PRESENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF RAEM (Região Administrativo especial de Macau) Dr. EDMUNDO HO HAU WAH

Representative of the Núcleo de Animação Cultural de Goa Damão e Diu (nacgdd), was received by H. E. Dr. Edmundo Ho Hou Wah at his office, the former Palácio do Governador, in the erstwhile Portuguese regime, who warmly welcomed Dr. Rui Cunha, Dr Salvador Figueiredo, José Colaço, Óscar Menezes and Oscar Noruega on 12th of January 2007. (Members of NACGDD with Dr. Ho)

Dr. Ho who has officiated as the Chief Guest for many of the occasions and events where he has testified our arts, culture and cuisine did not require much introduction of our culture.

He was pleased with the formation of Núcleo de Animação Cultural de Goa Damão e Diu -NACGDD, and pledged his support and extended his good wishes to NACGDD. He wished the community of Goa Damão and Diu a prosperous life and a fruitful career in serving Macau.

He reminded us of the delicious samosas and bebinca which he very much enjoys when it is served to him at many of our events.

Similar visits were also made to the president of IPOR «Institute Portuguese do Orient».

INSTALLATION OF THE 1ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE

The first ever General Assembly Committee was put to vote on 28th of December 2006, where the one and only list was tabled, voted and approved. The approved General Assembly Committee will govern for a period of two years.

Members of the General Assembly.

General Assembly

President : Dr. Rui Cunha
Board member : Dr. Cândido Azevedo
Board member : Hélio Oliveira


Audit Council

President : Dr. Salvador Figueiredo
Board member : Óscar Menezes
Board member : Rui Minguel Leão


Governing Board

President : José Colaço
Secretary : Athos Fernandes
Treasurer : Óscar Noruega
Board member : Estevam Gomes
Board member : Emalita Rocha

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NÚCLEO DE ANIMAÇÃO CULTURAL DE GOA DAMÃO E DIU - NACGDD

Núcleo de Animação Cultural de Goa Damão e Diu -NACGDD, was officially published in the Macau gazette, Boletim Official de Macau no.51, Serie II, dated 21.12.2006, whereby the Grupo de Dancas e Cantares de Goa Damao e Diu, forms an integral part.

REGISTRATION OF NÚCLEO DE ANIMAÇÃO CULTURAL DE GOA DAMÃO E DIU - NACGDD

After decades of Indo-Portuguese existence in Macau through the efforts of the community of Goa, Damão and Diu, the much desired association of the Indo-Portuguese community residing in Macau was officially registered at a government notary on the 11th. of December 2006, in the name of ‘Núcleo de Animação Cultural de Goa Damão e Diu -NACGDD.

With a glass of wine and bebinca, all present toasted to commemorate the birth of NACGDD and obviously for its success and longevity.

For years, the small but vibrant Macau’s Indo-Portuguese community has been promoting and divulging the art and culture of our beautiful and rich land in Macau.

GOA, DAMÃO AND DIU COMMUNITY IN MACAU

The small but dynamic community of Goa Damão and Diu in Macau, has very much made their presence felt here in Macau, a Chinese dominated, multicultural territory with people not only from the Portuguese speaking countries but also from other walks of life.

The art, culture and gastronomy of Goa, Damão and Diu are well known and very much appreciated in Macau. For years through the ‘Grupo de Danças e Cantares de Goa Damão e Diu’, the folk songs and dances like, Aum Saibá Poltodi Vétam, Barra de Damão, O` Divan de Mogará and others have been virtually instilled in the hearts of the Portuguese, Chinese and other communities. The people of Macau are so familiar with the historical and religious monuments through the construction of replicas of the Arco de Vis Rei in Goa, Fortaleza de São Jerónimo in Damão, Fortim do Mar in Diu and other monuments. They have also captured the taste of our Sarapatel, Samosas, Bebinca, Aranha do Céu, Bolinhas de Coco and many more.

With its mark strongly inlaid in Macau, the cultural and diplomatic event-organizers of Macau specifically those linked to the Portuguese culture, can’t simply exclude our participation. The Grupo de Danças e Cantares de Goa Damão e Diu, has been promoting and livening the occasions such as “Dia das Camões.. das Cumunidades e de Portugalidade” or 10 de Junho, Dia de Cidade de Macau, which is on the 24th of June which coincides with the Feast of São João, and until the erst-while Portuguese rule was a holiday - unfortunately not any more. This popular ‘Festa do São João’ has been revived after being suspended for a couple of years. ‘Grupo de Danças e Cantares de Goa Damão e Diu’, has always been invited to perform on this day where we do not hesitate to show that we too celebrate São João by singing São João, São João. São João..dai nos…, Rio Sandalcalo etc. Even papdi and Gunn, a locally available fruit seasoned in vinegar and water - (the Damão aceitonas).

The most significant of all is our involvement in the ‘Festa de Lusofonia’, (Lusofonia-portuguese speaking countries) organized by the Institute de Assuntos Cívicos de Macau, (formerly Leal Senado de Macau) and the Macau Government Tourism Office. This yearly event was started in 1998 and has become an important event to the local government as a tourist attraction. Participating countries such as Macau, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Brazil, Sao Tome e Principe, Cabo Verde, Brazil, Timor, and Goa, Damão e Diu promote their art, culture and food.

Not to boast, Goa Damão e Diu has been prominent with its magnificent exhibits and our pavilion has won either 1st, 2nd or 3rd prizes, practically every year. With its life size replicas of monuments which have been interior decorated with, traditional clothing, arts and crafts, caju fenni, posters, Indian condiments, not sparing the grinding stone (rogdo in Konkanni and pedra de moeira tempeira in Damão-Diu portuguese), clay water pot (gurgulo in Konkanni and calão in Damão-Diu Portuguese), coconut grater (gantonem/…… in Konkanni and ralador de coco-in Damão and Diu Portuguese), All these brought all the way from Goa, Damão or Diu. Thanks to the talents of some of our community members - visitors, tourists and organizers are overwhelmed. Participating countries never doubt that we should be awarded a prize for the most original and artistic pavilion where our effort, time, dedication, craftsmanship and above all the originality is portrayed year on year.

The Grupo de Danças e Cantares de Goa, Damão e Diu with its local talent, but of high quality have been commended for our traditional songs, dances and costumes. Even the locals and notably the Portuguese kids who are part of the group can sing: Aum saibá poltodi vétam, Damulea lognacú vétam, maka saibá vattu dacoi maka saibá vattu collonam....,
Barra de Damão......

Our delicious sarapatel, xacuti, espetada, samosas, bhajias, bhaji de batata, apas (chapatti) bebinca, bolos, aranhas do ceu etc, have brought mouth-watering locals and tourists returning to our pavilion for more.

On the religious aspect, the local community of Macau has realized how devoted the Catholics of Goa-Damão and Diu are. For years, the 3rd of December is celebrated, remembering our patron saint, Saint Francis Xavier. An Eucharistic celebration in Konkanni/Portuguese/English, with the culminating hymn…..Sáo Francisco Xavierá…. Tuji kuddi Goem xará……… to the Patron Saint of Goa, is attended by the community of Goa, Damão e Diu as well as the local devotees of St. Francis Xavier.

And with candles in their hands, the same way the Damaneses do it on the steps of Câmara Municipal de Damão, the local Damão community here has been celebrating the ‘Festa de Nossa Senhora das Candeias’ on the 2nd of February for the past 14 years.
And undoubtedly a spread of traditional food, singing and dancing goes with it. All this is savoured by our local invitees. To be frank, people from our community long for our traditional, zesty and mouth-watering spread too.

The Rosary with a Litany and the Way of the Cross are also held by our community where the locals also join in.

Through all this, for years, the Goa-Damão-Diu community of the past and the present has strongly made its presence felt in Macau.