Belino Afonso seen in the picture above - centre in the second row.
Where Esperanto failed, the language of music thru Solfas succeeded. A Goan musician and a singer with a silky attractive voice from Assolna, Salcette, born and brought up in his village Assolna created a dent in USA and other parts of the world not thru his mother tongue Konkani or Portuguese or English or Spanish or Hindi in which he was well conversant but it is thru the language of music. This great Goan was none other than Belino Afonso who is currently residing in USA at Philadelphia with his wife and three children, 2 girls and one boy. He is settled down in the USA since last 10 years, earlier he was working in Kuwait for about 15 years in a very reputed company holding a supervisory post.
Before coming to Kuwait where he acquired name and fame in musical art among all the nationalities, Belino was engaged by the then Goan musical Band, Radio Serenaders as a crooner, crooning in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Konkani, this Band was the best in Goa during those days just like that of Johnson and his Jolly Boys. Later on he shifted his base to Delhi in the same capacity as well as a musician playing Doublebass in one of the topmost hotels in the capital. Then he came to Kuwait to work where he was very successful in his job.
While in Kuwait during his spare time he started devoting his time for promoting his musical talent by joining Choir Group where he was the leader of Philippinos Choir at Ahmadi Church and simultaneously joining a multinational musical group known as KUWAIT SINGERS. Since he was married to a lovely Phillipine girl who was also holding a top job in the Ministry of Health, Kuwait, Bellino's contacts with the musically conscious Phillipinos community increased tremendously. Phillipinos are very good musicians, most of them know Solfas to read and write and Bellino was a perfect match for them. He was the member of Phlillipino Opera group in Kuwait where he performed and participated in their Operas and Concerts.
While in Kuwait Bellino performed extremely well as a singer (1st tenor) in KUWAIT SINGERS group. I had the previllege to attend the Concerts and Operas where Belino performed. During his 13 years of association with this group he was the only Goan, only Indian and if I am not mistaken only Asian to sing along with other members who all hailed from the West and having extremely high calibre in this field.
Then Belino migrated to USA along with his family and joined different groups there as a singer including Church Choirs. While on his way to USA he stopped at Lisbon in Portugal to meet his elder brother a top Portuguese diplomat who served in many of the Portuguese Missions in the World as Portuguese Consul including in Iraq. During this time he entered the Church in Lisbon for the Mass on 3rd December where to his surprise he found Portuguese people in the Church
at the end of the Mass singing a Konkani Hym "SANT FRANCIS XAVIERA, VHODDA KUNVRA etc". They were all singing by reading from the leaflet but when Belino joined them singing byheart, everyone in the Church next to Belino were surprised to see him singing so beautifuy with Goan accent Konkani. Then one of the Paklos softly asked Belino, "GOESA?".
Tomorrow will be the feast of St. Francis Xavier, let us all Goans who adore Goemcho Saib, sing the hym "St. Francis Xaviera ..." in "vhodde umedin ani bokhtiponan".
Currently and since last so many years Belino is engaged as a singer with world renown choral group "PHILADELPHIA BOYS CHOIR AND CHORAL". With this group every year Belino travels almost all over the world to perform. Renowned for its commanding musicianship, intelligence and interpretive abilities, Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale has cultivated and devoted for their highly acclaimed concerts and recitals. For the last 4 years their concerts have been Televised Live on ABC "Good Morning America".
Founded in 1968, its achievements include world tours with performances for heads of state, recordings with internationally renowned orchestras and praise from critics and audiences worldwide. PBCC continues to break through the most rigid social, political and cultural barriers as AMERICA'S AMBASSADORS OF SONG, unless otherwise, and as always Belino said speaking to this writer, "I shall enjoy singing with the group for many years to come".
As a reputed Goan coming from reputed family background with excellent character and wonderful family discipline, Belino Afonso makes thru his musical art every Goan proud, as I am.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
