Heard in the Hive

To mark the 90th birthday of former President Censu Tabone (which falls today), the Sliema Band Club recently organised a dinner in his honour at the Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Bay Point Resort.

Dr Tabone was president of the band club for over 30 years and is now its honorary life president.

There are four important aspects of Dr Tabone's life: as a world-renowned eye specialist, as a politician of exemplary integrity, as a statesman and President of Malta who made the Presidency more accessible to the people, and also as president of the Sliema Band Club.

At the dinner-dance Dr Tabone, whose sprightliness belies his venerable age, opened the dancing with Mrs Tabone, to the music of George Curmi, Il-Pusè, who entertained all present with his varied repertoire.

The dinner-dance was attended by, among others, Tourism Minister Michael Refalo; the Minister for Resources and Infrastructure, Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, Parliamentary Secretary George Pullicino, Dr Michael Frendo, Sliema Mayor Robert Arrigo, the president of the St Cajetan Band Club, Dr John Buttigieg, the president of the La Valette Band Club, Dr Frans Portanier, members of Dr Tabone's family, friends and admirers.

In an after-dinner speech, the president of the Sliema Band Club, Dr Tonio Portughese, paid tribute to Dr Tabone's professionality, honesty, integrity and dedication to everyone and outlined his career and achievements.

Dr Portughese described Dr Tabone as an extraordinary model who has enriched politics by interpreting them as a service, and he has shown this also in the popularity he enjoyed as President of Malta, when he brought the Presidency closer to the people.

Clearly moved, Dr Tabone replied that this was a unique and wonderful occasion for him, his wife Maria and their family. He thanked God for giving him so much satisfaction in his life, family, and his personal and professional lives.

He insisted that no-one should fall victim to jealousy and hatred, which are the worst negative sentiments anyone can have. He never had the intention to hurt anyone, and in his heart and mind he always cherished the values of love and respect, he said.

Dr Tabone appealed to everyone to recognise the good in every person and to work towards greater understanding, unity and respect for different opinions.

Dr Portughese then presented Dr Tabone with a gift on behalf of the members of the Sliema Band Club and praised him for the long years of service and loyal support, while Fr Joe Caruana presented a gift on behalf of the parish of the Sacred Heart.

Dr Tabone then cut his 90th birthday cake to the applause and singing of "Happy Birthday" from all present.

Maltese church floral arrangement featured in magazine

The floral arrangements made for the altar of repose at Attard parish church last year are the subject of a full-length article in the current issue of Flora International magazine.

The arrangements were designed and executed by Connie Scerri, a leading floral designer and well-known TV personality.

Besides commenting in depth on the design and the arrangements, as well as on the various types of flowers used, the article also refers to the Maltese customs linked to the Maundy Thursday and the Good Friday celebrations.

Attard parish church is an architectural jewel built in the 17th century and its architecture lends itself beautifully to a professional flower arrangement. The altar of repose in this church, which the article reviews, besides flower arrangements by Ms Scerri, who hails from Attard, included sculptures by artist Joseph Casha, another resident of the village.

Ms Scerri said that it was indeed an honour to have her works featured in such a highly regarded international magazine, but she was even more pleased to see that so many readers around the world would get to know about Malta and its customs - in this case, those relating to the Good Friday festivities. Flora International, edited by Maureen Foster, is published in the UK and is sold in a number of countries.

Short programme on aspects of aging

The International Institute on Aging (INIA) of the United Nations, based in Malta, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Affairs (UNFPA) is organising an international short programme on the Economic and Financial Aspects of Aging.

The programme, to be held at the Forum Hotel, St Andrews, between tomorrow and April 11, will be opened by Dr Antoine Mifsud Bonnici, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry for Social Policy.

The programme is designed to make policymakers aware of the enormous and far-reaching consequences stemming from mass survival to old age both for individuals and society as a whole.

It aims to discuss current situations in the developing countries and stimulate efforts to find solutions that would be sustainable and acceptable in the light not only of economic realities but also of cultural, social and religious traditions in the individual countries.

The programme consists of lectures, workshops, discussions and site visits to local facilities. Eighteen participants from Azerbaijan, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Cyprus, Ghana, Lithuania, Malta, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine and Yemen will be taking part.

Apart from local experts, international tutors invited to lecture are Dr Raja Gopal Dhar Chakraborti, Visiting Professor at Nankai University, Institute of Population and Development Tianjin, China; and Roddy McKinnon, regional information analyst with the International Social Security Association (ISSA), Geneva.

Lynn Chircop interviewed by German newspaper

Lynn Chircop, 22, who will be representing Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia, on May 24, with the song To Dream Again, was recently in Karlsruhe, Germany

Lynn was welcomed there by Christi Lingg, a close friend of the Chircop family. While in Karlsruhe, Lynn, who speaks fluent German, gave an exclusive interview to Kuno Doll, a leading journalist for the Badische Neueste Nachrichten, a leading newspaper in Baden-Württemberg.

"The truth is that it's like a dream," Lynn said. And her dream is not yet over, the newspaper reported, while recounting how her song (music by Alfred Zammit, lyrics by Cynthia Sammut) came first in the February 8 finals of the Malta Song for Europe 2003, to which no fewer than 238 entries were submitted

"It was a nice surprise", Lynn told the German newspaper, "however, I was prepared."

Since September, she has been presenting and producing a Friday evening programme on TVM, Klabb Zone.

Lynn discovered her passion for singing four years ago and she has already met with success in talent shows. Lynn has also received classical piano training. Among other things, she studied for a year in Leipzig (where her brother, the well-known conductor Alan Chircop, studied for several years at the music conservatory).

The singer has successfully sought and found her own music style, which she describes as having "a classical touch but with a strong orientation to pop." Lynn also has her own rock band, Band Seven. Clearly, Lynn is very versatile, and her brother Alan, who runs a music school, agrees, the newspaper commented.

Meanwhile, Lynn told her interviewer, she hopes to conclude a record deal with a German company. Negotiations are in a very advanced stage and she hopes she will realise her dream soon.

In Riga, the Maltese singer will be accompanied not only by her parents. A local travel agency has organised a week-long package, enabling her friends and fans to accompany her and cheer her on.

Lynn will also take a holy medal of the Madonna, which she treasures as a powerful protection. Lynn explained to her interviewer how four years ago she was in a car accident that left her car a total wreck, but fortunately, she escaped unharmed.

With To Dream Again, Lynn will express her love for fellow human beings. The song speaks about war, sickness and children. In the refrain it says "I love you." And thus Lynn hopes that with the strong support of her friends in Karlsruhe, her dream of success in Riga will become a reality.

People

Mario Pace has successfully completed his studies and research leading to a Ph.D. in Italian at the University of Malta.

Under the supervision of Professor Joseph Eynaud, University of Malta, and Professor Franco Lanza, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy, he carried out research work in various libraries and archives in Palermo, Naples, Rome, Viterbo and the Vatican.

His thesis, entitled L'Influsso Italiano nella Drammaturgia Maltese dell'Età Barocca, visto attraverso il Teatro di Carlo Magri, deals with an analysis of Carlo Magri's life and works in the 17th century. It presents a comprehensive picture of Carlo Magri's early years of life and his literary works, some of which are still in manuscript form, as well as of various religious, social, cultural and linguistic aspects of Malta and Gozo in the late 17th century.

The study focuses not only on Carlo Magri, a very intelligent, astute and persuasive man, capable of solving in his favour all the problems with which he was faced on his arrival as parish priest in Gozo, but also on his three-act play La regia è un Sogno ovvero la Costanza. This is the first play written by a Maltese to be ever published.

Besides the transcription and annotation of Magri's play, written and published in 1672, the study compares and contrasts themes, settings and other aspects of Magri's play with those of Sicilian and Neapolitan dramatists.

Even though Maltese theatrical works of the period have been influenced by Italian baroque theatre, particularly by the Neapolitan commedia dell'arte style of writing and rep-resentation, the study reveals how Carlo Magri succeeded in introducing in his play a number of innovations. One of the most important is the elimination, as a result of his sensitivity to the public's wishes, of the use of vulgar language and of the prologue. This delineates him as a pioneer in the drive for change.

Dr Pace, 39, is married to Maria née Dalli, B.Ed (Hons), Diploma in Education, Administration and Managment, and has two children, Daniela and Matthew. He is the son of Mr Francis Pace, BA, and Mrs Pace of Gharghur.

The President and Mrs de Marco's engagements March 31-April 3

Tomorrow
9.55 a.m. The President lays flowers at the Freedom Monument in Vittoriosa, to mark Freedom Day.

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President receives Customs director-general John Mifsud, accompanied by the management, at the Palace, Valletta.
10.45 The President receives Professor Heinz Leitners, accompanied by Valletta Rehabilitation Project executive co-ordinator Ray Bondin.
11.30 The President receives a group of students from the Liceo Classico in Siracusa, accompanied by students of St Aloysius' College.

Wednesday
11 a.m. The President and Mrs de Marco present charitable donations on behalf of the Malta Community Chest Fund to individuals and institutions in Gozo.

Thursday
10 a.m. The President receives chief electoral commissioner Carmel J. Degabriele, at the Palace, Valletta.

For your diary

Car boot sales will be held today and every Sunday in aid of Vittoriosa Stars Football Club at the football ground in Vittoriosa, Il-Fortini, all day. Parking is no problem.

An open committee meeting is being organised by Ward u Zghar, at Centru Hidma Socjali, St Venera, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

A night hike is being organised on Saturday at 7.40 p.m., in front of the Roman Villa, Rabat.

The YANA group is organising an evening of activities at Despott Hall, Education Centre, Floriana, on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m.

The International Wives' Association are holding their monthly swop shop at Dar l-Emigrant, Valletta, on Wednesday at 9.30 a.m.

A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor is being organised at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on Wednesday at 10 a.m. To book, phone Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.

A Flamenco evening is being organised by the Alegria Academia Flamenca, at the Best Western Les Lapins, Ta' Xbiex, on Saturday. Tickets, at Lm3.50 and Lm4, can be obtained from the academy.

A cultural tour of Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar, is being organised by the Manoel Theatre cultural office, on Sunday at 3 p.m. The group will meet near the theatre at 2.45 p.m. For tickets, at Lm3.50, phone 2122-4515 or e-mail culturalservices@teatrumanoel.com.mt, by Friday.

A mission bazaar at Kings Shop, Tower Road (opposite Wanderers Club), Sliema, will be held until Sunday between 9.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. There will be big bargains.

The coffee morning which was to be organised by the Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Fund, Corradino, Paola, at the Les Lapins Hotel, Ta' Xbiex, on April 8, has been postponed to a date to be announced later.

Caritas co-operators are organising a morning activity at the InterContinental Hotel, St George's Bay, on April 9 at 10 a.m. For bookings contact Marielouise Mifsud (tel: 2133-0471), Mary Darmanin Demajo (2131-3486), Josephine Farrugia (2132-0016), or Phyllis Ciappara (2134-2910).