10^th Macau Literary Festival

Publishing at the International Institute of Macau: A legacy for the future generations

2021.12.04

Casa Garden

Video

SUN YAT SEN, the pioneer of the Chinese Revolution, lived, raised a family and worked as a doctor in Macau for more than two years, but historical references to his stay and practice as a clinic are comparatively few. The International Institute of Macau (IIM), supported by research carried out by academics, managed to reconstruct the footprints in Macau of the founder of the Republic of China and organized a short lecture on this historical character, on November 23, at the Instituto de Formação Turística ( IFT).

During the event, a presentation was made analyzing the results of research work already carried out by the late Prof. Fok Kai Cheong, and brief communications by researcher Wong Un Na, from the Millennium Institute of Macau and Derrick Tam from the Macau Heritage Ambassadors Association. A short video was also shown, which had been produced by the IIM, edited by António Pinto Marques, and sponsored by the Cultural Affaris Bureau of Macau (IC), in which the places and topics of interest are indicated. The aim of this initiative was to demonstrate that there are enough historical elements to create a new cultural and tourist itinerary, capable of creating a sense of pride among local residents for an “ignored” side of the Macao History. At the same time, a new cultural product would be launched for visitors to learn about the important support and contribution that the people of Macao have given Dr. Sun and his revolutionary cause, and the intimate relationship between Macao and that important character in the history of China. It could also be encouraged to visit some less explored tourist spots, such as the Mandarin House, the Chong Sai Pharmacy, and the Lou Lim Ieoc Garden. It was stated that the publication of a tour guide or the production of a virtual visit program to those places could be considered, around the topic, using visual systems.

The session was supported by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and was attended by various government departments, including the Macau Government Tourism Office, the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the ICM itself, as well as from academics, IFT and City University of Macau.

In 2020, the International Institute of Macau (IIM) published the biography of Dr. Pedro José Lobo, a leading figure in the civic-political scene in Macau, having been president of the Leal Senado de Macau (1959-1964), among other local institutions to which he was linked and awarded two Commendations from the Portuguese Government and the title of honorary citizen of Macau for his contribution to the territory.

Born in East Timor, he was considered an important businessman, politician, philanthropist, civil servant, musician, association leader and cultural stimulator of Macau, and a prominent figure in the Macanese community. His biography is also linked to his role as head of the Central Office of Economic Services, in which he distinguished himself during World War II, in the resolution of the Portas do Cerco incident. He was also the owner and manager of the Macau Water Supply Company, founder of the Macau Air Transport Company (MATCO), and promoter of Macau's cultural, musical and artistic life, having also founded Rádio Vila Verde and the Macau Cultural Circle.

The edition, with the support of the Macau Foundation, now published in English and part of the IIM's “Suma Oriental” collection, is the fifth book by his grandson Marco Lobo, who is currently living in Japan. The author expects, with this book, to transmit a better knowledge of Macau to readers, through this figure who lived through those troubled and important moments of Macau at that time.

The session, with the participation of government entities, civil society and local personalities, took place in the Salão Nobre of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), on November 27, with physical presentations by the respective chairman of the Board of Directors for the Municipal Affairs, José Tavares and the secretary general of the IIM, Rufino Ramos, and also with the presentations made online by Marco Lobo and the president of the IIM, Jorge Rangel, via the Google Meet platform.

The initiative was carried out under the preventive measures of the epidemic situation of COVID-19.

The collection of books published by the International Institute of Macau will be on display at the University of Macau (UM) starting on 11 November until 10 December in the lobby of the Wu Yee Sun Library. History of Macau, gastronomy, memory and Macanese identity and several works on the role of Macau as a platform for cultural and economic exchange between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries and the challenge of its integration in the Greater Bay Area, in Chinese, Portuguese and English, mostly published with the sponsorship of the Macau Foundation.

The books can be purchased with a special discount of 50%, during the exhibition period, at the Plaza Cultural bookstore, next to the UM library.

In addition to these editions, some old law books and others that belonged to Regina Quintanilha will be on display. Note that Regina Quintanilha was one of the first Portuguese women to graduate in Law at the University of Coimbra, having been a lawyer, writer and women's activist. These books had been under the custody of João Pedro Coimbra, and are currently deposited with the IIM.

Before the opening ceremony of the book exhibition there will be a ceremony for the signing of a cooperation agreement between the University of Macau and the IIM, with the aim of strengthening exchange and cooperation between the two institutions, concerning academic activities, focusing on promotion, exchange of information, research, digital connection and publication of books related to Macau.

Recently, the online system for research consultation of the IIM editions has been made possible, through the website of the Wu Yee Sun Library, University of Macau (https://umlibrary.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=853UOM_INST:umlibrary&inst=853UOM_INST).

The initiatives will be carried out under the preventive measures of the epidemic situation of COVID-19.