ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016

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Jan 1, 2017

Friday Forum elocution contest: Friday Forum is organizing its 11th Inter School Elocution Competition and aiming to bring forth the smartest to show their public speaking skills, on Jan 1, 2017 at Hotel Rajadhani Pal-ace, Khaitan from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. Students from all Indian schools in Kuwait shall be participating in Junior and Senior categories. The topic for juniors is “Islam and environ-mental protection” and for seniors is “Maintaining communal harmony — a believer’s responsibility”. The event will be attended by dignitaries from various socio-cultural arena, parents and teachers as well. For registra-tion and more details you may please contact your school directly or contact us on 5079 6776 or 9402 9024.

Jan 5

KDNA Xmas, New Year: KDNA Women’s Forum launching Christmas New Year celebration will be held on Thursday, Jan 5, 2017 at Fahaheel Galaxy Auditorium, near Remal Mall behind Grand Hyper.

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Mavelikara new leadership: Mavelikara association Kuwait held the general body meeting on Friday, Dec 16 at the Rhythm Auditorium. The main agenda of the meeting was the election of new offi ce bearers for the year 2017. The meeting was

President Binoy Chandran stated that this fi nancial year,association will focus more on Charity, Social, Art and Cultural activities and requested full cooperation from all the members for these activities.

Jan 7

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017: 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is being organized from Jan 7-9, 2017 at Bangalore Interna-tional Exhibition Centre (BIEC) Kar-nataka. Highlights of PBD 2017 are:

(i) PBD 2017 will focus on the theme “Redefi ning the engagement with the Indian Diaspora”.

(ii) To strengthen Diaspora engage-ment and provide a platform for networking with the Diaspora.

(iii) To recognize the Diaspora’s contribution to India and know their expectations and concerns.

(iv) To deepen engagement with young Diasporas, to help them know more about their roots.

The PBD Convention features Ple-nary Sessions; an Exhibition; Cultural programmes and provides an oppor-tunity to interact with other Overseas Indians, Policy makers, Political leadership and others. The highlight of the PBD convention is the inaugu-ral address by the Prime Minister. Chief Ministers of several states also participate and address the delegates on opportunities available in their respective states. The last day of PBD features the valedictory address by the Hon’ble President of India, who will also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on Overseas Indian for their achievements and contribu-tion both in India and abroad.

The Youth PBD is a new feature which has been introduced recently. It is a special day long programme which provides a platform to connect with Young Overseas Indians and discuss subjects of relevance to them. The Young PBD delegates will also have the opportunity to interact with other Young PIOs and Young Indians of their own age group. The highlight of the Youth PBD is the inaugural

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Pinoy Arabia FM holds Christmas party

Callego bags Sing Galing Karoling 2 grand prizeBy Michelle Fe Santiago

Arab Times Staff

Armed with her powerful yet mellif-luous voice, Sheena Marie Callego

won the hearts of the judges and the audience with her rendition of “O Holy Night” and bagged the grand prize in the “Sing Galing Karoling 2, ”a Christ-mas Carol Singing competition held on Thursday at the Inn & Go Kuwait Plaza Hotel, organised by Pinoy Arabia FM, an Internet-based, community service radio station catering to the Filipinos in Kuwait, the Middle East.

Callego bested 30 other finalists and got a 100% from the board of judges composed of Haley Elizabeth Davis, Manoj Jacob and Jennifer Uy. Trailing behind Callego was Icy Mijares who won first runner-up with her R&B version of “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas while Jez Reel Perucho crooned a soulful rendition of “Grown up Christmas List ” placed second runner-up. Other winners were Ivan Or-tiz (third runner-up) and Richard Suico (fourth runner-up) who sang “All I want for Christmas is You” and “White Christmas” respectively.

The finalists were judged based on

the following criteria: Voice Quality( tonality, appropriateness to genre and technique) - 40% style and musicality (rendition qualities, timing, choreogra-phy, delivery and interpretation)- 30% MASTERY (clarity of the lyrics, message and values of the piece) -15% OVER-ALL APPEAL (stage appeal, audience impact and costume)-15%.

Fabulous prizes were awarded to the top three winners during the grand finals such as cash prizes, gift vouch-ers and trophies while a round trip ticket to Manila courtesy of Al Rashed International Travel Co represented by Jomelyn Dela Fuente was handed to Callego. The other runners-up also got some gift vouchers. Meanwhile, the People Choice Award went to Racial Astilla who had the highest number of video shares on Facebook and she got a round trip ticket to Manila courtesy of Bobyan Travels & Tourism represented by Marck Caezar Galema.

Spotted during the event were Philip-pine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa, Vice Consul Charleson Hermosura, Max’s Restaurant Op-erations Manager Mohammad Ismail, Coco Cinco of LBC, Philippine Airlines Sales Manager Hussam Farid and other

distinguished guests.“We would like to congratulate Pinoy

Arabia FM for organising such a won-derful event bringing Christmas cheers to Filipinos in Kuwait. We would also like to thank Pinoy Arabia FM for helping the embassy in disseminating important information and for support-ing us in all our programs,” stated Villa.

The finalists were Armstrong John Ong Jocson, Joan E Robin, Sheena Marie S Callego, Mary Ann Oriendo, Ivan Ortiz, Ezael Mar Jandusay, Jerome Hantoc, Andy Cabalquinto, Red Dela Cruz, Jez Reel Perucho, King Frederick Balila, Ruth Aguillo, John Romel Va-lencia, Ice Mijares, Edgar Max, Arnold Evaristo, John Rae Lantican, Julie Medina Sevilla, Rye Quiroz Pujante, Jade Manguera, Racial Astilla, Lester Salmo, Nicky Camacho, Marisol Untal, Tron Hechanova, Mark Marquez, Erick Crizaldo, Mary Joyce Salamat, April Ann Calvara, Rîchärd Suico, Avelino Domingo and Arlene Frak. Infusing entertainment during the intermission were the One Groove Dance Crew, The Force Be With You Dance Group, Shaiman Khuraibet and Sing Galing Duo Champ Joanna Slayton and Carlo Delfinado.

Pinoy Arabia FM would like to thank Al Rashed International Travel Company, Abdulkader Mollah/M & M Placement International Inc, Max’s Restaurant, LBC, Bobyan Travels & Tourism, Anton Perez , Sharifa Ibrahim, Mario’s Restaurant and Ali Abbas Karam Recruitment Agency/Mothers Way Overseas Manpower Specialist Corp for sponsoring the event.

Pinoy Arabia FM now on its second year continues to sizzle and conquer the airwaves with its new programme offering to its listeners. Broadcasting live from the Marina FM studio in Marina Mall, Kuwait, Pinoy Arabia FM, since its launch on October 30, 2014 has gener-ated a sensational following and a great number of listeners not only in Kuwait but in the GCC countries and beyond. The Pinoy Arabia FM team is composed of Maxxy Santiago, Ben Garcia, Randy Mendoza, DJ Darling Dude, DJ Red, DJ Spark, DJ Raymund and DJ Mika.

To those who want to listen to feel-good music, they can simply download the free mobile app from their mobile phone. For Iphone and Android users they just have to search for Pinoy Ara-bia FM from the App store or Google Play Store and download it for free.

presided over by the president Binoy Chandran, General Secretary Biju Kandyoor presented the annual report, while the treasurer Pramod Chellapan presented the fi nancial report of the year 2016 respectively.

The new offi ce bearers were elected unanimously among the members of association election procedures for the year 2017 were controlled by Sunny Pathichira, Patron Mavelikara association.

New offi ce bearers are President Binoy Chandran, Vice-President Mrs Pournami Sangeeth, General Secretary Ninan John, Joint Secretary Mathew Philip, Treasurer Sabu Mavelikara,

Joint Treasurer Girish Kumar, Arts and Cultural secretary Philip C.V. Thomas,Auditor Jerry John and 35

Executive Members were elected.Dhanya Lekshmi as Chairperson

and Tiji Mathew as General Secretary

for ladies wing.Association Nominateed AI Kurian

as Advisory Board Member.

Philippine Ambassador Renato Pedro Villa awards Abdulkader

Mollah.

Fourth runner-up Richard Suico (extreme right) The One Groove Dance Crew Max’s Operations Manager Moham-mad Ismail receives plaque from Ambassador Renato Pedro Villa.

Jomely Dela Fuente & Vice Consul Hermosura awards grand prize winner Sheena Marie Callego.

Marck Caezar Galema awards People’s Choice Award Racial Astilla.

Third runner-up Ivan Ortiz

First runner-up Ice Mijares

Second runner-up winner Jez Reel Perucho (third from left).

Pinoy Arabia FM DJs with Vice Consul Charleson Hermosura, participants, sponsors and guests.

Continued on Page 25Ninan Tiji SabuDhanya Binoy Pournami