This year’s Macao International Parade is set to take place this coming Sunday – and representatives of two participating local troupes told the Post last Sunday they hoped to spread the message of unity, friendship and appreciation of multiculturalism, echoing the event’s theme of “Love, Peace, and Cultural Integration”.
The annual parade, jointly organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and the city’s six integrated resort (IR) operators, is fast approaching. In preparation, the organisers have been coordinating visits from performing arts troupes to various local communities over the past few days.
This year, the three-hour parade brings together 23 troupes from 15 countries and regions, as well as nearly 60 local troupes, with a total of about 1,800 performers. They come from a diverse range of countries and regions, including Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, Morocco, Polynesia, Portugal and Spain in addition to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. Three other cities selected as this year’s East Asian Capital of Culture, China’s Huzhou, South Korea’s Anseong, and Japan’s Kamakura, will also participate in the event.
This Sunday at 3 p.m., as per tradition, the performing teams will begin their journey at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s. They will navigate through the old streets and alleys of the city’s old quarters, making their way to Largo de S. Domingos, where they plan to engage with spectators. The route will also take them past Largo do Senado and along Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van, aiming to offer a vibrant experience for all involved. The grand finale is set to take place at 6:30 p.m. on the main stage in Sai Van Lake Square, during which 20 selected local troupes will join their counterparts from elsewhere to compete for the Grand Prize.
On Sunday, several local arts groups, including the Macau FuLife Sports Club and the Santo Niño de Cebu in Macau Association, presented a community arts carnival in Iao Hon Market Park and the Lok Yeung Fa Yuen Building sitting-out area in Fai Chi Kei district.
Being the first time to participate in the upcoming parade, Macau FuLife Sports Club Founder Louisa Cheong Sin Yi said that in line with the parade’s theme, a captivating carousel performance has been meticulously crafted, accompanied by a “stunning array of performance costumes” designed in the hope of catching the attention of the spectators.
In her remarks to the Post, Cheong underlined the unique characteristics of her group, saying that while all members share a passion for sport, they each engage in different athletic activities, adding that they work together and hope to perform in a way that celebrates the joys of life outside of the sporting realm.
According to Cheong, her fellow members hail from diverse backgrounds, including Portugal, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Their goal is to present Macau through the distinct lenses of these various cultures, emphasising its “welcoming and vibrant character as a premier tourist destination”.
Cheong also said that, given the unique nature of the parade and its usual performances at scenic locations, as well as the tight schedule, her group would step up its training this week and raise the complexity of its performance, adding she expected an enthusiastic response from spectators.
Philippine group keen to foster love & understanding
Having participated in the annual parade since its inception in 2011, Santo Niño de Cebu in Macau Association President Violetta Duran expressed happiness about being part of it every year when speaking to the Post on the sidelines of Sunday’s community event, saying that her group’s performance this year will highlight Filipino culture, with a special focus on one of the earliest ethnic communities in the Philippines, the Atas indigenous group from the southern Philippines, representing their rich history while showcasing unique costumes. Duran also emphasised the significance of presenting their cultural dances and traditions as an integral part of Macau’s cultural landscape.
When asked about her expectations, Duran said she hopes to impress the spectators with their performance while learning from other participating groups, appreciating the diversity of cultures. She also encouraged everyone to foster love and understanding, urging them, through her group’s performance, to share their unique cultural backgrounds with one another.
According to Duran, her group consists of 35 performers, all set to share their cultural heritage and to contribute to the event’s theme of culture and tradition.
These photos taken during Sunday’s campaign show the performances by several local troupes which will participate in this coming Sunday’s “2025 Macao International Parade”. – Photos by Yuki Lei and event organisers
