In Macau, a land where East meets West, the Macanese, as a unique group, carry a profound historical and cultural heritage.
Miguel de Senna Fernandes, president of the Macanese Association, whose family roots can be traced back to the mid-18th century in Macau, has witnessed the tremendous changes this region has undergone since its return to the motherland in December 1999.
“In the 25 years since Macau ‘s return, the outcome has been remarkable. Our lifestyle has changed. Now we can see modernisation in all aspects of administration and infrastructure. With government support, the culture of our Macanese* community has also been preserved,” Miguel de Senna Fernandes recalled
“Preserving our uniqueness is preserving Macau ‘s uniqueness”
Miguel de Senna Fernandes has been dedicated to the preservation of the Macanese language and culture. In 1993, he co-founded the Macanese Patuá theatre group Dóci Papiáçam di Macau (“Macau’s Sweet Language”) with friends. Since then, he has annually created a new play based on Macau ‘s social and lifestyle developments, performing in Patuá**. Today, his plays are highly anticipated at the annual Macao Arts Festival.
Besides playwriting, Miguel de Senna Fernandes, a lawyer by profession, has recently ventured into writing novels in the Portuguese language. He hopes that his works will be translated into English and Chinese in the future and build a new bridge for Sino-Portuguese cultural exchanges through literature.
With support from the Macau government, the Macanese Association he leads frequently organises gatherings, theatrical performances, and other cultural activities, strengthening community solidarity and showcasing Macau’s multicultural charm to the outside world.
Miguel de Senna Fernandes believes that preserving Macanese culture is not only crucial for the Macanese community but also has a profound impact on Macau ‘s overall development.
According to Miguel de Senna Fernandes, the Macanese people’s culture and identity not only distinguish them from other communities but also shape Macau’s unique cultural landscape as a place of multicultural fusion, facilitating exchanges between Macau and other countries worldwide. “This is an important advantage Macau has in competing with other regions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” (GBA), he said.
Culture can facilitate interactions between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs)
“Culture plays a vital role in driving economic development,” Miguel de Senna Fernandes pointed out. The Macanese Association is eager to play a key role in establishing Macau as a China-PSCs exchange platform. “We should not forget that there are multiple ways to generate economic initiatives in Macau. Culture is sellable and can initiate and trigger a lot of things. That’s why we are developing Macau’s tourism industry, which relies on culture as well. Culture is a thing that we can use to achieve economic goals.”
Looking ahead to Macau’s future development, Miguel de Senna Fernandes is full of confidence. “Macau people are not afraid of any challenges. I hope that Macau goes for another 25 years as smoothly as possible. Great achievements will come.”
At the same time, he also hopes that the younger generation of Macanese will take the baton in cultural preservation and participate in Macau’s new wave of development.
“We hope they will continue to transmit and promote our culture,” Francisco said. “They must use their imagination, seize the opportunities of their time, and have a sense of community, realising that they are Macanese. When they can be proud of being so, I don’t have to worry about anything.”
– GD Today, The Macau Post Daily
* Customarily, the term “Macanese” refers to Macau’s community of mixed Portuguese and Asian descent, as well as their diaspora, accounting for less than 2.0 percent of the population. – MPD
** Patuá is Macau’s highly endangered Portuguese-Asian Creole, nowadays spoken by just a few dozen people in Macau and a number of hundreds overseas, in California in particular. – MPD
