"Siolcars"
Siolim has produced many Doctors, Musicians, Sportspersons, Bishops, Priests, and other famous people.
Siolcars are probably, and rightly too, careful about their health. Even today it’s probably one of Goa’s few villages with more than a dozen doctors. Once upon a time, every one rushed to “Gauddo dotor” and (Late)Dr Zeferino de Souza. Patients from the surrounding villages still rush, particularly the elders, to the consulting room of Dr. Datta Ramnath Naik, despite the long queue waiting to be healed by him. Dr. Frank Pereira, Dr. Vinaik Chodankar, Dr. Bidhan C Das, Dr. Edna Pereira, Dr. Ramchandra Naik Bandorkar,Dr. Thaly, Dr. Donald D’Souza, Dr. Sachin Yeshwant Govekar, Dr. Belarmino Ribeiro, Dr. Geeta S Govekar, Dr. Anil Humraskar, Dr. Lalita Fernandes...you can go on listing Siolim’s popular physicians. Not forgetting veterinarian - Xavier Fernandes, of Gaunsavaddo.
Talk of priests and one is bound to be told about Bishop Leonard Monteiro, former Archbishop of Nagpur. Former Bishop of Belgaum, the Rt. Rev. Ignatius Lobo is from Gaunsavaddo; Of course,The present Bishop of Sindhudurg diocese, Rev. Allwyn Baretto is from Fernandes Vaddo, Siolim. Fr. Moreno D’Souza, the popular Jesuit who edits the Konkani monthly “Roti” too hails from Siolim as do Mgr Aires Fernandes, Fr. Walter Mathias, Fr Antonio Paulo Cyriaco, Fr. Cyriaco Fernandes, Fr. Damien Fernandes(MSFS),Fr. Matthew Fernandes, Fr. Francis Fernandes, Fr. Anthony Fernandes(MSFS), Fr. Bruno Rodrigues(MSFS), Fr. Archie Fernandes(MSFS),Fr. Vivian Lobo s.j., Fr. Ross, Frs. Francis & Xavier Pinto (C.Ss.R.), and lately, Fr. Valerian Carvalho(MSFS), Fr. Marcos(MSFS), etc.
Among sportspersons, hockey internationals Gregory, Olimpio, Edgar and Egbert Fernandes and international hockey referee Domnick J Fernandes have done India proud. Marie (Simoes) Mendonca captained the Indian hockey team, represented India at the first and 2nd Asian Games in Delhi and Manila respectively in athletics and in 1956 wore Indian colours at the Melbourne Olympics. At the national level, Eleuterio "Electro" Fernandes of Vaddy (played for Air India/Indian Airlines in the mid 1960s), Peter Fernandes (Vasco Sports Club), and star player Johnny Franco and goalkeeper Caetano Fernandes (both of Dempo), earned honours for Siolim.Famous footballer Maxie (Burmah Shell)hailed from Bamonvaddo, Siolim.
Music is an essential ingredient of Goa, and more so in Siolim. Relatives of Pinta Xapai (the grand old patriarch who died at the age of 114, in 1892) put up the statue of Beethoven in his courtyard in Gaunsavaddo. Inscriptions clearly identify the Brazil-born descendant who funded the project, as also the descendant who actually performed the inauguration. The rare landmark symbolises the love for the magical arts and music Siolcars are famed for.
Famous musician Remo Fernandes hails from Siolim, Fernandes Vaddo -(Guddem).
Another well-known musician was Late Joaozinho Carvalho "Johnson".The inimitable Johnson (Carvalho) of the Johnson & Jolly Boys ain’t no more to regale ballroom dancers, with his tuneful violin and mellifluous vocals. Johnson incidentally was also a renowned footballer in his younger days. Of course, the late Johnson’s son, Juvencio Carvalho, is still carrying on the musical tradition, at least training budding musicians.
Late Rosario “Tequila” Basil was a famous saxophonist, who played for avid diners at class hotels in Bombay and the Hindi film ensembles....
Writer-trumpeter Late Reginald Fernandes, played for Hal Green, Nelly Batliwalla and her orchestra. Known as ”Romansincho Patxai”, he has written a record number of Konkani novels, nearly 100. A musician of high repute, he has left behind several Konkani compositions, which are played still on All India Radio, one of the well-known ones being the melancholic "Adeus Korchea Vellar" sung by Allan Costa.
Late Antoninho de Souza was a music director and music recordist for Emissora De Goa & All India Radio, Panjim. The music and lyrics for the beautiful konkani duet, Rajan and Prema were written by him.
Well known satirist of yesteryear Cruz Noronha, popularly known as Cruz Jazzwala was also from Siolim.
Late Rev. Fr. Archiebald Fernandes (MSFS) founder of Bands "Greensleeves" well known in Bardez in the 1970s and also the founder of "The Cascades", a band that still exists to this day. "Fr. Archie" was an ace Saxophonist, He played the Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, as well as the Clarinet with ease. Besides Music, Fr. Archie was the Principal and Headmaster of St. Francis Xavier's High School, Siolim from 1972 - 1979. He also served as the Principal and Headmaster of St. Thomas Boys High School, Aldona from 1979–80 and 1982-87. He was instrumental in starting "Mothergoose Nursery" at Shaanwadi, Nagar Road, Pune, which now has grown into the full-fledged St. Francis de Sales High School.
Pascoal Fernandes is one of India's jazz legends. He moved to his hometown Siolim, Goa, after doing the jazz/nighclub circuit in Mumbai for over two decades.He currently sings and plays almost every night at some of the best venues for live music in Goa.
Fr. Valerian Carvalho(MSFS), presently at St. Francis Xavier's High School, also trains budding musicians besides playing his Violin.
Late Rt. Rev. Ignatius Lobo's famed brother, John Lobo, was from the first batch of Indian Police Service in 1948, who was the Director, Central Bureau of Intelligence.
Well-known cartoonist Alex Raphael Fernandes "Alexyz" and renowned fashion designer Savio Jon Fernandes are from Siolim.
One of Goa's most prominent tiatrist, Kid Boxer came from Siolim. Well-known Konkani stage actors Romaldo Desouza "Miss Cuticura" and Vintorinho Rodriguez "Victor Chevalier" also hailed from Siolim (Bamonvaddo) as did Late "Mini" Diogo.
Domnick Fernandes from Bamonvaddo, who returns to native Siolim on and off after retiring as a librarian of St Xavier’s College, Bombay, is virtually a walking encyclopaedia. In the same area lives, writer Dominic Mathews who has authored at least four inspirational books.
Late Chevalier Bruno Fernandes, MBE & Knight of St Silvester, lived in Marna Siolim. Architect Ralino J de Souza lives elsewhere and one would like to know more about Herman Raymond, who was a judge in Karachi once.
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