PO Art Studio has launched a project titled “Living Here, Living Together”, offering an audio-guided walk that presents the stories of second-generation Filipinos in Macau
The project, which started on Wednesday, will end on Sunday.
The non-profit initiative, introduced by the studio, invites participants to explore “Pinoy Street” through pre-recorded audio delivered in Tagalog and Cantonese with written Chinese and English translations, according to a recent statement from the studio.
Due to its many Philippines-related shops, hair salons and other businesses, the city centre’s Rua da Alfândega is colloquially known as “Pinoy Street”.
A booklet with instructions is included in the activity to guide participants along the route at their own pace, allowing them to learn about the local Filipino community’s experiences. “Through these stories, we hope to evoke awareness of shared humanity across society,” the studio said in its statement.
Speaking to the Post in Largo de Santo Agostinho near “Pinoy Street” yesterday, Gary Ao Ieong Wun Un, the project lead and tour guide, said that the inspiration of the project came from his own experiences. “At first, it was just curiosity, but later I realised that we actually share a lot of daily experiences and challenges,” he said, adding that the project depicts a “spectrum” of second-generation identities, ranging from stronger ties to Filipino heritage and closer alignment to Macau, with some caught in between.
Gary, a Macau-born Chinese, stressed that the key message for the public is twofold, as he wants people to know more about the daily experiences of Filipinos in Macau. “I want them to feel they are not alone, and that others also face similar struggles,” he added.
Gary emphasised that while the project is not intended as a grand contribution, it aims to add a voice to Macau’s ongoing conversations on identity and belonging. “Identity is not only about perception, rather that it’s about the way that we behave,” he told the Post. He also expressed satisfaction and positive feedback from both local and Filipino residents, who felt more connected after the experience.
The tour, which is free of charge, is available between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. today, tomorrow and on Sunday, setting off from Largo de Santo Agostinho (St Augustine’s Square – 崗頂前地), with online registration at tally.so/r/w7gKkR
This poster provided by PO Art Studio yesterday promotes the ongoing tour, titled “Living Here, Living Together”, in Largo de Santo Agostinho.
