MALACCA: It was a night to remember as the Malacca Portuguese community celebrated its 500 years from the arrival of the Portuguese fleet in 1509.
The community marked the event with a procession on the eve of National Day, which included a fishing boat decorated to resemble the first Portuguese galleon which arrived in Malacca in 1509. The procession was led by local Portuguese cultural icons Noel Felix and Manuel "Papa Joe" Lazaroo.
Malacca Portuguese-Eurasian Association president Michael Singho said the event was to commemorate the landing of the Portuguese fleet led by Diego Lopez de Sequiera in Malacca on Sept 11, 1509.
"We, the Portuguese community in Malacca, are part of a living heritage with unique identity, language, culture and heritage.
"However, over the years the community slowly started losing its identity and we have to reclaim what we have lost to ensure our uniqueness continues.
"We have been here for 500 years and we should ensure we continue to be a living heritage for the next 500 years."
There are 1,200 people of Portuguese descent in the state. Members of the community can also be found in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Sarawak.
Singho said they planned to have a Portuguese-Eurasian academy of culture and arts. For a start, classes would be held to teach the younger generation the Malacca Portuguese dialect of Kristang (Papia Kristant), cultural songs and dances.
As part of the celebrations, the community was entertained to cultural delights such as folk dances. There were also performances by Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley impersonators, homegrown band "Os Pombos" and rock and roll numbers by "Blister".
Awards dubbed the "FLOR" (a trophy in the shape of the 16th Century Portuguese Ship Flor De La Mar or Flower Of The Seas) were given to the late Bernard Sta Maria, for his outstanding achievement in politics and community service, and to Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria for her outstanding achievements in academic.
At midnight, they celebrated the country's independence by singing the Negaraku.
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