Vol. 56. No. 2 A Publication of UMA, Inc Apr - Jun 2016 Editor: Daniel Gomes, 2021 Ptarmigan Drive #1 Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 E-Mail:[email protected]
After his symposium at UC Berkeley, the President of APIM, Miguel Senna Fernades paid UMA a social visit, and as usual, our Social Committee Chaired by Flavia Grubel threw a sumptuous “Cha Gordo” to welcome him.
We had the usual suspects; Asparagus Rolls, Chicken salad sandwich, Egg salad sandwich, Chilicote, Samoosas (Calicok), Crab Dip with crackers, Capella, Chow Mei Fun, Chicken chook with all the trimmings - Yau Cha Quai, Pei Tan, sliced ginger, chopped green onions and cilantro, pickled radish and peanuts. Desserts: Batatada, Bebinga de Leite and Flan
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 1 of 32
Way from the Forum
Miguel was very much at ease in our midst. As he says, “sung nosa gente”. He spoke to us about the changes going on in Macau. Rather than be a “Bafo comprido”, I am going to refer you to the article on the “ Rise and Fall of an Empire” on Page 18 of this Issue of the UMA Bulletin where he wags nostalgically on issues facing the citizens of Macau: Identity, Heritage, Culture, Patua and the future of Macau.
At the Question and Answer session four very important issues were discussed: Minchi, Maquista Vs Macanese, Identity and why does the Macau Government continue to support the Enconntro.
MINCHI
“Maquista love their Minchi. So do the Chinese, but their Minchi is different from ours. They love our Minchi and they always ask us what we put in our Minchi. Well, you think we are stupid – we never tell them. We say, it’s the secret source, a little bit of “tick yeou”, a little bit of “soy source, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Than they say “How Much” and we say, “You look, you taste, and you smell”.
The reality is that every one of us cooks up a different Minchi. My grandfather must have potatoes in his Minchi, my grandmother never puts potatoes in her Minchi. So when she makes Minchi she makes two kinds – one for him and one for he.”
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 2 of 32
Way from Forum
MAQUISTA VS MACAENSE
Maquista is an old word use by our ancestors for generations. We refer to ourselves as “Maquistas”. We are not Portuguese and we are not Chinese – we are of mixed races with origins in Macau. Even though we are spread throughout the world we have linkage to Macau.
Macaense is a word that has crept into our vocabulary recently. It refers to the people born in Macau of Portuguese decent. That is a very restrictive word and excludes all those who were not born in Macau.
I prefer to use the word “Maquista”. It is a more inclusive term.
IDENTITY AND CULTURE
People in Macau are evaluating their own Identity. The Maquista in Macau are forging a new Identity and trying to preserve their Portuguese culture and heritage in the new Chinese society. They are nostalgic about the past and I for one is passionate to keep the Patua language alive.
The Chinese born in Macau are also evaluating their own identity. They are different from the Hong Kong born Chinese. They enjoy the uniqueness of their Portuguese culture – drinking espresso and eating “bacalhau”
The vast majority of Chinese in Macau, and growing rapidly, are recent immigrants from China and they are getting a bigger role in the government of Macau. They are getting elected to the city council.
WHY DOES MACAU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ENCONTRO.
The policy emanates from Beijing. They want to forge closer ties with Portuguese Speaking Countries and Macau is the platform they chose to achieve this goal. Since this is their goal it makes perfect sense to support the Encontro.
Below are four videos of Miguel’s visit to Berkeley. Copy the URL on to your browser to view his presentation: . https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Ee3YeaXT5iVUdmWC1UcG9jX0k/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Ee3YeaXT5iSkdubEFNNEpJdnc/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Ee3YeaXT5iMmNDSFBUWnNIYXM/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Ee3YeaXT5iOHBvZWxUbDhRT0k/view?usp=drivesdk
At the end of the official session, the group gathered around the piano and belted out some good old favorite songs.
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 3 of 32
Way from the Forum
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 4 of 32
President’s Message
Dear Members,
The Board of Directors with the Social Committee hosted a Cha Gordo for Dr. Miguel Senna Fernandes, President of APIM of Macao during his visit to the SF Bay Area in May. The purpose of his visit was to get to know the three Casas and its members better. He also held a conference at UC Berkley which was well attended by the Casas. For those interested but was unable to attend the Conference, the link to his presentation is posted on the bottom of page 3 of this Bulletin.
New Portuguese Consulate Hours in San Francisco The Consulate General of Portugal in San Francisco has implemented new office hours for the public and initiated a new online appointment system. The objective is to better serve the large Portuguese community within the 13 Western States, in light of the increasing number of requests.
The new schedule means there will be one less hour per day of service to the public which will now be available from 9.00am until 2:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Consulate General will be closed to the public on Wednesdays.
In order to better serve you, the Consulate General has also initiated a new online appointment system available in its website www.PortugalinSF.com. Please make sure you schedule your appointment before your visit.
As of this date you can download (free) from the Apple Store or Google Play the new App of the Portuguese Consulate (look for Portugal in SF). This will enable you to receive useful notifications, book your appointments and much more. Download NOW!
MCC: At the quarterly meeting of the MCC held on June 4, 2016 a vote was taken from the Directors of the three Casas for their responses from their Clubs in reference to the unification of the 3 clubs, results are as follows: Casa de Macau: Not at the moment, eventually. Lusitano – NO UMA –Remains open for talks As previously stated, I will keep you posted should any changes as they occur.
ELECTIONS: Elections for coming term January 2017 thru December 2018 If you are interested in serving UMA in a positive way, I encourage you to join the Board of Directors. You may also nominate an individual by submitting their name to Miguella Remedios, the Nomination Chairperson. However, that individual must agree to be nominated. All nominations must be received by August 1, 2016.
Miguella Remedios 1301 Ptarmigan Drive # 2 Walnut Creek, Ca. 94595
Annual Scholarships There were nine applications received, a record number. The application packages were sent to the four Scholarship Committee Members for selection. The awardees will be advised and also be posted in our next UNB.
Enconntro 2016 Registration deadline is now closed. We have 58 applicants that are looking forward towards November.
Sincerely, Sandy Souza
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 5 of 32
You Are Invited To Our Annual
It is Time Once Again to Give Thanks for our Blessings, to Pray for União Macaense Americana, Inc. (UMA), our Relatives, Friends, And the Sick, the Poor and the Dear Departed
~~~~~
Place: Church of the Good Shepherd 901 Oceana Boulevard, Pacifica, CA Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016 Time: 11:00 AM Lunch: 12:00 Noon at the Church Hall Cost: $10.00 per Person
Deadline for Reservations: July 1, 2016
For more information, check our website: www.uma-casademacau.com
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Please fill in name(s), enclose check, made payable to UMA Inc., and send to Flavia Greuble at 1232 Skycrest Drive #2, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 Tel: 925-930-8672 Email: [email protected] Name: ______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______
Please Note: There Will Be No Refunds For No Shows
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 6 of 32
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 7 of 32
You Are Invited To A Dinner Dance
at the
The Event Center, Rossmoor Stanley Dollar Drive Walnut Creek, CA 94595
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2016
5:30 PM Cocktails 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 - 10:30 PM Dancing to the Music of DJ Collin Dickie
Price per Person: $15.00 UMA Members $30.00 Others
Attire: Hawaiian Deadline for Reservations: July 25, 2016 Max Capacity: 150 Persons For more information, check our website: www.uma-casademacau.com
Directions: Tell Security at gate that you are going to the Event Center. After clearing Security, go straight to Rossmoor Parkway. At the 4th STOP sign, turn Right on Stanley Dollar, then take an immediate Left into Event Center Parking Lot. ------
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. Please list names on back of form. Thank you. Please Note: There Will Be No Refunds For No Shows
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 8 of 32
UMA, INC.
ANNUAL MIXED TRIPLES BOWLING TOURNAMENT
UMA takes great pride in once again sponsoring this Bowling Extravaganza, which is open to all UMA and Macanese Certified Lawn Bowlers. Non-Bowling UMA Members are welcome to join. Come and root for your favorite bowler.
This year’s event will be held on Sunday, September 18th, 2016 at the ROSSMOOR LAWN BOWLING CLUB, WALNUT CREEK, CA followed by Dinner after the games at the Fireside Room in Rossmoor The cost will be $15.00 per Bowler which includes the Dinner.
Tournament begins promptly at 9:30AM and ends at 4PM. Dress Code: Whites and flat smooth soled shoes. USLBA Rules apply. Please bring your own lunch.
TWO 14 END GAMES The Tournament Director/Committee’s decisions are final.
First come, first served basis: Entries with checks must be received by September 5, 2016. As this is strictly a mixed team event, we may not be able to accept all entries. Thus, the last odd entries will not be accepted and check(s) will be returned.
Friends and camp followers are welcome to attend the Dinner at $10.00 for UMA Member and $15.00 for Non-members. For more information, check our website: www.uma-casademacau.com
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Please complete form and enclose check, made payable to UMA, INC. and send to: Sandy Souza 2601 Pine Knoll Drive # 10, Walnut Creek, Ca. 94595 Tel: (925) 639-7708
BOWLER’S NAME: ______
NON-BOWLER’S NAME –DINNER ONLY ______
Check Enclosed for $______
NO REFUNDS FOR NO SHOWS
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 9 of 32
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
DIM SUM LUNCHEON
SATURDAY, September 24h, 2016 11:30aam to 2.00pm
Seafood Harbor Restaurant 18329 So. Pioneer Blvd. Artesia, CA. 90701 (1/2 mile south of 91 Freeway) COST: UMA Members - $15.00 (refundable at door) Non – Members $15.00 There will be NO REFUNDS for NO SHOWS DEADLINE: September 1, 2016
Please make checks payable to Aurea Pereira, and mail to : Aurea Pereira 5429 Adenmoor Ave., Lakewood, CA. 90713 TEL: (562) 925-4604
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 10 of 32
Game day
Come and join us for a day of fun and games with family and friends:
Mahjong, Poker, Rummikub, Mexican Train, Etc.!
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2016 Time: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Place: Vista Room@ Hillside Rossmoor, Ca.
Cost per Person : $ 15.00 UMA Members $ 30.00 Non Members
10:30 AM Coffee, Bagels & Donuts 1:00 PM Lunch 4:00 PM Tea 7:00 PM Dinner
Deadline for Reservations: September 28, 2016
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Please make reservations early and send checks payable to UMA, Inc., to: Flavia Greubel, 1232 Skycrest Drive # 2, Walnut Creek, Ca. 94595 Tel: (925)930-8672
Name: ______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______Name:______Tel: ______
Please Note: There Will Be No Refunds For No Shows
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 11 of 32
Sponsored by Maca u Cultural Center and Fundação Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal
ST. ANNE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1600 ROSSMOOR PARKWAY WALNUT CREEK, CA 94595
CLUB ROOM , CREEKSIDE CLUBHOUSE ROSSMOOR Directions: Tell Security you are going to Creekside Clubhouse. After clearing Security, go straight on Rossmoor Parkway. After the 3rd STOP Sign, turn Right into Parking lot. Club Room is 1st room on the right when entering the Clubhouse.
$12.00 FOR CASA DE MACAU, LUSITANO & UMA MEMBERS $20.00 FOR NON- MEMBERS (No refunds for no shows)
Please RSVP by October 1 with names of attendees to [email protected] or Flavia Greubel at (925 ) 930- 8672
Mail check payable to: MACAU CULTURAL CENTER 582 Market St # 1905, San Francisco, CA 94104
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 12 of 32
Obituary
Da Luz, Mercia Therese left us peacefully to join her heavenly Father, her parents Carlos & Eulalia Remedios, her daughter Debbie Hollinshead and her manu Freddy Remedios on May 16, 2016. She was resting with her husband of 64 years Raul by her side.
Mercia enjoyed cooking and was quite an accomplished cook. Her tachu was shared with many people invited to her dinner table. She loved to dance and enjoyed good music. She enjoyed her trips to Reno to gamble and the cruises she took with her husband and playing Mahjong with her friends at Rossmoor.
She and Raul moved to Brookdale Assisted Living in Santa Cruz from Rossmoor in March of 2015 when her health deteriorated and they needed more help. Her daughter and son-in-law live in Santa Cruz and was able to be there for them. It was through the compassion of the nurses at Brookdale and Hospice of Santa Cruz that she was able to pass in her sleep and in no pain.
She is survived by her husband Raul and her children Scott & Diane Carter (Santa Cruz) and Santana da Luz (San Francisco), her brothers Eric & Loudres Remedios (Toronto) and Robert & Micki Remedios (Rossmoor) and her sister-in-law Lillian Remedios (Pacifica). She also had grandchildren Nick & Courtney Wenzel (Gilroy) and Kristine and Jess Gately (Boston). She had two great grandsons Mason Wenzel (3 yrs) and Ryder Wenzel (6 months). May she rest in peace.
Da Rosa, Rafael (Dec 19, 1932 – Jun 15, 2016) 83 passed away on June 15, 2016 at home with his family around him. Rafael was born in Shanghai on Dec. 19, 1932. He is survived by Wife Priscilla Da Rosa, Daughters Rita Padilla, Carol Da Rosa, Son in-law Joe, Grand Children Dominique (Husband Dennis) Michael (Wife Lovelyn) Danielle (Husband Jason) Great Grand Children Leticia, Merissa, Jocelyn, Angelina, Anthony, Angelo, Areheonna, Michael, Maleah, Jaxson, Jason, Elysia, Joseph..
McKenna John E, 86, of Folsom, beloved husband for almost 29 years to Marilyn "Mella" (Brown) McKenna, passed away peacefully at Kaiser Roseville due to complications of a massive stroke.
John was born on November 13, 1929 in San Francisco, son of the late John J. and Alice (Foster) McKenna and brother of the late Carole Haggmark. He was a graduate of Poly High School and City College of San Francisco where he majored in Criminal Justice.
A veteran of the Korean War, John was awarded the Bronze Star for his distinguished actions in the conflict. After his discharge, he began his career in the San Francisco Police Department from where he retired in 1986 as an inspector. His career in the SFPD included the investigation and successful convictions of those involved in the notorious Golden Dragon Massacre. After his retirement, he spent several years working International Security for National Semiconductor in Sunnyvale.
John was predeceased by his first wife Juliana (O'Brien) McKenna in 1983. He had five children with Juliana including John (Melanie),Joyce (Robert), Jacqueline (Frank), William (Edna) and Michael (Tammie) .
With his subsequent marriage to Marilyn, he welcomed James (Virginia), Stephaniei (Charles) and Derrick (Maria) into his extended family. He was blessed with 17 grandchildren and a great-grandson. He is predeceased by his cherished-grandson John F. McKenna. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Colleen (Brown) Phelan of San Diego.
Pereira, Giovani (John) Miguel, passed away peacefully on 27th day of May 2016 at the age of 86 with his loving family beside him. Beloved husband of Maria do Carmo (Melin); father of Gino, Mario, Marisa; father-in-law; grandfather; and great grandfather.
Giovanni was born in Shanghai in June 1930 to Jose Emilio Xavier Pereira and Iride Annunciata Cecilia Inaba Poggi. He had a younger sister Loretta (Lulie), now deceased.
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 13 of 32
Obituary
He was baptized at Sacred Heart Church (Nanzin Rd, Shanghai, now demolished) and attended St Francis Xavier’s College opposite the church. During the second Sino Japanese war, his family was kindly put up by the Sequeira family in the Embankment Building. They then had a brief stay in Hong Kong before returning to Shanghai.
Giovanni had many boyhood friends whom he used to play with around the Sun Court Apartments (Weihaiwei Lu by Moulmein Lu), including Rick Azinheira and the Javier brothers Jay and Conrado (Connie). He also had many German Jewish refugee friends in the SFX and had fond memories of eating his favorite dessert, chestnut cream cake, from the Kieseling Bakery in Bubbling Well Road. He had many fond memories spending time in various haunts around Nanking (Nanjing Lu) and The Bund. The Foreign YMCA, next to the Park Hotel, was where many happy days were spent, swimming, playing basketball, indoor bowling and having a soda at the only soda fountain in town in those days. This was opposite the racecourse, so you can say that he has always been around horses his whole life
He attended the French Jesuit University, Université l'Aurore, now known as Shanghai No.2 Medical College. Lectures were in French yet Giovanni dedicated himself to his studies and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. After graduating, he and his father left for Hong Kong in July 1951, after first landing in Macao.
Giovanni met Melin in Hong Kong and they were married in Rosary Church in 1956. They have three children: Gino, Mario and Marisa who respectively live today with their families in New Jersey, USA, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong and Perth, Australia. Giovanni has 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. (One of whom he has joined with in heaven.)
Giovanni had many keen interests from boating to motor sports, golfing and riding horses and playing bridge. He had some success twice winning the HK Motor Sports Club’s Night Rally as navigator with good friend Fernando. He loved the outdoors and would usually be up before the crack of dawn to go golfing or riding or sometimes both before heading off to work!
He worked for Swire Pacific for over 35 years and made lifelong friends. He was a mentor and role model for his colleagues and always showed great concern for their personal welfare, as many have expressed in their kind messages of sympathy. He retired at the age of 62 as the Managing Director of Swire Loxley Ltd, distributor of pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer products in Hong Kong.
At the end of 1993, Giovanni and Melin moved to the Algarve, Portugal. They lived there for 12 years and made many good friends from different parts of the world. They have wonderful memories of many happy events with family, relatives and close friends. Giovanni loved the Portuguese cuisine and the beautiful wines and port. Whilst in the Algarve, he started to write a series of articles for the UMA (UNIÃO MACAENSE AMERICANA) News Bulletin about events, customs, food and drink, etc. prevailing in Portugal under the pen name of Caramba. Most were factual but some were embellished with fictional characters to liven up the essays. Giovanni’s mother, Iride, who lived with Giovanni and Melin for most of their married life passed away while they were in Algarve.
In 2004 they returned to Hong Kong and lived in Sheung Shui. Giovanni continued to enjoy his golf and swimming at the Golf Club, Fanling, and keeping up with friends and visitors from overseas. His parish in Sheung Shui, Mother of Christ, meant a great deal to Giovanni. He felt a real sense of community spirit and would look forward to attending the 6pm Sunday English Mass with the joyful singing of hymns. He would often serve by reading the Liturgy of the Word during the Mass and he organized the English Bible study group on Sunday afternoons for a time. It is fitting that he should end this part of his journey with us here.
Giovanni was a dedicated son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He had an eagerness for knowledge and was loyal and committed to his work and his colleagues. He was a perfectionist and always strived to give his best. During his 5 months of stay at the hospital he was able to maintain his sense of humor and gentlemanly manners much to the surprise of the nurses and those visiting. We offer thanksgiving to God for the gift of Giovanni’s life which has been returned to Him, the author of life and the hope of the just.
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 14 of 32
Obituary
Senna Fernandes, Dr. Edmundo José de - É com profundo pesar que a Casa de Macau comunica aos seus Associados de que recebeu a triste notícia do falecimento do Dr. Edmundo José de Senna Fernandes nesta Segunda-feira, dia 28 de Março.
Wells Gilbert Leo, passed away in Cascais, Portugal on January 28, 2016. He is survived by his wife Justin Leitao Wells, daughter of Bobby & Avito Leitao formerly of Shanghai. Gilbert was 89 years old and served in the US Armed forces during World War II.
He was a regular contributor to the UMA Newsletter and as Editor, I had the distinct pleasure of publishing many of his articles in the bulletin.
Gilbert was a good friend to the entire American Community in Portugal. The people in the community who knew him, used words like friend, counselor, generous, service and honor to describe him. The editor of the UMA newsletter had the distinct pleasure of exchange emails and conversing with Gilbert over the phone and echo these sentiments.
Gilbert leaves behind him an amazing lists of accomplishments and service. Gilbert was a friend to the poor, the elderly and the hungry. He was also affiliated with many social, political and professional organizations in Portugal.
Eulogy for Betty Sousae
On behalf of Denise and Annemarie, I thank you, dear family and friends, for being here to celebrate the life of my sister, Betty. Thank you for sharing your love, wisdom, support and prayers throughout the past few months.
Each of you has your own set of memories and your own word picture that describes Betty, and I don't presume to know the Betty that you knew. But I hope that, in this eulogy that I offer, you will recognize some part of the Betty that we all knew, the Betty that is no longer amongst us, the Betty who will never really be gone until all of us here have passed.
I am Loretta, Betty's sister. I find it very surreal, speaking at the funeral of my sister, a phenomenal woman who I believed was larger than life, and could overcome any hardship which came her way, as she had done so many times in the past.
Beatrice Manuela Figueiredo was born at the Precious Blood Hospital in Kowloon on March 3, 1938, just before the Second World War. She was a cute little baby, with dark curly hair, and was doted upon by her parents and especially by her grandparents, being the first grandchild in the family.
When I was born 2-1/2 later, she took her role as "Mana" (big sister) quite seriously, and continued to do so throughout our childhood, holding my hand when crossing the street, and helping me up if I fell and cried. She could never understand why I was such a cry-baby whereas she was not afraid of anything. Growing up, my sister and I were always together, and we shared friendships.
In the 1950's, we transferred from St. Mary's School in Kowloon to Santa Rosa in Macau. She developed into an outgoing, fun-loving person, and was a natural ring-leader throughout our teenage years. She was mischievous, sometimes to the extreme. Yes, she would drive the nuns crazy with her pranks. It was in Macau that we formed our closest bonds with friends who still keep in touch with us on a regular basis even after 60-odd years.
When I gave them the news of Betty's passing, there was an outpouring of grief, and yet happy reminders of the positive effect Betty had on their lives. They all remembered Betty as being jolly, fun-loving, kind, and very lovable. She organized many jam sessions and parties at our house. One dear friend said that to this date every time she hears a Bill Haley song, she would think of Betty because it was Betty who taught her to dance the jive and the cha-cha.
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 15 of 32
Eulogy for Betty Sousae
Yes, among her other talents, Betty was a fabulous dancer. Did you know she won first prize in a dance contest in Las Vegas not too long ago? We have photos to prove it. Although rock and roll was her favorite, ballet came a very close second. Both Betty and I danced in a production of Swan Lake in Macau - she as Odile (the white swan), and me as Odette (the black swan). Yes, we were always together. Our mother taught us to harmonize, and we sang just about all the Patti Page songs of that era in first and second voice.
Shortly after her wedding to Dennis in 1963, they left Hong Kong for Canada. I felt a deep void and really missed her company. So, when she gave birth to baby Denise a few years later, I hopped on the plane to come and see her, and we were reunited for a few years. Our lives subsequently led us in different directions, but we remained as close as ever. That close bond could never be broken.
Betty was the kind of person you wanted to be close to just to feed off her energy, comical character, zest for life, and quick wit. Everyone who knew her couldn't help but love her. She brought so much joy, laughter - always laughter - and happiness to everyone around her.
Yet, she was also very strong and determined. For example, in spite of her medical problems in the mid-1990s, a time when e-mails did not yet exist, she single-handedly organized and coordinated a school reunion by mailing out letters to our Santa Rosa classmates and friends from all over the world. She managed to get over 100 of us together in Vancouver, and it was a joyous occasion - all made possible because of Betty. I was so proud of her, and I told her so.
Betty loved to travel. I have wonderful memories of the trips we took together to various places in Europe. We walked arm in arm through the cobbled streets, under a shared umbrella to shade us from the strong sun or the pouring rain, while marveling at the beautiful historic sites around us. She especially enjoyed the fountain of Trevi, mainly because she loved that movie and the song. The highlight of it all was Rome, where we had a very close encounter with the Pope. Betty told me later that day that she was absolutely touched by his presence.
Betty had her share of challenges during life. Throughout it all, she managed to maintain her sense of humor and her love of life, staying the bright light in everyone's life.
However, the passing of her son, Michael, followed by the loss of her husband, Dennis, took a toll on Betty's health. It was at this time that her faith deepened and she came to grips with her own mortality, and considered making decisions to ease the burden for her children when it was her time to leave. She left no stone unturned .... she made sure everything was looked after.
She faced her final challenge during the last six months with great dignity and strength. Her great faith was her stronghold, and throughout her days in the hospital and the hospice, she constantly reminded us that God has been good to her, and that we should not be sad, because she was happy and not afraid. She actually insisted that everyone who came to visit her should smile ..... show their teeth ...... no crying or sad faces, please! She wanted everyone to be happy. She said "Every time you hear the song 'SMILE', think of me. Then, listen to the song 'HAPPY', and dance!!!"
She won the hearts of all her nurses, doctors, as well as the priests and sacristans who visited her, prayed with her, and gave her holy communion almost every day. She called them all her "angels".
But her truest angels were her daughters, Annemarie and Denise. They remained strong and solid for their mother, looking after her every need, and were by her side day and night, telling her over and over how much they loved her, holding her hand, feeding her, stroking her forehead, making sure she knew she was not alone, making certain she was in no pain and was well cared for, right until the end. They did an excellent job, and I am sure Betty is proudly smiling on them right now.
Yes, my sister was a phenomenal woman. She possessed deep sensitivity and compassion, and provided unconditional love and support for her family. As a mother, there wasn't anything she wouldn't do for her children, Denise and Annemarie. Her grandchildren adored her, and she adored them right back.
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 16 of 32
Eulogy for Betty Sousae
There is no one like my sister, Betty, and no one can ever replace her. Her spirit will live on in all of us, as one can never extinguish what she personified. We, her family, thank God for giving us Betty, to love her, to know her, to be with her for the time she was with us. She has shown us so much love, laughter and kindness.
I was very blessed to have had her as my one and only sister. I loved her very, very much, and I will never, ever forget her. Rest well, my dearest sister. I LOVE YOU.
UMA, Inc Officers & Directors
Title Name Home Address Phone (Fax) Email President Sandy Souza 2601 Pine Knoll Drive #10 925-639-7708 [email protected] Walnut Creek Ca 94595 Vice- Flavia Greubel 1232 Skycrest Drive, #2 925-930-8672 [email protected] President Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Treasurer Joanne Segovia 1417 Oakmont Dr, #1 925-891-4474 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Secretary Pauline de Assis 1124 Singing Wood Ct, #5 925-943-2003 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Maria Gomes 2021 Ptarmigan Dr. #1, 925-482-0711 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Marie Guterres 825 Prairie Creek D.r 650-359=3858 [email protected] Pacifica, Ca 94044 Director Luiz Ozorio 1152 Ptarmigan, #1 650-245-3374 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Vilma 2616 Saklan indian Dr #2 925-937-7079 [email protected] Remedios Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Ramon Xavier 2061 Pine Knoll Drive #1 925-934-2618 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595
2016 UMA Events Calendar
Thanksgiving Mass Saturday, July 9 Golf Tournament & Dinner Saturday, July 30 Noite Tropicana Dinner Dance Saturday, August 13 Lawn Bowling Tournament & Dinner (Date Change) Sunday, September 18 Game Day Saturday, October 8 Annual General Meeting Saturday, November 12 Christmas Lunch/Members Appreciation Sunday, December 11
JOINT CASA EVENTS
Our Lady of Fatima Sunday, October 16
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
DIM SUM LUNCHEON September 24, 2016
UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 17 of 32
The Rise & Fall of an Empire Published in the South China Morning Post by Raquel Carvalho
Review of the article by Dan Gomes, Editor of UMA News Bulletin
This is a review of a multimedia package from the South China Morning Post by a young Portuguese Journalist Raquel Carvalho. Some of you will recall meeting Raquel in the Bay Area a couple of years back when she interviewed some of our members for a piece she did for Journal Tribuna de Macau. I recall her as being a serious journalist with a great command of the English language and with a great personality to boot.
She has done an excellent job interviewing members of the Macau community and research into the Casino industry for this piece. Congratulations to Raquel for an amazing piece of work to tell our story to the world. I recommend every member who have some computer skills view the Multimedia Presentation by going go the South China Morning Post website: http://multimedia.scmp.com/macau/. Simply paste this link into your browser.
For those in our community who are not able to access the internet, I will try to give you a flavor of the enormity of this project and the great service Raquel contributed to our understanding of our heritage. Because of copyright laws I will not be able to reproduce any pictures in the UMA News Bulletin and will paraphrase her interviews for this article. If you are able to view the multimedia presentation you will most certainly enjoy viewing the old Macau photos from Miguel de Senna Fernandes’s collection.
Her article covers Identity, Casinos, Problems and Politics. This is a long piece and I will never be able to give it justice, but I will try to give you a flavor of what she has written.
She begins by saying that “after Sixteen years since the return of Macau to Chinese Sovereignty, Macau is a city at the crossroads”. In this multimedia package from the South China Morning Post, Raquel Carvalho delves into its past, charts its meteoric rise and ask what the future holds.
Identity: Soul Searching
Because of the growth of the mainland Chinese population and a decline of the traditional Macanese community, Macau is shaping a new identity for itself as an integral part of the Chinese nation - while almost 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule begins to fade in the city’s collective memory.
The once bucolic picture-postcard out-post of the Grand Portuguese Empire is barely recognizable now with its grand casinos and expensive shop fronts. The city where East meets West is changing fast and its people are trying to keep up.
Many of us old timers can appreciate her description of Restaurant Riquexo, a rare survivor of the upheavals of recent times. The streets beyond the little alley where it now sits bear little resemblance to the day it opened more than 35 years ago.
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Macau
But inside, the spirit and soul of old Macau lives on thanks to the special culinary mix of Macanese and Portuguese food.
Chicken curry, Portuguese bean stew, egg pudding, coconut cakes and other dishes lie in tempting wait behind the windows of the restaurant. On a Sunday afternoon, the high-pitched sound of a Cantonese opera blares from a little radio in Riquexo’s kitchen, while the Chinese cook puts the finishing touches to dishes.
Three young Portuguese women laugh loudly, eating bean stew and codfish in the main dining room, while an old Macanese man sips an espresso as he flicks through a local newspaper.
Riquexo's traditionally tiled walls are festooned with old photos of Macau and the sense of time travel strengthens as the sound of several languages fill the pungent cooking-infused air.
“Our clients are a mix, like our food is. We have Portuguese, Macanese, Chinese people coming every day. But over the past few years, I noticed an increasing number of Chinese,” says Sonia Palmer, 72, the Macanese owner of the eatery.
Outside is no different: The diverse communities which make up this city where 600,000 people are crammed into 35 square kilometers - only the Gaza Strip is more densely populated - face a struggle to redefine themselves.
As growing numbers from mainland China make Macau their home, the local Chinese are striving to reshape their own identity, while the Macanese community - known for their interracial heritage, typically a mix of Portuguese and Chinese - is fading.
Miguel de Senna Fernades, one of the most active members of the Macanese community says, “My main concern is the obvious erosion of the community. I feel there is a serious risk of extinction,” Miguel, a lawyer by profession, is the son the late Henrique de Senna Fernandes, also a lawyer, who wrote about early 20th-century Macau. His father’s books chart the complex - and highly controversial subject at the time - love affairs between Chinese, Portuguese and Macanese.
Miguel says, “Place of birth does not always adequately define what makes a Macanese. Despite the absence of an absolute and universal definition, the essence of Macanese is “attitude”, memories and a tradition of East meeting West.”
Macanese families are mostly Catholic, but celebrate both Portuguese Catholic and Chinese Buddhist festivals. Macanese culinary blend Portuguese cooking method with a mix of local ingredients and other Asian condiments. The ability to speak several languages is also one of the most obvious traits of Macanese culture.
But this widely accepted depiction of what it is to be Macanese may not hold true for long as the community is going through a drastic and unpredictable metamorphosis.
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Macau
Unlike in the old days, many Macanese today no longer master both Portuguese and Chinese, and many communicate in English. “Bilingualism is a fundamental characteristic of our community, but people are not taking advantage of that,” Fernandes says. “Now people tend not to speak Portuguese, which is after all an important reference for us. It’s in our umbilical cord.”
Under colonial administration, the bilingualism of the Macanese allowed them to become intermediaries between the Portuguese and Chinese ruling elite. Many played crucial roles in the political evolution of the city before the handover and dozens are still public servants today.
“The decline of the Macanese community is more to do with mentality than a lack of government support”, says Fernandes.
“If young people don’t embrace and cherish their uniqueness, their culture’s odds of survival are very low, Fernandes says in a bitter tone. There’s a real chance of the community members not knowing in a few years what make us different from other Chinese citizens, because the old people, those who know the meaning of it, are dying.”
Patua the “Sweet speech” turns sour Laments Miguel de Senna Fernandes, President of our Macanese Association.
“For a Portuguese speaker, patuá sounds like an old form of the language spoken with a Cantonese accent. It is indeed a creole language based in Portuguese, but meshing influences from Malay, Sinhalese (spoken by an ethnic group in Sri Lanka), Spanish and, at a later stage, Cantonese.
Patuá used to be a home dialect spoken mostly by Macanese women.
Its expressions often embody the sense of humor of a community that flourished within the limbo of several cultures. However, very few master the language these days.
In the latest edition of UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, patuá was classified as a “critically endangered” language. As of the year 2000, there were some 50 speakers, according to the UNESCO document. The group of people familiar with the language has not grown.
“Macanese little by little started to give up on their language,” says Fernandes, who is the director of a theatre troupe that performs in patuá.
“Those who spoke patuá used to be looked down [upon], because it was not proper Portuguese,” he says. “And, now, the language is not useful.”
Patuá has not only lost speakers, but it has also changed over the years. The patuá used on stage by the troupe Dóci Papiaçám’s (literally, “sweet speech”) is a modern patuá, which includes more Cantonese expressions and less old Portuguese sayings.
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Macau Rise of the Fujianese
As the Macanese community is vanishing in the bustling city, one community that has grown in both size and influence since the 1999 handover is the Fujianese. According to the latest census, in 2011, more than half of Macau residents were originally from mainland China and about one-quarter (35,578 people) that number hailed from Fujian province, on the southeast coast of the mainland.
“They [Fujianese] are very strong, first of all because of their number, and also because of one of their main characteristics, which is very strong solidarity among community members,” social affairs commentator Larry So Man-yum says.
Farmers and fishermen from Fujian began migrating to Macau before the 16th century, and historically Macau has always been an attractive option for mainland Chinese seeking a better life.
Unlike Hong Kong, Macau does not allow political parties. It has only political associations. For each election, lists are formed. In order to be accepted by the electoral commission, each list has to collect 300 to 500 signatures of local residents eligible to vote. One list is usually only able to elect one to two lawmakers……” The New Portuguese
Following the 1999 return of sovereignty to China, hundreds of Portuguese and Macanese, who were worried about the changes Chinese rule might bring, left the city. At the time there were reportedly some 25,000 Portuguese and Macanese residents.
According to the Consul General of Portugal to Macau and Hong Kong, Vítor Sereno, about 5,000 people originally from Portugal now reside in Macau, whereas Fernandes estimates that the Macanese community in the region numbers about 10,000.
But over the past few years, a new wave of Portuguese arrived, in large part thanks to the European financial crisis.
Lawyer, Maria Ines Gomes, 32, is one of them. Her initial intention was to stay for a half-year internship. That was back in 2012, but the professional opportunities she found and the debt crisis in Portugal made her stay longer.
“I really liked Macau and, more than that, I appreciated the professional opportunities that it has given to me. The fact that the Macau law is based on the Portuguese legal system was obviously one of the reasons why I have had such a rich professional experience,” she says.
Cantonese rules and Putonghua have gained a foothold, becoming the main language in many local schools. Although it is barely spoken in the streets, Portuguese is one of the two official languages under the Basic Law, Macau’s mini-constitution. Street signs and public announcements, for instance, are still written both in traditional Chinese characters and Portuguese.
Gomes says the language remains a barrier between the Portuguese and the Chinese communities in Macau. “I have mostly Portuguese friends, and only a few local friends, mostly work colleagues. I think there might be many explanations for that, but the language is probably one of them.”
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Macau
She says that the Portuguese presence is visible through “the architecture, the signs in the street, the courts and the television.” However, she notes that in Macau the space for the Portuguese community is increasingly limited.
“Of course there’s a legacy of hundreds of years, but now Macau is China and it has changed incredibly fast ... I think it’s important for the community to make their voice heard and felt. But if that will happen in the future, it’s hard to tell,” she says.
Fine distinctions
Agnes Lam Iok-fong, 43, assistant professor at the University of Macau and a former journalist who covered the handover, says the Portuguese community has helped the Chinese residents originally from Macau maintain their own identity, and set them apart from Hong Kong Chinese.
“The Portuguese are part of Macau history and identity, and they help us to keep our difference, even though things that may look like minor details,” says Lam, who was born and raised in Macau.
She says traces and memories of Portuguese culture distinguish Macau from mainland China and neighboring Hong Kong. “We can see that in our daily habits. We eat ‘bacalhau’ [codfish] and pork chops, for instance. Coffee here is not a middle-class thing,” she says. The loss of remembrances from this collective past “is making many people unhappy. There’s this feeling of nostalgia,” Lam notes. “A 100-year-old coffee shop is also part of our identity.”
Along with the city’s fast and furious development, how Macau’s citizens perceive themselves is also changing. “Traditionally there’s this idea that Macau identity is about a harmonious Society and being silent,” Lam says. “Nowadays, I would not say that people are trying to break that tradition, but I would say there are people who are not afraid of the government and they will speak out,” she notes.
We Maquistas around the world are at a crossroad. Our identity is being evaluated. The people in Macau are looking for a new identity and we Maquistas around the world are seeking a new Identity in the country where we now reside. Our children no longer think of themselves as “Maquista”. They eagerly look forward to being assimilated into the larger community to which they have grownup. We are the last generation with memories and traditions of what it means to be Maquista.
In the next issue of the UMA News Bulletin I will give a snap shot of her article on Casinos, Problems and Politics. It is fascinating, especially her coverage of the Violent Years – Many of us old timers will recall those events with trepidation.
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Memories of World War II By Henry d’Assumpção
It was a great feast-day, celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. For me, then seven years old in Hong Kong, it was a holiday from school, for my older brother a half-holiday. So breakfast was leisurely that morning when our father announced solemnly: "War can start any time: next month, next week or even tomorrow.” In fact, it started that morning.
This is a potpourri of memories of World War II – some my own, many passed on from my parents and others.
My parents were Portuguese who had moved from Macau to Hong Kong in the 1920s. Macau had been a Portuguese settlement and then an overseas territory for some 450 years.
In its early days it had enjoyed a monopoly of trade with China and Japan and was fabulously wealthy, a European jewel in the Far East. But by the 19th Century it had degenerated economically, completely overtaken by Hong Kong with its magnificent deep-water harbour; thousands of Portuguese left Macau to seek employment in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
My family had settled – as had many other Portuguese – in a new suburb of Kowloon called Homantin. There were some large and impressive homes there but my father was on a modest wage and we lived in a small rented 3-bedroom apartment – my parents, three children1 and our devoted amah (Chinese servant).
Let me introduce you to a couple of our neighbouring families, because they feature in this story. Behind us lived the Gosanos2. Mrs Adeliza Gosano had been widowed tragically in 1923 and had to raise not only her own nine children but also four orphaned nephews. Those were the days before social security and I cannot imagine how they coped, but cope they did. The older boys left school at the age of 14 to work to support the family and give the younger children an education. Old Mrs Gosano was tough and devout; one of my earliest memories was of her urging me to pray: "You can pray anywhere", she said, "even when sitting on the toilet."
Just a few houses away, also at the back, lived the Yvanovichs3. They were Portuguese but with their name from an ancestor from Dalmatia (in today's Yugoslavia).
Ours was a close community. This is a photo of a birthday party for my brother in 1936, with me at the centre back in the arms of one of the Yvanovich girls (Alzira). Life seemed to me secure. True, there was some crime but the environment was safe enough for me to be allowed to walk unaccompanied to and from school a kilometre away.
1 Bernardino (Riri) and Alzira d’Assumpção with children Carlos (Carlinhos), Henrique (Quito), Maria (Jean-jean) 2 Adeliza Gosano with children Adelino (Lino), Belarmino (Bertie), Deolinda (Linda Gutierrez), Eduardo (Eddie), Avelina (Ave Taylor), Luís (Luigi), Germano (Gerry) and José (Zinho). 3 Filipe (Pito) and Palmira Yvanovich with children Palmira (Pam Gosano), Alzira (da Silva), Laura (Lolita Alves), Philippe, Guilherme (Avichi), Teresa (Titch da Luz) and Carlos (Calau) UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 23 of 32
Memories of WW II Invasion
But in 1941 war threatened: Japan had already occupied Canton (Guangzhou) just across the border in China and preparations were made in Hong Kong for likely hostilities: there were air-raid wardens and practice blackouts and we had been trained on what to do if bombed: crouch under a table, lock your hands over your head and open your mouth wide so that the blast would not burst your ear drums. My father had stocked up the larder with food in anticipation.
At 8am on December 8th, not long after breakfast, the Gosano men on their roof at the back pointed out Japanese planes attacking Hong Kong airport. So war came to us in Hong Kong just six hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Hurriedly we took shelter in the underground garage of our neighbours the Houghtons.4 I was not at all worried and sat on the floor reading a comic book; it was left to an older boy to shove my head down when we heard bombs fall. I was told later that the Japanese were attacking a railway bridge just 200m from our apartment5. I can remember clearly the shrill whistle of bombs, sliding down in frequency. Now that I know a little physics, I understand that that changing Doppler frequency meant that the bombs would miss: if the frequency had remained steady, the bombs would have been heading straight for us.
Surrender
The Japanese invaded Hong Kong with overwhelming military superiority, launching three Divisions against two Brigades of Commonwealth troops, with complete dominance of air and sea. It took only a few days for them to overrun the defences of Kowloon and drive the British in retreat to Hong Kong Island which surrendered on Christmas day. All British men, women and children were put into concentration camps. We were Portuguese nationals, and Portugal was neutral in this war, but many Portuguese men were in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps — British subjects who were conscripted but also Portuguese citizens who had enlisted; these too were imprisoned. I shall return to the fate of these Portuguese prisoners of war shortly.
Interregnum
In the short interregnum between the retreat of the British to Hong Kong Island and the Japanese occupation there was a collapse of law and order followed by widespread looting in Kowloon. My parents told stories of Chinese policemen changing into civilian clothes, keeping their revolvers and joining the looters. For safety we, with 400 other Portuguese, including some who had become British subjects, took refuge in the home of the acting Portuguese Consul6 just 100m from our apartment, all crammed in and sleeping on the floor. Of course we had to pool our resources, so my father’s carefully hoarded food supply was shared with the many who had not prepared, and was soon gone. No one knew how we would be treated: would the Japanese respect our neutrality? Would the women be raped? An aunt of mine made herself as unattractive as possible, even dusting her hair with ashes.
One of my uncles7 stayed on in his apartment with his family when looters came to the front door. This door had a small square glass peep-hole through which the looters caught sight of his young children. They threatened to harm them unless he let them in. Now before the war everyone was supposed to hand in their hunting rifles to the British authorities but my uncle had retained his. He raised his rifle up to the peep-hole, fired and heard the
4 Marcellus and Marie Houghton with children Lionel, Robert, Doreen (Pereira), Denis and Yvonne 5 But Bosco Correa, who is very knowledgeable in the history of this period, asserts that Homantin was never bombed. 6 Francisco “Frank” Soares, Chancellor of the Consulate of Portugal in Hong Kong. 7 Carlos “Assau” and Lizzie d’Assumpção with children Carlos, João, Merlinde (Brown) and Lyce (Rozario) UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 24 of 32
\ Memories of WW II looters scamper away. A little later he noticed some liquid under the door and thought someone must have urinated, but it turned out to be the blood of a looter he had just killed.
Executions
This anarchy did not last long: when the Japanese took over, order was restored, instantly and ruthlessly. Looters were lined up on the waterfront and machine-gunned. One day my father chased and caught a petty thief whom he turned over to the Japanese. He later regretted his action because he saw the poor fellow, crestfallen, being led away in a party of criminals, no doubt to his death.
There was another story about a family friend who was taking a walk through the hills when he came across a Japanese execution party beheading prisoners. He was ordered to help and was given a sword. He started by holding the sword in one hand above his head but they corrected him: the proper way, they instructed, was to grasp the sword in both hands and bring it down.
Japanese in our apartment
One hears so many accounts of Japanese atrocities during the war but we also saw their humane side. Japanese soldiers came to our apartment demanding my mother’s sewing machine. She begged them not to take it, offering instead to repair their clothes herself. So they brought their torn and bloodstained uniforms to her and made themselves at home while my mother did the mending. They repaid us with some food: I can remember a delicious hot tray of corned beef from their canteen.
The Japanese soldiers were fond of us children and obviously enjoyed being again in a family environment. I had some American comics about US pilots fighting in China with the Chinese against the Japanese and was terrified when they started to leaf through them, but was relieved when they only laughed. One of our visitors was a Japanese officer. I have heard that a samurai sword is never unsheathed except in anger, but this officer drew his sword from its scabbard to show to me.
One evening these soldiers came to our apartment armed with bayonets and took my mother to a back room. I can imagine today the turmoil in my father’s mind, but it was needless. It turned out that there were some drunken Korean and Formosan (Taiwanese) non-commissioned officers on the rampage looking for women. The Japanese soldiers were protecting my mother!
That was one side of the Japanese. The Yvanovich family were not so lucky. The father, whom we called Uncle Pito, had been travelling to and from Macau on business; he was also smuggling innocent letters from British prisoners-of-war in Hong Kong to their families in Macau. One day he was caught, imprisoned as a spy and tortured by the Kempetei (the Japanese Secret Police).
One of his daughters, Lolita, for several weeks made trips to the prison on Hong Kong Island to bring food parcels for him, until a kindly guard finally let her see her parcels, neatly arrayed along a wall, untouched: her father had died some time ago, tortured to death.
His oldest son Philip was a member of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps and, with many other Portuguese, had fought in the battle of Hong Kong and was interned as a prisoner-of-war (PoW). His younger brother Avichi was only 17 when he was imprisoned and tortured. He was eventually released to his family, broken physically and mentally.
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Memories of WW II
Life in Hong Kong
Portuguese citizens were encouraged to leave Hong Kong but some families, like the Yvanovichs with sons in PoW camp, chose to stay in Hong Kong for a while. Lolita Yvanovich told of their hardship. She and her mother and sisters sold their jewelry to buy food. At one stage they had nothing to eat but bran. They would spread newspapers on the floor, put a pile of bran in the middle and wait. After some time, weevils would crawl out of the bran onto the newspaper and could be scraped away. The bran tasted awful; the Yvanovich ladies had some empty chocolate wrappers and would sniff them before taking a mouthful of bran.
To neutral Macau
In late January or early February 1942 my mother took us children and our amah – who was like a member of our family – by boat to stay with her parents in Macau. My father followed us shortly afterwards, bringing some furniture with him to the wharf. Now the Japanese had forbidden the removal of furniture. A Japanese soldier shouted at my father and slapped him around. But when my father uncovered our bedheads to reveal the carved images of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, the soldier waved him on.
Life in Macau
The Government of Macau did its best to look after the thousands of Portuguese refugees from Hong Kong and Shanghai – feeding and housing families and educating children, even selling off antique cannons as scrap to buy rice for them. Our family was comparatively well off: my maternal grandfather, who had gone from Portugal to the Far East as a soldier, was now retired with his military pension. He had built a large house with a magnificent view out to sea in a fairly isolated area, with what was for Macau a large garden in which he grew fruits and vegetables and raised chickens, turkeys and rabbits. We stayed with him for probably a couple of years, after which we and our amah moved into a one-roomed accommodation over a shop. My father came from one of the more influential families in Macau and was able to get a job as a waiter in a Portuguese club. My mother contributed substantially to the family income by knitting clothes for wealthy Chinese, using wool unraveled from old garments.
Starvation
No one knows how many refugees moved into the tiny peninsula of Macau during the war, but it is estimated there were hundreds of thousands, almost all Chinese. There was ample basic food for those who had the money but many succumbed to disease and starvation. I remember a poor old man begging daily in the street; one day he was gone, presumably dead. Once I was walking in a street eating a banana when a young man ran by, grabbed it from my hand and continued running, desperately stuffing the whole banana into his mouth, skin and all.
One would see all kinds of meat, including rats, for sale. At one time street-cleaners reported that someone had been cutting off flesh from the corpses that littered the streets in the poorer quarters of the town. The police eventually found that the culprit was the chief cook of one of the prime hotels in Macau, who was serving it to his guests. He never went to trial but “died of cholera”. Justice was rough and ready.
Vibrations from the war
For us children life was fairly normal and secure – we went to school, did some chores, played and occasionally even went to watch American movies. We never really wanted for anything essential but many things were in short supply. Tiny stones were added to raw rice to increase weight; you could easily break a tooth on them, so one of our daily chores was to spread rice out on a tray and laboriously separate stones from rice, grain by grain. For toilet paper we used either newspapers or a coarse paper made from grass. I still remember the pain of having a back tooth extracted without anesthetic.
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Memories of WW II
The Portuguese refugees sympathized with the British and a handful managed to sneak out of Macau through Japanese lines to join the British Army Aid Group in Southern China, to gather intelligence information and facilitate the escape of prisoners of war.
We children experienced nothing of the violence of war. A couple of times late in the conflict we could see, in the sky in the distance, tiny silver dots which were US and Japanese planes engaged in dogfights. In January 1945 some US planes from the aircraft carrier Enterprise bombed Macau’s aerodrome – just 300m from my grandfather’s house – because it housed fuel that could have been passed to the Japanese. Thus the war years seemed to pass quickly for us until it all ended suddenly when Japan surrendered in August 1945.
Sham Shui Po PoW Camp
Let us return now to the fate of the Portuguese who fought to defend Hong Kong. By my reckoning there were 239 of them, of whom 19 died. The survivors were incarcerated in the Sham Shui Po Prisoner-of-War Camp in Kowloon where they formed a tightly knit community.
At least five Portuguese prisoners of war documented their experiences. 8 In addition, the talented artist Company Sergeant Major Marciano “Naneli” Baptista MBE produced many beautiful drawings while in PoW camp.9
Prisoners of war were put to work as slave labourers and suffered hardship and deprivation. There were serious health problems – dysentery, tuberculosis, scabies, beri-beri and diphtheria. The Japanese had captured large quantities of medical supplies but kept them for their own use. The army prison doctors worked wonders, operating with razor blades and knives; for drugs they used salt and peanut oil.
Some prisoners were assigned jobs as carpenters, bricklayers, cooks or toilet cleaners; others were sent out on work parties Cicero Rozario
8 The Macanese Families website www.macanesefamilies.com reproduces accounts by Cicero Rozario and Zinho Gosano. 9 His drawings have been published in a splendid book Souvenir of Sham Shui Po by Dr Peter E Campos (http://au.blurb.com/b/6565502-souvenir-of-sham-shui-po). Some of these drawings are reproduced here courtesy of Naneli’s nephew Filomeno “Meno” Baptista.
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Memories of WW II doing hard labour – enlarging the airport, moving munitions, transferring equipment, digging tunnels for ammunition storage. Elderly or unfit prisoners were given light duties. Officers were housed in a separate camp and did no work; each had a batman to look after him: make his bed, draw and serve his meals, wash his clothes and so on.
On six occasions they received parcels of food from British or Canadian Red Cross. There was an active black market, trading in cigarettes, medical drugs and food. To get medicines prisoners sold to sentries all they had, even their gold teeth. Occasionally the prisoners managed to steal food and tools from Japanese stores; Philip Yvanovich used to say that, dressed only in a fundoshi loincloth, he could sneak anything past the prison guards.
AV Skvorzov Japanese discipline was severe but the prisoners were allowed some privileges. They were given equipment for sport: baseball, soccer, hockey, tennis, volley-ball and bowls. They were allowed one letter a month, food parcels once a week, access to a well-stocked library and even music and stage shows. There were at least 8 stage plays performed in 1943.
Portuguese PoWs in Sendai
Zinho Gosano, the youngest boy of the Gosano family, left us his autobiography. He and three of his brothers had joined the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps; three of them were imprisoned but one, Dr Eddie Gosano, managed to escape to Macau.
Zinho was one of 70 Portuguese prisoners transferred from Sham Shui Po Camp to Sendai, Japan, near where the Fukushima nuclear plant is today, to work in a coal mine. It is interesting that they were better fed in Japan than in Hong Kong.
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Memories of WW II
He recorded three close brushes with death. The first occurred when he was defending a gun emplacement in Hong Kong: a Japanese bomb exploded nearby and hurled him out of a foxhole 25 metres down a hill; his shirt was shredded but he was otherwise unhurt. His sergeant, who was in the foxhole with him, was badly wounded and disfigured but survived. The second close shave was in the coal-mine in Sendai where, being young and strong, he was given the dangerous job of drilling for coal; one day the tunnel suddenly collapsed, nearly killing him. When Japan surrendered, just when they thought it was all over, he had his third close call.
Zinho and an American sergeant had climbed onto the roof of a building to watch American planes parachuting supplies into the camp. One of the parachutes failed to open and the package killed the American and crushed Zinho's foot.
End of the war
So on August 15 1945 the war came to an end in the Pacific (coincidentally, on another great feast-day, celebrating the Assumption of Our Lady), and the Portuguese prisoners of war returned to their families. Many subsequently emigrated to other countries, mainly to the USA, Canada and Australia. Some lived to a ripe old age, the last one dying only recently.
Philip Yvanovich had contracted tuberculosis in PoW camp but survived. He and his sister Lolita moved to Adelaide, Australia, after the war. He died five years ago at the age of 90 in Canberra, surrounded by his loving family. Lolita died last year at the age of 96, in Wellington, NZ near her son and grandchildren.
After being wounded by the package from the failed parachute, Zinho Gosano was sent to convalesce in New Zealand where he stayed and later became a priest. This photo shows him marching proudly on Waitangi Day10 1995 wearing his medals.
There was an unpleasant sequel to all of this. After the war, the British Government gave generous military pensions and medical benefits to British prisoners of war but the Portuguese PoWs, who had fought bravely and sacrificed and suffered equally, received little. It was only about a quarter of a century later, when this bias was exposed in the media11, that the Hong Kong Government was shamed into providing support – but by then they could well afford to do so because there were so few of the former Portuguese prisoners of war left alive.
Some of Naneli Baptista’s sketches which he drew in tribute to Portuguese who had died in the defence of Hong Kong are reproduced here. One cannot imagine the suffering of the Reed family who lost four brothers12 in the fighting.
For the Portuguese in the Far East the war changed everything, politically and economically, and there was mass migration — to Portugal, Brazil, USA, Canada and Australia. It was the end of an era.
10 Waitangi Day celebrates the signing of New Zealand’s founding document in 1840. 11 In correspondence initiated by Frank Correa. 12 Edgar, Arthur, Steven and Francis Reed, four of the seven sons of John Amaro and Maria Rita Reed. UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 29 of 32
Memories of WW II
Names of the people in the photos are given in the website www.macanesefamilies.com which contains much more about Macau and the Macanese: the family trees of 55,000 Macanese, 1,000 photos, 200 recipes, the entire lexicon of the patuá (the Macanese language, with text and audio), over 2,000 nicknames, the list of all Portuguese prisoners of war and numerous biographies and articles.
Alex Xavier catch of 38 lb Halibut off Angel Island
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Lord Stow’s Bakery Best Portuguese Egg Tarts in the World By Dan Gomes
If you are fortunate to visit Macau, pay a visit to Lord Stowe’s Bakery in Coloane. It is a small eatery run by Eileen Stow, a transplant from Great Britain. Her bother opened the restaurant in 1989 to bake bread, and Portuguese Egg tarts were number five on his list of things to serve.
Her brother’s recipe was a marriage between the “Pastel de Natas” and the English custard. The filling is rich and the dough is fluffy and flaky. They originally planned to make a couple of hundred a day but it was so popular with the locals that they had to turn out 3,000 a day.
It is so popular with the tourist that they opened a store in the Venetian Hotel on the Cotai strip. There is also a push cart in the Venetian – Do not go to the push cart, the tarts are cold. Go to the store in the Hotel – they are served hot. Better still, go to the original store in Coloane and enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. You can take the bus at the University that takes you to Coloane. They have begun to franchise the concept and you can now find Lord Stow’s Bakery in many parts of Asia.
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Social Committee Members welcome Miguel Senna Fernades
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UMA News Bulletin Summer Issue 2016 Page 32 of 32