Showcase of Portuguese tradition in four days of festivities

After Malacca fell into the hands of the Dutch in 1641, Portuguese descendants started the difficult task of preserving their culture, language and heritage. Their fusion with the local Malay culture was inevitable, but the Portuguese heritage still prevails. Malacca would be the home of the Portuguese descendants.

As Portuguese chronicler Joao de Barros wrote in 1540 “The Portuguese arms and boundary marks placed in Africa and Asia, and in countless isles beyond the three continents, are material things that time may destroy them; but it will not destroy the religion, the customs, the language and the heritage which the Portuguese left in those lands.”

Five centuries have passed since the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, India and Malacca, and Joao’s prophecy was confirmed. More than 2500 Portuguse-Eurasian descendants comprising locals and from all over Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Singapore, Australia and England as well as supporters and friends from Portugal and Macau, swarmed the Portuguese Settlement at Ujong Pasir to commemorate 500 years of culture, heritage and history.

Malacca Portuguese-Eurasian Association (MPEA) president and commemoration’s organising committee chairman Micheal Singho described the four-day festivities saying “The whole bash spelt the coming together, from near and far, warmed by the breath of ‘saudade’ (a strong yearning, a feeling of nostalgia in Cristao, a Portuguese dialect still spoken at the settlement).

Colour, pomp and gaiety filled the air over the four days as generations of Portuguese-Eurasian descendants participated in songs, dances and meeting up with family members, relatives and childhood friends and neighbours. The celebration relive memories of yesteryears.

The food and cuisine were laid out in abundance at the grand dinner finale — all traditionally prepared.

The commemoration and extravanganza themed “Our Roots, Our Heritage, Our Home” showcased traditional food fairs, live performances featuring local musicians and vocalists, traditional and cultural performing arts, beauty and talent competitions, a football tournament, parlour games and pastimes, indoor sports and exhibitions.

A thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Lionel Thomas was held at the settlement’s Rosary Chapel on the opening day. Malacca Chief Minsiter Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam officiated at the opening ceremony on the third night while welcoming a float procession led by a large replica of the Portuguese galleon the ‘Flor De La Mar’ with traditionally attired dancers, musicians and settlement residents in tow.

“Although the local Portuguese-Eurasian community is a minority group, the descendants have never been sidelined or marginalised but instead recognised by the government as special and unique,” said Singho. “As a community we have been freely practising our Roman Catholic faith as well as the culture and traditions inherited from our ancestors.” he said.

“Celebrating a half millennium anniversary is a rare experience as it happens once in every 17 or 18 family generations. So for us the present day Portuguese-Eurasian diaspora, this commemoration is one that carries much, pride, nostalgia and a honour to behold. It is indeed a grand feeling for all of descendants to be part of something profound, colour and unique that has stood the passage of time, the fluidity of fortunes and the rigours of fate” he added.

Covering an area of 11.2ha, the Portuguese Settlement gazetted as a heritage locality and situated on the fringes of Malacca Historical City is now a popular location for domestic and overseas visitors and tourists.

With the annual San Pedro and San Juang festivals in late June is listed by the Tourism Ministry as of 50 national celebrations under the Visit Malaysia Year calendar. The settlement comprising 120 homes occupied by some 1,250 community members, is well known the world over.

-thestar online.