In Macao, a land where East meets West, the Macanese, as a unique group, carry a profound historical and cultural heritage. Miguel de Senna Fernandes, President of the Macanese Association, whose family roots traced back to mid-18th century in Macao, has witnessed the tremendous changes this region has undergone since its return to the motherland.

"In the 25 years since Macao's return, the outcome has been remarkable. Our lifestyle has changed. Now we can see modernization in all aspects of administration and infrastructure. With government support, the culture of our Macanese community has also been preserved," Miguel de Senna Fernandes recalled.

"Preserving our uniqueness is preserving Macao's uniqueness"

Miguel de Senna Fernandes has been dedicated to the preservation of the Macanese language and culture. In 1993, he co-founded the Macanese Patois theatre group Dóci Papiá?am di with friends. Since then, Miguel de Senna Fernandes has annually created a new play based on Macao's social and life developments, performing in Patois. Today, his plays are highly anticipated at the Macau Arts Festival.

Besides playwriting, Miguel de Senna Fernandes has recently ventured into Portuguese novel writing. He hopes to translate his works into English and Chinese in the future and build a new bridge for Sino-Portuguese cultural exchanges through literature.

With support from the Macau government, the Macanese Association that he leads frequently organizes gatherings, theatrical performances, and other cultural activities, strengthening community solidarity and showcasing Macao's multicultural charm to the outside world.

Miguel de Senna Fernandes believes that preserving Macanese culture is not only crucial for the Macanese community, but also has a profound impact on Macao's overall development.

According to Miguel de Senna Fernandes, their culture and identity not only distinguish them from other communities but also shape Macao's unique cultural landscape as a place of multicultural fusion, facilitating exchanges between Macao and other countries worldwide. "This is an important advantage Macao has in competing with other regions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area."

Culture can facilitate interactions between China and Portuguese-speaking countries

"Culture plays a vital role in driving economic development," Miguel de Senna Fernandes pointed out. The Macanese Association is eager to play a key role in establishing Macao as a Sino-PSCs exchange platform. "We should not forget that there are multiple ways to generate economic initiatives in Macao. Culture is sellable and can initiate and trigger a lot of things. That's why we develop Macao's tourism industry, which relies on culture as well. Culture is a thing that we can use to achieve economic goals."

Looking ahead to Macao's future development, Miguel de Senna Fernandes is confident. "Macao people are not afraid of any challenges. I hope that Macao goes for another 25 years as smoothly as possible. Great achievements will come."

At the same time, he also hopes that the younger generation of Macanese will take the baton in cultural preservation and participate in Macao's new wave of development.

"We hope they will continue to transmit and promote our culture," Francisco said. "They must use their imagination, seize the opportunities of their time, and have a sense of community, realizing that they are Macanese. When they can be proud of being so, I don't have to worry about anything."

(cnbayarea.org.cn & GDToday)