Macao drama club bridges China-Portugal exchanges with unique creole performances

China

Macao drama club bridges China-Portugal exchanges with unique creole performances

2024-12-17 00:02 Last Updated At：16:27

A drama club in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has been fostering cultural ties between China and Portugal through captivating performances in a unique and centuries-old creole language, according to a five-episode documentary launched by China Media Group (CMG).

Miguel Senna Fernandes, is a practicing lawyer in Macao and a former law student who studied in Portugal and lived in the country for eight years.

In 1993, Fernandes founded a drama club, Doci Papiacam di Macau, together with his friends, composed of members with a common identity - they are Macanese, descendants of Portuguese settlers in Macao.

The Macanese community, rooted in Macao's multicultural history, has its creole language, Patua, a blend of Portuguese with elements of Cantonese, Malay and other languages.

Fernandes comes from one of Macao's oldest Macanese families, whose lineage in the region dates back more than 270 years.

"Patua is a very old language which dates back to the 16th to 17th century. It was born out of Portuguese and enriched by many other linguistic elements," said Fernandes .

Fernandes' drama club stages a new play every year, keeping the language alive and relevant through art.

After rehearsals, they will enjoy Macanese cuisine, a hallmark of their culture, which blends ingredients like Portuguese olives and onions, Indian turmeric and curry and southern Chinese cinnamon and coconut milk into a distinct and borderless gastronomy.

The club has performed in the Portuguese capital Lisbon recently, bridging cultural connections between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

"I love the music. It's very very nice, many things about Macao. I think it's a very lovely city," said an audience member.

"I wish to go to Macao. Macao is a city center, but it's a world center in terms of of culture, finance and as well leisure. It is one of the best cities to visit in China," said another.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, CMG is airing the documentary series titled "25 Years of Lotus Bond" on CCTV-1 at 20:00 every night from Dec 13 to 17, with subsequent broadcasts on CCTV-4 and CCTV-13.

The documentary comprises five thematic episodes: Love for the Home and the Nation, A Path of Diversity, The Flavor of Happiness, A City of Integration, and Gateway to the Future. It showcases the successful practices of "one country, two systems" in Macao under the strategic guidance of the central government.

On December 20, 1999, the Chinese government resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Macao and established the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.