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WEEKEND UPDATES

Feb 14- Feb 20, 2026, WEEKEND UPDATES February 13, 2026 , by

VALENTINE DAY TWIST

GOA is understandably the top destination to spend a Valentine’s day or weekend. The unique proposition is Valentine’s day on the sands with shacks and even 5-stars offering  colorful cabanas right near the waves on the beachside. A women’s group is promoting bonding among women in what is historically a couple-centric festival. Florists reveal that even children buy roses to give their parents on Valentine’s Day. The late Vincent Ramos used to organize a Rose Day for Taj Exotica employees. A rose seller would offer roses for sale to guys to present to women staffers. The women employee who got the largest number of roses was declared the rose queen. A restaurant in north Goa called Paws is offering a pet-friendly Valentine’s Day with a buffet for man’s best friend along with its owners of course who pay the bill.

MARGINALIZED AND MINORITY

THE focus of the ongoing Lit Fest (GALF) is on the minorities and marginalized this year.  A Delhi-based Muslim writer Dr Rakhshanda Jalil  spoke about how Muslims in India are now living in fear. She noted how Uttar Pradesh  Chief Minister Adityanath  was actively promoting the Muslim hate narrative. However, she did not name the chief minister. Again, a writer from the northeast Dr Easterine Kire insisted that though the people of the northeast looked very different, they were very much part of the India story. She urged north-easterners to assert their identity within the framework of India.

GOA EMPOWERS WOMEN

 ROCHELLE Pinto, content editor of the Indian edition of Vogue, has reiterated that Goa is one of the few states in the country which has empowered women. Women in Goa did not have to fight for their own space. Describing her journey at a talk as part of the centenary  celebrations of the Gaspar Dias Club at Miramar beach in Panjim,  she  claimed that journalists were like the vultures. They see the carcass and try to re-build the entire body of facts around it. Rochelle is the daughter of Allen Pinto, among the best known MCs in Goa. Like other bright minds she too had interred at the Goan Observer before moving on greener pastures in Mumbai.

BETRAYAL OF ROMI KONKANI

RADHARAO GRACIAS, former  MLA and lawyer activist, released a book on the betrayal of Romi Konkani, it is authored by acclaimed tiatrist Tomasin Cardozo. Tomasin, who is one of the heroes of the Konkani agitation in the 80s, is bitterly disappointed that when Konkani in the Devanagiri script was made the official language of Goa in 1987, Romi Konkani was left behind.

It was pressure from the Marathi lobby within the then Pratapsingh Rane government and the Opposition Maharashtrawadi Party led by Ramakant Khalap, which led to the betrayal of Romi Konkani, and the choice of Konkani in the Devanagiri script was declared as the official script. We recall how Churchill Alemao & company had stormed into the office of the O’Heraldo which led the struggle for official language status for Konkani.  

RERA DOES NOT WORK

THE Supreme Court in a judgment on the real estate regulatory agency RERA has pointed out that the body was only helping defaulting builders. The court was hearing a petition filed against a builder for non-delivery and escalation in the prices of flats that had been paid for by hundreds of flat buyers. The SC opined that in its present form the RERA had failed to protect the interests of consumers and ought to be scrapped or re-constituted to make it more consumer friendly instead of builder friendly.          

MATHIAS PANAJI RUN ON MARCH 1  

Mathias Panaji Run 2026 announcement…(L to R) Ann Mariola Mathias (title sponsor), Rtn Joe Mathias (title sponsor), Rtn Gauresh Nayak (president Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town), Rtn Gajanan Karkare (secretary), Ann Sheetal Pai Kane (event coordinator) and Rtn Sunil Pai Kane (project director).

THE message of health and fitness is percolating down in Goa. The Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town is organizing the Mathias Panaji Run 2026 on Sunday, March 1, 2026. It kicks off from the SAG Sports Complex, Campal in Panaji with the flag off time being 6.30am. The event features a 10 km timed run with winners across all categories, a 5km fun run/walk with attractive prizes for participants of all age groups, and a special 1km walk involving NAB Goa students and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to promote all round inclusivity through sports. Cash prizes worth Rs1 lakh to be won, and this year’s theme is “Live Life in Colour.”

Speaking to media people on February 10, Mariola and Joe Mathias said that the Mathias Group of Companies would like health and wellness to be the spirit of Goa and in sponsoring this event they would like to see “unity of cultures.”  Joe, who himself has a health story to tell, said he was proud to be a sponsor. This is the second edition and he hoped there would be me more participants this year and many records would be broken.

Others who spoke included Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town Gauresh Nayak, secretary Gajanan Karkare, Ann Sheetal Pai Kane (event coordinator and Rtn Sunil Pai Kane (project director). Participant fees for the runs are Rs900 for the 10 km and Rs600 for the 5 km, the 1 km run/walk is free and all interested may register and participate. The event is a fundraiser for the social activities of the Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town, this includes initiatives focusing on education, healthcare, disability support, sanitation and medical aid… through projects like Saksharta, Sudharta, Sahayata, Swachhata and Sanjeevani the club aims to improve the quality of life of people. The projects have had a lasting impact since 1998.

(Pic caption: Mathias Panaji Run 2026 announcement…(L to R) Ann Mariola Mathias (title sponsor), Rtn Joe Mathias (title sponsor), Rtn GaureshNayak (president Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town),  Rtn Gajanan Karkare (secretary), Ann Sheetal Pai Kane (event coordinator) and Rtn Sunil Pai Kane (project director).)

MAHI, A PREVENTIVE HEALTH PLATFORM

MANIPAL Hospital Goa introduced “Mahi” – a next-generation preventive health and wellness platform on February 11, 2026. This is a new-age retail-oriented preventive health and wellness platform designed to make proactive healthcare simple, accessible and personalized. The platform was launched by Dr Maya Pai Dhungat (consultant, internal medicine, physician at the hospital). Dr Dhungat with expertise in general and internal medicine led the launch in the presence of Surendra Prasad (hospital director), Gauri Naik (marketing),  Dr Sheren Bhat (medical superintendent), Dr Pratima Bahadoria, Subhash Nayak (engineering & maintenance), Delina Figueiredo (human resource), Anita (nursing) and Jince Jose (finance) along with hospital staff and patients.

The preventive healthcare market in India is projected to exceed Rs16,000 crore by 2026 at a CAGR of over 22% and the health check-up segment expected to cross Rs10,000 crore by 2030. The demand for early screening and regular health monitoring continues.  

At the launch of mahi, Surendra Prasad shared, “Preventive healthcare is the cornerstone of long-term wellbeing. Early diagnosis and regular health assessments play a critical role in reducing the impact of chronic illnesses. Through mahi, we aim to empower people to take a proactive approach to their health, enabling informed decisions and encouraging preventive care as in integral part of daily life.”

It is hoped that by combining digital convenience, carefully designed health packages and trusted clinical expertise, mahi will be a positive lifestyle choice – helping individuals stay informed, engaged and healthier in the long run. Check it out if you wish.

RECOGNITION  FOR PHILATALIST DR RAMESH KUMAR

IT IS heartwarming news for retired NIO chief  scientist  Dr Ramesh Kumar, philatelist extraordinary. He tells us he is humbled and honored to receive the Life Membership (Honorary and Non-Resident) of the Washington Stamp Collectors Club (WSCC), Washington DC, USA. This is in recognition of his efforts towards popularizing philately among the public.

This is a distinction we can vouch for in Goa. Over the years the genial Dr Ramesh Kumar has spread awareness about philately through sustained contributions by way of exhibitions, lectures and research activities, presenting his large collection of postage stamps as effective tools for education, culture, science and heritage awareness.

The new honor reflects international appreciation and serves as an encouragement to him to continue being engaged with the hobby of philately as a meaningful, engaging hobby, across generations.  So this is to say  congratulations Dr Ramesh and to wish him many more years to spread his love for philately. Although we may rue the fact that as a civilization we have given up writing letters more or less! Perhaps one of these days letter writing and posting will return and so will stamps. Make it possible!

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