation of the municipality also praised Mr Bondin for his work in the conservation of heritage in general and in particular in Malta.
The award was given to Mr Bondin by the mayor, Dr Domenico Nigro, at a special session of the council. Speeches were then made by some councillors praising his role in obtaining greater recognition of the heritage of Palazzolo Acreide and the western part of Sicily.
Mr Bondin made a short acceptance speech in which he spoke of the importance of the heritage of Palazzolo Acreide, especially its rich Baroque architecture which developed after the earthquake of 1693, which also had serious effects in Malta, especially in Mdina.
Palazzolo Acreide is also well known for its archaeological park that is a testimony to its Greek past and for its religious feasts, an important element of intangible heritage.
Mr Bondin is executive co-ordinator of rehabilitative projects within the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure.
The last meeting with Dun Anton
It was a meeting held every five years, a reunion which for the past 35 years always brought back happy memories and served as an update of the latest family news involving a group of former students and teachers at St Louis Grammar School, Sliema, between 1962 and 1967.
This reunion always started with thanksgiving Mass at Tal-Mirakli chapel in Lija, celebrated by Fr Anton Ebejer, its rector and a former teacher at St Louis, and followed by a hearty dinner between old friends.
Nobody imagined that this year's reunion, which was held in mid-June, was going to be the last one for Fr Ebejer.
Yet he somehow felt that his sojourn in this world was approaching its end. He asked all those present to start organising this encounter annually and not every five years as was the custom, because he acknowledged smilingly, "we are getting old".
As a matter of fact, Dun Anton went to meet the Risen Lord and Our Lady, to whom he was greatly devoted, precisely one month after this reunion.
There is nothing else to add to all that was written or said about Dun Anton. All his ex-students are convinced that now he is enjoying the fruit of his labour in his pastoral and educational field.
Coca-Cola winners to watch F1 live in Monza
General Soft Drinks Co Ltd, in line with its celebrations marking Coca-Cola's 50th years since its inception in Malta, on Wednesday presented four more trips to watch the F1 Monza Grand Prix. These trips were presented to the winners of the third and fourth draws of its 12-week competition, at the Internet Café, Pole Position, in Bisazza Street, Sliema.
The competition is being organised by General Soft Drinks, in collaboration with Vodafone Malta Ltd, to thank its loyal customers who have shown unfailing confidence in Coca-Cola.
The four lucky winners of the competition - Tania Carabott, Marlene D'Amato, Anthony Joe Pace and Max Ciantar - were given their prize to watch the Formula One live in Monza from September 13 to 17, during a presentation ceremony attended by General Soft Drinks general manager Maria Micallef and Vodafone Malta marketing communications manager Nadya Borg Busuttil. Lee Satariano of Gaba Diamonds and Noel Farrugia of Britannia Tours were also present.
The packages presented to the elated winners included return flights to Milan, courtesy of Britannia Tours, fours nights at the three-star Hotel Victoria au Lac, in Lugano, Switzerland, airport transfers, transfers to the Monza F1 circuit on the weekend and admission tickets to the circuit, accompanied by a group leader.
The competition took off on June 10 and comes to an end on August 30. A draw is held fortnightly under the supervision of Mario Grech from the Public Lotto Department at General Soft Drinks Co Ltd in Qormi.
Participating is simple. All Vodafone Malta customers who purchase a 30 cl soft drink - Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta Orange, the new Fanta Icy Lemon and Krest, or their respective diet versions - must send an SMS with their ID card number to 613500 from a valid and active Vodafone connection. All those participating ought to keep the crown of the purchased bottle as proof of purchase.
The competition reaches a climax on September 2 when the final winner will take home a collector's item designed by Gaba Diamonds - an 18- carat gold Coca-Cola contour bottle adorned with two brilliant cut diamonds amounting to 0.3 of a carat.
A celebration of 20 years gone by
Former students of St Aloysius College Sixth Form (Class of '82) threw a hugely successful party at the Hilton's Merkanti Beach Club on June 27.
It was a celebration of the 20 years that have gone by since the day all went their separate ways to face the challenges of adult life, university, careers and family.
Some have kept in touch with old friends, others hadn't seen each other for two decades. A very good time was had by all, until Hilton staff had to tactfully close the bar, turn off the music and switch off the lights at 2.30 a.m.
Except for those who married their Sixth Form sweethearts (not just a few), it was a 'come without your partner' evening and, as one guest said: "If I had a bit more hair, it would be like going back in time."
People were traced through the original students' list, by contacting family and a network of friends and colleagues. Almost everyone turned up on the night, making for plenty of surprises and a lot of catching-up conversation. DJs for the night were Colin Fitz and Gianni.
The party was preceded by Mass at Paceville's Millennium Chapel, said by fellow former student, Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, to a full congregation, in memory of the four who could only be present in spirit: Anita West, Carol Holland, Mark Rota and George Chase.
Friends of the Little Sisters' fund-raising dinner
The enchanting gardens of Chevalier Maurice Mizzi's villa in Bidnija were once again the venue for a fund-raising dinner organised by the Friends of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Sr Sylvia, Sr Aimee and Lilian Miceli Farrugia were there to welcome all the guests together with Christine Debono and other members of the committee.
True to tradition, the event was fully booked way in advance and the guests were not disappointed. The lovely swordfish prepared by Villa Arrigo Ltd may have stolen the show but the vast array of salads all lovingly prepared by friends of friends were delicious. As was the ice-cream which was snapped up far too quickly.
The wine for the occasion was graciously sponsored by Messrs Marsovin Ltd and the aperitif and liqueur generously provided by wands and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc. Many people helped make the evening the success it was and one must not forget the teams of teenagers who worked tirelessly throughout the evening.
The raffle was a huge success due to the amazing prizes which had been offered by Euromed Cruises, Hera Cruises, Virtù Ferries and Edwige Sapienza.
And not only did Maurice Mizzi sing along with the group Echoes 2, who provided all the music for the evening but he also surprised everyone by spontaneously offering a fridge for an American auction.
It truly was a shame that there was not much time left for dancing at the end of the evening, but the wonderful sum that was raised will definitely be put to good use in the new home for the elderly in Hamrun.
The committee and the Community of Little Sisters thanked everyone who helped out in any way. Sometimes it is the things that are not seen that matter the most, and everybody worked very hard.
Photographer of the Year
Paul Mangion of San Gwann is the winner of the Malta Photographic Society's Photographer of the Year Award 2002.
Mr Mangion has been a member of the society since 1993 and has gradually worked himself up to the top. He mainly produces still life colour prints and slides and favours any subject matter on which he has full control of lighting and composition.
This year, in particular, he has won a number of awards in the society's various competitions. His colour slide The Bible earned him the ISF Diploma, while his colour print Chelby, a Certificate of Merit respectively in the 37th Open Annual Exhibition held recently at the Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. He also won a Cerificate of Merit in the 4th Malta International Colour Slide Biennial with his slide Baby Girl.
The executive committee of the Malta Photographic Society 2002/3 is made up of Carmel H. Psaila (president), Anthony Xuereb (vice-president), Louis Agius (secretary), Franco Privitelli (treasurer), Leonard Cocks (assistant secretary), Lawrence Bonnici (assistant secretary and international exhibitions secretary), Carmel Pisani and Mario Cutajar (assistant treasurer), John M. Buhagiar (premises manager), Agostino Baldacchino (exhibitions and social activities secretary), and Josef Vella (local exhibitions/competitions secretary and public relations).
Micallef - Talbot
Married recently at the Holy Cross Capuchins' Chapel, Floriana, were Ingrid Micallef, daughter of Mr and Mrs Anthony Micallef of Naxxar, and Alan Talbot, son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Talbot of Birkirkara.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Canon Joseph Micallef, uncle of the bride. Mr Victor Micallef and Mr George Talbot witnessed the wedding ceremony. Maria Micallef and Christine Talbot were bridesmaids. Lara and Luke Micallef were flower-girl and pageboy respectively. The duties of best men were entrusted to Mr Albert Mockeridge and Mr Nigel Dunkerley.
A reception was held at The Palms, St Julian's.
The couple are spending their honeymoon in Vancouver and Alaska.
Mallia - Agius
The marriage took place recently at Gudja parish church between Marcelline Mallia, daughter of Mr and Mrs Anthony Mallia of Gudja, and Jason Agius, son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Agius of Ghaxaq.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Evan Caruana. Mr Ruben Mallia and Miss Caroline Agius witnessed the wedding ceremony. Mr Alexander Mallia was best man.
The bride was attended by her sister Lara Mallia. Jessica Agius was flower-girl and Blaine Mallia was pageboy.
A reception was later held at The Palms, St Julian's.
The couple spent their honeymoon in Italy.
Gatt - Moreau
Married recently at the parish church of Mary Immaculate, Ta' l-Ibrag, were Nadine Gatt, daughter of Mr and Mrs Anthony Gatt of Ta' l-Ibrag, and Michel Moreau, son of Mr and Mrs Raymond Moreau of Belgium.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Tony Agius. Mr Andrè Moreau and Mrs Elizabeth Parisi witnessed the wedding ceremony. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr Jean Francois Hallot.
The bride, who wore a satin dress with French lace, was attended by Ruth Busuttil as bridesmaid. The bride's nieces, Stephanie Parisi, Sabrina Parisi, Nell Mifsud and Celine Hallot were flower-girls.
A reception was later held at Villa Anna Theresa, St Julian's.
The couple spent their honeymoon in Belgium.
Casha - Pulo
The marriage took place recently at St Anthony's church, Ghajn Dwieli, between Janet Casha, daughter of Mr and Mrs George Casha of Paola, and Marco Pulo, son of Mr and Mrs Alexander Pulo, also of Paola.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Mario Tong. Mr Pierre Casha and Mr Nazzareno Xerri witnessed the ceremony. Mr Joseph Cassar and Mr Fabio Pulo carried out the duties of best men.
The bride was attended by Romina Pulo and by Doriette Debattista Fonk. Gayle Casha was flower-girl.
A reception was later held at The Palms, St Julian's.
The couple spent their honeymoon in Northern Italy and Switzerland.
Aquilina - Polityko
Married recently at Ta' Giezu church, Rabat, were Anya Polityko, daughter of Professor Sergei Polityko and Mrs Svetlana Polityko of Moscow, and Anson D. Aquilina, B.Comm, son of Mr and Mrs Benjamin Aquilina of Siggiewi.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Gerard Bonello, MSSP, Fr Martin Galea, MSSP, and Fr Raphael Vella.
Mrs Olga Tsarich of Moscow and Mr Joseph Mifsud witnessed the wedding ceremony. Mr Marvic Gauci was best man.
The bride, who wore a white sating gown with organza and carried a bouquet of fresh lilac roses, was attended by Thelma Bonello, the groom's niece, as bridesmaid. Master Bernard Bonello, the groom's nephew, was pageboy.
A reception was later held at Stazzjon Restaurant, Mtarfa.
The couple spent their honeymoon in North Italy.
City of London celebrates 88th anniversary
Ostensibly Malta's oldest drinking hole, the City of London was recently en fête to celebrate its 88th anniversary.
This highly enjoyable soirée also included a novel presentation when its time-honoured client of 35 years, Cello Manduca, was awarded a trophy for Life Time Achievement and patronage which Dr Francis Zammit Dimech very sportingly handed over to him; the minister also acquitted himself well when he replied to Julian Borg's wit.
To augment the evening's entertainment, a brass band from Rabat kept the tempo going while Jacquie's home-made canapés did the rounds to all patrons who wished this prominent publican ad multos annos.
The President and Mrs de Marco's engagements: August 12-18
Tomorrow
11 a.m. The President presents the letters of commission to Dr Ivan Fsadni, High Commissioner of Malta in Canberra, at the Palace, Valletta.
12.30 p.m. The President receives Dr Michael Bartolo, Ambassador of Malta in Geneva.
7 The President attends a reception and unveils a commemorative plaque at the Nicolò Isouard Band Club, Mosta.
Tuesday
10 a.m. The President presents credentials to Mr Alfred Falzon, Ambassador of Malta to Sweden, at the Palace.
5 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco leave on a private visit to Prague and Italy.
Appreciation: Fr Emanuel Bonavia
by Mgr Lawrence Gatt
Fr Emanuel Bonavia's priestly life was strictly priestly. He followed most of his studies in Catania, where he was ordained and served at that cathedral for about 20 years. When he came back to Malta he was an equally assiduous priest in St John's Co-Cathedral and at the Missions Office.
Although inconspicuous and simple in all his ways, Dun Manwel had great hidden talents which are not necessarily common commodities. I had known him since our Lyceum days.
We both entered the Major Seminary in September 1954. Bonavia was always loyal through thick and thin to where he belonged. There was something about him that betrayed inner enthusiasm, something that made him happy where he belonged whether it was the MUSEUM society in his younger years or Zabbar parish to which he was always so much attached even when he lived away from it.
Dun Manwel cherished simple joys. He was always ready to offer his service. His earnest pace was the surest sign of that readiness. People familiar with St John's Co-Cathedral could vouch for it up to five or six years ago when his health started to wane.
Last April we celebrated the 40th anniversary of our ordination. Dun Manwel was not well. I wrote to him about the event. He wrote back saying how much he appreciated the concern of all our group for his health. He asked for prayers so that he might have the help, strength and joy to cope with his health condition.
I think that he very spontaneously said it all in that expression. He struggled with joy till the very end. Now he started a new chapter, the one which really counts. God bless him for a thorough, joyful, truly priestly life.
Appreciation: Martin Vella Haber
by Ms Joan Micallef, ex-counsellor at the Guidance and Counselling Unit, and head of Margaret Mortimer Girls' Junior Lyceum
I remember Martin Vella Haber in my early years of teaching when guidance and counselling was gradually being introduced into the educational system way back in the early Seventies.
Together with Abel Giglio and later with Joseph Sammut, he strove to have the unit set up, encouraging all those who showed an interest in sharing his ideals - listening, understanding, supporting and helping students with difficulties. Being the gentleman he was, he embodied kindness, empathy, encouragement and unfailing dedication to his work.
The Guidance and Counselling Unit owes a lot to this hardworking pioneer who was not only its first Education Officer but also an inspiration to all those who worked with him in this field. Today, over 30 years later, the service is accomplishing splendid work, invaluable to all those who seek help.
On behalf of all those who benefited from this service, may I say thank you, Mr Vella Haber.
For your diary
The Singles Social Circle is meeting on Friday at 8.30 p.m. for a night picnic at Golden Bay.
The group will meet near Apple's Eye bar. Bring along your own food and drinks.
Bookings by Wednesday on tel. 2152-5250.
YANA (You Are Not Alone) members are meeting for a barbecue on Friday at 7.30 p.m. by the pool of the Crowne Plaza, Sliema.
The activity is free to all financial members. Guests pay Lm7.95. Call 2152-3112 or 2137-5543.
Ward U Zgóar is holding a barbecue on Friday at 8 p.m. by the pool of the University Residence, Lija.
Members are meeting at 2 p.m. Adults pay Lm3.50, including use of the pool, showers and food, and children pay Lm2.
Phone Doreen on 2141-8174 or Marisa on 2144-4875 by Wednesday.