Young promising singers, under the age of 16, competed for the best interpretation of popular Maltese songs, spanning from the 1960s through to the 1990s, at the Young Singers Festival at the Valletta Waterfront.
Jessica Magro won first prize with the song Kif qatt nista', by Mary Spiteri. Grecia Bezzina came in second with the song Ftakar by Joe Cutajar, while Mattei Curmi and Dominique Azzopardi won third prize with the song Tisimghu Tissahhar by Priscilla and Il-Budaj.
As the judges deliberated, the audience was kept entertained with a spectacle of colour and theatre, during which dancing and singing were brought together as one musical piece, highlighting traditional children's games of yesteryear.
This was a first for Malta; the festival was created and produced by Carlo Fenech for the Valletta Waterfront Epoka Festival 2006.
HSBC fund sponsors Klabbsajf 2006
HSBC Cares for Children Fund is, for the sixth consecutive year, has sponsored the Ministry of Education's Klabbsajf programme.
The programme, which attracts a good number of pupils every year, forms part of Skolasajf. Doriette Camilleri, HSBC Cares for Children Fund director presented the sponsorship to Education Minister Louis Galea, during a recent visit to the Klabbsajf activities at Zabbar Primary School.
Skolasajf is aimed at primary school children in years 4, 5 and 6. The programme offers informal educational activities to complement what the children learn throughout the scholastic year.
Activities are held at several schools in Malta and Gozo, from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Klabbsajf is a specific programme within Skolasajf aimed at those Grade 2 children who, in the previous scholastic year, made use of the additional help service.
"Klabbsajf's success has grown from strength to strength every summer. Through this HSBC Cares for Children Fund sponsorship, the students are able to benefit from new teaching aids, books, CDs, videos and other educational games which will help provide them with plenty of interesting events throughout the long summer holidays," Dr Cecilia Borg, director-general of Education, said.
"Klabbsajf has helped many children improve their literacy skills through activities such as storytelling and plays. The HSBC Cares for Children Fund will continue to support Klabbsajf to provide educational opportunities to those children who need them most," she added.
Malta representative at Miss World contest
Solange Mifsud, 22, of Zabbar, is one of the 110 contestants representing as many countries, who will be competing for the Miss World title in Poland on Saturday. Two and a half billion viewers are expected to watch this beauty pageant.
Solange will be modelling swimsuits sponsored by Lady's Secrets Lingerie and Boutique and a formal evening outfit made by Ernest & Gloria. The colour of the dress is raw pink silk and tulle with a beaded fringe.
The model from Zabbar said, "My dream has turned into reality... I feel happy and important".
Solange's first weeks in Poland were spent with the other contestants touring beautiful places and being filmed in preparation for the big event.
Lufthansa are sponsoring her air ticket to Poland and Solange would like to thank all the sponsors, family and friends, especially Sue Rossi and Claudia Calleja who helped her attain success.
Malta's Independence celebrated in Paris
The 42nd anniversary of Malta's Independence was this year celebrated in Paris a little ahead of schedule on September 15.
The event was held in a meeting room just across the road from the well-known St Sulpice Church in the centre of Paris and was attended by more than 50 persons, including the Maltese Ambassador to France, Dr Vicki Ann Cremona, and her staff, and the former French Ambassador to Malta, Didier Destremau and Mme Destremau.
The occasion was organised by the Cercle Vassalli, with the support of Dr Cremona. The Cercle is an association bringing together persons living in France, whether of Maltese origin or not, seeking to contribute towards a better knowledge of Malta and the links existing between Malta and France, the ultimate aim being to encourage and improve relations between the two countries.
After an introduction by the president of the Cercle, Patrice Sanguy, Dr Cremona explained her particular interest in activities of a cultural nature and with a Maltese background and she congratulated and strongly encouraged the Cercle to continue organising such activities.
The Innu Malti was read out in Maltese and French by Joseph Camilleri who also read two pieces of patriotic Maltese poetry - Tifhira lil Malta written in the 19th century by GanAnton Vassallo and Lil Malta Hielsa 1964 written by Alfred Massa on September 21, 1964. Judge Jean-Claude Xuereb, who travelled from his residence in Avignon to Paris for the occasion, read two pieces of poetry on Malta written in French.
During the event, members of the Cercle Vassalli were given their copy of the latest edition of the Cahiers Vassalli, which is issued twice a year under the editorship of Mr Sanguy.
At the end of the event, a good number of those present moved to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
JDS Furniture Ltd at the Modern Interiors Fair
Another year has passed and once again JDS Furniture Ltd are participating in the Modern Interiors Fair being held at the Eden Ice Arena from Thursday to Sunday.
For the second consecutive year, JDS have designed and built their own stand. This year, the theme is Modern Living with Real Wood as they are launching modern wooden furniture.
For the past year, JDS Furniture has undertaken major restructuring to its manufacturing plant and it is now in a position to offer better quality designed products.
Apart from showing off the latest designs in bedroom and wall unit furniture, JDS will also be launching the latest Weco German sofa collection as well as the new autumn collection of glassware by Rose Handwerk, which are ideal for wedding and Christmas gifts. The Weco sofas can be custom-built according to customers' requirements and also carry a five-year guarantee.
Sponsors who have already shown interest and are helping JDS with their stand in this event. These are M. Demajo (parquet flooring), OK Ltd (lighting), Bartoline Ltd (wall painting) and Marthese from New Reef (paintings). Forestals also helped by sponsoring an LG Plasma television.
For further information contact JDS Furniture, Main Street, Mellieha. Tel 2152-2390 or visit the JDS online showroom at www.jdsfurniture.com
Moments in an art exhibition
Annabelle Gauci Borda is a free spirit. Similar to kindred soulmates, she struggles to make sense of the senseless world around her, asking existential questions about the meaning of life and love, pain and pleasure, turmoil and tranquillity.
As she sails the stormy seas, Annabelle at times seeks refuge and relief in the calm harbour of artistic expression, and as she lowers anchor, experiences a soothing of the spirit, forgiveness for the past, peace for the present, and hope for the future.
Annabelle is sharing for the first time with the public some of her output of the past three years in an exhibition of paintings at the Gallerija Couvre Porte at the Vittoriosa council. She traces her beginnings in art to the age of ten, a development which was further nurtured by five years of private tuition.
However, while being grateful for this formal and technical instruction, she later found herself in a situation where she was distancing herself further from these early milestones. Her subsequent work clearly demonstrated that experimentation was more important than rigidity.
Annabelle admits that art is her life and passion, instilling in her great joy, satisfaction and happiness. She derives her inspiration from various sources: local landscapes and landmarks, extensive travelling, eastern philosophy, but especially moments in her life, mainly of an emotional nature, which she externalises on various media - hence the name of the exhibition.
In homogeneous harmony with her personality and traits, Annabelle harnesses the unusual medium of glass - itself transparent, sensitive, vulnerable, fragile and easily breakable - to project her catharsis.
Whether it is an Mdina street or a meditating man, Annabelle prefers to use one or at the most two solvent-based glass paints, then develops corresponding hues from them. The same applies to her other work in the exhibition, which has been painted on canvas.
Defying definition, Annabelle's output is lucid and transparent, like she is, wearing her heart on her sleeve. An honours graduate in communication studies, she finds that music in the background while she paints enhances her inspiration, as well as providing a relaxing niche after her daily work as a Celta teacher at a local leading English language school.
Education Minister Louis Galea is inaugurating the exhibition on Thursday. It is being supported by Bank of Valletta and will be open to the public from Friday to October 13.
Joseph Busuttil
Parental skills courses
The Cana Movement will be organising two courses on Parental Skills.
These will start on Thursday, October 12, and will be held every Thursday, one at the Cana headquarters, Catholic Institute, Floriana, at 9.30 a.m. and the other at Cana House, Paola, at 6.30 p.m. There will be six meetings of two hours each.
Parents will be given information on how they should interact with their children and teenagers.
For more information parents call Margaret Portelli on 2123-8068 or 2123-8942 between 9 a.m. and noon.
Cana playgroups
The Cana Mother and Baby Club will be organising playgroups in various localities from next month until June next year.
These playgroups - being held every week for two hours - are meant for children aged between 18 months and three years. They must however, be accompanied by an adult at all times. Various activities will be prepared for the children.
The playgroups will be held in Senglea on Wednesdays, in Lija on Fridays, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Mosta, Zurrieq and Rabat, on Tuesdays and Fridays in Paola, on Mondays at St Julian's and at Naxxar, St Venera, Zebbug and Zejtun on Tuesdays.
The number of children attending these playgrounds is limited.
For more information interested parents can phone Tania Cortis, playgroups co-ordinator, on 2143-3673.
September Bedroom event by Fino
Fino has dedicated the month of September entirely to bedrooms. Fino Living Solutions is showcasing a wonderful selection of bedrooms from among its wide furniture range.
"At Fino, we like offering our customers a varied selection of items as well as regular offers that suit anyone's pocket", said marketing manager Alex Frendo.
"With our current Sweet Dreams campaign, we have captured the attention of many interested customers. Among other incentives, we have also introduced combined offers like our Heavenly Package where customers receive a mix and match of exquisite items from our Fino Lifestyle concept store to suit their newly purchased bedroom".
The September Bedroom event ends on the last day of the month. For more information, enquire at the Fino showroom in Mriehel or visit www.fino.com.mt
AIESEC business seminar
The AIESEC Member Committee for 2006-2007, comprising Davinia Lynn Pirotta, Maria F. Spiteri, Erica Borg, Sarah Bonnici and Matthew Zarb, have returned from the 58th AIESEC International Congress and are ready to start the new year on campus.
With the end of summer, the committee is busy putting together the final touches on upcoming events.
Those attending Freshers' week will find a welcoming stand where all students may learn about education and developmental opportunities offered by AIESEC in Malta as well as in its 97 member countries.
This year AIESEC Malta is again holding a three-day International Motivational Seminar in the first week of November, in which students will be exposed to an intercultural environment. The seminar will include workshops and other learning activities which a number of youths from around the world will be attending.
AIESEC Malta have had success in the IPM 2002 and WENA NEWIES 2006 conferences and are this year holding a business seminar aimed at youths and graduates who are interested in starting up a business and acquiring entrepreneurial skills, with talks and demonstrations given by veteran members of the local business sector. The business seminar is being at the Coastline Hotel on October 27.
For more information visit the AIESEC stand between October 2 to 5 or e-mail RiaBrownEyes-@yahoo.com.
RT2 holds team building event
PATRICK PSAILA led a morning Team Building session last month at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, for members of Round Table Malta 2.
Chris Vassallo Cesareo, chairman of Round Table Malta 2, thanked Mr Psaila for leading the event as the tabling year draws to a close next month.
The RT2 chairman listed as the club's successes attracting new tablers, the fostering of the spirit of fellowship, both in Malta and abroad, and a great deal of charitable work.
The focus of Round Table Malta 2's charitable effort was the furnishing of a resource room at Dar it-Tama. This included the plastering of the walls with gypsum boards and painting; provision of a number of desks and chairs; television; DVD player; two computers and a printer.
This room is intended to give an opportunity for kids from unfortunate backgrounds to use the facilities and teachers at the home will have the tools to give the children the exposure they need, Mr Vassallo Cesareo said.
A major fund-raising event was the annual New Year's Eve gala dinner and Round Table Malta 2 has taken every opportunity to raise money for charitable causes, including LifeCycle, the YMCA Homeless Appeal and the Parents' Society for Persons with Disability.
Following Mr Vassallo Cesareo's trip to South Africa, Malta is to host the Euro 2 meeting in Malta in 2008.
For more information on joining Round Table Malta 2 visit www.rt2malta.com
Blossoms and Blades
An art exhibition, Blossoms and Blades, by Charlot Seychell (b. 1981), is being held at Il-Kastell Wine Bar, Tarxien, between October 7 and 31.
This is Charlot's the first exhibition, the title of which generates a direct association with art and life, and captures the experiences that the artist went through in the past year.
Blossoms of life - the early phases of life - are conveyed in the child's face in the painting While everything is fine.
Charlot also portrays physical transformation especially well in the gesture of the hands of the female nude in As if love was not enough. The artist continues to prove his sense of exploration in different postures of nudes. Through their bodies, he exhibits the fragile moments of life and, simultaneously, the sad thought that these delicate moments do not last long.
In Devoured by changes, Charlot frames the female body in the autumn of her life. Behind her, the blades of leaves have started to fall.
Charlot's strokes, whether in pencil, acrylic, ink, or pastel, depict both the delicacy and anxiety of life.
Mrs Bluebeard seems to guard how our bodies in their daily gestures are but platforms that constantly enact these complementary stages. His art is about one's journey through the changes of the eternal seasons of life itself. Who can deny that these changes are characterised by both 'blossoms' and 'blades'?
The exhibition is open for viewing from 8 p.m.
For further information contact Charlot on 7920-5716 or e-mail cseychell@gmail.com.
Polidano - Axisa
THE marriage took place recently at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Paul, Mdina, between Suzanne Polidano, B.Ed. (Hons), daughter of Mr and Mrs Anthony Polidano, of St Julian's, and Stephen Axisa, MBA (Henley), MCIM (UK), MIM, son of Gino Axisa and the late Helen Axisa, of Qawra.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Gordon Refalo.
The ceremony was witnessed by the bride's sister, Sarah Grech, and the groom's cousin, Victor Zarb.
The bride was attended by her cousin Marija Engerer as bridesmaid and her nieces Hannah Polidano and Giulia Grech as flower-girls. Duncan Polidano, BA, CE, carried out the duties of best man.
The bride wore a romantic-style cream dress with a French embroidery corset and long, English embroidery veil.
A reception was later held at Villa Mdina, Naxxar. The couple spent their honeymoon in Tuscany.
Mizzi - Stivala
The marriage took place recently at St Matthew's Chapel, Qrendi, between Claire Mizzi, daughter of the late Joseph Mizzi and Mary Rose Mizzi, of Qrendi, and Aldo Stivala, son of Mr and Mrs A. Stivala of Luqa.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Rev. Professor Emmanuel Agius and Fr Karm S. Borg, MSSP.
The ceremony was witnessed by the bride's sister, Marie Mizzi, B.Sc. (Hons), and the groom's brother Joseph Stivala. Alfred Mizzi carried out the duties of best man. The bride was attended by Pauline Mizzi as matron of honour and Mariella Camilleri as bridesmaid.
The bride wore an ivory French lace and raw silk dress, and Swarovski jewellery from the Buttardi collection.
All the dresses including the bride's were tailored by her mother with the help of Pauline Mizzi. The bride's mother also made a special wedding cake.
A sit-down dinner was later held at Castello Dei Baroni, Wardija. The couple are spending their honeymoon in Canada and Alaska.
Borg - Grech
The marriage took place recently at Our Saviour Parish Church, Lija, between Ramona Marie Borg BA, A.Mus.LCM, daughter of Mr and Mrs Fredrick Borg, and Joseph Grech, B.Com (Hons), MBA, son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Grech.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Tony Agius. The bride's uncle, Edward Azzopardi, and the groom's sister, Dr Mariella Grech, LL.D., witsessed the ceremony.
The bride was attended by her cousin Anne Falzon as bridesmaid. Konrad G. Borg B.Accty (Hons), MIA, Lmus.LCM, CPAA, the bride's brother, carried out the duties of best man.
A reception was later held at Villa Moulin D'Or, Lija. The couple spent their honeymoon in Spain and the Canary Islands.
For your diary
The youth group Faith Alive - Youth and Teens is organising a car wash in St Nicholas Square, Siggiewi, on Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds are in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza.
A golden anniversary reunion for past students of Mater Admirabilis Training College (1956 to 1958) is being held at Tal-Virtù Seminary on Sunday, starting with a Eucharistic celebration at 11 a.m., followed by lunch.
A missionary bazaar is being held at Kings, Tower Road, Sliema (in front of Sliema Wonderers football club) between October 2 and 29 from 9.30 onwards. Big bargains on new clothes, jewellery, books, toys and others.
A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor is being held at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on Wednesday, October 4, from 10 a.m. For bookings call Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.
The Malta Catholic Action is organising a fund-raising buffet at the Park Hotel, Sliema (behind the Preluna Hotel), on Sunday, October 8. For bookings call 2122-2239.
The President's and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements September 25-October 1
Tomorrow
8.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Indonesia and Mrs Sutoyo on the occasion of the National Day of Indonesia at the Gazebo, Le Meridien Phoenicia, Floriana.
Tuesday
10 a.m. Mrs Fenech Adami presides over a Malta Community Chest Fund working committee meeting at the Palace, Valletta.
6 p.m. Mrs Fenech Adami presides over a meeting of the organising committee of the performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly in concert version at San Anton Palace.
Thursday
10.15 a.m. The President is presented with credentials by the Cuban Ambassador, Rodney Lopez Clemente, at the Palace, Valletta.
11.45 The President is presented credentials by the Irish Ambassador, Sean O'Huiginn.
1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host a luncheon in honour of the newly accredited ambassadors of Cuba and Ireland at San Anton Palace.
7.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a concert by the National Orchestra under the direction of Mro Brian Schembri at the Grand Masters' Suite, Hilton Malta.
Friday
10 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend Mass organised by Caritas on the occasion of the World Day for the Elderly at St Teresa Sanctuary, Birkirkara.
8.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the Chinese Ambassador and Mrs Liu on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy, St Julian's.
9.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin at Le Meridien Phoenicia, Floriana.
Saturday
8 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a dinner hosted by the Aurora Ocean Exploration and Education Trust (Heritage Malta) at Bahrija.