Heard in the hive

Saturday, November 6, saw members of the Indian community in Malta clad in colourful traditional attire, celebrating Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, with their Maltese friends and families at the Corinthia San Gorg.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus all around the world with great splendour, with prayers for peace and prosperity, the exchange of home-made sweets and the lighting of candles and oil lamps being the mainstay of the festivities.

The evening began with the Arti dance, a prayer to the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi Mata. A lively song and dance show followed, in which many children of both Maltese and Indian origin took part.

Indian Ambassador Dr Srivastava from Libya flew in specially to take part in the festivities. Deputy Prime Minister and Mrs Tonio Borg, Labour MP Dr Anglu Farrugia and Mrs Farrugia and other guests joined in the celebrations.

A delicious Indian meal and traditional Indian décor and music all helped to create a vibrant atmosphere of Eastern pomp and style.

Miss Model of the World, Best Male Model winners

Vogue Modelling Agency recently held its annual Miss Model of the World (Malta) and Best Male Model of the World (Malta) events at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort.

The winners among the 36 models who participated will be representing Malta at the international finals in China, the Bahamas, Belize and Turkey.

The female contestants modelled in swimsuits sponsored by Trafalgar and evening wear of their own choice, while the male contestants modelled in black swimwear and evening wear sponsored by Top Hats. Entertainment was provided by Paul Giordmaina, Eleanor Cassar, Daphne Coleiro and Sean and She 2s.

The Miss Model of the World (Malta) winner was Sarah Spiteri, who will be participating in the international finals of Miss Model of the World in Shanghai.

Shanel Debattista placed second and will be representing Malta in Miss World Tourism in the Bahamas, while Chantelle Grech placed third and will be representing Malta in Miss Rainforest.

Best Male Model of the World (Malta) was won by Joseph Ellis, who will be representing Malta in December in the Best Model of the World contest in Turkey. Keith Seychell placed second, and Steve Grech third.

The winners in different categories were: Most Promising Model Annie Falzon, Best Catwalk Model Cathleen Bugeja, Miss La Poupée Model in Evening Gown Chanelle Bonnici, Miss Model in Swimsuit Fabienne Vella, Most Beautiful Face Shanel Debattista, Most Beautiful Hair Elaine Cassar, Miss Photogenic Amanda Bonnici, Miss Personality Nakita Vassallo, Miss Public Opinion Chantelle Grech, and Miss Friendship Annie Falzon

The males' awards in different categories were: Mr Photogenic Johann Scerri, Mr Public Opinion Keith Seychell, Mr Personality Chris Micallef, Best Good Looks Keith Brincat, Most Promising Model Ryan Paul Mercieca, Best Catwalk Model Steve Grech, Best Physique Keith Seychell, and Mr Friendship Joseph Ellis.

The official make-up artists were The Beauty Team, Charlene Mercieca and Nefertiti, while the official hairstylists were The Beauty Team.

The main sponsors were Paul Target Ltd, Alexandra Palace Hotel and Hera Cruises. Other sponsors included Pernod, Il-Werqa Florists and Tip Toes. Fashion wear was provided by 206 Menswear, Miss 206 and La Poupée Boutique.

Applications for the 2005 beauty pageants are now open. For more information call 9944-5783.

Sterling Jewellers' exhibition closes today

No natural substance possesses the lure of diamonds and Sterling Jewellers is using its dazzling Waterfall Collection of cascading diamond jewellery as bait to entice you to its seventh annual exhibition.

Today is your last chance to see this brand new collection of colliers and earrings, some of which are mounted with more than 1,000 brilliant cut diamonds.

The public can also feast their eyes on eye-catching gold pieces and gems, classic timepieces, semi-precious stones and fashionable silver jewellery.

One can also choose from an exquisite array of loose diamonds to create an original piece and have the gems mounted on the spot.

The exhibition, which is being held at Le Meridien Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana, is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entrance is free.

Count Roger Band director celebrates 30th anniversary

A concert by the Count Roger Band of Rabat, conducted by Joseph Vella, held recently in the courtyard of the Vilhena Palace, Mdina, formed part of the official programme of events of the Malta Historic Cities Festival. This marked Professor Vella's 30th anniversary as director of the Count Roger Band.

The public filled the four corners of the Vilhena Palace courtyard. The music performed in this concert was composed by Professor Vella himself, an internationally renowned composer and conductor, and guest conductor of the National Orchestra and various foreign orchestras. His works range from chamber to orchestral music.

During the concert, two of the works were originally written for string orchestra and adapted for the band - Malta Rebbieha, performed by the National Orchestra several times, and Jubilo, originally written for the German-Maltese Circle.

Other works performed were written either for the La Stella Band in Gozo or the Count Roger Band - Fanfares for an Occasion, written five years ago on his 25th anniversary as director of the Count Roger Band, and In Omaggio Banda Konti Ruggieru, composed 10 years ago for the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the band in 1869.

At the end of the musical programme Professor Vella was presented with a memento while the band club's president. Paul Tonna, received a memento from George Abdilla, representing the Malta Tourism Authority.

This was the fifth symphony concert by the Count Roger Band this year. This year the band took part in the Sound of Music pavilion in Salzburg, and also performed in Bavaria.

Award for Tempra Academy project

Italian architect Giovanni Trevisan on behalf of the Tempra Academy has won the Architecture Prize of this year's Grolla d'Oro di Treviso Arts competition, which took place yesterday week.

Architect Trevisan's 7,000 square metre project comprises three museums, two large ateliers (painting and sculpture with kiln), theatre, concert hall, exhibition galleries, lecture hall, library, swimming pool and sports club, restaurants and 50 residential units with 100 car parking spaces.

The well-known philosophy of Dame Françoise Tempra, Mens sana in corpore sano, appealed tremendously to Ronald Gallimore, head of the European Communities delegation to Malta, who had lunch at Villa Tempra a fortnight ago.

He also met Catherine Aureau, head of administration and delegate of the Malta Biennale for France since 1995, who had just returned from Paris, to discuss the project and view the light-conquering, glass-lit levels of green terraces that conquer space and environment.

People

Joseph Castillo was recently conferred with the degree of Master of Science in Magnetic Resonance Imaging from Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge, UK.

Throughout the course he submitted several papers covering various specialised areas in MRI including Neurology, Musculoskeletal, Body and Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

He completed his three-year course with a dissertation entitled "An evaluation of the use of reformatted coronal oblique proton density fat suppressed fast spin echo images in ACL tears". This study involved a modification and optimisation of a particular MRI sequence to assess the various grades of anterior cruciate ligament tears in the knee.

The findings are already being used in the examination of knee trauma at St Luke's Hospital.

Mr Castillo, who also holds a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration from California Coast University, currently works at the MRI unit, St Luke's Hospital, and is the president for the Society of Medical Radiographers.

Dr Ing. Cyril Spiteri Staines recently returned after carrying out post-doctoral research at the University of Nottingham during the 2003/2004 academic year.

Dr Spiteri Staines was a visiting lecturer at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Nottingham. His post-doctoral research was mainly concerned with the sensorless speed and position control of induction machines.

Using a novel technique developed at Nottingham, he produced low and zero speed/frequency operation of an open slot induction machine under no load and loaded operation.

This research produced two conference papers, an IEEE journal paper in a special session dedicated to sensorless control and another IEEE journal paper is awaiting acceptance.

During the sabbatical, Dr Spiteri Staines also supervised various research projects at postgraduate level concerned with: double fed induction machines used for wind energy grid connected systems, model reference adaptive controllers for speed control of machines, the non-linear effects in three-phase inverters, the construction of a matrix converter and the construction of a vector controlled induction motor drive. The research carried together with a Ph.D. student on model reference adaptive controllers has produced two conference papers.

Over the past academic year, Dr Spiteri Staines was selected to review 12 technical papers for two international conferences (IECON 04 and PESC 04) and he was a reviewer for the special session on sensorless a.c. machine control of the IEEE Industrial Electronics journal.

Dr Spiteri Staines is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Malta.

Chev. Major Joseph Bonnici, Knight Grand Cross of the Constantinian Order of St George, was recently appointed International Grand Chancellor of the Dynastic Order of the Cross of Constantinople by Prince Henri Constantin de Vigo Aleramico Paleologo, Hereditary Grand Master of the Order.

Gill sponsors Aziza for Rolex Middle Sea Race

Gill, the renowned manufacturer of marine clothing, has sponsored a local yacht competing in the recent edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Through their local representatives, Gauci Borda Co. Ltd of Gzira, Gill provided the crew on board Aziza with their clothing requirements throughought the race.

"We are very glad to have had Gill on board with us" Sandro Musù, owner of the new Grand Soleil 40 sailing yacht Aziza, said. "Gill clothing kept us comfortable and dry throughout the 620-mile race."

Myra Gauci Borda, representing Gill, said: "We too are pleased to have been a sponsor of this competitive yacht. We have no doubt that our input has been important to your boat obtaining the fantastic result of fifth overall place."

Art, song and dance at Corinthia Palace

The Tempra Academy is presenting a cultural evening consisting of paintings by German artist R.O. Schabbach and a show by American singer and dancer Sherri Tyler at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, on Friday, December 10.

The evening starts at 7 with a verbal presentation of Schabbach's works.

The artist, whose works are found in some 20 museums worldwide and in private collections of famous personalities like Anthony Quinn, Madonna, Gunter Sachs and Donald Trump, had won first prize at the 1997 Malta International Art Biennale.

He is also the founder of the K18 Arts Group of Germany, and deputy vice-president of the Malta Art Biennale.

Schabbach has been acclaimed worldwide as an inventive and original artist but also proved to be an indefatigable promoter of fellow artists, including many Maltese.

His scholarly uncle, Dr Rudolf Vitus Schabbach, will bring a literary flavour to the evening by presenting some of his works including the family's past three centuries.

Sherri Tyler, fresh from her Red Rocks Colorado and Sunfest Music Festival at Palm Beach, Florida, will sing songs made famous by Tina Turner and Cher, and some of her own hits.

The Pippa Gee Dancers, led by Pippa Roberts and including Chantelle Attard, Stephanie Caruana, Calvin Cuschieri, Mandy Ghio, Elisa Grech, Denise Schembri and Maria Zahra, who performed at the MCI's November concert at the Casino Maltese, will be on stage with Sherri Tyler.

They will be joined by the Denner Clarinet Quartet (Stephen Dimech, Willian Debattista, Christopher Camilleri, and their leader, Lino Pirotta).

Tickets for the concert are Lm5 and Lm13 (including dinner afterwards) are available from the Corinthia Palace Hotel (tel. 2144-0301), Said International, 43, Zachary Street, Valletta (2137-4472/2123-6853), Sliema Stamp Shop, 91, Manuel Dimech Street, Sliema (2134-2189), Eclipse Stationery, 35, Fisher Road, Mgarr (2152-5248 or 9944-2106), or Jay Bee Stationers, 75, Eucharistic Congress Road, Mosta (2143-4918).

DJ Sassy at Club Lounge

Club Lounge will be hosting DJ Sassy as a special guest DJ from the UK, on Friday.

Top model DJ Sassy has graced the pages of numerous magazines including Cosmopolitan, Elle, FHM, Front, GQ, Harpers Bazaar, Loaded, Marie Claire, Stuff, T3 and Vogue.

DJ Sassy was first spotted DJing at the world famous Miami Music Conference and reached A-list status on the circuit when she accompanied P Diddy on the decks at his launch party held in Café de Paris, July 1999. Her career has soared ever since.

In addition to playing regular slots on the UK's club scene DJ Sassy's private clients over the last couple of years include Eminem, Destiny's Child, Lil' Kim, Mobb Deep, Misteeq, Lennox Lewis, Mos Def.

Italk Scratch and Win winners

Italk's managing director Philip Cassar recently presented Mary Rose Attard of Zebbug with a holiday ticket to the Caribbean World.

Ms Attard is the first to win one of these fabulous holidays, and since the voucher is valid for two persons, she will be flying with her guest to Tunisia to enjoy an all-inclusive seven-night stay at the renowned Caribbean World resort.

Hundreds of gifts have been claimed since the launch of the new and exciting Italk Scratch and Win low cost international phone cards. Some lucky winners have even discovered more than one gift.

The lottery has been such a success that more gifts have been added to cater for the increase in demand of our Scratch and Win phone cards.

These new international phone cards have proved to be a hit and are still on the market. Not only do they offer substantial savings on international phone calls, but a chance to win hundreds of great prizes including a star prize - an all-inclusive Orlando Caribbean Cruise for two, offered by Fantasy Tours and British Airways.

Still unclaimed prizes include several trips to the Caribbean World, Canon cameras, Kodak vouchers, weekend breaks at Corinthia, jewellery from Gaba Gioielli, Pfanner juices, wines from Winedrops, packs of Smirnoff Ice, Embassy Cinema tickets, free talk time, Nokia phones and Tronix DVD players. The all-inclusive 15-day Orlando and Western Caribbean Cruise is still up for grabs.

Apart from the chance to win great prizes Italk has also introduced a new range of incredibly low international calling rates. Italk has also introduced a direct access number when calling overseas - 8007-3722.

For more information on all Italk products call the customer care department on 2138-0180 or visit http://www.italk.com.mt

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements

November 29-December 5

Tomorrow
7 p.m. The President attends a lecture entitled La Parola di Dio nella Formazione di Communità di Base by Fr C. Mesters, O.Carm., organised by Discern at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St Julian's

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President receives the president and committee members of the Our Lady of the Lily Band Club, Mqabba, on a courtesy call at the Palace, Valletta.
10.30 Mrs Fenech Adami hosts a Christmas bring and buy activity in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund at San Anton Palace.
10.30 The President receives Dr Joe Mifsud, president of the Malta Football Association, at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President launches the Piggy Bank Campaign in conjunction with Bank of Valletta in aid of l-Istrina.
7.15 for 7.45 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a dinner on the occasion of St Andrew's Day organised by the St Andrew's Society of Malta at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, Qawra.

Wednesday
8 p.m. The President presides over the second Malta Enterprise Awards 2004 at the Portomaso Suite, Hilton Malta.

Thursday
10 a.m. The President views the exhibition of paintings by Willie Apap at the Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta.

Friday
8.45 a.m. The President delivers the opening speech during the sixth Malta Conference of Psychology on the Unborn Child organised by the Malta Union of Professional Psychologists at the Pope John Paul II Hall, Attard.
10.45 The President receives Dr Nando Testoni Blasco, governor of the Rotary Club of Sicily and Malta, at San Anton Palace.
6.30 p.m. The President inaugurates an exhibition of cribs organised by the Ghaqda Hbieb tal-Presepju at St Francis Hall, Valletta.
9 The President attends a reception hosted by the Chamber of Engineers on the occasion of the third Malta Engineering Excellence Award at St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity, Valletta.

Saturday
7 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host an inaugural concert of the National Youth Orchestra at the Grand Council Chamber, the Palace, Valletta.
8.30 The President attends a reception hosted the president and committee members of the St George's Band Club on the occasion of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Cospicua.

Sunday
7 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a symphony concert by the St Anthony's Band Club organised by the Birkirkara council on the occasion of Birkirkara Day at the CAK Centre, Birkirkara.

For your diary

The second lecture of the series Rediscover Valletta, organised by the Malta Historical Society, is being held at the Oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral tomorrow at 6 p.m. The lecture will be delivered in Italian by Architect Antonio Mollicone. For more information contact Salvator Mousù on 2138-5981 or 7927-6599.
The International Wives Association will be holding the Christmas bazaar at Dar l-Emigrant, Valletta, on Wednesday at 9.30 a.m.
A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor will be held at the Preluna Hotel Skyroom, Sliema, on December 1 at 10 a.m. For booking phone Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.
Energising relaxation, an introductory level workshop in Tibetan relaxation exercises (Kum Nye Relaxation) is being held at the Gaia Foundation's Elysium Visitor Centre, Ghajn Tuffieha Road. An introductory talk will be given by Kay Gretchen at the Isis Creativity Centre, Level 3, Windsor Apartments, Msida Circus, Msida, on Friday from 7 to 9.30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information phone 2137-4234.
The Maltese Diabetes Assocation is organising its annual fund-raising dinner at the Grand Ballroom, Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St Julian's, on December 7. Price is Lm10 per person. Visit www. diabetesmalta.org or contact organising committee chairman Chris J. Delicata on 2138-8212 or 9942-9499, or send an e-mail to cjd@diabetesmalta.org.
Caritas co-operators are holding a grand dinner dance for charity in aid of Caritas, at the Hilton Portomaso Suite at 8 for 8.30 p.m. The super lottery will be drawn during the evening. For more information contact Marilouise Mifsud on 2133-0471, Mary Darmanin Demajo on 2131-3486, Josephine Farrugia on 2132-0016 or Phyllis Ciappara on 2134-2910.
The Malta Floral Club is organising its Christmas lunch at the Hilton, on December 8 at 12.30 p.m. Bookings by Saturday on 2137-8716 or at the club's premises.