Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, in cooperation with other governmental departments and civil entities, pursuant to the “Parade through Macao, Latin City” in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China, a worship ceremony took place on 11 December at St. Paul’s Ruins, at the Largo da Companhia de Jesus, including a lion dance performance and attracting citizens as well as tourists with its lively atmosphere. Present in the worship ceremony were President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Leong Lai, Deputy Commissioner of the Fire Services Bureau, Leong Iok Sam, President of the Board of the Macao Association for the Promotion of Exchange between Asia-Pacific and Latin America, Gary Ngai, Chair of the Board of Directors of Air Macau Co, Ltd., Zheng Yan, Representative of President of the Executive Committee of TDM and Acting Director of the Chinese Programming Division of TDM, Ltd., Lok Kong
This year, the Parade will be held on 14 December. In order to express wishes for a successful event, staff from the organization in charge of the event, representatives of cooperating entities and participating groups were present at a worship ceremony. This edition of the Parade will start at 4pm on 14 December with “Launch into Space”, closing at Tap Seac Square with the ceremony “Peace, Love and Cultural Integration” at 6pm. It tells the tale of a party in space, describing the story of the birth of alien life in a faraway galaxy that spreads the ancient and unique Latin culture, but whose world, due to the impact of the quick technological development, has lost colour and glow. VIVA launches the power of “Peace, Love and Cultural Integration” onto space, helping the alien culture recover its colours and prolonging joy, to the world’s jubilation.
One of the Parade’s highlights, “Latin Face Painting” will be available at Largo de Santo António, Rua de Sanches de Miranda and Calçada da Igreja de São Lázaro from 3.30 pm, offering colourful face painting and giving the audience the possibility to become a part of the procession. The public can enter the event area in advance and participate in Macao’s biggest and most colourful outdoor event in celebration of the handover. A Facebook game on the event named “Where is VIVA” – Win Plane Tickets” was also especially created, giving participants a chance to win roundtrip plane tickets for a destiny of their choice sponsored by Air Macau (there will be two winners). For more information please access the Parade’s Facebook page.
This edition of the “Parade through Macao, Latin City” receives the support of several governmental departments and entities. The Parade route includes first-aid stations, service centres (souvenirs/information), etc., and streets on the parade route will be temporarily closed to traffic on the day of the Parade. For more information, please access the event’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/macaoparade or its Facebook page.
