Our Desk | We should have a ‘Sao Joao’ festival per weekend

Renato Marques

Last weekend Macau celebrated one of its many traditions. The “São João” (Saint John’s) Festival is more than simply a step back into the century-old Portuguese traditions. It is also (or supposed to) be the celebration of the city of Macau and its glorious win of the “Battle of Macau” in 1622 when a conflict of the Dutch-Portuguese War fought in the then-Portuguese settlement in the South China Sea.

According to historical accounts, the Portuguese, outnumbered and without adequate fortification, managed to repel the Dutch in a much-celebrated victory on June 24, after a three-day battle in which the Portuguese military force was widely helped by all the local population.

History aside, the festival was revived 11 years ago in a joint initiative from several local associations which includes the Macanese Association, Casa de Portugal, the Pensioners’ Association, the Association for Macanese Education, the International Institute of Macau and, from this year, the Young Macanese Association.

This year’s edition was undoubtedly the record holder in both the number of participants and of visitors, demonstrating not just that there is a real interest from people in such an event but also that the communities of Macau can achieve some form of unity when it is most needed.

That is what I believe occurred this year with the poor outlook for a lack of celebration for the event as a consequence of a conflict between the event’s organizers and the Transport Bureau that put the cultural festival at stake until almost one week prior to the starting date.

The communities responded positively and made the festival the “best ever,” if I’m allowed to state it that way.

When I speak about these Macanese communities I’m of course including not only the visitors to the festival and the organizers, but all of those involved, including the vendors that (in many cases) put a lot of effort to present a new and improved festival in comparison to previous editions. It was clear how much “professionalism” had been put into it; in the decorations, the presentation of goods for sale, the upgrade of equipment and also, and very importantly, in the language proficiency.

The head organizer Miguel Senna Fernandes has said several times previously, this is definitely not a festival for the Portuguese, nor the Macanese, not even for tourists, but for all of them and moreover, for the local communities, non-resident communities and all of those that decided to join.

When I left the event area on Saturday evening, I had only one idea in mind – Why can’t we have “these kinds” of events more often?

Funnily enough what I saw last weekend was the best example of what the government seems to have been saying for a long time in calling Macau a place for “economic diversification” and a “World Tourism and Leisure Center,” in addition to several other jargon terms that no one seems to understand. What I saw over the weekend was also a real opportunity for a “business tryout” like a mini-business incubator opportunity, where people could test their ideas and skills in a real-life context, as well as show their “talent” in amany fields that range from the gastronomy, to the arts and crafts.

I really wish that there were more “São João,” in the Saint Lazarus neighborhood or in any other area of the peninsula and the islands.

That is exactly what Macau needs. Something that puts a “spark in the eyes” of tourists and locals alike.