Read more
"Our son asked me news of the whole world" were my grandfather's words at the dinner table following an interview I had with him. He was 90 and I was 21. Over a period of five years prior, my paternal uncle, Riario Moniz, was inculcating in me the pride in the Moniz brand without my realizing it.
I was born with a special gene that makes me love and take pride in my family and their achievements, and for that matter any Goan who has excelled in the public office. I love my family and my Goan identity.
This book celebrates the heritage of the four families, specifically over the time period of our parents' generation and their antecedents. The families are the Moniz (a.k.a. Menkar) and the Menezes (a.k.a. Godd, my mother's side), both from Curtorim. On my wife Ethel's side, the Pereira family from Margao (her dad's) and the Menezes from Raia (her mum's).
It is the intention of the author to guide the family members spread worldwide and future generations to "know their roots." As a convenient one-stop reference, there are chapters which capture Goa's history, geography, migration of our ancestors the Saraswats, and social and cultural aspects of Goan village life, including our village cuisine.
About the author
Eufemiano (Emano) Moniz, in his early formative years in Goa, India, studied in Portuguese till 1963, age 16. He excelled in college and university board exams, the crowning achievement being awarded a gold medal in his final year of his Bachelor's of Engineering, U. of Bombay, in 1970. Emano migrated to Canada in 1971 and completed his M.Eng. in 1973 at Carleton University, Ottawa. The Canadian West came calling. After completing his MBA at U. of Alberta in 1985, Emano moved to Toronto.In his 48 years of working life, Emano has spent 23 years in the engineering environment and 25 years of a rewarding career as a Certified Financial Planner.In 1993 Emano embarked on a major career change to become a self-employed CFP. The 25-year period in the new profession was an ideal and rewarding way to retire, after guiding hundreds of families to do the same.Writing this book is Emano's contribution to future generations regarding their roots. He could not bear the thought that so much of the information he had been gathering about his family as a hobby would be lost when he is gone.
