Vol. 36. No.43 A Publication of UMA, Inc Oct – Dec 2013 Editor: Daniel Gomes, 2021 Ptarmigan Drive #1,Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 E-Mail:[email protected]
Maria Fatima Gomes
HAPPY NEW YEAR! The very best of wishes to you and your family for much happiness, good health, and God’s Blessings for 2014.
On November 11th we had our 2013 Annual General Meeting; it was a productive and an enjoyable gathering much like the good old days when the chapters took turns to host. There was good food (Dim Sum) and a nice long lunch for socializing. The meeting started with the confirmation of Pauline de Assis as our new UMA Secretary to replace Denise Pereira Webster who had to resign for personal reasons. Special thanks go to Denise for her great service to UMA and to Pauline for stepping up to help us out.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 1 of 32
President’s Message
At the first half of the meeting we gave a detailed report on UMA to bring all attendees up to date on the very successful year we had, including our financial details, information on our activities, and all other committee work. In the second half of the meeting we set up our list of Events for 2014 with chairpersons for the events, and we worked on and approved our Fiscal Year Budget for October 1st, 2013 to September 30th, 2014. We still need one or two people to step up to chair the UMA Family Picnic or we will not be able to have this event. Last year we had the UMA Family Picnic in August. Please contact me at 925-482-0711 or email me at [email protected] if you can help.
PROPOSED EVENTS FOR 2014 Dinner Dance – Saturday, February 15th, 2014 Game Day – Saturday, March 1st, 2014 All Day Social UMA Mid-Year Board Meeting MCC Dia de Sao Joao Celebration Thanksgiving Mass Family Picnic Golf Tournament Noite Dinner Dance MCC Our Lady of Fatima Celebration Lawn Bowling Tournament UMA Annual General Meeting
UMA still needs your help to continue to increase our roster of younger members. If your children do not live in California, they can still be a member and enjoy being connected to their heritage for just $10 as a Subscription Member. If they live in California, bring them, their cousins, and friends to UMA functions to participate and have fun. From positive experiences come the understanding and appreciation for the importance of staying connected with siblings, relatives, and friends with similar values and cultural background. It is vital that we encourage them to join UMA and step up to create and participate in events that they enjoy. A cultural organization is a means of passing on history, culture, heritage, and sense of belonging, but the organization can only get this done through its active members.
Introduce the younger members of your family to our UMA Website, www.uma-casademacau.com, and UMA Facebook, www.facebook.com/UMA.UMA, to see color photos of our past events and use our links to visit related sites to read about the History of Macau and Portugal or see the UNESCO Heritage Sites of Macau. Better still, have them become Subscription Members.
Our Subscription Members access their UMA Bulletin from our UMA Website, www.uma- casademacau.com/index.php/login, instead of getting the hard copies in the mail. This saves us the cost of printing and mailing, so the "Subscription Member" has an annual due of only $10. This is a perfect opportunity for our members to have their children and grandchildren, age 18 and over, join UMA as they are very comfortable using the internet. Our UMA Application Form is on page 5 of this bulletin. You can also download and print the application from our UMA Website using the following link: http://www.uma-casademacau.com/files/6013/5423/3054/Membership_Application_2013.pdf
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 2 of 32
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 3 of 32
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 4 of 32
UMA, Inc. União Macaense Americana
Application for Membership
Date: ______
Name: Name of Spouse:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Email: Tel: Home: Bus/Cell
I select the following membership category: Regular $20.00/year Senior (age 65+) $15.00/year Non US Resident $25.00/year Subscription (no hard copy Bulletin - view online) $10.00/year Young Adult (ages 18 to 25) $10.00/year
Payment enclosed Payment already made to: ______Please do not remit payment by wire transfer as the bank charges a transfer fee of $12.00 (or more). Signature:
______Name of recommending UMA member
Please make check payable to: UMA, Inc.
Send application & payment to: Francis Carion, Treasurer 1112 Rockledge Lane Apt 7 Walnut Creek CA 94595-2823
For Club Use Only Date Dues Received:______
Date of Directors’ Approval:______
Welcome Letter:____
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 5 of 32
Maria Fatima Gomes
The OPENING CEREMONY of the Encontro was at a banquet held on December 1st at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt, presided by His Excellency Dr. Fernando Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macau SAR, pictured third from left in the photo on the right.
On Monday, December 2nd, the day started at 11 AM with the Ceremony at the Monument of the Macanese Communities of the Diaspora. Pictured are our members with the UMA wreath.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 6 of 32
2013 MACAU ENCONTRO
At 3 PM on December 2nd there was the “Presentation of the role of Macau in the economic and trade relations between China and the Portuguese speaking countries” by Rita Botelho dos Santos followed by the Debate on the “Macanese Identity” at the Auditorium of the Permanent Secretariat of the “FIT Center”.
On Tuesday, December 3rd, there was the Meeting of the Macanese Communities Council followed by the Standing Committee; and a superb Macaense lunch held at APOMAC.
At 6 PM there was the Reception at the Residence of the Consul General of Portugal in Macau, Dr. Vitor Sereno, for the Presidents and Directors of the Casas. Dr. Vitor Sereno is pictured with our UMA Directors: Flavia Greubel, Maria Gomes, Marie Guterres, and Joanne Segovia in the photo below.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 7 of 32
2013 MACAU ENCONTRO
On Wednesday, December 4th, there was the Cultural Session organized by the International Institute of Macau with the presentation of new editions and interventions on “The Cultural Role of the “CASAS DE MACAU”. Pictured below are speakers Jorge Forjaz, Jorge Rangel, Stuart Braga, and Jim Silva.
At 5 PM there was the Solemn Session commemorative of the 142nd Anniversary of the APIM and the 80 years of the Kindergarten “D. José da Costa Nunes” followed by “Chá Gordo” organized by the “Confraria da Gastronomia Macaense”. Flavia Greubel and Virginia Xavier were our UMA recipients of the Gastronomia awards.
On Thursday, December 5th, there was the Photo Session at the Ruins of St. Paul. Pictured below are Joanne Segovia in the left photo and Allison Brekke in the right photo holding our UMA Flag.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 8 of 32
2013 MACAU ENCONTRO
At 6 PM there was the Mass and Te Deum at the Cathedral. The two young priests Fr. Brian Nunes and Fr. William Hubbard are members of UMA; they were co-celebrants with the Bishop of Macau.
After the Mass there was a Gathering for the younger folks. Pictured are our members: Chelsea and Emily Wood in the left photo, and Joseph Rosario and Allison Brekke standing leftmost in the front row on the right photo.
On Friday, December 6th, there was the “Cozinhaçam maquista pa jôvi-jôvi” with the collaboration of the “Instituto de Formaçao Turistica” followed by a beautifully presented delicious lunch of Macanese food.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 9 of 32
2013 MACAU ENCONTRO
On Saturday, December 7th, there was the Dinner Party, hosted by the Macau Government Tourist Office which was the closing event of the Encontro “MACAU 2013”, held at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Below are photos of Dr. Jose Luis de Sales Marques, President of the Conselho das Comunidades Macaenses receiving our UMA gift and presenting his gift to us.
On Sunday, December 8th, some of us went on to Hong Kong and enjoyed the lovely “Chá Gordo” at Club Lusitano in Hong Kong. Pictured second row from right: Dr. Rufino Ramos of IIM, Mrs. Jose Luis de Sales Marques; Luiz Souza, President of Club Lusitano; and Dr. Jose Luis de Sales Marques, President of CCM.
On Monday, December 9th, we had a lovely friendly day of Lawn Bowling at the Club de Recreio, thanks to Dr. Albert Rodrigues and Peter Souza who planned the day for us. The UMA Lawn Bowlers started with lunch then had a game against the Lawn Bowlers of Recreio. After the first game we had a delightful “Tea” followed by a second game. We ended the day with a lovely dinner for about 40 with the members of Club de Recreio. Pictured to the right are the UMA bowlers.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 10 of 32
IT'S ALL 'BOUT BOWLIN' October 26, 2013 Pauline de Assis
It's been a while since the UMA Bulletin has had news about our true blue bowling enthusiasts, don't you know - yeah?! Yes indeed, while there's been plenty of news on parties, anniversaries, weddings and cultural articles, it's been silent on one of the most interesting and much enjoyed sport among our members; that, of course, is lawn bowling. Even back in the 50s and 60s lawn bowling at the Recreio in Hong Kong was a well known sport, albeit by the more senior of our Filho Mac residents at the time, along with field hockey, baseball or badminton. Well, here in the U.S. lawn bowlers, among our Macaenese immigrants, have grown by leaps and bounds, the majority coming from the SFLBC and the RLBC, i.e., the San Francisco and the Rossmoor Lawn Bowling Clubs. By word of mouth, a few and then a few more and so on, the numbers grew. So every year, UMA holds a bowling tournament in Rossmoor for all UMA members and this year was no exception. There were 42 bowlers playing on 7 rinks on green No. 2 at the Rossmoor Lawn Bowling Club, while other Rossmoor bowlers had their usual draw day and played on green No. 1.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 11 of 32
Lawn Bowling Saturday, October 26th was the big day for the UMA bowlers, who all gathered at the Las Trampas Room in Rossmoor to vie for one of the winning cash prizes. It was a lovely Indian Summer day, so welcoming to play a game of bowls. The smell of hot coffee/tea or hot chocolate, with pastries too, was enough to draw the players in to begin their day. Dressed in their whites, some wearing their UMA logo shirts no less, the players ate and drank and chatted happily. Sandy Souza, Chairperson, called everyone in shortly after 9:15 a.m. to get the ball rolling. She Explained the rules of the game and the format of the draw, called for the pledge of allegiance to our flag, and finally did the open draw. The eager bowlers quickly took to the green with their team mates ready to do battle. Playing three ten-end games may have been a challenge for some but everyone took it to heart as 10 ends didn't seem too long before they could rest and rebound for the next challenge in the afternoon, two to be exact. So lunch was in order close to the noon hour and it was good to fill up on some brown bag lunches before the second round, many with their first win while the losers geared up, hopeful for some afternoon wins! Battling courageously the bowlers did their best to secure one or two wins if by chance the first one they didn't succeed. To make it more of a challenge, the goodies "traveling bag" (for any team winning 4 or more points on an end) did encourage the bowlers to do just that, i.e., win an end with at least 4 points, not an easy task of course. The team holding the traveling bag on the 10th end got to keep the bag, yea!
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 12 of 32
Lawn Bowling
Well, by the end of the third game, the bowlers were ready to go back in to the Las Trampas Room for some needed refreshment and rest. Drinks were flowing and quenching thirsts but food was what everyone was waiting for. So, while camaraderie was lively at the tables the caterers came (Smokin' Moe's) and set up their platters of appetizing BBQ meats and salads. Aaah, the sight brought people to their feet to begin the long queue for their BBQ dinner. Once the delicious meal satisfied those 75 hungry stomachs, it was time to announce the winners of the games. Four cash prizes were given to: 4th Place: Rick Oliveira, Eilan Sloustcher, Rich Holm; 3rd Place: Regina Banares, John Monteiro, Robert de Graca; 2nd Place: Lionel Guterres, Melina and Francis Carion; and the 1st Place winners were: Larry Collaco, Mike Ying and Robert Xavier. Worthy of mention is the fact that Larry Collaco is the only bowler who has had the good fortune to win not just once but the second time around - congratulations Larry! Larry's team's names will be inscribed on the trophy for 2013 and the trophy was presented to them by Raquel and Jorge Remedios, our gracious and generous trophy donors (See the photos on the next page). Desserts were plentiful with Flavia Greubel's bakers and helpers. UMA had another very successful lawn bowling event this year thanks to Sandy Souza, Flavia Greubel and all who lent a hand to bring it about. What a fun day everyone had - go bowlers, next year it could be your turn to have your name on the trophy! Good bowling to all in 2014!!
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 13 of 32
Lawn Bowling
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 14 of 32
Guys and Dolls UMA Dinner Dance Saturday, February 15, 2014 Macau Cultural Center, 109 J Street, Fremont, CA Happy Hour at 5:00 Dinner at 6:00 Music by Ed Villa Carlos Dress – Dressy Casual
Registration deadline: February 1, 2014 This is a popular event. Seating is limited. First come first serve. No refunds for no-shows. If you have questions, please email or call Larry Collaco at [email protected] or 408-730-4028
Download and print this form from the UMA website: http://www.uma-casademacau.com/index.php/events/
Guys and Dolls – Saturday, February 15, 2014 UMA Members $25 Non-Members $30 Reservations can be made for tables of 8 Please list names below or on the back of this form
Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Name: Member (Y/N): Amt. Pd. Please make checks payable to UMA, Inc. and mail it along with this form by February 1, 2014 to: Joanne Ribeiro, 1417 Oakmont Drive, #1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 15 of 32
UMA GAME DAY
Macau Cultural Center 109 – J Street Fremont, CA 94536
Bring your friends to enjoy a fun day of Mahjong, Poker, Rummikube, Mexican Train, etc.!
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Coffee, Tea, & Goodies: 10:00 AM Lunch: 1:00 PM Dinner: 6:00 PM
Cost per person: $16 UMA members $21 Non-members
Please make checks payable to UMA, Inc. and mail it along with this form by February 22nd, 2014 to:
Pauline de Assis – 1124 Singingwood Court, #8, Walnut Creek, CA 94595
Please indicate table partners, and if you need us to provide a table.
NAME & (TABLE PARTNERS): GAME PHONE MEMBER? NEED A i.e. Mahjong NUMBER: (Y/N): TABLE?
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 16 of 32
Portuguese Seafarers & their Footprints in Asia By Gustavo da Roza – Edited by Dan Gomes
Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India was greatly assisted by the Portuguese navigators before him: Bartolommeo Dias rounding the Cape of Good Hope, following the maritime achievements of Diego Cão, João de Santarém and Pero Escobar, Pedro d’Sintra, Nuno Tristão, Gil Eanes and the earliest discoveries of Açores and Madeira Islands. Following Vasco da Gama, the discoveries and conquests by Pedro Alvares Cabral, Francisco d’Almeida, and Alfonso de Albuquerque cleared the way for Portuguese seafarers to follow the sea routes to Asia mapped out by these great men. One such seafarer who followed these adventurers was João Antonio Alves, my maternal great great grandfather.
João Antonio Alves was born in central Portugal in 1791 to a land owning family in the Bishopric of Coimbra. He received the education provided by the Clergy, travelled across Portugal, and learnt the art and sciences of navigation from the Maritime school built by Prince Henry the Navigator at the south-western tip of the Algarve province in Sagres.
In the late eighteenth century, there was great turmoil in Europe and the Americas. The American Revolution, overthrow of the French monarchy, the Napoleonic wars, conquest of Spain by Napoleon and the Continental Blockade, and the departure of our king and royal family across the Atlantic to Brazil made this a perilous time for Portugal.
Portugal fought and won the bloody battles of Roliça and Vimeiro against the French General Junot, and the second French invasion by General Soult from the North. The Portuguese forces with their British allies under Arthur Welleslay, later made the Duke of Wellington, attracted the third invasion under General Massena to the mountains of Buçaco, where they defeated the French at Torres Vedras. These costly battles with the French rendered Portugal and the people great poverty.
These were the conditions in his homeland when João Antonio took to the seas in search of fame and fortune. He sailed his three masted ship, a barque, and traded mainly between Brazil from west of the Atlantic Ocean around the Cape of Good Hope, across the Indian Ocean to Goa, and through the Malacca straits to the only foreign port in all of China, Macau.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 17 of 32
Portuguese Seafarers & their Footprints in Asia
João Antonio sailed these challenging seas to trade. He didn’t bother with Japan since it was closed to foreigners by their Shoguns, especially the Portuguese who had landed there in the early XVI century and converted many Japanese to Christianity. He made a great fortune trading with Brazil and the South China Sea and decided to retire to Macau where he married, settled and raised his family.
João Antonio married Dona Maria Filipa Baptista, niece of his close friend Miguel Antonio de Souza, the rich and powerful Harbor Master, and settled in Macau with their children: two sons and three daughters. He also place an order for a 7,000 piece set of porcelain for his family’s use, all with the painting of his ship the “Brihante”, and died in 1849. His five children married in Macau and raised their families there.
His first son, Joao Miguel had four children, and his only surviving daughter, Emma married Francisco de Vasconcellos Soares and settled in Hong Kong where many of the Portuguese had moved to work, and contribute to the development of the British Crown Colony. Besides work, Francisco Soares created the garden city of Homuntin, and contributed imensely to landscaping and gardens and serve the Portuguese community in Hong Kong as the Consul of Portugal during the difficult years of World War II. The Soares are the grand parents of my cousin and good friend, Bosco Correa, presently living with his brother Frankie and their growing families in Melbourne, Australia.
João Antonio and Maria Filipa Baptista had three daughters: The eldest daughter Maria Josefa married Fillipe Machado, moved and settled in Shanghai, where their children and descendants lived and later moved to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Their second daughter Francisca married Alexandrino Remedios, and moved to Hong Kong. Their three grandsons changed their surnames by adding half of their mother’s to be d’Almada Renedios. Their eldest son Paco married Milla Osmund and settled in Hong Kong with their four sons: Luigi, Mickey, Brutus and Chappy, and two daughters: Girlie and Christine, and have 19 grand children spread around the west coast of the United States.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 18 of 32
Portuguese Seafarers & their Footprints in Asia
Their second son Dudy married Alda Basto, practiced law in Hong Kong where their only son Leonardo followed in his father's footsteps practising law and became a judge, and both grandchildren Leozinho and Susie continued in the family profession, and Susie is now a judge.
The third son Fernando, known to all as Fear, married a sister of Paco’s wife, Carmen Osmund, also settled in Hong Kong, gained much success in the building trades and raised 5 sons and 2 daughters to become 3 more lawyers, a doctor in the US, and a member of the Maryknoll sisters.
Joao Antonio’s third daughter Beanina also married in Macau to Antonio Barros, raised 11 Children: 5 daughters and 6 sons and 34 grandchildren, the majority migrated and settled in the US, Canada and Australia. Their fourth daughter Helena married Augusto Botelho Jr. with 6 children, and their 2nd son Darkie Bothelho served as the senior commanding officer of Portuguese companies of the Hong Kong Regiment that fought and suffered under the Japanese, a majority shipped to forced labor in the mines of Japan. Following World War II, Darkie, known to all as the Colonel, continued his work writing the laws of Hong Kong, and served for many years as President of our Club Lusitano in Hong Kong. João Antonio’s youngest son José Luis married his first cousin, Maria Josefa Marques, with proper papal dispensation, and had a daughter and six sons. The eldest Angela had a serving life, first to her father as she pursued his passion for the arts in painting and music. She also served as the mother to her widowed brother Atuto’s children. As she lived many years in my parents home - she is my prime source of this family history of her grand father the Portuguese seafarer João Antonio.
Besides their daughter Angela, known as Auntie Angie, Josico and Josefa had six sons carrying the Alves surname. Eldest son Jack married Aurea Britto and had 3 sons and 4 daughters spread out over the Untied States and Eastern Canada, Their son Dickie served with the Hong Kong Regiment and was killed in action in the Battle of Hong Kong. My wife and I were delighted that we were able to celebrate their daughter Maria Pompeia de S. Alves MacIntosh’s 98th birthday last October 1 in Toronto.
Their second son Alvaro, known to all as Dadai married Mary Machado and had a son Billy, and a daughter Maria spread out in Eastern Canada. Billy also served with distinction as an officer with the Hong King Regiment in the Battle of Hong Kong , survived imprisonment, and built a very successful career in post war Hong Kong. Billy also spent time with his father Dadai and worked on his grand-father Josico's collection of artwork, writings, and the history of his great grandfather the seafarer João Antonio.
The third son, my maternal grandfather Atuto married Sarita Castro, half Spanish and German beauty and eldest of Carlos Castro's fourteen children. They had two daughters and a son, many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren in the United States and Canada.
The fourth son Nemésio married and moved to live in Shanghai as a Remittance man.
The fifth son Charlie married Carmen Remedios, settled in Hong Kong with 6 children, majority now living in Australia.
Their sixth and youngest son Egas shipped out to Europe to join the War to end all wars in 1914. He suffered serious injuries and gas poisoning, returned to Hong Kong and a physically trying life, and accidentally killed in a car accident in the Causeway Bay area.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 19 of 32
JOÃO ANTONIO’S DESCENDANTS TODAY
These great great grandchildren and descendants of João Antonio are living in the many countries and communities they have moved to and continue to contribute their cultural heritage and family traditions, enriching the quality of life of the people and places they chose to life in.
The descendants of João Antonio Alves have close to 30 Portuguese surnames including: Alves, Andrade, Barros, Basto, Beltrão, Botelho, Castilho, Correa, Crestejo, Figueredo, Gomes, Gonçalves, Guterres, Lima, Lopes, Machado, Marques, Maher, Noronha, Pereira, Remedios, Ribeiro, Rodrigues, Rosario, Roza, Silva, Soares and Souza. And over 30 foreign surnames: Brander, Bregante. Carter, Dyck, Fant, Finch, Francois, Heaphy, Huus, Hyndman, Killin, Kingslay, Lange, Leaver, Levitt, Liesch, Lovegrove, McGlogan, McMichael, Orella, Pascoe, Patane, Roper, Sheehan, Smith, Stapf, Summers, Varty, Weigers, Yasue, Yauk and Yvanovich.
This is the nature of the Portuguese, the Macau Filo filo and the story of their footprints in Asia and around the world.
A Nation of Bank Clerks Frederic (Jim) Silva
Napoleon Bonaparte thought he would disparage his biggest enemy, England, by saying that "England was a nation of Shopkeepers". I would then say , non disparagingly, that a generation of us Macanese too, were "A Nation of Bank clerks." I do not say this disparagingly. I myself was a bank clerk for a period of time, and Macanese friends, relatives and acquaintances were also bank clerks. Those were the times and the circumstances that brought about this economic and cultural way of making a living. I would estimate-with no actual head count ever attempted - that perhaps sixty percent of Macanese male employees were bank clerks between the years 1890 and 1960 - with a further, say, thirty percent working as general clerks scattered among the many British and other European "Hongs". These Hongs were the large conglomerates of trade and commerce that were once the engines of Hong Kong's and Shanghai's economy for the greater part of the colonial years. These Hongs were actually involved in everything. They were in Imports and Exports, Utilities and Warehouses, Shipping and Shipyards, Insurance and Finance, Vehicles and Transportation, Agencies and Communications. You name it - and you can be sure that Macanese men were also much involved in many of these enterprises as well. The largest and oldest of these Hongs was Jardine Matheson and Co. - the Princely Hong. Close behind were Butterfield and Swire, Dodwells, Gilmans, Gibb Livingstone, Shewan Tomes, and indeed many others who often specialized in selected areas of trade. Service in the Hong Kong Government never seemed to take a meaningful role for Macanese except within certain Governmental departments in later years. Two departments in particular saw many Macanese. These were the Legal Department and again in somewhat later years in the District Office of the New Territories. The D.O.N.T. The two big Power companies provided plenty of employment. Especially so was the China Light and Power Co. The Macanese, living as most of them did in Kowloon, provided a significant part of staffing for this big Kowloon electrical generating and distribution system. The other big electrical supply company , the HongKong Electric Co., for HongKong Island, had very few Macanese employees. In the Government's legal department were Macanese lawyers, legal clerks, and courtroom shorthand writers for the recording of testimony and evidence. In the D.O.N.T. there were Macanese land bailiffs who provided governmental oversight over districts and small towns in what were once very small villages of the New Territories. Two small and private select avenues of employment were the Law and Medicine. These two career roads accounted for an unduly large proportion of Macanese serving the general HongKong population.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 20 of 32
A Nation of Bank Clerks
The reason that there was a good number of doctors was that an acceptable medical degree could be attained locally. The University of HongKong's Medical faculty was generally of a high worldwide standard and accepted reciprocally throughout the British Empire. Local and relatively inexpensive medical training could be obtained here. In law there was a system of learning by in house apprentice training. The system required a period of "Article Clerkship" which would lead to testing and acceptance for the practice of law. Again leading to a somewhat inexpensive and local professional degree. Family acceptance and family connections often led to whole clans entering the Law. Let us now get back to our Bank Clerks. Banks in HongKong were divided into Native Banks and Western style banks. Western style banks were mostly foreign institutions who provided for general banking. They financed trade through advances in the export of goods by "Bills of Lading". This could lead the bigger banks to service a large number of customers through Current Accounts (Checking facilities) as well as by Savings Accounts. Foreign inward remittances and payments (Bills Payable). Real Estate loans and share dealing as well as safe custody and management of share portfolios and dividend collection as directed were handled by the Chief Accountant Department There was a Trustee Department to legally settle or liquidate estates as directed. Native Banks only dealt with their Chinese customers with loans and remittances as well as for other financial services. I believe that both types of banks were limited by Government licensing for the practice and uses that they specialized in . In many cases there was some overlapping of services. Macanese bank clerks worked only in the Western style banks. To get back to some of the Western style banks that employed Macanese: British Banks- The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank (locally incorporated then), Mercantile Bank (later taken over by HSBC), and Chartered Bank; French Banks- Banque d' Indochine, and The B.N.P.; Belgian Bank- Banque Belge; Chinese Bank- Bank of East Asia; American Banks- The First National City Bank (later to become Citigroup), Chase Manhattan Bank (later to become the J.P. Morgan Chase Bank); and Dutch Banks- Netherlands Handelsbank, The NTS (Netherlands Trading Society). It was these Banks plus some others that provided employment for a large part of the Macanese community.. However, the granddaddy of all banks was the HSBC This establishment was formed by HongKong merchants as early as 1865 and dominated the scene as the largest established and very solid institution. They later had numerous branches all over the city and also had many foreign branches all over the world- always with emphasis on HongKong, Asia and London. In HongKong conditions of employment and pay tended to follow the HSBC's established benchmarks, though salaries for clerks here seemed to range marginally higher than elsewhere. No wonder then that over half of Macanese office workers once worked for The Bank! It would appear that in those days, before the introduction of computers and sophisticated calculation machines that a greater number of clerks would be required for certain jobs. Everything then was entered by hand written words and figures with pen and ink. Written records then had to be physically stored. It was a good fit. Macanese bank clerks and this bank made for a fortunate match up and a good team. Macanese were generally an honest and hardworking group, responsible and adaptive. Employees of this bank as well as for most others had their own established hierarchy. Top officers were generally Englishmen employed from England and arriving as young trainees to be seasoned from department to department. They would then be transferred to other smaller foreign branches and eventually to be fully integrated into the system. These Englishmen were the nucleus for top level future executives. The Macanese were the middle ground engine room of this banking machine, providing continuity and efficient service within their own internal hierarchy of employment. The Chief Clerk was just about the highest position a local could aspire to in any foreign bank. Nevertheless it was a position of power and control. The Chief Clerk hired and fired all Macanese staff. He assigned staff postings within the many departments. He recommended (or did not recommend) salary raises. With the backing of the English Chief Manager, his authority was absolute. A large Chinese staff was at another level of service. They were called the "Compradore" staff. They were hired and managed by a Chinese Compradore who was the guarantor and executive they answered to. Chinese handled all cash transactions as tellers and also acted as the bank's link with many Chinese customers as well as also being a link to the Bank's connection to Chinese native banks. Most Macanese joined as junior bank clerks after graduating from high school with HongKong's "School
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 21 of 32
A Nation of Bank Clerks
Leaving Certificate". They wrote and spoke good English, some Chinese and perhaps a smattering of Portuguese. They were diligent and good at figures and by nature attentive and conforming. In nearly all banks and trading Hongs there was an ever present established network of contacts and references for the introduction of young Macanese into the workplace. Uncles, cousins, fathers, godfathers and friends were ever alert in an established network of contacts. A long standing process of job continuity within a bank and other companies was part of this system. To get back to our mid level Macanese bank clerk. Employment as bank clerks usually provided a steady job with a fair income for many Macanese men. This was accompanied by a gradual process of promotion and pay increases. There was usually an annual bonus which was always a welcomed addition. There was virtually free medical coverage for staff and their families. More important, there was a lump sum cash "Provident Fund" which was a much desired feature of bank employment. This large sum on retirement was an attractive feature of service. Years of service would culminate with this sum which if invested wisely (hopefully) would then do as a pension system providing for comfortable retirement. Macau Macanese in particular would look at this provident fund with some envy and encourage their young men to go to HongKong and seek this HongKong avenue of employment. Within the workplace there was an unwritten support system. Fellow employees knew each other's families and their problems, if any. There would be support for fellow employees who were, in some cases, not up to the job. Sympathetic cover up for lapses or deficiencies was a common practice. However, two important considerations that could come about would cause financial pressure even with the fairly good salaries being paid. The first was that as good Catholics some very large families found it hard to make ends meet. Five children? Eight children? Ten children?--Tough !! The other factor was found in the very fast rise of housing costs in HongKong. Macanese who owned their own homes-and many did, were not affected. but renters had to cope with the ever rising rents of HongKong. This was initially caused by a city wide influx of Chinese refugees because of the Japanese invasion of China beginning in 1937. Subsequently, China's own civil war saw Chairman Mao's army attacking Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek's Nationalist Government army throughout China. Neutral British HongKong was sought as a place of refuge in a war torn land. Executives of the HSBC tried to combat this housing dilemma of their Macanese staff by successfully developing a company housing estate for them. Unknown to most people HongKong's business working conditions were loosely controlled by a very small and furtive association known as the Employer's Federation. It was an association made up of most of the large employing foreign companies, the Banks and Trading Conglomerates. One of it's main functions was to police and protect companies from the poaching of foreign staff from each other. To bring a young trainee from England, to train and house him for a contracted period, and then to have another company woo him away soon thereafter was frowned upon and vigorously policed and prevented. The salary scale for locals was standardized by this Employers Federation to some extent. The limits of promotion opportunities by rank was also somewhat standardized. This was meant to establish a degree of parity among employers. How could employment in HongKong's many banks and hongs be obtained? Within the community there was always a networking employment system in the bigger banks and hongs. Uncles, cousins, godfathers and friends in these institutions were always alert in filling vacancies from a never ending flow of younger Macanese recruits just leaving their high school with their brand new "School Leaving Certificates". And so the trend continued. This general clerical system of hiring in banking and commerce was also to be found in Shanghai but on a somewhat smaller scale. In Macau it did not exist at all. Only one foreign bank was ever allowed to operate there-- The BNU (Banco Nacional Ultramarino) To be carpenters, artisans, cooks, electricians or plumbers? Never! Work with my hands? Never! Most of us wanted to be bank clerks like our fathers and grandfathers. We wanted to work only with our heads. What I am writing here is really an account of our past as we lived under a colonial system that our forefathers gladly accepted. We were a nation of Bank Clerks. Wear this proudly.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 22 of 32
Old Shanghai Wedding Pictures From the Gilbert & Justine Wells (Leitao) Collection
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 23 of 32
De Carvalho-Oliveira Wedding
Augie & Nat
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 24 of 32
Club Lusitano (Shanghai) Ladies – Probably 1920
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 25 of 32
Names on the back of the Photograph.
Anyone who knows the date/occasion when this picture was taken please contact the editor of the UMA Bulletin.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 26 of 32
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 27 of 32
Bosie Frances Gardner, aged 80, passed away in Sept 2013 in Eastbourne, Sussex. Mother of Aileen, Jeanette, May, David & Adrian, and grandmother of 7. Sister of Tootsie (Sydney), Peggy (Walnut Creek), Sheila (Eastbourne) and Cutie (Milton Keynes). Frances lived in England for many years, but she was born and raised in Kowloon. She was very sincere, kind, helpful, good at knitting and a devout Catholic. May lovely Frances RIP. da Luz, Michael Andrew age 63, passed away October 13, 2013 at home surrounded by his family, following a short battle with kidney cancer. Michael was the son of Jose G. & Patricia M. (nee Castro) da Luz, one of the founding members of UMA.
He was a loving husband to Althea, his wife of 41 years. He was a great dad, role model, and mentor to his son Nicholas, daughter Michelle, and son-in-law Matthew. He was deeply loved and is profoundly missed. Celebration of Mike’s life will be held sometime in the spring.
Mike was proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from the University of California (Berkeley School of Forestry and completed graduate studies through the Silviculture Institute at Oregon State University and University of Washington. He enjoyed a long and fulfilled career as a forester, working with the U.S. Forest Service for more than 30 years throughout California, Oregon, and Colorado. Following his federal retirement in 2005, he worked with ESRI, a geographic mapping software company, for the past 8 years.
In retirement he remained actively engaged in his profession, serving on the Board of Directors of the association for Fire Ecology and participating with other related organizations. He enjoyed a wide variety of work experiences, but found particular passion and excitement as wildland firefighter and responding to natural disaster incidents. He relished opportunities to share knowledge about land and applied fire management by mentoring young professionals, serving as university guest lecturer, hosting field trips, or during casual walks in the woods. He cared greatly about people and touched the lives of many friends and colleagues, who fondly knew him as “Mikey” He left his mark on many forested landscapes and looked forward to playing an active role in habitat conservation into the future.
Mike was an adventurer and enjoyed road trips as much as international travel. He especially loved spending time in the Hawaiian Islands and any opportunity to snorkel in tropical waters around the globe. He enjoyed running, downhill skiing, whittling, playing guitar and ukulele, photography, and sketching his favorite landscapes. da Silva, Regina Maria (nee Mattos) passed away in Antioch, California, at the age of 92 on November 26, 2013. Regina was the widow of the late Filomeno da Silva. She was the beloved sister of Teresa Montojo and Adelina da Luz and will be greatly missed by them. Regina was an old and long time member of UMA, San Francisco Chapter.
Maher, Gladys, long-time UMA member, passed away peacefully in Hong Kong on July 26, 2013. She is survived by siblings, Norma and Arthur, in Toronto; and many nieces and nephews in Toronto and Hong Kong.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 28 of 32
Obituary
Pomeroy, Bernard Francis Sr., was born December 15, 1923 and passed away on November 1, 2013. The eldest of 10, he married Maria Luiza Rozario on January 6th 1946, the youngest of 17. They had 5 children, Frances, Bernie Jr., and Liz born in Hong Kong. After immigrating to the US, Phil, then Mary were born. Grandfather to his loving grandchildren: Shawnna, Natalie, Nikko, Jasmine, Jacob, Erica, Alison, Juan Carlos, Sebastian, Annabelle and Danielle. Proud great grandfather to Frannie, McKenna, Max, Alex, Holden and Laila.
Bernie was in the Royal Air Force in Hong Kong. He was chosen to attend Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in England in 1953, a proud moment for him. In Hong Kong he worked as a stenographer clerk and administrator assistant at American International Assurance Company. When the family moved to the US, he worked for the same company for several years. He took draftsman classes in San Francisco and helped the Frederickson Company build a lumber mill n Washington State. Bernie enjoyed lawn bowling at Rossmoor, playing Mah Jong and poker with his friends and family. One of his favorite things to do was to treat people to a meal while enjoying their company. He loved St. Anne’s parish and watched the Catholic channel frequently. We pray for his soul, may he rest in peace.
Pomeroy, John Bernard Jr was born in Hong Kong on January 24, 1934 a loving son to John Bernard Pomeroy Sr. and Leonidia Augusta Pomeroy and passed away on December 14, 2013. He was the 7th of 10 children, and the youngest of 5 boys. He is the proud brother of Bernie, Louis, Marie, Roy, Joyce, Gerald, Gladys, Felice and Vickie, a tightly knit family, with Catholicism at the center of how they live their lives. John was always a forgiving man and one who looked for the good in everything and in everyone.
John loved playing and watching sports, especially individual sports. During his school days at La Salle secondary school in Hong Kong, he began playing badminton. He played at St Theresa Badminton center and also at the Victoria Recreational Club. In the early 1950’s as just a teenager John represented Hong Kong in Thomas Cup play….at the time the largest stage for competition in the sport of badminton.
He came to the United States in 1955 with his parents to start a new life in the “land of opportunity”. It was in America that he met his wife of 52 years Elizabeth. Dad asked for her hand in marriage in 1961, through their love came 4 children John Bernard III, Cynthia Leslie, Josephine Lisa and Debra Jean. He worked for over 30 years as a Deputy Clerk with the United States District Court in San Francisco, and retired at the age of 60 to help care for some of his grandchildren. He was the very proud grandfather to Victoria, Andrea, Sarah, Olivia, Nicholas, Mathew, John Bernard IV and Jarret. John welcomed seeing his family grow through marriages loving all his new in-laws as his own.
When our dad wasn’t working or raising his children and grandchildren, he took pleasure in fishing and camping with his family. He loved playing tennis and golf….and watching sports on TV- usually rooting for the underdog. He enjoyed being with his family and friends at UMA outings- enjoying the bowling and ping pong tournaments, and especially the dances where he enjoyed dancing the jitter bug. There wasn’t a day he loved more than the Pomeroy Family picnic held every July in remembrance of his mother and father…. The month of both their birthdays. John was a humble man, who ascended during the most wonderful time of the year. He embodied the spirit of Christmas everyday of the year and every year of his life. Jesus, Family, Friends and the goodness in people are what fulfilled him. May he rest next to our Lord and all of those who have gone before him.
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 29 of 32
If you wish to donate to this scholarship fund please go to www.Scholarships.hku/alvaro
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 30 of 32
UMA, Inc. - Officers & Directors Title Name Home Address Phone (Fax) Email President Maria Gomes 2021 Ptarmigan Dr. #1, 925-482-0711 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Vice- Flavia Greubel 1232 Skycrest Drive, #2 925-930-8672 [email protected] President Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Treasurer Francis Carion 1112 Rockledge Ln, #7 925-979-0679 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Secretary Pauline de Assis 1124 Singing Wood Ct 925-943-2003 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Marie Guterres 825 Prairie Creek Dr 650-359-3858 [email protected] Pacifica, Ca 94044 Director Luiz Ozorio 3152 Ptarmigan, #1 650-245-3374 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Joanne Segovia 1417 Oakmont Dr, #1 925-891-4474 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Sandy Souza 1340 Canyonwood Ct #3 925-639-7708 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595 Director Ramon Xavier 2061 Pine Knoll Drive #1 925-934-2618 [email protected] Walnut Creek, Ca 94595
New Book for Sale
Reminiscences of a War time Refugee by Jim Silva
Cost US$5 if picked up from Editor of the Bulletin At 2021 Ptarmigan Drive, Unit 1, Walnut Creek, Ca Or Cost US$7 if mailed within the United States Call 925-482-0711 or email [email protected]
REMINDER: Be sure to send in your 2014 UMA Dues to: Francis Carion, Treasurer 1112 Rockledge Lane, Apt.7 Walnut Creek, California 94595 Regular Member $20 Senior (age65+) $15 Non US Resident $25 Subscription Member (no hard copy Bulletin – view online) $20 Young Adult (ages 18 to 25) $10
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 31 of 32
A Quarterly Publication of the Macanese Diaspora sponsored by Fundação Oriente Associate Editor for Distribution: Francis Carion, 1112 Rockledge Lane, o.7, Walnut Creek, Ca 94595
UMA NEWS BULLETIN – Winter Issue 2013 Page 32 of 32