Over 150 guests recently gathered inside the dining room of the President's Palace in Valletta for the official inauguration by President Guido de Marco of a photographic portrait exhibition of Maltese personalities entitled The Maltese.

Tony S. Mangion, who runs Mangion Studio of Photography, and who is no newcomer to the photographic scene, was the mastermind of the exhibition.

He has captured on film an array of Maltese personalities from different walks of life but who in some way or another have given a sterling contribution in various aspects of national life, political, social or cultural.

Various photographs of local personalities were exhibited in the portrait collection on display. Among these personalities are Professor de Marco; Sir Anthony Mamo, Malta's first President; Vincent Apap, sculptor; Giovanni Bonello, judge, human rights expert, author and historian; Charles Clews, comedian and journalist; and Dom Mintoff, former Prime Minister, and various other personalities.

President de Marco, in describing Mr Mangion's achievements, said that it was not given to many to discover the beauty of art. Tony Mangion has discovered art through photography.

Professor de Marco added that thanks to Mr Mangion's unique photographic skills, the photographer tried to ensure not just the photographic reproduction of individuals, but through light and colour, brought out their character. Every portrait had its history, every person carried a message. These portraits struck us in different ways.

With specific reference to the setting up of a national portrait gallery, the President said, in the commemorative book's foreword, that he had been for some time advancing the need for Malta to have a national portrait gallery; to live through the portraits of individuals the political and social history of our country.

"We have failed so far to give to succeeding generations the cult and understanding of the builders of our nation. The collective memory of our people realises itself in such a national gallery, which in my view should extend itself to prominence as emerging in different aspects of our society, from the mayor to the musician, from the artisan to the artist, from poet to prelate. Tony Mangion in this photographic exhibition has shown initiative. Art has preceded politicians," Professor de Marco wrote.

In his opening address to the distinguished audience attending the inauguration of the exhibition, the president of the Malta Photograpic Society, Carmel H. Psaila, traced briefly the history of photography.

Back in 1839, Jacques Louis Daguerre announced the invention of his process which he had developed earlier with another Frenchman Nicephore Niepce and aptly called after him, the "daguerreo-type".

This process was introduced in Malta only a few years later by yet another Frenchman by the name of Horace Vernet. It is said that the first photo in Malta using this process was taken by Vernet when he was in quarantine in Lazzaretto Hospital near Manoel Island. Vernet ventured onto the nearby main square and took a photo of the statue of Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena which was standing there.

Another interesting connection with the President's Palace was a 360-degree panorama of the Maltese Islands, taken on ten plates from the Palace turret itself.

Mr Psaila also spoke of the need of a National Portrait Gallery. It would be a pity if such grand portraits would only end up between the four walls of some private sitting or dining room to be enjoyed and appreciated by so few to the exclusion of our coming generation, he said.

Mr Mangion had won the Award of Excellence in the Master Photographer of the Year Awards 2000 from over another 1,000 entries worldwide, an honour which he added to so many others he received throughout his career.

Diacono - Azzopardi

Married recently at Maria Regina parish church, Marsa, were Joanne Diacono, daughter of Mr and Mrs Joseph Diacono of Marsa, and Renald Azzopardi, son of Mr and Mrs Henry Azzopardi of Valletta.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr George Mercieca of Victoria, Gozo. Ms Moira Diacono and Mr Omar Xuereb witnessed the wedding ceremony.

The bride was attended by Charmaine Diacono and Dorienne Azzopardi as bridesmaids. Shazienne and Kelly Xuereb were flower-girls.

A wedding luncheon was later held at Fratelli Restaurant, Marsaxlokk.

Pulis - Schembri Wismayer

Svetlana Pulis, B.Sc, M.Phil, daughter of Mr and Mrs Tarcisio Pulis of Paola, and Dr Pierre Schembri Wismayer, MD, Ph.D, son of Dr and Mrs Schembri Wismayer of St Julian's, were married recently at Balluta parish church.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Rev Dr Paul Pace, SJ, Canon Mario Agius and Fr Crispin Tabone, OFM Cap.

Mr Victor Ellul, the bride's uncle, and Dr Jim Qiu, Ph.D, witnessed the wedding ceremony. Edward Schembri Wismayer, the groom's brother, was best man.

The bride, who wore an ivory French lace gown and veil and carried a bouquet of ivory roses, was attended by her cousin, Maria Bongailas, as bridesmaid. Jake Magro was pageboy. Emily Jane Garrett and Sophie Caruana, the groom's niece, were flower-girls.

A reception was later held at Palazzo Promontorio, Wardija.

The couple spent their honeymoon in Kenya and Tanzania.

Belli - Sammut

The marriage recently took place at St Gregory's parish church, Sliema, between Loredana Belli, daughter of Mr and Mrs Godwin Belli of Birkirkara, and Carmelo Sammut, son of Mr and Mrs Victor Sammut of Sliema.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Joe Camilleri, assisted by Fr Simon Sciberras. The ceremony was witnessed by Mr Stefan Belli and Mrs Dorothy Nagel.

The bride was attended by Daniela Sammut and Audrey Buttigieg as maids of honour. Maria Scerri and Noella Peresso were bridesmaids. Elenia Belli and Benjamin Grech were flower-girl and pageboy respectively.

A reception was later held at Torre Paulina, Madliena.

The couple spent their honeymoon in Singapore and Thailand.

Grech - Giugliano

Married recently at the Holy Cross Church, Zabbar, were Vanessa Grech, daughter of Mr and Mrs Leonard Grech of Zabbar, and Giuseppe Giugliano, son of Mr and Mrs Cono Giugliano of Salerno, Italy.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Joseph Sultana. The ceremony was witnessed by the bride's sister, Diane Grech, and Mr Andrew Grech. Mr Pierre Miceli was best man.

The bride who wore an ivory satin dress made specially for her in Spain, was attended by her best friend, Ms Karen Farrugia, as maid of honour.

A dinner was later held at the Golden Tulip Vivaldi Hotel in St Jullian's.

The couple will be taking up residence in Rome.

People

AARON CASHA, MD, M.Phil. (Sheffield), FRCS (Glasgow), FETCS, FRCS (Cardiothoracic), was recently awarded an M.Phil by the University of Sheffield by examination and thesis for his work entitled "Biomechanics of Sternotomy Wounds".

He has recently passed the specialist fellowship examination of the United Kingdom Intercollegiate Board of the Royal Colleges of Surgery (FRCS Cardiothoracic) and the European Board Examination in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (FETCS), which is recognised by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) as a specialist exit qualification in cardiac and thoracic surgery. He is currently working as a Year 6 Specialist Senior Registrar in cardiothoracic surgery in Leeds.

He is married to Dr Marilyn Casha née Gauci and they have a daughter, Hannah-Marie.

ANDREW CAMILLERI, BDS, MD, FDSRCS, FRCS, was successful in the most recent sitting of the Intercollegiate Speciality Board examination in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery held last month.

He will be awarded the FRCS (OMF) by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Mr Camilleri is currently working as a specialist registrar in oral and maxillofacial surgery on the West Anglia rotation in the UK and is due to be awarded a Certificate of Completed Specialist Training (CCST) in October 2003.

Mr Camilleri is the son of Dr and Mrs Anthony Camilleri of Sliema.

ING. LOUIS MONTEBELLO was recently awarded an M.Phil from the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands. The title of his thesis was "The validity of self-managed teams in the Maltese manufacturing environment".

Ing. Montebello graduated in Electrical Engineering from the University of Malta in 1993. He later continued his studies with the British University of Brunel and was awarded an M.Sc. in Advanced Manufacturing.

Ing. Montebello is also a recognised and certified arbitrator on the Malta Domestic Arbitration Panel. He is currently reading for his Ph.D. in Business Administration.

Ing. Montebello has been working with ST Microelectronics for the past nine years and currently holds the post of production and engineering manager.

He is married to Maria née Pace and has a three-year-old daughter, Gloria.

MICHELLE PULÈ recently obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Radiography (diagnostic) from Hertfordshire University in the UK.

Michelle, who lives in Chelmsford, Essex, is the daughter of Tony Pulè, a communications engineer, of Kalkara, and Catherine Pulè of Scotland.

PROFESSOR ALBERT CARUANA recently returned from Perth, Western Australia, where he was appointed Adjunct Professor of Marketing with the School of Marketing at Curtin University.

Dr Caruana has been a regular visitor as a Research Fellow with the School of Marketing since 1994. The visits have been instrumental in developing joint research projects that have resulted in papers in numerous scholarly journals.

Professor Caruana holds a Ph.D. in marketing from Henley Management College, Brunel University, and lectures at the Centre for Communication Technology at the University of Malta.

For your diary

The exhibition of the Little Sisters of the Poor, on the history and evolution of their mission and vocation towards the elderly, at the De Porres Hall, Sliema, closes today at 7 p.m.

An exhibition of sculptures, watercolours and oils by French artist Guy Lemesre is open today at Villa Tempra in Mgarr. The exhibition is in aid of the Malta Hospice Movement and is being opened by French Ambassador Didier Destremau and Mgarr mayor Paul Vella at 11.30 a.m. The public is invited.

The Malta Adlerian Psychology Association is holding its next meeting, a video forum with the title "She Said Yes", at Stella Maris College, Gzira, on Tuesday at 6.30 p.m. The session is also open to the public.

A day of recollection for former students of St Joseph School, Paola, and friends will be held on Thursday from 9.15 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. at St Joseph Prayer House, Rabat. The price of Lm5 includes lunch. Those wishing to attend are to call Sr Gemma on 2169-4085.

The Maltese Diabetes Association is organising its main annual fund-raising dinner at Villa Arrigo, San Pawl tat-Targa, on Friday at 8 p.m. The evening will consist of a five-course dinner, flowing wine and water and liqueurs. A live four-piece band will also be in attendance.

Tickets at Lm10 are available by calling 2138-8212 or 9942-9499. A bar offering a wide range of beverages and spirits at reduced prices will be available.

All those wishing to help the association are urged to attend this activity together with their family and friends.

The President and Mrs de Marco's engagements: October 21-27

Tomorrow
9.15 a.m. The President receives Mr Jose Cesar Paulouro das Neves, the Portuguese Ambassador, on a farewell call at the Palace, Valletta.
10.30 The President pays an official visit to the Malta College for Arts. Science and Technology in Paola.
5.15 The President receives a delegation from the Foreign Affairs committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China.
6 p.m. The President receives Mr Matthias Kleinert, senior vice-president, External Affairs and Public Policy, of Daimler Chrysler.
7 The President inaugurates an exhibition on the treasures of the Maltese National Archives at Santo Spirito, Rabat.
8.30 for 8.45 The President and Mrs de Marco host a dinner in honour of Mr Matthias Kleinert, at San Anton Palace, Attard.

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President receives Dr Alvise Memmo, the Italian Ambassador, at the Palace, Valletta.
Noon The President receives the French Ambassador, Mr Didier Destremau, on a farewell call.
6 p.m. The President receives members of the official delegation of the state visit to Poland at the Palace, Valletta.

Wednesday
10 a.m. The President receives the German Ambassador, Mr Georg Merten, accompanied by the members of the German-Maltese Circle, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary, at the Palace, Valletta.
11.30 The President receives a group of delegates participating in a conference on "Co-operation between National Archives of Euro-Med Countries".
1.15 for 1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco host a farewell luncheon in honour of Mr and Mrs Didier Desteremau at San Anton Palace.
7 The President attends a concert by the Bolshoi Theatre at the Russian Embassy in Kappara.

Thursday
11 a.m. The President receives Mr Vincent Fean, the British High Commissioner, at the Palace, Valletta.
Noon The President receives Professor Josef Bonnici, Minister for Economic Services.

Friday
10 a.m. The President receives Dr Deborah Farrugia, secretary of the Commission for the Administration of Justice.
12.30 p.m. The President receives a group of persons of Maltese descent from Corfu.

Saturday
10 a.m. The President receives Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, at San Anton Palace.
7.30 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco attend a performance of Turandot at the Aurora Theatre, Victoria, Gozo.