Long standing dream fulfilled-Bellevision Media Network Office opened in Moodubelle

Report by Dr. Eugene DSouza
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 10 August 2010:  ‘A small step for man is a giant leap for mankind’, these were the words uttered by Neil Armstrong, the first human being to land on the moon in 1969. Similarly, a small step taken by some enterprising young men from Belle working and living in the United Arab Emirates, especially in Dubai nearly ten years ago in the form of an association of Belleites under the name of ‘Bellevision’ has grown into Bellevision Global with branches in various countries of the Gulf as well as in the United States and Canada. The website that was also launched a little later gradually grew in stature and its long standing dream of having its own media office got fulfilled on Tuesday, 10 August 2010, the feast day of St. Lawrence, the patron saint of Moodubelle parish when the media office of Bellevision Media Network was blessed at 3.30 pm and a formal inaugural function was held in St. Lawrence Parish Hall at 4.15 pm.

At 3.30 pm the newly furnished and flower decked Media Office of Bellevision Media Network, the premises donated by a great admirer of Bellevision, Victor D’Almeida of Moodubelle working and residing in Bahrain was blessed by Fr. Joswey Fernandes, parish priest of Moodubelle along with Fr. Paul Sequeira and Fr. Lancy Saldanha. 

A formal function inaugurating the Bellevision Media Network Office was held in the parish hall at 4.15 pm. Fr. Joswey Fernandes presided over the function. Gerald Fernandes, president of the Social Justice Committee, Udupi Zilla Panchayat was the chief guest. The other guests of honour on the dais included, Devdas Hebbar, member of the Belle Grama Panchayat, Valerian Alva, President of Bellevision (UAE), Mr. Wilfred Menezes, the second president of Bellevision (UAE) and Sigfred D’Souza, the Web-master of Bellevision.com.  Ivan Menezes, who had just arrived from Dubai conducted the programme in an excellent manner.

Prior to the beginning of the formal inaugural programme, the guests and audience stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect  to late Gregory Alva, father of Valerian Alva and late Louis D’Sa, popular teacher who had passed away few days earlier.

The inaugural programme began with Brenda Martis rendering the prayer song.  Joshvita Mathais presented the welcome dance. Thereafter, Valerian Alva accompanied the guests to the dais and welcomed them by presenting bouquets of flowers. The symbolical formal inauguration of the media office of Bellevision Media Network was done by lighting the lamp by Fr. Joswey Fernandes followed by other guests on the dais. 

Wilfred Menezes, who has been associated with Bellevision right from its inception and was its second president, narrated the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Bellevision (UAE) and Bellevision.com, the website and traced its growth. He pointed out the struggle that they had to put up, especially, Elias D’Souza, Ronald Sabi D’Souza, Sigfred D’Souza who were instrumental in starting the website and himself to keep the website running. He expressed his happiness that their efforts have been successful and today Bellevision Media Network succeeded in having its own office due to the generosity of Victor D’Almeida who provided the space of his shop free of rent to be used as the media office by the Bellevision Media Network.

Speaking as the chief guest of the function, Gerald Fernandes spoke highly about the work that is being done by Bellevision Media Network   by reporting with pictures the various events, programmes and happening from and around Belle. He specially made a mention of the report of the 22 wards of the parish that was published in Bellevision as part of the journey of St. Lawrence through these wards. He wished Bellevision a better future.

Fr. Joswey Fernandes honoured Victor D’Almeida by offering him a flower bouquet on behalf of Bellevision for his generosity in granting his premises rent-free to be used as the media office for Bellevision Media Network. Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Anil Alva and Prakash Katapadi were felicitated for their contribution in the growth of Bellevision Media Network. Valerian Alva honoured Commodore Jerome Castelino, the Charter President of the Lions Club of Moodubelle for sponsoring five plastic chairs and a table from the Lions Club. 

Devdas Hebbar in his address said that since few years he has been regularly accessing Bellevision and pointed out its special features especially in respect to reporting impartially the news related to the festivals of different communities. He appreciated the work  done by the entire Bellevision team in popularising the network, congratulated for having their own office  and wished them well in future endeavours.

Prakash Katapadi, the reporter of Vijaya Karnataka and also a contributor to Bellevision Media Network said that he is happy to be associated with the network and would help in expanding its base. Valerian Alva, president of Bellevision credited Elias D’Souza, Ronald Sabi, Wilfred Menezes and Sigfred D’Souza in sustaining the website Bellevision.com in spite of all the difficulties right from the beginning and expressed happiness at the growth of the Bellevision Media network and having its own media office in Moodubelle.

Fr. Joswey Fernandes in his presidential message greatly appreciated the work of Bellevision Media Network in connecting Belle with the outside world. He said that the various activities that are taking place in Belle especially in the parish such as the journey of St. Lawrence through 22 wards of the  Parish have reached throughout the world due to the efforts of Bellevision. He also congratulated Bellevision on getting its own media office and wished well to the network.

Fr. Joswey Fernandes offered bouquets  to Brenda Martis for the prayer song, Bradley, president of the ICYM for the arrangements in the hall and Joshvita Mathais for presenting the welcome dance and Mrs. Helen D’Souza for her help during the programme.

Dr. Eugene D’Souza, the Media Coordinator of Bellevision proposed the vote of thanks.