Vol. 33. No. 2 A Publication of UMA, Inc April – June 2010 Editor: Daniel Gomes, 4394 N. Sweetbriar Ct, Concord, Ca 94521 E-Mail: [email protected]
Dr. Fred Prata Senior Scientist with the Norwegian Institute for Air Rese arch
Iceland's ongoing eruption is likely to press the case for new satellite instruments to monitor volcanic ash thrown into the atmosphere.
Remote sensing expert Dr Fred Prata told a major Earth Sciences meeting in Vienna that current monitoring from space was good but could be improved. "Of the present suite of satellite instruments, none were developed for the volcanic ash problem," he said. "Therefore, they are sub-optimal for detecting and determining quantities of volcanic ash."
Dr. Fred Prata is a senior scientist with the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, and leads a group called SAVAA - Support to Aviation for Volcanic Ash Avoidance. He was born in Hong Kong in the 60s’ to Alfred and Martha Prata. He completed his Primary and Secondary School education in Hong Kong and completed his Post Doctoral studies at the Oxford University in England where he graduated with a PhD in Physics.
He is the nephew of Manuel Prata, a member of the HKVDC, who was arrested and taken by the Japanese Kempeitei from the Argyle Street Prisoner of War camp, accused of being part of a secret British Army Aid Group operating in the camp to assist British Prisoners of War to escape to Free China. He was tortured and then executed by the Japanese in Stanley Prison.
Dr. A. J Prata (Fred) holds dual Australian and British citizenships. He led the Remote Sensing Team at CSIRO, Division of Atmospheric Research in Australia from 1984 to 2006. He is a specialist in the physics of remote sensing of the atmosphere and has published papers and books on atmospheric temperature retrievals, the dynamics of travelling waves in the stratosphere, remotely sensed land surface temperatures and infrared retrievals of volcanic aerosols and gases. Educated at Imperial College, London University and the University of Oxford, Dr Prata has had more than 20 years experience in utilizing satellite-borne instruments to probe the earth's atmosphere. He has been involved in the satellite programs of Nimbus 5, Nimbus 6, ERS-1 and ERS-2 and more recently with ADEOS-I and -II and the Terra platform. Dr Prata is a Principal Investigator on several international space related projects including ESA's ENVISAT program, NASDA’s ADEOS-II and is a Co-Investigator on two NASA projects. Currently his main interests lie in the utilization of high spectral resolution infrared measurements of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols to study and quantify their effects on climate, as well as on-going technology commercialization activities. Dr Prata left the CSIRO in Australia in 2006 to become more involved with the European remote sensing community and is currently working at NILU in Norway. Dr Prata resides in Leirsund, Norway and is married with three children. UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Summer Issue 2010 Page 1 of 36
Dr. Prata
Dr. FRED Prata was flicking through some satellite pictures one day when he saw a "funny looking cloud". It got him thinking. A few years later, that train of thought produced a piece of technology worth tens of millions of dollars — possibly hundreds of millions — every year to the international airline industry. Developed for the CSIRO, and now being picked up by Tenix., Dr Prata's baby has some pretty useful capabilities. By detecting volcanic ash in the atmosphere, it can stop planes falling out of the sky. By sniffing out other atmospheric nasties like sarin gas, it offers a defense against chemical attack. In both instances, it could save many lives.
Dr Fred Prata contemplates a new life in Norway. Photo: Simon O'Dwyer
A few days ago Dr. Prata told, one of his relatives, that the entire episode of the closure of European airspace for 6 days could have been avoided if his Space Sensors were fully implemented by the governments in Europe. Many airports and planes could have continued flying.
His team is supported by the European Space Agency and aims to improve the way that satellite data is collected for use in the dispersion models that help airlines and the authorities decide whether it is safe to fly planes.
"Once we get the thickness, combining that with our two-dimensional picture of the mass loading we can get the concentration; and that's the number that the airlines would like to have." The airlines at this time are working to a safe limit of two milligrams of ash per cubic meter of air.
The current tracking satellites circle the Earth and do not have permanent vision over Iceland and the rest of Europe. A version of Iasi is due to go on the next generation of Meteosats but the first of these platforms will not fly until 2018. Dr. Prata now believes there is a case to be made to fast-track the launch of this instrument.
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I am pleased to announce that the members have approved, by an overwhelming majority (161 yeas and 56 nays), the Amended and Restated Bylaws of União Macaense Americana (UMA, Inc.) as published in the January-March 2010 UMA News Bulletin. Parliamentary Law & Procedure and Article 13.1 of our Bylaws require the approval of the membership before adoption and ratification of these Bylaws facilitating the conduct of business and promoting harmony and cooperation within the organization.
As we complete our first six months as a unified entity, UMA is operating smoothly and efficiently. We have held three functions with the highest level of participation from the membership – 70 persons in the All Day Social in February, full busload of 58 for the April Reno Trip and 77 bowlers and friends in the UMA Bowling Tournament & BBQ on May 22nd. These successes were achieved by the dedication, hard work and enthusiasm of the Social and Sports Committees and, managing our budget carefully, we even made a small profit at each of the events.
Elections will be held this fall for the new UMA Officers and Board of Directors for the 2011-2012 term. I would urge our members to take an active role and volunteer to serve as an officer, director or on the various committees of UMA. As we have said many times before, we need our young people with new energy and ideas to steer our club in the twenty-first century. The Nominations Form for the positions of Officer and/or Director appears on page 11 of this Bulletin. Please be sure to obtain approval of the person/persons you are nominating before submitting their names to the Nominating Committee.
The UMA Travel Committee has selected a travel agent for attendees to the 2010 Encontro das Comunidades Macaenses to be held Nov 28 to Dec 5, 2010. The flyer for the various travel options is in the Bulletin on page 9. Please note that all UMA members are invited to the Encontro. However, if you plan to make your own way to Macau, it is important that you register with Maria Gomes, Chairperson of the Travel Committee, so that your name will be on the list of UMA Encontro participants transmitted to the Macau Organizing Committee. You will then be included in the activities and functions of the Encontro.
Our Cookoff to select our representative for the Confraria Gastronomia Macaense was held on Sunday, June 6, 2010. at the home of Maria Gomes. There were four participants: Ed de Assis, Flavia Greubel, Ken Harper and Sandy Souza. As part of the contest, the participants were asked to cook Porco Bafassá, another Macanese entrée and dessert of their own choosing. The dishes were prepared by the cooks in their own kitchens, and then brought to the home of Daniel & Maria Gomes where our panel of expert judges including Luis Ozzie Ozorio, Jorge Remedios and Vilma Remedios were waiting eagerly to taste the food in a blind test. The winner of the Cook-off is Ken Harper, who will be the UMA Gastronomia Representative at the 2010 Encontro in Macau. More on the Cookoff in the Bulletin.
The Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that the 2010 UMA Scholarship has been awarded to Charles Goff, grandson of Virginia Ribeiro Goff. Charles graduated from Corona High School in Norco , California this June, and has been accepted into Chapman University , Orange , California where he intends to pursue a degree in Business Administration.
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President’s Message ɳ
I would like to draw your attention to the flyers on pages 16-19 of the UNB for our four upcoming summer events: UMA Thanksgiving Mass on Saturday, July 24, 2010; UMA Golf & Dinner on Sunday, July 25, 2010; the highlight of the year, our Dinner Dance “UMA NOITE MACAENSE” on Saturday, August 21, 2010; and All Day Social on Saturday, Sept 11, 2010. It is recommended that you sign up early and return the slips at the bottom of the flyers on a timely basis as capacity is limited in some of the events and will be first come first served.
For our Southern California members, there will be a social on July 11, 2010 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The event will be held at Gloria Sequeira's home in Downey. The video “ Patuá di Macau – Unde Tá Vai?” will be shown at about 3:00 PM to be followed by a Tacho/Minchi dinner. Depending on available players, there may be 2 tables for mahjong. Please call Gloria at 562-862-2614 or Rita Guterres at 562-924-3108 if you plan to attend.
In our continuing effort to keep all members informed, Minutes of the Directors’ Meeting held on Sunday, April 18, 2010 are included in this Bulletin.
All members are invited to attend our next Directors’ Meeting to be held at the Pacifica Community Center on Sunday, August 15, 2010. Raquel M. Remedios President
N O T I C E
NEXT DIRECTORS’ MEETING
Sunday, August 15, 2010 from 1:30 PM – 6:00 PM
at Pacifica Community Center 540 Crespi Drive - Pacifica, CA 94044
Members are invited to attend the Directors’ Meeting. Please let Marie Guterres know if you plan to attend the Meeting: Email: [email protected] or Tel: 650-359-3858
Uniao Macaense Americana, UMA, INC . DIRECTORS’ MEETING Pacifica Community Center 540 Crespi Drive, Pacifica, California 94044 Sunday, April 18 th , 2010, 2:30 PM Meeting Minutes
1. Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 3:29 PM. The directors present were Raquel Remedios, Maria Gomes, Rita Ribeiro, Arnaldo Barros, Eduardo de Assis, Daniel Gomes, Marie Guterres, Alexander Xavier, and Maureen Xavier. The directors that were absent are Sally Carchidi, Robert de Graca, Rita Guterres, and Gloria Sequeira, and all their proxies are attached as Exhibit A. There were 79 members present at the meeting; attendance list attached as Exhibit B.
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2. Reading and Approval of AGM Minutes: In the absence of Secretary Robert de Graca, Maria Gomes graciously volunteered to act as Secretary for this meeting. As the minutes of the Directors’ Meeting of January 17, 2010, Exhibit C, was prepared, emailed to all the directors by Robert de Graca, Secretary, and also published in the UMA News Bulletin, Eduardo de Assis moved that the reading of the minutes be dispensed with and that the minutes be approved. Maria Gomes seconded the motion and the motioned passed.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Rita Ribeiro provided the directors with copies of the Treasurer’s Report, Exhibit D, and she pointed out that the Ending Balance on March 31, 2010 was $112,521.80 with $58,063.87 in Union Bank Account #1, $9,265.00 in Union Bank Account #2, $39,411.60 in the San Francisco Account, and $5,781.33 in the San Mateo Account. Rita Ribeiro suggested that the Finance Committee get together to decide on how to invest some of the funds of UMA instead of leaving it sitting in the bank. She then stated that she decided to resign as Treasurer of UMA, Inc. but will continue to be a director of UMA till the end of the term. She then handed out copies of her letter of resignation, Exhibit E, to the directors. She went on to report that Daniel Gomes worked with her to consolidate the accounts from the chapters, and that she recommends that he take over as the Treasurer to complete her term of office. After very brief discussion, Raquel Remedios accepted Rita Ribeiro’s resignation, and thanked her for her years of service as Treasurer. She then asked if Daniel Gomes would accept the position of Treasurer to the end of the current term. Daniel Gomes accepted, and the directors confirmed him as the Treasurer of UMA. Raquel then asked Rita Ribeiro if she would remain in the Finance Committee and she agreed to stay on as a member. Maria Gomes moved that the Treasurer’s Report be approved, and Marie Guterres seconded the motion. The motion carried.
4. Correspondence: Raquel reported that she sent a birthday card with a prayer enrollment to Albertina Xavier for her 100th birthday, and then read Albertina’s thank you note, Exhibit F. Raquel Remedios also read a note, Exhibit G, from member Ricardo Rozario of Vancouver BC, which he wrote to Francis Carion when he sent in his membership dues. The note congratulated Raquel Remedios and UMA’s Executive Board for the “exceptional hard work to accomplish this milestone” of consolidation.
5. Report on MCC: Maria Gomes reported that the problem toilets in the ladies room in the MCC building, which was mentioned at the last AGM, have since been replaced and they are now in working order. She also reported that last Friday, April 16 th , the building passed the Fire Inspection, and scheduling for the Building Inspection will be done next week. Since the last report on MCC, the City of Fremont required an Asbestos Inspection Report on the MCC building for our Grant and Loan to be approved. The inspection discovered asbestos in the retail space of MCC, so estimates had to be gotten for the abatement of the asbestos. We now have the figures for the balance of the work to be done: the FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT in the amount of $52,300, and the INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT on the two retail spaces in the amount of $89,007 which includes $7,472 for the asbestos abatement, for a total of $141,307. To fund the $141,307, MCC would have to pay $14,131 to start the project; there would be a Façade Improvement Grant in the amount of $39,225, which we would not have to pay back; and there would be a 15-year Interest-Free Loan from Fremont in the amount of $87,951.00. The Grant and Loan documents are now in the hands of the Fremont Legal Department for their approval before signature by all parties. We hope to have these documents signed by the end of May. The Asbestos, Façade, and Improvement work is scheduled to be completed by end of July. There were questions, clarifications, and discussion on MCC and its use, rentals, security, and operational plans. Maria Gomes also stated that the replacements of the kitchen appliances would be between $8,000 to $10,000, and the items to be purchased would depend on what funds we could generate from donations; she also thanked everyone for their generosity and donations which made the members of the three Casas true owners of the MCC building. Luis Ozorio suggested the directors of MCC consider some form of Loan/Grant/Bond from the members of the three Casas to fund the needs of MCC. Maria Gomes said she would present the idea to the MCC Directors.
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6. Report on Amended & Restated Bylaws: Raquel Remedios reported that the ballots are being sent to Robert de Graca, Secretary of MCC, and the deadline is 5/30/10. After brief discussion Maria Gomes moved that the ballots be given to the Chairperson of the Nomination Committee and that the Nomination Committee open and count the ballots. Alexander Xavier seconded the motion and the motion carried. Maria Gomes urged all present to send in their ballots to approve the new Bylaws.
7. Report of Finance Committee: Daniel Gomes reported that we have a stellar group of people in the Finance Committee who have done an excellent job. He then distributed some copies of the Treasurer’s Report to the tables for the members, to show them the position of UMA’s financial position. After brief discussion Daniel Gomes said the Finance Committee will develop an Investment Policy for the $121,000+.
8. Report of Social Committee: Flavia Greubel, Chairperson of the Social Committee, reported that the April 3 rd All Day Social of UMA was a success and well attended, and the event generated a profit of $98.83. All present gave her a round of applause. She informed everyone that the upcoming Reno Trip is sold out, and she is working on secured parking at Rossmoor for those being picked up there. She asked those attending the event to contact her in regard to this secured parking, and where to get on the Bus. Flavia Greubel reminded the members to keep their March Bulletin which has the Calendar of Events as well as the reservation forms to use for the events. Information and updates on events will be in the News Bulletin.
9. Report of Bowling Committee: Arnaldo Barros reported that the Bowling Event will be on Saturday, May 22, 2010. Bowlers should be there by 9 AM, and be in white attire and smooth-soled shoes. The cost for Non-Bowers will be $12 for the Barbeque. Arnaldo Barros asked those interested to send in their reservations early as space is limited and will be on a first- come first-serve basis. He said he hoped to get 35-42 bowlers; he said he has received about 16 to date.
10. Report of Golf Committee: Victor Oliveira reported that the Golf Event will be on July 21 st and the deadline for reservations was June 15 th as the committee needs to coordinate everything. He also reminded the golfers to be in appropriate attire. The cost for Rossmoor residents is $27 which includes a $12 charge for a cart, and the cost for Non-Rossmoor residents is $46 which includes a $12 charge for a cart. The cost for the Chinese dinner at the La Trampas Room for golfers as well as non-golfers is $12, and it will be at about 5 PM. There was some discussion and suggestions for activities for the Non-Golfers; however, it was decided that there will be no organized activities for the Non- Golfers
11. Report of Cultural Committee: Maria Gomes reported that the Patua de Macau Event which was held just before this meeting was sponsored by the IIM of Macau, and she was happy that is was so well attended. The next Cultural Event is the Noite Macaense which is the dinner dance in August with Macanese cuisine. The Christmas Party will also be a Cultural Event with the beautiful name of Nossa Festa de Natal given it by our Social Committee Chairperson Flavia Greubel. The members of the Cultural Committee are Raquel Remedios, Jorge Remedios, Pinky Silva, and Maria Gomes, and they are working with the Social Committee on a program for these events. Updates on both events will be in future News Bulletins.
12. Report of Travel/ 2010Encontro Committee: Maria Gomes thanked the other members of the committee: Brenda Oliveira, Eduardo de Assis, Johanna Terra, and Raquel Remedios for their diligent and productive work. The Survey Form in the last News Bulletins with a deadline of last week, April 15 th , had elicited responses from 15 people from the Los Angeles area, 14 people from the San Francisco area, and 9 people from outside of California. Maria Gomes asked those who had not yet responded and were planning to go to the Encontro to send in the form right away as plans for all options including the Optional Tours will be based on the responses in the Survey Form. She reported that the Travel Committee had contacted and given guidelines to several Tour and Travel Agents to get bids for our members.
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The bids are due on May 1 st , when the committee will select the best option for our UMA members. Maria Gomes asked if anyone present had any connections with Tour or Travel Agents to contact her right after the meeting so that we can get additional bids. Additional information will be in the next News Bulletin.
13. Report of Young Adults Committee: Joanne Segovia, Chairperson of the Young Adults Committee, was absent from the meeting. Maria Gomes, who is in the committee, spoke to Joanne and stated that she was sure that Joanne had planned to give a report on it. Maria then stated that theYoung Adults Committee decided to use our Christmas party, the Nossa Festa de Natal, as the event to get young adults of age 18-45, Members as well as Non-Members of UMA, to participate in UMA. The Committee is working on this event to make it a well attended and enjoyable event for your children and grand-children. The Young Adults Committee will also be working with the Cultural Committee on this event. Additional information will be shared in the next News Bulletins.
14. Selection of UMA Representative for Confraria Gastronomia Macaense: Raquel Remedios reported that Luiz Machado, President of the Confraria da Gastronomia Macaense in Macau, wrote to ask for the name of UMA’s representative to the Confraria.. Maureen Xavier proposed that we have a cook-off to select our representative to the Confraria. After some discussion, it was agreed that we will hold the cook-off; and it was decided that Raquel Remedios will send an email to the membership informing them of the cook-off and requesting members to send in their names if they are interested in participating in the event. Details of date, place and guidelines will be worked up and participants will be informed. Eduardo de Assis, who was our previous representative to the Confraria Gastronomia, then reported on his experiences in the last two Encontros. Volunteers to be judges in the cook-out were Jorge Remedios, Pinky Silva, Robbie da Costa, Felice Santos, and Luis Ozorio.
15. Nomination Committee: Raquel Remedios opened the discussion on the nomination and election process and time-line. After some discussion Vilma Remedios, chairperson of the Nomination Committee, agreed to work with her committee members to make up a nomination form and plan out the nomination and election process. Vilma Remedios announced that all nominations would have to be sent to her in writing, by mail or email, and the nominations had to be accepted by the individual being nominated before the nomination is sent to her. The information on this process will be in the next News Bulletin.
16. Chapter Records and Supplies: It was decided that we address this item at the next meeting.
17. Other: Carol de Assis Bader, daughter of Eduardo and Pauline de Assis, showed the Webpage which she made up for UMA, and stated that she would be willing to work with some of the directors of UMA to develop a Website for UMA. She suggested the Website could include things like the membership application and scholarship application. She said she would create it, donating her time, but would need help to maintain it and host it, and she would work with the Editor of the News Bulletin. Daniel Gomes, the Editor of the News bulletin, said he thought it would be a great idea and would work with her. Jorge Remedios also said that he would be interested in working on it.
18. Next Directors’ Meeting and Adjournment: The next meeting will be on Sunday, August 15 th , 2010, and the notice is in the News Bulletin. The meeting was adjourned at 5:07 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maria Gomes Vice-President of UMA Acting-Secretary
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2010 MACAU ENCONTRO UMA’S TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Maria Gomes, Chairperson
The UMA Travel Committee selected Aberdeen Tours , after reviewing many options and quotes. One of the main reasons for choosing Aberdeen Tours, besides their best pricing, is that they did a great job for the 2009 Maryknoll Reunion. More importantly we liked their Transfer Service which is "Round-trip direct connecting services, including luggage-handling and transfers, from Hong Kong Airport to Macau Hotel. Details will be provided with ticket." This transfer service makes things easier for our members, as they will NOT go through immigration and customs in Hong Kong; they will go through immigration and customs in Macau . This Transfer Service is an included item for the individuals who purchase the entire package of flight plus hotel with Aberdeen Tours.
We have just received an email from Macau giving us "the Price List on the Hotels in Macau that have rooms available for the 2010 Encontro". This hotel information is not part of Aberdeen Tours' quote or package. Please contact me at [email protected] or 1-925-798-2005 to get a copy of this list. Macau’s quotes on this list of hotels all start on 11/28 and end on 12/5 , with departure on 12/6. Macau has also advised us that there will be a “reception (get-together)” on 11/27 even though the Opening Ceremony will be on 11/28. Finally there is also word that additional information on the Encontro won’t be available until mid-July.
With the above information AND the fact that our delay until mid-July would cause us to loose our great flight and hotel rates, we have made arrangements with Aberdeen Tours to book our members to arrive in Hong Kong the morning of 11/28 so that they have enough time to get to their hotel in Macau and attend the Opening Ceremony on 11/28; and our members would leave Macau on 12/6, so they can attend the Closing Ceremony which is currently scheduled for 12/5. If you want to attend the “reception (get-together)” on 11/27, please advise Aberdeen Tours when you make your booking as you need to fly to Hong Kong a day early and be charged an extra day for the hotel.
Please note that UMA, Inc. is officially using only the Landmark and Sintra Hotels with Aberdeen Tours. During the Encontro in Macau, Ed de Assis will be the contact person for those staying at the Sintra, and Maria Gomes will be the contact person for those staying at the Landmark . You can also do your own booking for the Landmark Hotel using the list from Macau (Approx. US$1102 per room for the 8 nights of the Encontro) . However, if you choose to do your own hotel booking for a different hotel, other than the Landmark and Sintra, it will be up to you to keep track of the events in Macau on your own.
We urge you to do your bookings AS SOON AS POSSIBLE as the spaces we have will be given out on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS and "ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF AIR AND HOTEL AT TIME OF BOOKING". Use the Aberdeen Tours’ webpage flyer in this bulletin to contact them to make your bookings. Information on the Optional Pre-Encontro Trip to Beijing and the Optional Post-Encontro Stay in Hong Kong are also on this flyer.
Those of you who are interested in the Optional Lawn Bowling Tour , please contact Ed de Assis at [email protected] or 925-943-2003.
We will be completing all Encontro Enrollment/Registration Forms from Macau for all individuals registering with UMA, Inc. After you make your bookings, PLEASE BE SURE TO SEND ME AN EMAIL/LETTER GIVING ME YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, AND EMAIL ADDRESS, SO WE CAN PUT YOU ON THE LIST OF UMA ENCONTRO PARTICIPANTS AND COMPLETE YOUR ENCONTRO ENROLLMENT/REGISTRATION. THIS IS REQUIRED FOR YOU TO ATTEND THE ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE 2010 ENCONTRO. To avoid duplication, please do not submit your name on your own to Macau or to a different organization if you are traveling or registering through UMA, Inc. The itinerary for the Macau 2010 Encontro should be available in July/August.
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DISCLAIMER: PRICING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY ABERDEEN TOURS AND ENCONTRO DAS COMUNIDADES MACAENSES, AND UNTIL FINALIZED AT BOOKING MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ACCORDINGLY, (I) TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS SHALL BE BETWEEN TRAVELER AND ABERDEEN TOURS; (II) ALL TRIP CHARGES WILL ALSO BE PROCESSED BY ABERDEEN TOURS; AND (III) NEITHER UMA, INC. NOR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS SHALL BE LIABLE TO ANY MEMBER OR ANYONE ELSE FOR ANY DAMAGES (WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY) RESULTING THEREFROM.
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MACAU CULTURAL CENTER
Maria Gomes, Secretary of MCC
The renovation of the two upper levels which will be used as our Macau Cultural Center has been completed, and we are in the final stages of getting all the inspections and permits signed off. However our Occupancy Permit will not be issued until our façade and the two street level retail spaces are refurbished. The work is extensive and the cost amounted to $141,307.00. The City of Fremont awarded us a Façade Grant in the amount of $39,225.00; they gave us an interest free loan in the amount of $87,951.00; and we had to use $14,131.00 from our General Fund.
Part of the refurbishment included asbestos work in the retail space; the asbestos abatement work has just been completed and the re-inspection clearance is being scheduled. The Loan and Deed Documents for the Fremont Loan have been signed and are being recorded. We are currently working on the permits to get the construction started; the work is estimated to take six to eight weeks from the start date. Our contractor L&W Allen Construction is working with Method Construction assigned by the City of Fremont to get us our permits and oversee the renovation.
The directors of MCC have been visiting the building every week to check on the building, sweeping up the side yard, and watering the three planter boxes in the side patio. Work has been on-going for over two years on getting us tenants for the retail spaces. We are currently finalizing a Lease Agreement with Jaden’s Closet for the use of the smaller retail space, and we will continue to work on getting us a second tenant for the larger retail space. We are also working on a Lease Agreement to rent out our hall and meeting room when they are not in use.
Another facet of the work of your directors of MCC is to raise funds for the many expenses of running a center, particularly since we do not yet have a building we can rent out for revenue. Thus we must approach you, the members of the three Casas, to ask for your generous support and donations. To begin with, on behalf of MCC , I would like to once again thank all the generous members who have contributed to our MCC Fund Raising. We now need to solicit support and contributions to sustain MCC through its final stages of renovation; we are asking all members of the three Casas to be our 2010 Friends of MCC with a donation of $100 or more. Your contribution will be used to fund the day to day expenses of MCC such as the cost of water, light, heat, security, insurance, and annual taxes for 2010. You will be the backbone of the continued existence of MCC until the rental spaces generate sufficient income to support MCC.
The Logo & Signage Sponsors @ $300 or more is another donation category for the expense of getting the Macau Cultural Center signs for our building. It would be great if we get enough money in this category to put up all the signs we planned for, before our opening. The funds from this category will be set aside for this purpose and will be held until we have enough to get the job done. If you are interested in seeing the name and logo of our Macau Cultural Center displayed, please join our Logo & Signage Sponsors. We hope that it will not be too long before we have enough donations to get this done.
The most important donation category now is the Façade & Retail Space Sponsors @ $500 or more . The funds from this category will replenish the $14,131.00 from the General Fund and help pay off the $87,951.00 Loan from the City of Fremont. We desperately need these donations to replenish our General Fund . All you business minded individuals know the importance of this, so come help us out with your donations. We would like to acknowledge the most recent donation in this category, “In memory of INEZ SOARES DA ROSA”.
The officers and directors of MCC, who are also officers and directors of your three Casas, have worked unceasingly with dedication, perseverance, and patience. It would be a tremendous boost to their morale and commitment to receive your wonderful support and generous donations. Please take a moment and send in your donation to help the entire Macaense Community realize the dream of using our MACAU CULTURAL CENTER. Please send your donation in the form of a check made out to “Macau Cultural Center” and mail it to Macau Cultural Center, Inc., 582 Market St. #1905, San Francisco, California 94104.
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Nominations for UMA Board of Directors
Instructions:
Please write the name/names of the person/persons you wish to nominate for the positions of Officer and/or Director. There will be 4 Officers and 5 Directors making a total of 9 in the Board. Anyone you wish to nominate as an officer, i.e. President, Vice President, etc., make sure you also write that candidate’s name as a Director, in case he/she loses the vote for that officer position, he/she is still eligible to be a Director. Any member may nominate himself/herself for a particular position.
Approval of the person(s) being nominated should be obtained prior to submitting name(s) in the nomination.
Send your nominations early. Deadline August 15, 2010.
Mail form to: Vilma Remedios Chairperson, Nominating Committee 2616 Saklan Indian Dr. #2 Walnut Creek, CA 94595
or Email your nominees to: [email protected]
President ______
Vice President ______
Secretary ______
Treasurer ______
Director ______
Director ______
Director ______
Director ______
Director ______
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Pauline de Assis
2010 – the end of the first decade in the 21 st century, saw though the beginning of a new era, a fresh united UMA! The time has come; we’re no longer San Francisco Chapter, or the Greater East Bay Chapter, etc. – we’re uma, or one, as well it should be, as well we are. Due to the members being so widely dispersed, the various chapters were established years ago to facilitate ease of travel for members to meetings and functions. Southern California is the only group that cannot physically be close because of its geographical distance from the Bay Area, but only by distance, not by heart. They would most assuredly participate in all the UMA functions if distance were not a factor. So, here we are on a new threshold – a bright new UMA for all the right reasons, to enjoy the camaraderie of friends, cousins, aunts and uncles! The only challenge for us now is to get greater togetherness, i.e., with parties, picnics, sports, card games, etc., with all diving in together.
Speaking of card games, UMA launched its first event this year on April 3 - the ever popular All Day Social at the Community Center in Pacifica. Mother nature did a beautiful tribute to UMA by turning out a beautiful sunny day, not like the many rainy days we’d seen that seemed never ending. So with blue skies and a light breeze, 82 enthusiastic game players converged in the hall, some with their own card tables and lamps. It wasn’t too long before their tables were set up and the eager players took their positions. There were 7 to 8 mahjong, MJ or dry land swimming (as it’s sometimes called) tables, two large poker tables, two Mexican train tables and one Rummikub/Shanghai table. As soon as the coffee/tea pot lights turned green, the players left their tables to queue up for the breakfast pastries, a wide variety of them, from muffins, to donuts, to turnovers, h’mm, h’mm, h’mm!
Social Committee Members and Helpers
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All Day Social
Robert Roliz, our handy dandy photographer, was as busy as the cooks and servers, going from table to table taking candid shots of the players, the helpers and the happy chit chatters and is responsible for all the pictures in this article. Thank you Robert.
Many hands, hearts and minds together are what make a successful function because we want everyone to have a good time with good food. Lunch was another delightful meal, with lasagna and salad to give the players replenished energy in their all engrossing games. After lunch the organizers gave the players an extra game if they so wished to participate and so B-i-n-g-o was played. Filipe Souza called out the numbers and Joanne Segovia echoed them so everyone could make sure not to miss a number while their own games were in progress.
Wouldn’t you know but tea time loomed sooner than one realized and because the players were too busy in their games, the ladies served each player at the tables with a delicious piroshki and a brownie, almost a meal in itself! While some wives played MJ or other games, some of the spouses enjoyed the day just eating, of course, and chatting to while away the hours (but ever willing to also lend a helping hand where needed).
With the clock ticking, the busy bee helpers soon got underway to prepare the dinner feast, a Macanese feast indeed with the likes of chicken curry, minchee, sautéed cabbage and the ever tasty Chinese sausage to give the meal that extra zip. The queue for dinner was long but worth the wait and it gave the players a welcome break. Then back to their tables they went so as to finish the round of play or start another round of play. Refreshing platters of sliced sweet oranges and home baked banana, blueberry nut bread were placed in the center of the room so everyone could help themselves to the juicy/ yummy desserts!
When 9:30 pm rolled around, that meant it was time to wrap things up, so in a flurry the players tried to finish their games while the ladies and guys helped with clean up. There were happy faces and some not so happy but everyone had a fabulous time, being pampered and fed the whole day through. Aren’t we lucky to have such a great team of workers to see to our enjoyment every bit of the way?! It was a fun day indeed!
The All Day Fun Social was not an easy feat to pull off. It took our Social Chairperson, Flavia Greubel many hours, strings to pull and effort to make it happen, thanks to her organizing talent and her hard working committee, who volunteered and volunteered, wow! Thank you all so much - the organizers, the cooks, the helpers, everyone who so graciously gave a helping hand! Well done one and all!
Chow Line
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All Day Social
Big Poker Game Table Peter Souza – “Who dealt that mess?”.
Mexican Train Table Majong Players
Friends having a good time Shanghai Rummy Table
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The video was titled “PATUÁ DI MACAU – UNDE TA VAI?”, which translates as “The Macau Dialect – Where is it going?”. It was shown to almost eighty members of União Macaense Americana (“UMA”) at a special event that was held on Sunday, April 18, 2010. The venue was the Pacifica Community Center in downtown Pacifica, California, and club members came from all over the Bay Area for the showing.
The video, which was sponsored by the International Institute of Macau (“IIM”), of which Dr Jorge Rangel is President, had been sent to the far-flung outposts of the Macanese Diaspora as embodied by the various Casas de Macau all over the world.
The subject matter of the video was appreciated by an enthusiastic audience, not only for its many reminders of Macanese cultural history and tradition, but also, through the interviews and conversations with both native speakers of the dialect and persons with an academic interest in it, for its sensitive insights and perspectives which most older filhos de Macau may already have known, but which the younger members of the community are recognizing for the first time. As is usual in depictions of récitas in Patuá , there was entertainment value of the first order in the video clips showing the antics of the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau that drew much approving laughter from the audience.
Of particular appeal for many of the younger members present was the evident enthusiasm shown by young people in Macau who strive to keep alive the Patuá as a means to preserve a unique identity.
The showing in Pacifica was co-sponsored by the IIM and UMA. On hand to welcome the attendees were UMA President Raquel Remedios, Vice-President Maria “Zinha” Gomes, Treasurer Rita Ribeiro, and other Directors. Flavia Greubel, UMA’s Social Coordinator, was responsible, along with her many helpers, for the refreshments served at the event. UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Summer Issue 2010 Page 15 of 36
Previews of Coming Attractions
Your Social Committee has planned the following events for Summer & Fall of 2010
THANKSGIVING MASS at the Good Shepherd Church in Pacifica on Saturday, July 24, 2010
UMA GOLF & DINNER at Rossmoor on Sunday, July 25, 2010 Contact Victor Oliveira for additional Information 650-787-4888
UMA NOITE MACAENSE – Dinner Dance at the Belmont Senior Center on Saturday, Aug 21, 2010
ALL DAY SOCIAL & BINGO at the Pacifica Community Center on Saturday, September 11, 2010
RENO TRIP – Sunday/Monday, Oct. 3-4, 2010
NOSSA FESTA DE NATAL (venue to be advised) Sunday. Dec. 19, 2010 ~~~~~ SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SOCIAL & VIEWING OF "PATUA DE MACAU, UNDE TA VAI" DATE: SUNDAY, JULY 11TH, 2010 TIME: 4:00 PM PLACE: 10435 VULTEE AVENUE, DOWNEY, CALIF. COST: $12.00 PER PERSON, TACHO & MINCHI DINNER CONTACT: RITA GUTERRES FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES (562) 924-3108 DEADLINE: SUNDAY, JULY 4TH, 2010 ~~~~~ DIRECTORS’ MEETING at the Pacifica Community Center on Sunday, Aug 15, 2010
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING at the Pacifica Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 ~~~~~ UMA’s ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MASS It is Time Once Again to Give Thanks and Prayers For a Healthy and Prosperous UMA Inc., USA For World Peace and The Catholic Church For Relatives, the Dear Departed, the Sick and Homeless Place: Church of the Good Shepherd, 901 Oceana Boulevard, Pacifica, CA Date: Saturday , July 24, 2010, Time: 11:00 AM Lunch: 12:00 Noon at the Church Gym, Cost: $10.00 per Person Please fill in name(s), enclose check, made payable to UMA Inc. , and send to Marie Guterres at 825 Prairie Creek Drive, Pacifica, CA 94044 – Tel: 650-359-3858 Name (s) ______Tel No. ______
No. of Persons: ______Check Amt $______
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You're Invited to
UMA’s First
at The Twin Pines Senior & Community Center 1223 Ralston Ave Belmont, CA 94002 Tel: 650-595-7444
On Saturday, August 21, 2010
5:30 PM Social Hour
6:30 PM Dinner – Enjoy the Cuisine of the Chefs of UMA : Vaca Estofado, Porco Bafaça, Minchi, Cabbage w/Linguiça, Pão de Leite, Coqueira & Gummy
7:30 PM Dancing to the Live Music of
Price per Person: $23.00 UMA, Lusitano & Casa de Macau Members; $28.00 Others
Deadline for Reservations: August 12, 2010 Max Capacity: 120 Persons
Please make your reservations early as space is limited – first come first served
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Please make checks payable to UMA, Inc. and mail to: Johanna Terra at 23 Pio Pico Way, Pacifica, CA 94044 Tel: 650-355-5275
Name(s): ______Address______Tel No: ______
Reservations may be made for tables of 8 or 10. Please list names on back of form. Thank you .
Please Note: There Will Be No Refunds For No Shows
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Come and join us for a day of fun and games with family and friends:
Mahjong, Poker, Rummikube, Mexican Train, Etc.!
Date: Saturday, Sept 11, 2010 Time: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Place: Pacifica Community Center 540 Crespi Drive Pacifica, CA 94044
Cost per Person : $17.00 for UMA, Lusitano & Casa de Macau Members $22.00 for Non Members
10:00 AM Breakfast 12:00 Noon Lunch 4:00 PM Tea 7:00 PM Dinner
Deadline for Reservations: August 30, 2010
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Please make reservations early and send checks, made payable to UMA, Inc., to:
Virginia Xavier at 2061 Pine Knoll Dr #1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 Tel: (925) 934-2618
Name: ______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______
Please Note: There Will Be No Refunds For No Shows
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Overnight Stay at the SILVER LEGACY
Leave: Sunday October 3, 2010 Morning Return: Monday October 4, 2010 Afternoon
Cost per Person: Double Occupancy Only UMA, Lusitano & CdeM Member: $60.00 Non Member: $68.00
Pick up: 7:30 AM Gellert Park - Callan/Wembly, Daly City Pick up: 8:45 AM Rossmoor, Walnut Creek
1st day: NUGGET, Sparks 4 Hours $8.00 rebate $3.00 food Check in: SILVER LEGACY, Reno $ 5.00 rebate $3.00 food
2nd day: 8:30 AM Leave SILVER LEGACY, Reno CAL NEVA, Reno 6 Hours $10.00 rebate
2:30 – 3:00 PM DEPART RENO
Disclosure : All tour and other activities for UMA, Inc. are for the convenience and pleasure of the passengers who desire to participate. However, UMA, Inc. does not assume any responsibility for the wellbeing or safety of the participants or passengers or their property in any matters concerning said tour. Passengers participate at their own risk and will not hold UMA, Inc. responsible in any way. Please Note : Casino bonuses subject to change with each casino at their discretion without notice.
Bus limited to 56 passengers – Reservations will be on FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. To guarantee and confirm your seat, payment is due at time of booking. Please call Johanna Terra at 650-355-5275 to verify if seats are available.
Deadline for Reservations: Sept 15, 2010 ------Please make checks payable to UMA, Inc. and mail to Johanna Terra at 23 Pio Pico Way, Pacifica, CA 94044 Name: ______Tel: ______Name: ______Tel: ______Pick up bus at______
Please Note: There Will Be No Refunds For No Shows
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UMA Bowling Tournament By Oscar Collaço
Good work Marie & Arnie.
Our bowling committee did well in this tourney despite the many early and last minute changes. Our open draw, with very few minor modifications to keep the many teams as evenly compatible in strength as possible, including a lady in every team to harmonize the balance, all came out very nicely; and best of all, was in total agreement among the five of us in the committee (Arnie, Marie, Ed & Pauline, and Oscar).
1st place went to Larry Collaço (skip), Brenda Oliveira (vice), Ed Guterres (lead); 2nd place went to Lionel Guterres (skip), Mano Pereira and Pauline d"Assis; 3rd Place went to Oscar Collaço (skip), Victor Oliveira and Mariette Rozario; 4th Place went to Bob (GL) Remedios (skip) Rick Oliveira and Doreen Pereira. The winners of the "Wooden Spoon" were Bob Sequeira (skip), Francis Carion and Mel Carion.
The Social committee, led by Flavia Grubel went overboard to accommodate our tastes and comfort by switching from the open air when the winds started getting colder and more blustery, by arranging for the cozy inside social room for us to continue our celebration, merry making, and singing. As they catered to us in style, going from row to row to serve each one of us personally, the delicious slices of sweet watermelon and other refreshments so abundantly available.
Thanks to one and all involved in the organizing of another wonderful annual UMA bowling event and BBQ. Our kudos to each and every one of you in the forefront, behind the scene and especially the Chief Ed de Assis for the delicious BBQ steaks.
Our gratitude to Raquel and Jorge for the new trophy. Appears to be a bit larger and more exquisite than the previous one when the San Mateo Chapter ran this tournament since 2002.
Our congratulations to all the winners, and to the team who managed to garnish the wooden spoons.
Our thanks to all the participants, UMA Officers and the many supporting fans who came to cheer on the member players.
A tough battle was encountered by every team. Lots of kind words of 'nice shot' from both sides, and no derogatory remarks or negative body language that we normally see and hear at other Club and Divisional events.
This was a very friendly and sociable tournament with lots of smiles. hugs, and back slapping. This was indeed very refreshing and nice to see on the part of not only the players, but the cheering spectators who showed their appreciation after each of their games.
Resounding applauses were loudly heard at all corners of the gated community of Rossmoor.
Oh yes, there was also a lot of kidding and jovial banter between the opposing teams, and cute interesting remarks from the supporting fans, as some got up from their seat to rove from rink to rink to see who was ahead in the score to report back to the more stationery ones seated on the front gallery of seats overlooking the green.
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UMA Lawn Bowling Contestants
The Winning Team Bowling Action
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Gastronomia “Cook-Off” By Daniel Gomes
The Gastronomia “Cook-Off” was held on Sunday, June 7, 2010 at the Gomes’ home in Concord. There were four contestants, three judges, camp followers and Maria Gomes the Chairperson of the event.
The contestants were Sandy Souza, Flavia Gruebel, Ed de Assis and Ken Harper. The judges were Vilma Remedios, Jorge Remedios and Luiz Ozorio.
The contestants were all provided with the rules for the “Cook-Off” : 1) Each individual is to cook - a main Macanese dish, such as Diabo for three or more people - Porco Bafaca for three or more people - and a dessert for three or more people
2) Each individual will bring the cooked items to the Gomes’ home where they can warm them up and platter on Maria's serving items so that it will be a "blind" tasting for the three judges.
3) The name of the winning candidate will be sent to Macau as the UMA Gastronomia, and he/she will then comply with whatever rules/cook-off decided by Macau. The winner must also provide one recipe for each of the UMA News Bulletins which will be four recipes a year.
The contestants all arrived between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM and began to platter their food on Zinha’s dishes which were numerically numbered. The contestants picked their number and presented their dishes on these numbered platters and heated their food.
Sandy Souza – Porco Bafaca, Adi Cabidela and Sweet Potato Batatada Flavia Gruebel – Porco Bafaca, Vaca Estaofada, Batatada Ed de Assis – Porco Bafaca, Curry Chicken with Okra, Orange Cake Ken Harper – Porco Bafaca, Peixa e Andro, Moochi w/Cabelo de Noiva
The judges arrived after 5 PM, conferred among themselves in the Living room and established the following criteria: 1) Porco Bafaca “Common Main Dish” : • Authenticity • Presentation • Taste & flavor • Texture 2) Second Main Dish – Contestant’s Choice • Originality • Taste & flavor • Creativity 3) Dessert • Originality • Presentation • Taste & flavor • Creativity
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Gastronomia
At 5:30 PM the judges came into the kitchen, viewed the individual presentations and began to sample each dish individually. This went on for about an hour and half in the dinning room while the contestants and camp followers all sat in the family room drooling. After each taste they cleared their pallet with wine and water and marked the score down in their individual cards using a scale of 1 to 10.
The 3 judges Luiz Ozorio, Jorge Remedios & Vilma Remedios grading the presentation of the dishes
At 6:30 PM they came into the family room and announced the winner and runner-up.
AND THE WINNER WAS KEN HARPER AND RUNNER-UP SANDY SOUZA.
They complimented all the contestants and said it was very difficult to judge since all the dishes were excellent and they would be very happy to be invited to dinner at anyone of their homes.
Then the rest of us digged in and had a great meal – and we can attest to the dilemma of the judges.
Contestants Ken Harper, Sandy Souza, Flavia Gruebel and Ed de Assis
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CONTESTANTS, JUDGES AND THE CHAIRPERSON
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Orquestra de Macau - Review by Franklin Lei
[Franklin Lei was for two decades a free-lance lutenist and early musician. He has taught lute and music history at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and is currently on the staff of the C.V.Starr East Asian Library at U.C. Berkeley. ]
I took my vacation in Hong Kong during the first 2 weeks of 2010. On January 9, I traveled to Macau for a performance by the Orquestra de Macau (Macao Orchestra) under the baton of its music director, Lü Jia from Shanghai. The program was Les Nuits d'Été by Hector Berlioz, and the Fourth Symphony by Gustav Mahler. Zhang Liping , first Chinese singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, was soprano soloist in both works.
One of my favorite works, Berlioz's Summer Nights - a setting of 6 poems by Théophile Gautier, composed in 1841 and orchestrated in 1856 - is an outpour of the composer's failed marriage. It took Zhang Liping a couple of songs to reach her form. Once there, she sang in a gloriously resonant voice more reminiscent of a mezzo's, with its beauty lending a glow to every vowel. The strings, always sotto voce, backed her admirably with their rich overtones and shimmering tremolos. The orchestral tuttis in the third song, Sur les lagunes (On the lagoons), were especially commendable for their precision and internal balance. This performance of Les Nuits d'Été painted a picture of a Summer full moon (the soloist) in a setting of countless shining stars (those luscious Macau strings.)
The orchestra performed its major offering, Mahler's Fourth Symphony, in the second half. Ever since Mahler finally found acceptance on the concert stage of the 1950s, his music has gained popularity unabated. Unfortunately, his music also became synonymous with the inner conflicts of the composer's psyche, and typecast with stock emotions. For example, the Fifth Symphony's Adagietto became a eulogy after Leonard Bernstein conducted it at Robert Kennedy's funeral, although Mahler himself intends it as a simple declaration of love for his young wife Alma, and to be played appropriately faster. The Fourth Symphony likewise suffers from stereotyping. Its beginning is often depicted as a jolly sleigh ride, when Mahler actually intends the bells to symbolize a fool's cap - a preview of Freund Hein the bogey-man, whose song starts the next movement. The final movement's Das himmlische Leben (The Heavenly Life) - setting of a Des Knaben Wunderhorn ( The Youth's Magic Horn) text - still often calls for the soloist to imitate a child's voice, to depict the innocence of heaven.
What Lü Jia and the Orquestra de Macau served up here is a performance which cleanses the work of its preconceptions. His interpretation makes the final tutti of the third movement - hitherto thought of as just an interlude between the scherzo of the second movement and the "heavenly song" of the finale - climax of the entire symphony. The journey Lü took us on was relentless but purposeful, with every landmark clearly highlighted. The first movement's charming Schubertian theme was delivered with nonchalance, making its disintegration into motifs in the developmental section all the darker. The second movement, Freund Hein's song, could perhaps use a bit more Klezmer. Nonetheless, there was outstanding chamber playing from many of the principals, most notably the Principal Horn - Shamil Lutfrachmanov - who never seemed to run out of air.
In Lü's Mahler Fourth, all roads lead to the last climax of the third movement, which on paper carries a rather deceptive description of Ruhevoll (peaceful). Like the "deathblows" of the Sixth Symphony Finale, this movement also goes through a series of orchestral climaxes, each more consequential than the
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Summer Issue 2010 Page 24 of 36
Heavenly Song – Orquestra de Macau previous. It is at the very last of these that Mahler introduces the theme of the next movement, Das himmlische Leben (The Heavenly Life) from Des Knaben Wunderhorn , played appropriately on 2 horns. The real surprise is that as the Wunderhorn theme recedes, Mahler quotes as coda a song he has yet to compose - Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (I have lost track of the world). For me this is Mahler's message, and its musical quotation defines the very summit of the Fourth Symphony. Marked "pianissimo, expressivo, diminuendo ," this passage for second violins and violas, all' unisono with harp accompaniment, has tested the skills of many name orchestras, with some of them falling flat on their face. Perhaps because Lü Jia had prepared both the players and the listener so well on the symphonic journey to this juncture, the Macau players gave their all and I was moved to tears.
Lü's Mahler Fourth concluded with the "heavenly song" of the final movement, presented as an epilogue to this great journey. Zhang Liming's voice was not childlike, but a full-blown operatic soprano's with the richness of a mezzo. It emphasized the harmonic qualities of the melody, sending many in the audience happily humming this beautiful tune into the night.
The Orquestra de Macau is a superb ensemble, especially considering it was only a chamber orchestra until 2001, and did not recruit internationally until 2003. Irrespective of the short history, its greatest asset is the superior balance among sections and players, the result of musicians carefully listening to one another. The Macau winds are articulate, their brass incisive, and the strings - of mostly mainland Chinese players - the alma of the orchestra. My friend, a player in the Berkeley Symphony, told me that an orchestra experiences its greatest artistic growth when there is a positive change of music directorship. He cited as examples Los Angeles under Gustavo Dudamel, New York under Alan Gilbert, and Berkeley under our indefatigable Joana Carneiro. To this distinguished list, I must nominate the Orquestra de Macau under Lü Jia, who celebrated his first anniversary there in September 2009.
This concert took place at the Macau Cultural Centre's Grand Auditorium, a spacious hall with very comfortable seating for only 1,114 concertgoers. A concert hall these days usually has over 2,000 seats, just to break even with expenses. Both visual and acoustical properties of this auditorium are something to treasure. And tickets cost only 80 and 120 MOP (about $11 and $16.) The Macau Cultural Centre is conveniently located near the Ferry Terminal, where a No.12 bus will deliver you in 4 stops. Grand Auditorium that venue certainly was! Now only if there was also a restaurant in the complex...
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The Legacy of a Daimyo Family by Armando “Pinky” da Silva
Gracia Hosagawa, wife of a Daimyo, devout Catholic died the noble death of a bushi (samurai) in 1600. Hers is a tale worth re-telling. An outward-rimmed western-styled bronze bell embossed with the Hosagawa clan crest, a metal samurai helmet also with the clan emblem, a period painting in silk of the greatest samurai of all time, Mushashi Miyamoto were some of the special displays featured at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum from June through September 2009. To illuminate the story of Gracia Hosagawa one must re-visit what is called “The Christian Century in Japan, 1542-1640”. Nihongo (Japan) was racked by internecine battles among various daimyos. A daimyo (meaning “important name”) would have had a fortified castle, sustaining rice-fields, samurai warriors, and a loyal retinue of peasants. The top daimyo the effective ruler of Nihongo was the Shogun. He was the Primus inter pares, the First among equals. What about the Emperor? He was considered the Emperor-God of Nihongo, the direct line descendent of Daimyo Hosokawa as Stirring Warrior Amaterasu the Sun Goddess and the mythical first emperor Jinnu. The Divine Emperor embodied Yamato, the Spirit of Japan. He resided at his imposing castle at Kyoto, the spiritual capital of Japan to this day. As Divine Emperor he was detached from the frays of his subjects including feuding daimyos, resulting in powerful Shoguns ruling the country. The Christian Century, which also accorded with the height of Macau’s greatness, spanned most of the overlapping rule of three Shoguns, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1552), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), Tokugawa Ieyasu (1548-1616). Shogun Oda Nobunaga provided the backdrop for Gracia’s story. She came from a pedigreed family, the Tama. Her father, Akechi Mitsahida, also of noble lineage, was the personal attendant and chamberlain to Shogun Oda Nobunaga. Somehow court and personal politics came into play. Gracia’s father assassinated the Shogun! So Gracia’s association with blood began even before she was born. Her life would sadly end in blood. Gracia was born in 1563. Her 37 years of life spanned a period in Japanese history when the top elites of Japanese society embraced the finer things and culture of the late European Renaissance. By then Japanese Jesuits were already preaching the word of Christ. Many Macanese-Japanese, already generational offspring of European Portuguese men and Japanese women, resided in Macau. Many of them served as interpreters and traders on the Kurofune, the Great Black Ship from Macau, the Nau do Trato de Macau. These ones readily interacted with their counterparts in Japan. The Japanese of Gracia’s time readily adopted the great fusion cuisine of the Macanese, such as Donburi (Minchi com ovos na cima) and Tonkatsu (Porco poh bolacho), and Castera (Bolo Castella). Gracia, pronounced “Garacha” very likely understood the Macau-inspired language of trade of her time. As a prime example, the Japanese “Arigato” (thank you) derives from our “Obrigado”. Upper class Macanese women wore clothing based on South-east Asian fashion with a head veil known as dor, a cabaia around the upper body and a wrap-around sarong of batik cloth from the waist down. Meanwhile another group wore Japanese kimonos of silk with tabi footwear. All non-Chinese residents of Macau, Macanese of all stripes, Portuguese traders, soldiers, priests, and black slaves were categorized as Nambanjin (Southern Barbarians). This label was not meant to be pejorative but as a means of distinguishing Japanese ethnicity, culture, and viewpoints from all others.
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The Lord of the Samurai
Gracia would have been a footnote in Japanese history but for her marriage to Daimyo Tadaoki Hosagawa. As with Gracia he was also born in 1563. Kagoshima the most southerly port in Kyushu had the distinction of being the primary port of call for the “Black Ship from Macau”. To this day residents of Kagoshima celebrate “Kurofune Day” whereby a large replica of the Nau do Trato de Macau is paraded to the joy of participants and onlookers. However, some daimyos and powerful merchants were not to be outdone. The influential Hosagawas were party to the founding of Nagasaki in 1571. Shoreline land was set aside to accommodate the growing trade with Macau. In truth, without Macau there would have been no Nagasaki, and without Nagasaki, Macau would have been much the poorer in trade. Both benefited from this symbiotic interport trade. Tadaoki Hosagawa was the quintessential Daimyo-samurai. He embodied the duality of the fierce warrior and the refined gentleman with leadership and merit expected from both aspects of the sword and the brush. He coaxed Mushashi Miyamoto, the greatest samurai of all time, to be his mentor. Mushashi introduced the novel technique of dueling with two swords, using the long sword, katena, and the short sword, wakizashi. He was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism. With Zen insight and a poet’s vision he brushed ink on silk the definitive treatise on Japanese battle thinking on a long unfurling scroll called The Illustrated Books of the Five Rings. To this day Mushashi’s work is a required text at all Japanese business schools and required reading as well for Japanese corporate managers, as battle strategies can be conflated with business ones. School boys in Japan know of the battle of Sekigahara in 1600 the outcome of which determined future rulers of Japan for the next two and a half centuries. At Sekigahara about 20 or so powerful daimyos, their samurais, their retinues of peasant soldiers on both sides arrayed in battle in their thousands. Daimyo Tadaoki went to battle under the banner of his leader, senior Daimyo Ieyesu Tokugawa. The battle was not a one-day affair but lasted some days as formations deployed, dispersed, re-deployed, and switched sides. Meanwhile, Gracia was ensconced under the protective care of a lesser daimyo at a castle in Osaka as the battles raged. But a rogue daimyo who switched side in battle attempted to seize her for ransom. The fortress was breached. Gracia made her decision. She would not compromise the leadership of her husband while he was engaged in battle. She would go the way of the Code of the Bushido, and as a loyal wife and a pious Catholic. Seppuku, the ritual suicide of a bushi (samurai) was out of the question since this ritual was proscribed by her faith. She told her attendant chamberlain, a samurai what do. Kneeling with her head bowed Gracia was in the midst of reciting the Rosary for the safety of her husband as threatening samurais approached on the scene. She focused on her prayer, “Hail Mary full of grace…” Then the upheld gleaming blade of the long sword plunged downward. Daimyo Ieyasu Tokugawa was victorious at the final battle. He would be the new Shogun of all Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate residing at Yedo (Tokyo) would rule Japan for the next two and a half centuries until 1868 when the Emperor was restored to full imperial power at the occasion known as the Meiji Restoration. Tadaoki Hosagawa was rewarded with vast land holdings in western Kyushu, provided with two castles and given the appropriate title Tadaoki Sansei (Sir West (of Kyushu). A bereaved Tadaoki constructed a church in the Japanese manner in memory of Gracia. Within the interior would sit a western style bronze bell, on a supporting stand, with the Hosagawa crest. This bell was sequestered secretly by the Hosagawa family during the fierce persecution of Catholics in the late 1640’s by the third Tokugawa Shogun only to re-emerge at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The remains of Tadaoki and Gracia Hosagawa are interred at their own special garden plot at Kyoto, Japan’s spiritual and cultural capital, as a fitting final resting place for this devoted couple.
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General Vasco Rocha Vieira – the last Governor of Macau
On May 25, 2010 at the Independence Palace in Lisbon, General Vasco Rocha Vieira was awarded the prestigious “Portuguese Identity” award in recognition of an outstanding military career and service in the office of the Chief of the General staff of the Army, 1976-1979, National Military Representative with the Supreme Allied Command Europe in Belgium 1978-1982, Minister of the Republic for the Azores 1986-1991, and last Governor of Macau, from 1991 to December 19, 1999. He was recognized for his contribution to the development of Macau and the dignified transfer of sovereignty to China which received high praises from the Chinese authorities, thus contributing to the excellent relationship of both countries.
Msgn. Desmond Dillon, 95 nd Birthday and 69 th Anniversary of Ordination
Msgn. Desmond da Roza Dillon, celebrated his 95 nd Birthday in January and his 69 th Anniversary of Ordination on May 23 rd 2010 with a Mass and Reception at St. Joseph’s Church , Kennewick, Washington where he was the pastor for 30 years before his retirement.
Desmond left Hong Kong in the early 20’s with his family and settled in the Seattle Area. He survived the Great Depression and was an Army Chaplin during the Second World War.
Msgn Dillon says: “ Surprised that I have lived this long and I will be even more surprised if I’m here next year for my surprise 96th birthday party”. Congratulations Msgn. Dillon – not to worry, the da Roza’s all live long lives. Our cousin Carmen da Roza Lopez just celebrated her 96th birthday last month and her mother Aunty Sylvia lived to 100. Many more happy birthday celebrations to come.
Fr. Alexander Lewis 25 th Anniversary of Ordination
Fr. Alexander Lewis celebrated his 25 th Anniversary of Ordination on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in North Hills, California.
The Macanese community of UMA, Inc are very proud of your great work, especially the generous time and effort you have devoted to join us in the celebration of our 50 th Anniversary last year.
Thank you for all your contributions to the Macanese community and God Bless you as you continue in His great works . CONGRATULATIONS!
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Future Golf Pro
Ryan Perkins, grandson of Miguella and Robert (GL) Remedios, won First Place in 2 of the Southern Texas Section of the Junior PGA Tournaments for Boys 16-18. The first tournament was held at the River Place Country Club in Austin, Texas on November 8, 2009, and the other on December 5, 2009 at the Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin, Texas. 17 year old Ryan, lives with his parents, Sharon and Bob Perkins in Austin, Texas. On May 20, 2010 Ryan received an award from his high school varsity golf team for being the "MOST ACCURATE DRIVER".
Reminiscence by Delano Pereira
I recount this episode of mine when I was living with my aunt in SF in the year of 1963, while attending Berkeley, the beginning of my third year of architectural study. My cousin King Pereira was trying to get me to be active with UMA; in this sense, since the fall of 1963 I was "inducted" into UMA. While not in the group of the most avuncular UMA members, I am proud to consider myself as an old UMA trooper.
UMA was 9-years old then, already searching for an HQ. UMA came very close to getting one. The President was then Tony Ricci-Pereira. "We" inspected the sixth floor of the Elks' Lodge, at the intersection of Market and Van Ness. I remember the dark-stained wood carved chairs flanking two walls, very much in the style of an Anglican Church. This is where my memory dims: there was a talk that UMA could buy a "condominium" (then the new rage of SF Realtors) share of this meeting hall. My memory now suffers synaptic failure: the price was $6,000, then a princely sum, when a $10,000 annum salary would place one in the elite of upper middle class. Shares were suggested to raise this seed money from the members, then, I guess to be around slightly more than 200. There were no Chapters then.
Looking back, I guess many of the members would kick themselves for not having taken this initiative. We have to remember many were arriving at these shores, uncertain of the future unfolding before them. We had figuratively two pairs in a five-card poker hand. We folded.
So many UMA members dreamt of a clubhouse. So many died not knowing that one day, perhaps too belatedly, UMA will have a functioning clubhouse.
Best of saude to the surviving of us, the U in the UMA.
(Editor’s Notes: Delano, thank you for sharing this little tidbit with us. Indecision is one of the major failings of our community – thank God, the three clubs finally made a decision with the Macau Cultural Center and we will finally have a clubhouse. I am sure we will encounter many problems but it is my believe that we will overcome these problems and be proud of our cultural legacy).
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Maryknoll Reunion By Zella Kotella
If you are a Maryknoller, you belong to a large family – our extended family with members living all over the world. Every three years there is a gathering of the clan, and this year, our 7 th Worldwide Reunion, took place in our beloved alma mater in Kowloon tong. We were also co-celebrating our MCS 85 th anniversary.
St. Gerry Silva and I had the good fortune to be invited back to our homecoming by students we taught fifty plus years ago. Not only did they pay for our plane tickets and hotel rooms at the Y.M.C.A hotel next to the Peninsula, but they gave us a most generous allowance of spending money, Needless to say we felt supremely blessed and touched by the affection, generosity, and kindness of our former students, most of whom have done very well in life.
The event started at the covered playground of our beautiful brown stoned school, now the primary school. Memories flooded back to me of 60 and more years ago when we had our rainy day recesses, right there, and strolled around the surrounding grounds with our friends on sunny days, perhaps walking over to the swimming pool that is no more, having been converted to a basketball court.
Sr. Jeanne Houlihan, my friend and colleague who started teaching at MCS in 1955 as did I, and is now the Supervisor of the Secondary Section, welcomed us as did a few other Maryknoll sister and faculty, including two former students of mine, Gloria Yip Ko, Secondary school principal from 1997 to 2002, and Helen Lai Yee Supervisor of the Primary School.
The school doors opened and we spent an afternoon going through the building, looking at an exhibition of art work done by the present students, and a presentation celebrating the 85 th anniversary of the school. Then followed a reception of finger foods and cake in the quadrangle where our Lady’s statue is placed, the background scene of many a snapshot photo of the classes.
Saturday was the day we spent with our individual class, dong whatever was planned by the class representatives. Gerry & I went to Macau with our host class of ’59, For Gerry it was most nostalgic as she hadn’t been back since the war years, but for myself having attended the last 4 Encontro, it was still something special. We had lunch at the Macau Tower, a revolving restaurant with a stupendous buffet and scenic view. Dinner was at the popular Portuguese restaurant “Jumbo”, where we dined on bacalhao sardines and natas, among other dishes.
The big and final day was Sunday which began with mass at our school’s auditorium. None other than Fr. Marciano Baptista was the celebrant, himself a former Maryknoller from our kindergarten when boys were able to attend classes. His homily was most unusual and unconventional, mentioning several Maryknoll nuns who had an influence on the lives of his 6 sisters and himself. He also singled out two of his Kowloon tong friends from his past, Nancy Prata and Lilia Gaan.
I was very much impressed with what Fr. Marciano said about what makes one school different from all other Catholic schools he had come in contact with in his years of teaching and being principal of Wah Yan College. I thought he really nailed it on the head.
He mentioned the 2 distinguishing difference – the freedom the sisters allowed us to develop our talents and be true to ourselves and the love and caring they had for us no matter what we did or didn’t do.
That evening we concluded our celebration with a banquet at the Grand Hall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, attended by over 2000 of us. Sr. Gerry and I were seated at the VIP UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Summer Issue 2010 Page 30 of 36
Maryknoll Reunion table along with Fr. Marciano and Sr. Jeanne Houlihan. We were introduced and called to the podium as well.
Each of our worldwide reunions has it’s own character and they’re all different and yet the same in sprit. It was Lourdes Gonsalves Remedios and her friends who started the ball rolling back in 1993 and momentum have grown ever since. The distinctive mark on those who have attended every single one has remained with us and grows and we all look forward to the next one which will be in Vancouver in 2013. Not only have Gerry and I renewed and strengthen our ties with our loyal and wonderful former students with each event, I have made new friends among girls I didn’t teach but are part of our worldwide extended family.
I would like to quote from an article written by Mr. Aloysius Lee, Deputy Principal for School Development. “For what they receive at school, Maryknollers give much more in return, to home, to country and to the world. If you have stood up to the tyranny of fate and of man’s selfishness and ignorance, walked tall when the going was rough, held your course where lesser breed might change theirs, and made the most of your God-given talents in the service of others, then the Maryknoll spirit is in you and may it sustain you in the many years yet to come”.
Request for information From: Sharon Heighway
My name is Sharon Heighway (nee Gutierrez) I have been referred to you by my cousin Roger Passos.
I have recently embarked on a family research project partly to find information about my family and also to find relatives that due to my parents immigrating to Australia resulted in lose of contact. I was successful in finding relatives on my father's side Fernando. Everyone has been very welcoming and my aunts Aida de Almeida & Olga Patterson were grateful ( as they told me) to find out about what had happened to their brother Fernando after 60 years.
The reason for my email is that I wish to now research my mother Blanche Veronica Gutierrez ( nee dos Remedios). She was the daughter of Carlos dos Remedios and Luisa M La Salette Soares.
I would love to find my aunts Beatriz Maria dos Remedios born 22nd August 1922 and Maria Teresa dos Remedios born 29th August 1925. They lived at 22 Robinson Road, Mid Level Hong Kong for a time. Their father Carlos worked in shipping as a Mercantile assistant. Friends of my parents told me that it was believed that Maria (called Teresa I believe) married an English man.
(Editor’s Note : If anyone in the community has any information regarding Blanche Veronica Gutierrez nee dos Remedios, please email Sharon.)
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PORCO BALICHÃO TAMARINDO, COM ARROZ CARREGADO by Rosa de Carvalho Ross
In the period just after the second World War, we returned to Hong Kong from Macao our ancestral home, where we had spent the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong as refugees. Life settled down to one of comfort and prosperity for most Macanese families.
In the hot humid summers, we would go to the beach at Castle Peak. This was a pleasant hour’s drive from our home in Kowloon Tong, the area near Lion Rock hill where we lived. Even though these were day trips, my parents and many of our friends' families, rented for the season, little fishermen’s stone cottages on the beach. These cottages were typically peasant-style homes with no electricity and often no running water. There was usually a small terrace in the front surrounded by a waist-high wall, a living room the size of the house, with a kitchen area in the back, and some sort of bathing area with very primitive toilet facilities. There was usually an upper floor with one or two small rooms with tiny windows in which we set up camp beds for afternoon naps. The walls and floors of the houses were stone and concrete and this was a great advantage in the hot summer weather as the stone kept everything cool.
We children spent most of the days in the water or playing on the beach. In the early summer, when the water was still cool, being stung by jellyfish was a big hazard. Catching jellyfish and pulling them out of the water was one of our favorite pastimes. We indulged in childish cruelty, prancing around, as the jellyfish melted in the hot sun. In the heat of midday, however, we had to come in and have tiffin, as lunch was commonly called. Then over our loud protests, our Amah would force us to have at least an hour’s rest if not a real nap. Looking back, in my sleep deprived schedule today, I often regret fighting against all those lost hours of luxurious napping.
The kitchen was really primitive, generally consisting of a concrete shelf with a sink (and sometimes running water) or a place for a bucket or tub of water which had to be brought in from the well outside. My mother would equip it with some rudimentary camp-style cooking stoves or the Chinese flowerpot- style terracotta clay stoves, a few pots, a wok, and a kettle for the preparation of hot tea. The food we ate was often brought from town, however, all cooked and sometimes intended to be served cold. Of course, we had sandwiches and cakes for snacking which were always at hand, together with the rattan padded tea cozy to keep the teapot hot, but there had to be a main midday meal that was more filling. Porco balichão tamarindo with arroz carregado was a must-have popular dish. The cubes of pork were braised in soy sauce with tamarind and balichão, and could be served hot or cold. The pressed rice, however, was always served cold. The rice was cooked with a little lard, salt and chopped scallions were mixed in at the end. The rice was then poured out onto a shallow (always oval dish) and pressed into a cake. Then a tree-like pattern was scored on the top, the rice was covered and allowed to cool. The pork dish was usually packed into a tiered tin lunch carrier and the oval porcelain platter of arroz carregado was wrapped in a large cloth which could also be used as a picnic table cloth.
In the old days, this was made with pork that had the skin attached. As this cut of meat is not common here, except in Asian meat markets, I have specified pork butt. This dish improves with keeping and so it works well with today’s healthy fat-conscious eating style, as it could be made day in advance, chilled and all the fat removed. Although we often serve this cold, it is delicious hot as well.
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PORCO BALICHÃO TAMARINDO
Serves 6 to 8
3 pounds pork butt 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons balichão 2 tablespoons tamarind paste or pulp dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water 1/4 cup dark soy sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar Water
Cut the pork into 2-inch cubes, trimming off excess fat. In a small skillet, over medium heat, saute the balichão in the oil. In a saucepan, combine the pork with the balichão, tamarind paste or tamarind water, soy sauce, sugar and enough water to just barely cover the meat. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the pork is fork tender. Cool and refrigerate overnight. Remove all the fat and return to room temperature to serve.
PRESSED RICE - ARROZ CARREGADO
1 pound long-grain rice 2 ounces lard 6 garlic cloves, minced Salt, to taste 4 scallions, minced, green and white parts 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Rinse the rice in cold water once or twice and drain well. Heat the lard in the deep saucepan and lightly saute the minced garlic, being careful not to let it burn. Add the rice and stir once or twice to coat the rice well. Add cold water to cover the rice up to 1 inch from the top of the rice. Add the salt, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered until the rice is cooked through. It should be soft and sticky. With a wet wooden spoon, stir in the minced scallions.
Pour the rice onto a well oiled platter and press down evenly to a height of about 2 to 3 inches. Score as described and let cool to room temperature before serving.
EDITOR’S NOTE : The above was sent to us by Rosa Ross, who lives in East Marion, Long Island, NY. Rosa, a culinary professional who owns and operates Scrimshaw, a very successful waterfront restaurant in Greenport, L.I., is the sister of UMA President Raquel Remedios. Featured some years ago in an article in Saveur magazine, Rosa is also a published author credited with the publication of several popular cookbooks on Asian and fusion cuisine, including “365 Ways to Cook Chinese” and “Beyond Bok Choy”.
Births
Maria Helena Xavier is proud and happy to announce that her son Antonio and his lovely wife Nicolle are the new parents of a beautiful daughter named Raquel Augusta Xavier born on January 10, 2010, weighing in at 6 lbs 14 oz, 20” long. Welcome Amore!
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D'Almada Remedios, Edith Maria (Ozorio) passed away peacefully on January 30th, 2010 at 7 a.m. in Seattle. Wa. at the age of 95. She was the beloved wife first to CMS Henry Britto (who died as a POW) and then to Luigi D'Almada Remedios (deceased). She was a loving mother to Patricia, Virginia, Anthony and Richard and grandmother to Ann, Ed, Jonathan, Brenna and Anthony. She is survived by her sister Carmen (Seattle, WA.) and her brother Alberto (Toronton, Canada) Da Silva, Bernardo (Ben) passed away peacefully at home in San Francisco on May 18, 2010 at the age of 80. He is survived by Pat, his beloved wife of 52 years, loving children David (Mary), Karen (Tony Chiodo), Linda (Will Mitchell), Diane (Chris Pilawski), and four cherished grandchildren. Ben was predeceased by his parents Francisco (Chico) and Lilia Da Silva, brother Gus and sister Evelyn.
Lopes, Leopoldo Luiz, (September 1, 1929-May 9, 2010). Leo is the father of Ann-Marie Santana (Ted), Michael Lopes (Mary), Anthony Lopes, and the younger brother of Manuel Lopes (Irene). He leaves behind four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, many nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was born in Shanghai's Hongkew district, baptized at Sacred Heart Church, attended St. Francis Xavier School. He moved to Hong Kong in 1951 and worked at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. He came to San Francisco in 1969, residing at the Outer Sunset District, and was employed at Crocker National Bank and later at Wells Fargo Bank until his retirement. He is interred at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery at San Rafael, California.
Marques, Robert was born in Hong Kong on December 31, 1919. He was the Guardian of our family. I say this, because he remained a bachelor all his life and whenever the family was in need, he was there for us.
Robert served in the Hong Kong Defense Force during World War II and was assigned to guard the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, but when it was learned that surrender by the British to the Japanese was imminent, the manager of the bank ordered the soldiers there to discard their uniform and go home. Robert then worked for the bank until it was liquidated. In this manner, he was able to help support our family of 9 during the 3 years of near starvation. After 3 years, Dad decided it was time to leave Hong Kong and take refuge in Macau, then a neutral colony of Portugal. After the war, Robert worked for China Light. He was a member of Club de Recreio and represented the Club in field hockey, winning a few championships and interport games. He was also a keen tennis player. In 1960, Robert immigrated to America and lived with Lionel and Aurea for 5 years. Robert and the Pereira family had an extraordinary bond with each other. When Bea lost Guy Azedo, Robert moved in with Bea, Dad and Mom, until all of them passed away. During his retirement years, Robert was generous with his time. He helped drive the parents and spouse of his friends for doctor's appointments, to the market and church. After a few years, Robert's health started to deteriorate and he was placed in Rose Villa Retirement Community in Bellflower and stayed there for 9 years until his passing.
Rozario, Agnes (Gardner) - We lost our dear Aunt Agnes on February 14, 2010. She slipped quietly away from her loving family and is greatly missed. She was born in Hong Kong on May 17, 1930. At the young age of 13, she met her future husband, Jorge Rozario, and they married on October 21, 1953. Jorge and Agnes loved adventure and were one of the first of the Rozario clan to migrate to the United States. They were a generous, big-hearted couple, loved to entertain, dance and hosted many parties at their home. They enjoyed a long and happy marriage until his death on July 21, 2005. Jorge came to claim his beloved Agnes on Valentine's Day and they are reunited once again. She is survived by her many nieces and nephews.
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Obituary
Tizon, Bonifacio G. Son of Pablo (Penguin) and Anna Tizon, passed away peacefully at his home on June 2, 2010. He is survived by sisters Valentina and Matilda, niece Sylvia Harrell and nephews Arturo Acosta and Mark Lubeck. Boni attended Saint Francis Xavier and Ste. Jeanne d"Arc in Shanghai .
Boni was a track & field man with bursts of speed for all short and medium distances. He was also a very tricky football (soccer) player. From Shanghai his family went to Japan before the Communist takeover in 1949. He attended St. Louis Gonzaga College at Yokohama. Boni was their star center forward and much admired by the Japanese students and educators because he was not only a good athlete, he promoted much goodwill among the younger generation within his community. Boni immigrated to San Francisco in the mid-‘50’s and worked as a Counselor and Director of the Boy’s Club sponsored by the Y.M.C.A. Downtown branch to help with his educational studies to attain his Master’s Degree. He enjoyed painting in oil - sold some and kept the nicer ones at home to decorate the walls of his comfy home in Daly City. Boni was also a dedicated UMA attendee at all of the club socials. He enjoyed playing mahjong with his many lady friends throughout the City. He would tell jokes and/or stories with a serious face and kept everyone guessing whether he was being truthful or just pulling their legs.
UMA, Inc Officers Title Name Home Address Phone (Fax) Email President Raquel Remedios 845 Tournament Dr, 650-349-2707 [email protected] Hillsborough, Ca 94010 Vice-Pres Maria Gomes 4394 N. Sweetbriar Ct, 925-798-2005 [email protected] Concord, Ca 94521 Treasurer Daniel Gomes 4394 N. Sweetbriar Ct, 925-798-2005 [email protected] Concord, Ca 94521 Secretary Robert de Graca 831 Sean Place, 925-685-8869 [email protected] Concord, Ca 94518 Director Arnaldo Barros 446 17 th Avenue 415-751-3307 [email protected] San Francisco, Ca 94121 Director Sally Carchidi 2257 Seaview Dr, 714-526-5986 [email protected] Fullerton, Ca 92833 Director Ed de Assis 1124 Singing Wood Ct,#8, 925-943-2003 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Dan Gomes 4394 N. Sweetbriar Ct, 925-798-2005 [email protected] Concord, Ca 94521 Director Marie Guterres 825 Prairie Creek Dr, 650-359-3858 [email protected] Pacifica, Ca 94044 Director Rita Guterres 19202 Benfield Ave, 562-924-3108 [email protected] Cerritos, Ca 90703 Director Gloria Sequeira 10435 Vultee St., 562-862-2614 Gloria [email protected] Downey, Ca 90241 Director Alex Xavier 5 Belmont Drive, 650-991-2868 [email protected] Daly City, Ca 94015 Director Maureen Xavier 5 Belmont Drive, 650-991-2868 [email protected] Daly City, Ca 94015
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Picture of birthday party in Macau by Rogerio da Luz, currently living in Brazil – Early 50’s. Can anybody put names to the faces?
A Quarterly Publication of the Macanese Diaspora Associate Editor for Distribution: Francis Carion, 1112 Rockledge Kane, No.7, Walnut Creek, Ca 94595
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