Mac Vaz was relatively privileged to be born in a business family.“There are advantages and disadvantages of being part of the family business.The advantages are the ready made platform you get to ride on. Thedisadvantages are the internal strife among the families over businessinterests.
Fortunately my generation is marching in tandem,” Macconfides. His attitude can be attributed to his father. “A risk taker andvisionary, he made us believe that Feni could stand shoulder to shoulder withthe best in the world.
He was the pioneer who raised the bar in terms of qualitycontrol and packaging,” he said.
Mac studied for six years in a Military school. He states,“We were raised on a diet of discipline and desh-bhakti.” He was all preparedto join the National Defence Academy. As a young lad he had planned to join theArmed Forces, but destiny had other plans for him. “My father said I need youmore than the country needs you, so I joined the family business.” Today heponders whether the grass would have been greener on the other side if he wasin the Armed Forces.
During his military school days as part of his training Mac excelledin the Equestrian Sport.
“I was bad at all other sports and preferred the EquestrianSport because that’s where the horse does most of the running. Tent peggingused to be my favourite event. Believe me, it has nothing to do with beveragesor pegs,” he smiles. Tent pegging is a cavalry sport of ancient origin popularamong Indian and Pakistani Armed Forces. It is one of only ten equestriandisciplines officially recognised by the International Federation for EquestrianSports.
Equestrian is a sport Mac is determined to bring to Goa andhe is awaiting approval from the sports authorities for the assigned land forthe sport. As the President of The Equestrian and Polo Association of Goa, hebelieves the new government is keen in preparing for the National Games and thetime was ripe for Goa to set up a Asia class Equestrian facility to give the youthin the state a sporting option as well as add value to the quality of tourismindustry.
Madame Rosa a distillery owned by Mac, encourages Goan youthto look at the Armed Forces as an option of career.
This distillery company has two scholarships for Goans for apre-NDA exam coaching programs.
Mac rues the fact that there are some biases among the Goansthat needs to be changed.
“With the dwindling tourism industry, the youth from Goa shouldalso look at opportunities within the armed forces through the NDA, IMA, NA andOTA route,” he advises. A doting father Mac makes a conscious attempt to spendoptimum time with his three kids. “I believe that spending time with your kidswhen they are growing up should not be compromised as we run the so called‘treadmill of life’. Spending quality time and building sand castles with yourkids is equally important as building material castles in your life,” heconcludes.
