GoanBeing
Volume 2
Issue 6
vincent ramos
The 'TURNAROUND' story of a son of Goan soil
Founder of The Football Dugout, Goa’s largest community of football fans
lana de souza
Founder of Ananas, a homegrown clothing brand
morrison d’mello
A young commercial photographer and the founder of MDclicks Studio, Porvorim
SUKANYA MANERIKAR
A popular bridal makeup artist and beauty influencer
sonia wadji
A mobile app developer who is always ‘Hangry!’
smilekeepers foundation
Spreading Smiles Wherever They Go!
Editorial
Hi Friends,
The monsoons are finally upon us giving us respite from the sweltering heat. The monsoon season is the best season in Goa scenically, as the landscape is carpeted in hues of green. Goans don't need a reason or season to celebrate. At the onset of the monsoons, around the 24th of June, Goa goes into celebratory mode again. The Feast of ‘Sao Joao’ ( Saint John the Baptist) is celebrated with much gaiety and revelry. According to the Bible, John the Baptist is said to have leaped with joy in his mother Elizabeth's womb when Jesus' mother Mary visited her. To commemorate this leap, Goans all over the world leap into wells or rivers with joy, wearing colourful ‘Kopels’ i.e. halo-like coronets made of fruits, flowers, and leaves chanting ‘Viva Sao Joao.’ Newly-wed brides visit their parents’ homes. They are welcomed with a ‘Dali’ by their mothers. The villagers too look forward to celebrating this occasion together. The grooms alongwith the village men-folk jump into the respective family wells yelling, “Viva Sao Joao.” Mandos (Goan folk songs) are sung while the bride is given a ‘dali’ (a basket full of seasonal fruits like jackfruits, pineapples, and mangoes) by
her mother to take back home. Nowadays, unmarried suitors also try their luck. If accepted, the suitor is welcomed into the girl's home by her father with music, food and dance. The festivities of Sao Joao continue for five days, culminating on the 29th of June with ‘Sangodd’ - the Feast of São Pedro and São Paulo (Saint Peter and Saint Paul). A 130 yearold tradition, celebrated mainly by the ‘Ramponkars’ (fishermen) all over Goa to mark the end of the fishing activity. It commemorates the martyrdom of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul (who were fishermen by profession) in Rome, and their contribution towards building the Catholic Church. The day begins with a Mass by the local priest and prayers offered by the fishing community at the local village chapel for a good fishing season ahead. Boats and nets are blessed and set aside. A float is set up with two or three fishing canoes, decorated with a model of a church and a pole with the picture of the Saints Peter and Paul. A platform with a stage is set up atop the canoes where live ‘tiatrs’ (Goan folk musical skits) and various other musical performances are held. Known as ‘Sangodd,’ this float sails down the river and back to the village. The fishermen follow this parade in their own small canoes dancing to the beat of the music. During the monsoons, a ban on fishing is imposed in Goa for two months i.e. from 1st June to 1st August, to allow the fish to spawn. As soon as the monsoons recede, the fishermen start to repair their nets and canoes in preparation for the fishing season after the ban is lifted.
So this monsoon, be sure to get drenched and soak up the beautiful scenery, landscape and traditions that Goa has to offer. I hope you enjoy reading this month’s issue of our magazine. Don’t forget to share your feedback with us on mail@itsgoa.com.
Jessyl Fernandez EditorIndex
01 Vincent Ramos
02 Smile Keepers Foundation
03 Sukanya Manerikar
04 Morrison D’mello
05 Sonia Wadji
06 Conrad Barretto
07 Lana De Souza
Introduction
Goa, the tiniest state on the western coast of India, boasts golden pristine beaches, palmfringed avenues, flavourful food, delicious Portuguese-influenced sweets, and warm, hospitable people. Also known as the Ibiza of India for its partying. A tropical paradise of flora and fauna, from the very famous 'almi' (mushrooms) endemic to its forests, that grow only on the red mud anthills, to the solar prawns that are fished immediately after the monsoons, Goa is unique. Tourists are also attracted to Goa for its cultural heritage - from the famous old Portuguese churches like Se Cathedral in Old Goa, the 16th Century Safa Masjid in Ponda and Shree Mangesha Temple in Mardol, the legendary Arvalem or Pandava Caves where the Pandavas of the Mahabharat fame lived, to its two unique festivals - Carnival and Shigmo. Goa plays host to many festivals - the International Film Festival of India that promotes cinema, the Serendipity Art Festival, Sunburn Music Festival, The Grape Escapade to name a few. To showcase this varied heritage of culture, art, tradition, food, and people, in 2015 ItsGoa was born. The main aim was to make it the premier portal for all things Goa.
We were able to showcase Goa like never before. Soon our blog-based website transcended the virtual space, with the ItsGoa magazine – a sought-after resource for visitors to Goa from countries like Norway, Germany, UK, USA, UAE, etc. The Covid Pandemic in 2020 brought everything to a standstill and printing of the magazine was put on hold. Now that life is almost back to normal in Goa, and to maintain the covid norms, we have decided to launch our very own ItsGoa magazine online.
A little about our Magazine
Think of Goa! Think ItsGoa! Our magazine is known for its business listings of basically anything and everything found in Goa. We also produce uniquely written articles in regard to Goa. Some of these folk tales you quite literally will not find anywhere else on the net. These rich in content stories are passed down from generation to generation in the villages of golden Goa. We also provide up-to-date news and information on travel, food, and events that are taking place in this beautiful State of Goa. The content on ItsGoa is written by people who are passionate about calling this tiny state their home. The ItsGoa magazine is a single point of reference for news, lifestyle, and culture in Goa.
The
Mr. Vincent Ramos is a man who needs no introduction. He is the Senior Vice President of the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), Goa region. After a successful stint of spearheading the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) in Goa as the Area Director since 2017, Mr. Ramos, in his current role, continues to provide strategic direction to IHCL hotels within the region.
A perfectionist with over a decade of management experience, Mr. Ramos has been instrumental in the expansion of IHCL in Goa, across its group of brands - Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta , Ginger, amã Stays & Trails, Qmin, and TajSats. Under his governance, IHCL witnessed transformative growth in the region leading to greater profitability and market leadership in each of the relative market segments.
Amidst the challenging business circumstances posed by the pandemic, Mr. Ramos demonstrated exceptional leadership in effectively positioning IHCL’s various brands in Goa and has not only effectively represented the brand but has also been the voice of the industry as a whole, within the geography. The optimization of costs and enhancement in revenue in Goa during his tenure is testimony to Mr. Ramos’s drive towards excellence. Moreover, he has been actively involved with the local state authorities to achieve benchmark standards for tourism in Goa. He is appointed as Mentor or the Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) Committee – Tourism vertical and is a part of the Managing Committee of the Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) as an Executive Member as well as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Goa.
Educational Qualifications
Hailing from the beautiful island of Chorao in Goa, Mr. Ramos completed his schooling at Monte de Guirim School and later graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management, Goa. He obtained his Master’s degree in Business Administration from S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai and furthermore achieved prestigious academic certifications from IIM Ahmedabad, Cornell University and Nanyang University Singapore. Mr. Ramos has been previously awarded the ‘Unsung Hero of the Hospitality Industry’ in 2017 and
‘Most Admired General Manager of the Decade’ in 2018.
His Journey in the Hospitality Industry
Being a Goan at heart, Mr. Ramos states that he had the natural flair to set foot into the hospitality sector. “My journey so far has been phenomenal, more so because I have been under the guidance of IHCL’s pioneering leadership which is backed by a rich 118years legacy. It is indeed a privilege to be part of a team that personifies the hallmark of Indian hospitality”, he says. Given the dynamic nature of this industry, each new day in his professional life has brought with it a new learning.
Mr. Ramos’s journey with IHCL began when he joined in the Food & Beverage Service as part of the pre-opening team at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa in 1999. During his tenure at Taj Exotica, Mr. Ramos progressed from Senior Restaurant Manager to higher ranks and was eventually assigned the role of Resident Manager in May 2007. “This career progression was an intense learning experience, it was the foundation of the path that lay ahead of me”, he says.
In July 2008, Mr. Ramos was appointed as the General Manager of Vivanta by Taj, Kumarakom in Kerala where he spent a year and a half striving to turn around the property from a loss-making venture into a profitable one. His success in turning around the fortunes of the loss-making Vivanta property resulted in him being appointed as the General Manager of Taj Malabar, Cochin, IHCL’s flagship property in Kerala, in the year in 2010. During this phase, the Taj group in Kerala became extremely popular with tourists. This was a result of several new changes that Vincent brought about, which resulted in both hotels bagging several awards, including Taj Malabar, Cochin winning the prestigious Taj Hotel of the Year award in 2013.
Mr. Vincent Ramos’ success streak continued when he was rewarded with a new role as General Manager of the coveted Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur in 2013. His sincere and dedicated efforts in his new assignment resulted in Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur being awarded with ‘Best Hotel of the World Award’ by TripAdvisor in 2016.
Mr. Ramos’ long and enriching journey that began with Taj Exotica in Goa saw him return to the very
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Exotica was voted as the 5th best resort hotel in India and 28th best hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards in 2018. In 2017, Vincent was appointed as the Area Director –IHCL, Goa.
Having worked in the hospitality industry for decades, Mr. Ramos has had the honour of leading iconic hotels from across the country, during which he has brought numerous accolades to India. The most recent recognition under his leadership include IHCL, Goa being awarded the ‘Best Team Achievement Award’ for business performance through innovation at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2021 in Paris.
Having started his career in Goa, it came full circle when he was appointed as the Senior Vice President - Goa, “In my new role, I am humbled to be in service of the state and look forward to IHCL’s growth in the region”, he adds.
Success Strategy
Mr. Ramos, who is known for his ability to turn lossmaking hotels into profit-making ventures, says that the strategy which he applies is very simple. “Every hotel has a unique offering that caters to a particular target audience. The travel industry in India caters to millions of tourists each year, and market positioning
another important factor in this rapidly evolving industry. “Personalized and customized service is a crucial differentiator that drives immense loyalty among customers. In a highly competitive market, it is imperative to identify core competitive strengths and use them as the founding pillars of any business strategy”, he says. “Moreover, innovation complying with the ever-changing market trends keeps one ahead of its competition”, he adds.
Contribution to Social Welfare in Goa
Being the son of Goan soil, Mr. Ramos strives through IHCL for the local communities in his home state to share in the benefits of IHCL’s presence with maximized local employment and new avenues for potential business opportunities. In this way, he ensures that IHCL will continue to contribute to the state’s tourism growth story. “We give back to society by enabling livelihoods for less privileged target groups through skilling and leveraging our business value chain to support traditional art, heritage and social purpose organizations”, he says. “Additionally, our hotels support the neighboring communities in Goa by maintaining and promoting public spaces, tourism spots and heritage sites. We also collaborate with public welfare groups to amplify our reach in service of the local community”, he adds.
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Mr. Vincent Ramos (extreme left) with Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO (third from left) and the senior management of IHCL at the launch of amã Stays & Trails in Goa, India’s first branded homestay portfolio from IHCL.During the pandemic, various initiatives were carried out by IHCL properties across the state in aid of those who were deeply affected by the pandemic and in support of the healthcare workers.
Trends In The Hospitality Sector During The Pandemic
“2020 was a year that altered lives and businesses and reshaped the travel and hospitality landscape. The pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge and created a new, altered reality. Safety and hygiene are now the prime deciding factors in travel”, says Mr. Ramos. “At IHCL, we detailed a comprehensive five-point mitigation strategy—R.E.S.E.T 2020—that catered to the rapidly changing market conditions, government policies and dynamic customer needs.
Keeping the well-being of IHCL's guests and associates at heart, IHCL developed enhanced and exacting safety protocols in accordance with the norms laid down by World Health Organization (WHO), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Government of India. New SOPs and their stringent implementation among our own staff played a vital role in our ability to carry this across to our guests. I-ZEST: IHCL’s ZeroTouch Service Transformation – a suite of digital solutions was introduced across our hotels to ensure social distancing for both, guests and associates, while maintaining secure and seamless services”, he adds.
The Current Performance of the Tourism Industry in Goa
Mr. Ramos is confident that currently the tourism industry is performing phenomenally well in Goa. He says that the business influx continues to thrive due to the pent-up demand in domestic travel. “Since Goa was the only state to cater to the domestic market during the pandemic, it had the advantage of leading the tourism segment compared to the rest of the country where impacts of the pandemic were far more severe. With ease in restrictions and gradual opening of international travel, we are looking forward to a healthy and strong financial year ahead”, he says.
Goa as a Booming Tourist Destination Despite the Pandemic
With the pandemic confining everyone to their homes, travel has never been so sought after and has been more exhilarating than it is right now. “Goa has always been a popular travel destination and continues to thrive despite the pandemic”, says Mr. Ramos. “Lately, the state has seen an augmented surge in weddings, MICE and domestic leisure. It comes as no surprise, given that we are a matured leisure destination with high quality hospitality offerings that match international travel standards. Unlike other states in the country, tourism is the backbone of Goa’s economy, with 40% of the population directly or indirectly dependent on it.
Hence, we are constantly focussed towards adapting the tourism landscape to meet the changing demands and expectations of today’s traveller.”
“Additionally, Goa has a well-developed infrastructure with an international airport that is in line with its importance as a recognized leisure destination”, he adds.
IHCL’s Future Plans for the Goa region
IHCL has recently announced ‘Ahvaan 2025’ - a three-pronged strategy to grow profitably in the coming years. Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Ramos explains “This strategy will further accelerate profitable growth by scaling IHCL’s diversified brand portfolio across its traditional and new businesses. amã Stays & Trails, a group of heritage bungalows, guesthouses and homestays will witness new additions to its portfolio in Goa in the current financial year.
We are also working towards expanding other brands in the region”, he says. “Furthermore, with the food and beverage industry thriving, Goa will witness the addition of the globally acclaimed Italian cuisine restaurant Paper Moon and 7Rivers Brewpub to IHCL’s exquisite array of bars and restaurants”, he added.
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The Smile Keepers Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Vasco. It is composed of a group of youngsters who aim to provide basic necessities like food and clothing to the poor and the underprivileged in Goa.
The founder of the organisation, Mr. Younus Sheikh, a Mechanical Engineering student at PCCE, Verna noticed how people struggled for basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter. He felt the need to step in and do anything within his means to alleviate poverty.
The idea of starting Smile Keepers Foundation was born in Younus’ college canteen in September of 2019. Younus, along with some of his college friends, started discussing the idea of starting a youth-centric organisation that would work to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and the marginalised. Ever since then, the group continues to work for the underprivileged in Goa. The NGO was officially registered on 25th March 2021.
How did SmileKeepers come about?
Beginning with the realisation of being hypocrites and no better than the people who yell at the television whenever Virat Kohli gets out, exclaiming what he did wrong, “all we do is point out things a particular person or the government has not done!”, says Younus. “That’s how our NGO was born. We didn’t want to be a part of the problem anymore; we wanted to be the solution. We wanted to be the reason that people didn't sleep hungry or cold; be the voice to the ones who’ve never been heard, be the ones who are kind, the ones who care”, he says.
Currently, the NGO has a team of 62 members, who are young, brilliant minds, determined to be the change they want to see in the world. Most of them have a background in the fields of engineering and medicine. The members of the NGO are from Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
Activities and Projects
The many social welfare activities that the Smile Keepers Foundation indulges in include distribution of food and clothing, and helping create a better learning environment for children living in the slums.
They are also involved in the development of a school in Gadag, Karnataka.
Two of the projects they are currently involved in are ‘Mission Apne’ and ‘Mission Saath’ - the foundation's crusade to provide food and basic amenities to people in need. They have helped over 5,000 people in the last 3 years as part of their mission.
The meet-ups of their members happen at planned locations to organize events which may include orphanages, old age homes, or slums. Their aim is to spend time with people living in these places, play games with them, conduct workshops for them and try to impart knowledge to them in whatever way they can.
Challenges Faced
Younus says that the major challenge his organisation faces is the recurring thought that maybe, they aren't doing enough; “Maybe, if we had a little more funds or little more resources, we would be in a much better position to do more for society,” he says. “So, we’re in that constant pursuit of ‘a little more’ and hopefully someday, we’ll have enough,” he adds.
Future Plans
In the next few years, the foundation aims to set up its own orphanage/special school and an old age home. “Well it's kind of a long shot from where we are right now, but where we are now would have been a long shot 3 years ago”, says Younus. “So, we hope that things go as planned”, he says.
Message For the Youth
When asked what message he would like to share with our readers, this is what Younus had to say: ''Be a little kind, be a little considerate. Too often we underestimate the effect a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, or the smallest act of care has on a person. These small acts of kindness have the potential to turn a life around,” he says.
Younus recalls an incident when he had lost his wallet and had no money to pay the bus fare. Seeing that he had no money, a person, who was a complete stranger to him, reached out and offered to pay his bus fare. “I have come across many people in my life who chose to be kind to me. Our NGO is the direct result of their choice,” he says.
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“So, do not underestimate a moment of your kindness; it has the power to change lives in ways you may never know,” he adds.
Volunteer with Smile Keepers Foundation
Anyone who desires to volunteer for an event organised by the Smile Keepers Foundation may get in touch with the NGO using the details given below:
WhatsApp: 8007171911
Email: org.smilekeepers@gmail.com
Instagram: @smilekeepers_foundation
If someone wishes to become a member of the foundation, they can do so by filling up the membership form which can be found on their website.
Website: https://smilekeepersfoundation.github.io/ site/
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Younus (second from left) along with his team of Smile Keepers
The time when she decided to live her life on her own terms and chase her dreams by living outside her home city was life-changing for Sukanya Manerikar, a luxury bridal makeup artist and a beauty influencer from Porvorim in North Goa.
Lovingly called Sukku or Suksi, Sukanya is a person who always creates a wonderful piece of art in all the creative endeavours she ventures into. She is not just a makeup artist, but also a singer and Bharatnatyam dancer, who has won numerous medals in the category.
Sukanya was all about being a stage artist. During her childhood, when everyone saw her performing any kind of art, they used to say that this girl would make a name for herself in whatever she took up. Her extensive training in professional makeup from Bollywood artist Marvie Ann Beck in Mumbai has provided immense exposure, skill, and knowledge of the latest techniques and products. Today, she has created a benchmark in an industry that is completely unique and creative having been in this field for more than 9 years now.
For Sukanya, a role model is any person who chases their dreams no matter how hard the task and ensures she excels no matter the cost. She also looks up to any person who is trying to change their lifestyle for healthy living as a role model, which entails consistent effort and dedication.
Initially, when Sukanya left Goa to move to Mumbai, she didn’t receive any support from her family or friends. It was a solo struggle right from the word go. Gradually, when things started falling into place, people began to understand her good causebringing beauty and smiles to women's faces, it was then that her parents and others offered support.
Sukanya believes that she has done everything within her reach, in fact, more than anyone could possibly think of. Concern for her clients ensures that she uses high-end professional makeup brands like MAC, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Urban Decay, Makeup Forever, and Krylon. Sukanya advocates that teaching and sharing makeup skills will help her hone and develop her artistic abilities.
Thus, she has established herself as a trainer at the Bollywood Hollywood Institution of Makeup and Hair, Bandra, where she mentors and grooms young aspiring makeup artists.
The only advice Sukanya feels that she could give her past self is to avoid hastily believing in people and never lower one's work value for promotional purposes, which most budding artists resort to, to get more work. Which she initially fell prey to and then realised her mistake.
The biggest challenge in pursuing makeup artistry is that one does not have work in hand every day. Sometimes, one can have a lot of bridal clients and sometimes one has nothing to do during the offseason. The only solution during these times is to pursue a new hobby that will keep one occupied till one gets work.
Sukanya says that one should always; be open to learning new things, be consistent about watching videos related to the latest trends, practice new techniques on oneself whenever time permits, and never stop looking for work. She advises people to inculcate a hunger for self-prosperity.
