Restoration complete on Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (tal-Belliegħa)

May 18 2023

The restoration project on the eighteenth-century Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (tal-Belliegħa) in Lija, under the guidance of the Restoration Directorate, has been completed. The project to restore the church is one of ten projects which benefitted from the Local Councils Scheme and was proposed by the Lija Local Council.

This was announced during a press conference by the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli.

Minister Bonnici commended the workers of the Restoration Directorate for their work on historical buildings. “Projects like these clearly demonstrate the government’s commitment to cultural heritage in our localities. These areas should be accessible to anyone who visits them while preserving the historical, cultural, and intangible heritage they contain,” stated Minister Bonnici.

Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli commended the Lija Local Council and other Local Councils that have made good use of this restoration scheme and proposed the restoration of historical buildings in their localities. She encouraged other Local Councils to follow suit by submitting proposals and restoration projects as they understand best the needs of their localities.

The Mayor of Lija, Anthony Dalli stated “Through these schemes and implementation of these projects, we are taking care of our country’s cultural heritage. We have applied for further restoration in Lija to continue showcasing our locality including its history.”

The church dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (tal-Belliegħa) dates back to 1747 and replaces an earlier sixteenth century one dedicated to the Annunciation. All the work on this project were carried out by the Restoration Directorate.

The Architect responsible for this project, Mark Azzopardi, explained all the work that was carried out. This included an intervention to render safe the church due to damages to the lantern, repairs to the deffun roofing on the dome and roof of the church and sacristy, replacement and repairs of windows, cleaning of the façade, pointing of open joints, and the replacement of deteriorated stone.

Present for this press conference were also members of the Lija Local Council and parish priest Fr Joe Cilia.

#MaltaDaily

Cinema City returns to Valletta this June

May 18 2023

The Valletta Cultural Agency has announced that Cinema City will be returning to Valletta between the 5th and 10th of June in Laparelli Gardens!

The event will be screening various films like Inglorious Basterds, The Book of Life, Blood on the Crown and Back to the Future – all people have to do is collect their tickets and then grab some popcorn at the event and kick back for a relaxed, entertaining experience.

The event drew many cinema lovers last year in May, having just come off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Valletta Cultural Agency will thus be extending the event with family films, Maltese productions and some blockbusters to choose from.

Free tickets may be collected from Valletta Cultural Agency, Exchange Buildings, Republic Street, Valletta (next door to Chamber of Commerce), Monday to Friday between 8AM and 5PM. Tickets available on first come first served basis.

#MaltaDaily

5 year plan of action for LGBTIQ+ equality announced

May 18 2023

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg unveiled the Strategy and Plan of Action for LGBTIQ+ Equality for the years to 2023 through to 2027.

This was announced during a press conference attended by various stakeholders and civil society members. This marks the third national strategy which hopes on working on the achievements which have already taken place throughout the years.

10 sectors and 94 measures form part of the plan of action which are based on situations which still cause LGBTIQ+ persons to face discrimination.

The plan includes 10 sectors which include the work sector, education, health, sport and research. It also includes measures to make more efficient the fight against discriminatory language and spread of misinformation.

A very big pillar of this plan of action remains the educational campaigns so that society is much more aware of the subject matter.

The Parliamentary Secretary said that this strategy is being annoy led after a consultation with the LGBTIQ Consultation Council, which brings together various representatives from civil society and others.

‘On this day, this government is marking the work being done to strive for a more equal society’ said Buttigieg. ‘Through this plan of action we are communicating our vision in this sector for the upcoming five years. We will continue working on the measures which led to us being placed at the top of the Rainbow Index for the 8th consecutive year.’

On his part, chief of SOGIGSEC unit in the Human Rights Directorate Clayton Mercieca explained in further detail the goals and measures, saying that through an extended politic and continuous collaboration, this will serve as an opportunity to achieve our aims in terms of inclusion and equality.

#MaltaDaily

SUSHI LOVERS: Hugo’s Lounge is back with a new look, fresh location and revamped menu!

May 18 2023

You don’t really love sushi if you’ve never been to Hugo’s Lounge. 🍣

The esteemed restaurant specialising in Asian Fusion Cuisine has been tantalising the palates of foodies since 2005… and now it’s back and better than ever!

After undergoing a major revamp to its look, location and menu, Hugo’s Lounge is finally back and ready to continue earning is reputation for delivering an exceptional dining experience. The new Hugo’s Lounge boasts an elegant and modern interior design, and offers a wider range of Asian-inspired dishes as well as cocktails.

Garnering a loyal following of Asian food lovers since first opening its doors, Hugo’s Lounge promises an unforgettable culinary journey. Now, with its new location, rebranding, and upgraded menu, it is poised to continue delighting customers for many years to come.

Send this to someone who NEEDS to take you on a sushi date.

#MaltaDaily