![\"gerry\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mccpoman.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/gerry.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nShakespeare said \u201cAll the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages\u201d.<\/p>\n
The MCCP (Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish – Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Chruch, Ruwi,) is turning 20 this year.\u00a0 Gerry D\u2019Mello being one of the founder members of this great institution who nurtured the growth of MCCP having spent 20 years in the Sultanate of Oman before migrating to Canada, we are privileged to herald the reflections of his journey from Bendur, Mangalore, towards the beautiful shores of Muscat on April 25, 1985 and thereon to his dream destination Canada in the year 2006 to give shape to his long cherished goals and to play different roles on the global stage.\u00a0 He is the role model and a beacon of hope & light for many upcoming talents in our community.<\/p>\n
BENDUR, MANGALORE \u2013 the beginning
\nGerald D\u2019Mello, popularly known as Gerry D\u2019Mello Bendur, is gifted with many talents and was groomed as artiste at the Parish of Bendur under Catholic Action League (C.A.L.) \u2013 one of the oldest and most popular youth associations in the Diocese of Mangalore.\u00a0 His childhood pals include Kalashree Calud D\u2019Souza, (late) John D\u2019Souza, Henry Rodrigues, Percy Noronha, Oswald Saldanha, Oswald D\u2019Souza, Gerald Towers, Claud Pais, etc.\u00a0 They all bloomed under Dr. Austin D’Souza Prabhu – a great youth leader of his time and currently a high ranking professional at the U.S.A.<\/p>\n
Like his mentor, Gerry\u2019s love for Konkani and Konkani culture saw him emerging as a Konkani poet, author, singer, stage actor, compere and in short, an ambassador of Konkani & Konkani culture.\u00a0 Besides he was a regular contributor for Konkani periodicals such as Raknno, Divo, Kannik, Mithr, Jhelo, etc., and his poems have featured in all these periodicals.\u00a0 His emceeing skills are inimitable.\u00a0\u00a0 He has compered many high level programmes and events.\u00a0 As a lyricist and composer he has composed many songs and among them Mai (Mother) and Sthri (Woman) have won the hearts & minds of music lovers.\u00a0 He has won many laurels for singing at various levels.<\/p>\n
As an actor Gerry acted in many Konkani plays.\u00a0 His lead role as ‘Jesus’ for record breaking 16 times in ‘Somiyaso Pashanv” (Passion) staged by Konkani Natak Sabha, Mangalore in 1984 is\u00a0 remembered by many even today.<\/p>\n
Apart from composing, as a singer he has also performed in Wilfy Nites, Jerome Nite, Henry Nite, Claud Nite and\u00a0 & Melwyn Peres Nite.<\/p>\n
DOWN THE MEMORY LANE \u2013 MCCP Reflections
\nIt is the result of active role played by Gerry and other like minded people in the formation and nurturing of MCCP in the year 1992, the present generation is able to avail of the community services and facilities extended by the institution.\u00a0 Like any organization, they too had their share of problems and challenges in early days of MCCP.\u00a0 It was not a smooth sailing.\u00a0 Those hardships and sacrifices by the founder members in early days of MCCP can never be substituted by mere words.\u00a0 Since then, MCCP has moved from strength to strength winning laurels and goodwill of Mangaloreans in the Sultanate of Oman.\u00a0 Gerry\u2019s active role in organising and anchoring numerous programmes and events – showcasing the richness and diversity of Mangalore and Konkani culture has left a deep-rooted impression in the hearts and minds of MCCP members.<\/p>\n
Gerry was one of the key persons who triggered highly cherished Monti Fest celebration in Oman back in 1988 and led Monti-Fest celebration committee for 16 long years until his departure from Oman in 2006.<\/p>\n
Besides MCCP, he is also one of the founder members of Borpi Mithr \u2013 Muscat.\u00a0 His interest in journalism has motivated him to focus on many issues of common interest.\u00a0 He has served as Vice President in the Parish Council of Sts. Peter and Paul Church \u2013 Ruwi, Muscat and was the first Mangalorean to shoulder this responsibility in the history of Ruwi Parish.<\/p>\n
\u00a0DAIJIWORLD & Do…..Re……Me….Fa…. column Recently he has won the prestigious Dr.T.M.A. Pai Konkani Book Appreciation Award for his book “Do..Re..Me..Fa.. Vollke Gronth- Poilo Bhaag” and that is another shining feather on Gerry’s cap.\u00a0\u00a0 Whatever his literary achievements are\u2026 he humbly submits the entire credit to his “Literary-Guru” Clarence Pinto Kaikamba for all his encouragement, direction and support.<\/p>\n CANADA \u2013 the Global Destination He has been covering socially relevant issues, events, reviews and interviews for DAIJIWORLD and other media channels.<\/p>\n AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS FAMILY MAN On this occasion we at MCCP aired a few questions at him and following are the excerpts of that conversation:<\/p>\n Q: As one of the founder members of MCCP you nurtured the growth of MCCP and this year the MCCP is turning 20.\u00a0 Celebrations are underway to mark the event.\u00a0 What are your feelings on this happy occasion?\u00a0 How do you consider the overall growth of MCCP over the years?<\/p>\n A :\u00a0 I am so thrilled and excited to know that ‘my baby’ MCCP is turning 20 this year.\u00a0 Undoubtedly, MCCP is a great gift from God not only for Mangaloreans in Oman but also for the entire Konkani World at large.\u00a0 The service that MCCP rendered for the community in the past two decades is immeasurable.\u00a0 In spite of experiencing ups and downs during its journey, MCCP has shown steady growth year after year and the greatest beauty of MCCP is – it has remained as “ONE”!\u00a0 I congratulate and salute all the past Presidents and the respective committee members for their unassuming sacrifice and dedication in placing MCCP on strong foundation that we all experience today.\u00a0 In a very special way I highly commend the immense service through their leadership rendered by the incumbent president Stanley Fernandes (chairman for 1 term & 2 terms as president), Oswald Soares (chairman for 1 term & 2 terms as president), Henry Martis (3 terms as President) and Donald\/Eula Pinto. Personally over the years being actively involved in various associations in India, Oman and now in Canada without any hesitation, I consider MCCP as one of the best associations in the world and proudly say “Saare Jahan se achchaa.. MCCP hamaraa”!<\/p>\n \nQ: Good times bring happiness and bad times bring experience.\u00a0 Having said that what all challenges you had to face during early days of MCCP?<\/p>\n A: Ups and downs are the integral part of everyone’s life and MCCP is not an exception.\u00a0 Year after year the appointed Executive Committee wanted to give their best to the members and finally it became a sort of competition in organizing events for the year.\u00a0 Shouldering responsibility as an E.C. member became very challenging and members were reluctant to serve in the E.C.\u00a0 As a result, the year 2005 – 2006 became an ‘eclipse year’ in the history of MCCP without having appointed E.C. to run the association.\u00a0 Hats off to the ‘super-heroes’ of MCCP – Clarence Pinto and Suraj Rebello, for their great leadership in placing MCCP back on the track in 2006.\u00a0 Today, it’s truly a great honour to the entire Konkani Diaspora residing in Oman that MCCP is being rated as one of the best 25 Konkani Associations in the world and was honored by the Hon. President of India during Konkani World Cultural Convention held in Mangalore recently.<\/p>\n Q: Your love for our mother tongue Konkani, Konkani Music and Konkan culture motivated you to refine your God gifted talents and made multifaceted personality. You have grown in stature over the years as poet, author, singer, stage actor, songwriter and composer.\u00a0 What is the future of Konkani according to you?\u00a0 Will our younger generation pay enough attention for its promotion and development?<\/p>\n A:\u00a0 It\u2019s truly a bitter truth.\u00a0 Today\u2019s generation prefers Western culture and modernized music. Any talent is fine as long as it is rooted in our language culture.\u00a0 The present generation is more comfortable speaking in English rather than Konkani. Also it depends on how the parents teach their children about the Konkani language and culture. People who have gone to the Gulf have kept the Konkani culture more alive than in other places. This gives a greater fulfilment to the Konkani artistes. The youth are losing interest in Konkani language, art and culture because they are attracted to other entertainment such as English\/western music, Internet, T.V. etc\u2026<\/p>\n Q; You are known for inimitable emceeing skills.\u00a0 What is the secret of this special talent and how to master this skill?<\/p>\n A:\u00a0 I praise and thank God for the gift of speech (gift of the gab).\u00a0 When I was a kid I used to attend Wilfy Nites and apart from Wilfy’s songs I really used to enjoy amazing emceeing by late Mick-Max whom I consider as my ‘Emcee-Guru’.\u00a0 It was my ambition to become an emcee like him one day.\u00a0 I never dreamt that one day I would become a co-founder of a great Konkani association like MCCP together with a highly talented personality like Mick-Max.\u00a0 I cannot forget one of the happiest days of my life when Mick-Max patted my back and congratulated me for my emceeing for one of the MCCP programs back in 1992.<\/p>\n Q: What message that you want to convey to all MCCP members in particular and other fellow Mangaloreans in general?<\/p>\n A:\u00a0 I wish to congratulate each one of you on the 20th Anniversary of MCCP.\u00a0 May this association remain as a beacon of hope for the Konkani community in Oman and especially for the younger generation.\u00a0 I strongly urge all the MCCP members to serve in the E.C. at least once in their lifetime. Thank you guys for remembering me, and for this unique opportunity to convey my message to my beloved MCCP members.\u00a0\u00a0 Once again mabrook!\u00a0\u00a0 May God Bless you all!\u00a0 Long live MCCP!<\/p>\n We at MCCP would like to take this opportunity to wish Gerry D’Mello and his family both personal and professional prosperity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IN THE PAST LANES –\u00a0GERRY D\u2019MELLO BENDUR – Multifaceted Personality By Antony D’Cunha Shakespeare said \u201cAll the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages\u201d. The MCCP (Mangalorean Catholic Centre of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":14427,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1344","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P51fX8-lG","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":808,"url":"https:\/\/www.mccpoman.com\/web\/about-us\/past-presidents\/","url_meta":{"origin":1344,"position":0},"title":"Past Presidents","author":"admin","date":"March 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"01 Robert Coutino 1992 - 1993 02 Oswald Soares 1993 - 1994 03 Walter Monteiro 1994 \u2013 1995 04 Brian Nazareth 1995 \u2013 1996 05 Henry G. Martis 1996 \u2013 1997 06 Oswald Soares 1997 \u2013 1998 07 Stanley T. H. 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\nHis love for Konkani Music has motivated him to author the column Do…..Re……Me….Fa…. in DAIJIWORLD.\u00a0 All the prominent Konkani Music stalwarts have featured in his column.\u00a0\u00a0 The list of people featured in the column goes like this (late) Mick-Max, Fr. Charles Vas, Claud D\u2019Souza, Wilson Olivera, Henry D\u2019Souza, Eric Ozario, Apolinaris D’Souza, Alwyn Fernandes, Adrian Gomes, (late) Wilfy Rebimbus, Fr. W. Albuquerque, Oswald D\u2019Souza, Melwyn Peris, (late) Bennet Pinto, Victor Concesso, Joel Periera, Lawrence D’Souza, Prof. Alban Castelino, Harry D\u2019Souza, Goa’s Melody Queen Lorna, (late) J.B. Rasquinha, Maxim Periera, (late) Simon Rasquinha, (late) Joachim Periera, (late) Alfred Rose, Fr. Denis D\u2019Sa, (late) Fr. J S T Rodrigues, Joswin Pinto, Norbert Periera, Walter Pais, Mike Simon, Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Melwyn Rodrigues, (late)\u00a0 Jerome D\u2019Souza, Michael Machado, Fr. Jerry D\u2019Souza, (late) Patrick Carlo, Fr. Jerry Sequeira, (late) Sippa Mistry \u2013 Cyprian Pinto, (late) Saturnine Moras, (late) Denis Peris, Prem Kumar, Ivan Sequeira, Rony D\u2019Cunha, etc.\u00a0 Through this medium he has managed to convey the world about the greatness of our native talents and their dedication & sacrifices for Konkani Music.<\/p>\n
\nLike any ambitious professional of our time, Gerry D\u2019Mello Bendur, too had a dream of making it to the global destination \u2013 CANADA. So in the year 2006 along with his family he set his journey to\u00a0 his dream land and relocated to Canada.\u00a0 After the initial settling down struggles, his love for homeland motivated him to start Konkani Writers\u2019 Forum \u2013 Konkani Sangathi, in Canada, the first-ever in North America.\u00a0 The active participation in recently held Henry Nite, Melwyn Peris Nite, Claud Nite in Canada speaks volume about Gerry\u2019s talents, skills and capabilities.<\/p>\n
\nThe list covering some of the awards and recognitions conferred on Gerry:
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr.T.M.A. Pai Konkani Book Appreciation Award for his book “Do..Re..Me..Fa.. Vollke Gronth- Poilo Bhaag” received in March 2011.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Honoured by the United Youngsters during 248th Wilfy Nite held at Mangalore in October 2009.
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Honoured by Daaiz.com in 2006.
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Honoured by MCCP during its Decennial Celebration in 2001.<\/p>\n
\nHe is a family man. \u201cBehind every successful man is a woman\u201d.\u00a0 Gerry\u2019s charming wife Lucy has been his inspiration and support throughout his journey.\u00a0 They are blessed with talented children – three daughters Nishita, Nicole, Nerissa and son Nikhil.<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n