https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/697 2026-08-04T04:22:14Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148375 Title: The motto “Ordo condidit” and the earliest coat of arms of Paola Abstract: The motto of Paola is “Ordo Condidit.” This Latin motto was created in the nineteenth century. Today, it is translated into Maltese as “L-Ordni Bnieni”, meaning “the Order Built Me.” In the past, it was also translated in Maltese as “Is-Slaten Bnewni”, meaning “The Rulers Built Me.” However, before speaking about the motto itself and how it came into being, let us first examine exactly why and how it was formed. A motto is a slogan or a short phrase in which an entire history is encapsulated, in such a way that whoever reads it can immediately understand what that place represents. Indeed, the motto used to be placed beneath the coat of arms that had been created as the emblem symbolising that place. Thus, the motto and the coat of arms were created together. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148372 Title: Remembering De Paule’s Paola : Raffael Bonnici Calì’s visual reconstruction of a lost landscape Abstract: The Musical Society De Paule, the band club of Paola, has recently acquired a canvas painting depicting Grand Master Antoine de Paule. Raffael Bonnici Calì, a distant relative of the renowned Maltese artist Giuseppe Calì, signs the work.; Carmelo Falzon of Paola, who for some time also served as president of Hibernians Football Club, originally commissioned the painting as a decorative feature for his residence at the corner of Tarxien Road and Luqa Road. There, it was prominently displayed on the central landing of the staircase. The painting subsequently passed to his daughter, Mary, who married into the Agius family. Thanks to the efforts of Mr Gordon Dalli, on behalf of Partitarji De Paule, the painting was acquired from Mary’s son, Anton Agius, and was later donated to the De Paule Band Club. Measuring 218 x 146 cm, the painting is a work of considerable quality. It was executed in 1969 and bears the Latin inscription “Raff. Bonnici Calì pinxit 1969”, meaning “Raff. Bonnici Calì painted it in 1969.” 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148336 Title: Coastal strategy in people's lived experiences Abstract: The article argues that effective coastal policy should place people's lived experiences at its centre, complementing economic and environmental objectives with sociological perspectives. Using the Sliema–Gżira waterfront as an example, it highlights how prosperity, tourism, climate change, inequality, accessibility, and public access to the coast coexist, advocating for approaches such as Walking Sociology and Social Impact Assessment to ensure that coastal governance reflects the realities of all communities, especially less-heard groups. 2026-07-05T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148334 Title: Malta's Demographic Transformation Abstract: This article explores one of the most significant social changes shaping contemporary Malta. Beyond the statistics on population growth and migration, I argue that we need to better understand people's lived experiences, social rights, identities, inequalities, and everyday realities. Sociology reminds us that complex social change cannot be reduced to simplistic narratives. 2026-07-19T00:00:00Z