Portuguese community light candles to herald Festa San Juan
Every year during the latter part of June, the Portuguese-Eurasian homes at the Portuguese Settlement, Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir have little white candles lit on verandas, balconies and atop picket fences as twilight sets in.
These numerous mini flames herald the Festa San Juan (Feast of St John the Baptist) which falls on June 23.
This year’s feast celebration which is part and parcel of the week-long Festa San Pedro (Feast of St Peter, the patron saint of fishermen), was launched by Ronald Gan, assistant chairman of the Banda Hilir constituency development committee at the Medan Portugis sited within the 80-year-old Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir.
Following an Eucharistic religious service at the settlement community hall, a small bonfire was lit at the square and members of the Irmaos de Igreja (Brothers of the Church) lighted their wicker torches. They then walked to all homes in the settlement lighting up little white candles set on fences and gates at sunset.
According to the settlement’s regedor (headman) Peter Gomes, the ritual of using lighted candles to observe the feast was adopted from the Portuguese when they occupied Malacca from 1511 to 1641.
“St John the Baptist is described as the forerunner evangelist prior to the coming of Christ. Hence, the lighted candles signify this saint who led the way during the time of pagan communities,” he explained.
In the early 1950s and 1960s, when Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir witnessed a large number of Portuguese-Eurasian families moving to the area and with fishing as a dominant livelihood, the residents wore green pyjamas on the night of the feast day while during the day their children were all dressed in similar coloured clothing.
It is said that green represented the community’s innocence, purity and rejuvenation. It is also believed that when St John was beheaded, children who visited his tomb were dressed in green and carried lighted candles in homage.
Former long-time Praya Lane resident Anthony Fernandez, 67, recalled that in the old days a mini food fair and the performance of the popular ‘Branyo’ (a traditional Portuguese song-dance routine similar to Malay ronggeng) were the main highlights.
“However, with many of the Portuguese-Eurasian Catholic residents moving out of Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir from the early 1970s onwards, the feast day celebration is somewhat diluted.
“Later, the Portuguese Settlement took over organising the festival and combined it with the San Pedro festival, which eventually got listed on the state tourism calendar.” said Fernandez, who now lives in Banda Hilir.
Another practice of the feast day still adhered to until today is the making of Kanjee Munggu, a sweet delicacy made from mung beans. This sweets is only made on the feast day and is eaten in Portuguese-Eurasian households at tea time.
Notes from the book Survival Through Times, authored by the late Portuguese cleric Fr M.J. Pintado who served and lived in Malacca from the late 1950s, state: “At the height of the Portuguese occupation of the state, the feast of St John the Baptist was observed in grand fashion. A prayer service was then held at the chapel atop St John’s Hill, located midway between Praya Lane and the Portuguese Settlement where hundreds would gather to pray and feast in picnic-like atmosphere until the late hours of the night.”
-News courtesy of The Star-
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Local Malay Delicacies
Local Malay delicacies, worth trying:
* Asam Pedas, the signature dish of the state. A very hot and mild sour curry which accompanying white rice. Normally eaten during lunch and dinner.
* Sambal Belacan, a side dish, super spicy.
* Cencaluk, can be found sold along the roads near Klebang Beach. Made of fermented krills. A bit weird tasting for those who are not used to it.
* Lemang, glutinous rice cooked in bamboo, sold on the side of the road to Teluk Mas
* Ikan Bakar, head to Umbai, Pernu or Serkam for a dinner of fresh caught grilled fish and crustaceans.
* Kuih Udang, you can find this popular tea time dish in Alor Gajah town. The sauce is nice too.
* Kuih-muih, traditional cakes and deserts like dodol, wajik, lempok, inang-inang, gula melaka and many more are sold in shopping mall at Bandar Hilir, Klebang Beach and kampung area throughout the state.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
* Asam Pedas, the signature dish of the state. A very hot and mild sour curry which accompanying white rice. Normally eaten during lunch and dinner.
* Sambal Belacan, a side dish, super spicy.
* Cencaluk, can be found sold along the roads near Klebang Beach. Made of fermented krills. A bit weird tasting for those who are not used to it.
* Lemang, glutinous rice cooked in bamboo, sold on the side of the road to Teluk Mas
* Ikan Bakar, head to Umbai, Pernu or Serkam for a dinner of fresh caught grilled fish and crustaceans.
* Kuih Udang, you can find this popular tea time dish in Alor Gajah town. The sauce is nice too.
* Kuih-muih, traditional cakes and deserts like dodol, wajik, lempok, inang-inang, gula melaka and many more are sold in shopping mall at Bandar Hilir, Klebang Beach and kampung area throughout the state.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
Out of town attractions
Outside town
* Geok Hu Keng Temple - Located at the junction of Klebang and Jalan Pokok Mangga, about 3km from town centre. This temple has a history of 130 years. Managed by local communities, the temple was incorporated under the management of Cheng Hoon Teng in 2000. Major celebrations - 3rd day of Chinese New Year, Hien Tian Siong Teh's birthday on 3rd day of 3rd lunar month and the birthday of Geok Hu Tai Chong on 29th day of 6th Lunar Month. To get to the temple, you may hop in any of the Patt Hup Buses and stop slightly opposite the temple or you may take Town Bus No 18 which stop beside the temple.
* Kampung Morten - a village of traditional houses, it is on the west bank of the Malacca River.
* Recreational Forest Ayer Keroh - The 359 ha (887 acre) Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest was opened on April 17, 1984 and offers visitors peace and tranquility within its cool green surroundings.
* Melaka Zoo - Located in Ayer Keroh, along the main road from the Ayer Keroh toll plaza to Melaka town. The second biggest, one of the best, if not the best, zoo in Malaysia. Even better than the National Zoo. The zoo is in a reserved forest where the animal enclosures more resemble the animals' natural habitat. The trees within the zoo compound provide ample shades for visitors during hot and sunny days. There is a lake in the zoo. Admission for adults RM 7 (daytime 9am - 6pm), RM 10 (nighttime 8pm - 11pm)
* Taman Mini Malaysia and Mini ASEAN - Located in Ayer Keroh, along the main road from the Ayer Keroh toll plaza to Melaka town, about 1 km from Melaka Zoo between the Zoo and toll plaza. It has full-size reconstructions of typical houses from all 13 Malaysian states and all the members of ASEAN. There are daily cultural shows at 11 am and 2 pm. Admission for adults - RM 12, open daily 9am to 6 pm.
* Padang Kemunting Sea-Turtle Sanctuary - Located in Pantai Padang Kemunting beach, about 28 km from Melaka Sentral. You can see the most beautiful sea-turtle in the world, The HAWKSBILL TURTLE. Relax to the sound of the Straits of Malacca as the are lots of kampong type of resorts (budget) for you to choose. Admission for adults - FREE, open daily 10am to 4pm. Close on Monday and Malaysia Public Holidays.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
* Geok Hu Keng Temple - Located at the junction of Klebang and Jalan Pokok Mangga, about 3km from town centre. This temple has a history of 130 years. Managed by local communities, the temple was incorporated under the management of Cheng Hoon Teng in 2000. Major celebrations - 3rd day of Chinese New Year, Hien Tian Siong Teh's birthday on 3rd day of 3rd lunar month and the birthday of Geok Hu Tai Chong on 29th day of 6th Lunar Month. To get to the temple, you may hop in any of the Patt Hup Buses and stop slightly opposite the temple or you may take Town Bus No 18 which stop beside the temple.
* Kampung Morten - a village of traditional houses, it is on the west bank of the Malacca River.
* Recreational Forest Ayer Keroh - The 359 ha (887 acre) Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest was opened on April 17, 1984 and offers visitors peace and tranquility within its cool green surroundings.
* Melaka Zoo - Located in Ayer Keroh, along the main road from the Ayer Keroh toll plaza to Melaka town. The second biggest, one of the best, if not the best, zoo in Malaysia. Even better than the National Zoo. The zoo is in a reserved forest where the animal enclosures more resemble the animals' natural habitat. The trees within the zoo compound provide ample shades for visitors during hot and sunny days. There is a lake in the zoo. Admission for adults RM 7 (daytime 9am - 6pm), RM 10 (nighttime 8pm - 11pm)
* Taman Mini Malaysia and Mini ASEAN - Located in Ayer Keroh, along the main road from the Ayer Keroh toll plaza to Melaka town, about 1 km from Melaka Zoo between the Zoo and toll plaza. It has full-size reconstructions of typical houses from all 13 Malaysian states and all the members of ASEAN. There are daily cultural shows at 11 am and 2 pm. Admission for adults - RM 12, open daily 9am to 6 pm.
* Padang Kemunting Sea-Turtle Sanctuary - Located in Pantai Padang Kemunting beach, about 28 km from Melaka Sentral. You can see the most beautiful sea-turtle in the world, The HAWKSBILL TURTLE. Relax to the sound of the Straits of Malacca as the are lots of kampong type of resorts (budget) for you to choose. Admission for adults - FREE, open daily 10am to 4pm. Close on Monday and Malaysia Public Holidays.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Other tourist sites in Malacca
Others
* Portuguese Settlement - Here is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city centre, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square (Malay Medan Portugis) and Hotel Lisboa (sorry, unlike its Macau namesake, there is no casino here) on the waterfront. The people here may look Malay but peer into their houses and you'll see the characteristic altar with status of Jesus and Mary perched high on their walls. Quite a few still speak Cristao (or Cristang), a Portuguese patois. There are also many restaurants for you to sample Portuguese fare. The most interesting times to visit is during Intrudu - usually in February - when the you'll get a Songkran-like drenching with buckets of water thrown at you; Festa San Pedro to commemorate the Feast of Saint Peter in June, where there are processions, cultural shows and general merry-making; and Christmas when the whole settlement is decked in decorative lights. Getting there/away: Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 (destination "Ujong Pasir and Bandar Hilir") from Melaka Sentral will bring you right into the Settlement.
* St John's Hill and Fort. Malacca's other fortress located on top of St John's Hill in Bandar Hilir, south of the city. Pretty views of the surroundings from the top. Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 passes by this fort.
* King's Well - Legends have it that Hang Liu was a Chinese princess from the Ming dynasty who was sent to Malacca to wed Sultan Mansor Shah in the 15th century when the Malacca Sultanate was at its zenith. She had 500 followers who were all settled on Bukit China, which means Chinese Hill, and this well, at the foot of the hill, was where they got their water.
* Poh San Teng Temple - This temple is located at the foot of Bukit China and next to the King's Well, was founded in 1795 by Kapitan China Chua Su Cheong as a graveyard temple. The main deity is Fu-te Zhen Shen. the temple was built to allow the descendants of those buried on Bukit China to conduct prayers to their ancestors away from the heavy rain and strong winds.
* Bukit China - Bukit China is the one of the largest Chinese cemetery outside of mainland China. Graves can be found here that go back to the late Ming dynasty (mid 17th century). The earliest grave found so far dates to 1622, but unfortunately many graves were exhumed during the British occupation of Malaysia. Bukit China is a famous jogging spot for the locals and jogging tracks are available all over the hill. When you climb on top of the hill, you will have a nice view of the town.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
* Portuguese Settlement - Here is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city centre, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square (Malay Medan Portugis) and Hotel Lisboa (sorry, unlike its Macau namesake, there is no casino here) on the waterfront. The people here may look Malay but peer into their houses and you'll see the characteristic altar with status of Jesus and Mary perched high on their walls. Quite a few still speak Cristao (or Cristang), a Portuguese patois. There are also many restaurants for you to sample Portuguese fare. The most interesting times to visit is during Intrudu - usually in February - when the you'll get a Songkran-like drenching with buckets of water thrown at you; Festa San Pedro to commemorate the Feast of Saint Peter in June, where there are processions, cultural shows and general merry-making; and Christmas when the whole settlement is decked in decorative lights. Getting there/away: Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 (destination "Ujong Pasir and Bandar Hilir") from Melaka Sentral will bring you right into the Settlement.
* St John's Hill and Fort. Malacca's other fortress located on top of St John's Hill in Bandar Hilir, south of the city. Pretty views of the surroundings from the top. Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 passes by this fort.
* King's Well - Legends have it that Hang Liu was a Chinese princess from the Ming dynasty who was sent to Malacca to wed Sultan Mansor Shah in the 15th century when the Malacca Sultanate was at its zenith. She had 500 followers who were all settled on Bukit China, which means Chinese Hill, and this well, at the foot of the hill, was where they got their water.
* Poh San Teng Temple - This temple is located at the foot of Bukit China and next to the King's Well, was founded in 1795 by Kapitan China Chua Su Cheong as a graveyard temple. The main deity is Fu-te Zhen Shen. the temple was built to allow the descendants of those buried on Bukit China to conduct prayers to their ancestors away from the heavy rain and strong winds.
* Bukit China - Bukit China is the one of the largest Chinese cemetery outside of mainland China. Graves can be found here that go back to the late Ming dynasty (mid 17th century). The earliest grave found so far dates to 1622, but unfortunately many graves were exhumed during the British occupation of Malaysia. Bukit China is a famous jogging spot for the locals and jogging tracks are available all over the hill. When you climb on top of the hill, you will have a nice view of the town.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
Tourist Sites in Heritage Area
Heritage area
* Stadthuys - completed in 1660. Nowadays, it houses the historical museum. This is one of the oldest Dutch buildings in the east.
* Christ Church - this church was built between 1741 and 1753. It replaced a Portuguese church, which was shattered. Bricks were shipped from Zeeland in the Netherlands. On the floor of the church you will find Dutch tombstones. It is the oldest protestant church in Malaysia. On the altar you will see sacramental silverware, still bearing the Dutch coat of arms. Open: 0830-1700 Mon-Sat, free admission; photography is forbidden
* Dutch Square - Beautiful square around Christ Church and the Stadhuys. On this square you will find the Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower, it looks Dutch, but it is not. It was built in 1886.
* Porta de Santiago - You will find this remains of the old Portuguese fort A Famosa on Jalan Kota, around St Paul's Hill. What you can see nowadays is a mostly Dutch reconstruction, bearing the VOC coat of arms.
* St Paul's Church - take a path up the hill and it will lead you to this church. It was originally built in 1521, by the Portuguese. It became a fortress in 1567, until 1596. After the Dutch siege it became St Paul's, before it was known as Nossa Senhora da Annunciada (Our Lady of Annunciation). It has been used as a burial ground for the Dutch. You can still see the tombstones, along the walls of ruins of the church.
* Muzium Budaya/Sultanate Palace - Below the hill you will find this museum (Melaka Cultural Museum). It is a reconstruction of the istana of the sultan Mansur Shah. It was built in 1985. It is open daily from 9AM to 6PM except on Tuesdays, and on Fridays from 1215-1445. Entrance fee: RM 2
* UMNO Museum, Jalan Kota (between the Islamic Museum and the Muzium Rakyat) - museum about the United Malays National Organisation.
* Malay and Islamic World Museum, Jalan Kota (beside the Porta de Santiago) - it also currently houses a Museum of Torture (European medieval period) for a limited duration on the ground floor.
* Stamp Museum, Jalan Kota (sandwiched between the Muzium Rakyat and the Malay and Islamic World Museum)
* Youth Museum/Melaka Art Gallery, Jalan Laksamana, beisde the Christ Church. The Youth Museum is on the ground floor, the Art Gallery on the second level. You can have a bird's eye view of Dutch Square from a window on the second level. Open Wed to Sun 9 am - 5.30 pm; combined admission for adults - 2RM
* Malaysian Navy Museum, across the road from the Maritime Museum
* Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum. Tel: +60-6-2831233. Opening hours: 10:00-12:30, 14:30-16:30. Closed on Tuesdays - Step back in time with a visit to this museum which is an actual Peranakan heritage town house and is a great example of Peranakan culture. It is on Heeren Street (now known as Tun Cheng Lock Street). The entry fee is RM8 per person and everyone has to follow a guide-led group. Photography is forbidden. Open Wed to Mon 1000-1230 1400-1630
* Jonker, Heeren and adjacent streets - This is the residential heart of Old Malacca just west of the Malacca River, with its narrow winding streets, beautifully decorated houses, tiny shops, temples and mosques. The whole area is undergoing a renaissance with new shops, restaurants and hotels catering to tourists mushrooming everywhere. However, the area still has a lot of atmosphere and is worth having a look around. One of the streets in this area is Harmony Street (officially Temple street or Jalan Tokong), so called because it contains the prayer houses of Malaysia's three main faiths - the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, the Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Hindu Temple, and the Kampung Kling Mosque.
* Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. 25, Jalan Tokong. Tel: +60-6-2829343. Opening hours: Morning to 7PM - Oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia and has an inscription dating 1685 commemorating the deeds of by Kapitan China Li Wei King.
* Masjid Kampung Hulu - built in 1728, it's one of the oldest functioning mosques in Melaka together with Masjid Kampung Kling and Masjid Tengkera (Tranquerah), Jln Tengkera see the mixed architecture of Chinese, Javanese and Arab on the minarets and the roofs.
* Yeetea house - 22 Jalan Laksamana, Famous Local tea shop selling a range of tea from China and Taiwan as well as offering tea ceremony classes.
-News courtesy of Wikitravel-
* Stadthuys - completed in 1660. Nowadays, it houses the historical museum. This is one of the oldest Dutch buildings in the east.
* Christ Church - this church was built between 1741 and 1753. It replaced a Portuguese church, which was shattered. Bricks were shipped from Zeeland in the Netherlands. On the floor of the church you will find Dutch tombstones. It is the oldest protestant church in Malaysia. On the altar you will see sacramental silverware, still bearing the Dutch coat of arms. Open: 0830-1700 Mon-Sat, free admission; photography is forbidden
* Dutch Square - Beautiful square around Christ Church and the Stadhuys. On this square you will find the Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower, it looks Dutch, but it is not. It was built in 1886.
* Porta de Santiago - You will find this remains of the old Portuguese fort A Famosa on Jalan Kota, around St Paul's Hill. What you can see nowadays is a mostly Dutch reconstruction, bearing the VOC coat of arms.
* St Paul's Church - take a path up the hill and it will lead you to this church. It was originally built in 1521, by the Portuguese. It became a fortress in 1567, until 1596. After the Dutch siege it became St Paul's, before it was known as Nossa Senhora da Annunciada (Our Lady of Annunciation). It has been used as a burial ground for the Dutch. You can still see the tombstones, along the walls of ruins of the church.
* Muzium Budaya/Sultanate Palace - Below the hill you will find this museum (Melaka Cultural Museum). It is a reconstruction of the istana of the sultan Mansur Shah. It was built in 1985. It is open daily from 9AM to 6PM except on Tuesdays, and on Fridays from 1215-1445. Entrance fee: RM 2
* UMNO Museum, Jalan Kota (between the Islamic Museum and the Muzium Rakyat) - museum about the United Malays National Organisation.
* Malay and Islamic World Museum, Jalan Kota (beside the Porta de Santiago) - it also currently houses a Museum of Torture (European medieval period) for a limited duration on the ground floor.
* Stamp Museum, Jalan Kota (sandwiched between the Muzium Rakyat and the Malay and Islamic World Museum)
* Youth Museum/Melaka Art Gallery, Jalan Laksamana, beisde the Christ Church. The Youth Museum is on the ground floor, the Art Gallery on the second level. You can have a bird's eye view of Dutch Square from a window on the second level. Open Wed to Sun 9 am - 5.30 pm; combined admission for adults - 2RM
* Malaysian Navy Museum, across the road from the Maritime Museum
* Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum. Tel: +60-6-2831233. Opening hours: 10:00-12:30, 14:30-16:30. Closed on Tuesdays - Step back in time with a visit to this museum which is an actual Peranakan heritage town house and is a great example of Peranakan culture. It is on Heeren Street (now known as Tun Cheng Lock Street). The entry fee is RM8 per person and everyone has to follow a guide-led group. Photography is forbidden. Open Wed to Mon 1000-1230 1400-1630
* Jonker, Heeren and adjacent streets - This is the residential heart of Old Malacca just west of the Malacca River, with its narrow winding streets, beautifully decorated houses, tiny shops, temples and mosques. The whole area is undergoing a renaissance with new shops, restaurants and hotels catering to tourists mushrooming everywhere. However, the area still has a lot of atmosphere and is worth having a look around. One of the streets in this area is Harmony Street (officially Temple street or Jalan Tokong), so called because it contains the prayer houses of Malaysia's three main faiths - the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, the Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Hindu Temple, and the Kampung Kling Mosque.
* Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. 25, Jalan Tokong. Tel: +60-6-2829343. Opening hours: Morning to 7PM - Oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia and has an inscription dating 1685 commemorating the deeds of by Kapitan China Li Wei King.
* Masjid Kampung Hulu - built in 1728, it's one of the oldest functioning mosques in Melaka together with Masjid Kampung Kling and Masjid Tengkera (Tranquerah), Jln Tengkera see the mixed architecture of Chinese, Javanese and Arab on the minarets and the roofs.
* Yeetea house - 22 Jalan Laksamana, Famous Local tea shop selling a range of tea from China and Taiwan as well as offering tea ceremony classes.
-News courtesy of Wikitravel-
A week of fun and celebrations
A week of fun and celebrations
The week-long traditional annual festivities of Festas San Juang and San Pedro is set to get underway at Malacca’s Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir tomorrow.
Besides the usual festivities, organisers of the event are looking at putting up a large TV screen to allow local football fans to catch the FIFA World Cup matches, in particular if Portugal makes it to the later stages of the competition.
Regedor (village headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said preparations were underway at the village which has 1,200 residents to welcome more than 50,000 visitors who are expected to flood the village during the festivities.
“Besides the usual traditional ceremonies and cultural performances by local dance troupes, we are planning to get sponsors to help set up large TV screens to allow visitors to catch the World Cup matches live,” he said at a press conference recently.
The annual celebrations were held at the village to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 23 and the Feast of St. Peter, the patron saint for fishermen, on June 29.
Besides the boat decoration contest, he said cultural performances, kebaya competitions, live performances by local bands and popular Portuguese-Eurasian singers from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Singapore would liven up the festivities.
Apart from the customary Eucharistic Celebration conducted at the village’s community hall tomorrow at 5.30pm to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist, there will also be the bonfire lighting ceremony with blessed candles adorning homes of residents.
Another Eucharistic Celebration will be conducted at the hall on June 29 (5.30pm) to mark the Feast of St. Peter, followed by the traditional blessing of the decorated fishing boats.
The festivities will be officially declared open by the Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at 9pm on June 26 at the village’s Portuguese Square.
Gomes lamented on the lack of funding from the state and authorities concerned with tourism and heritage, despite the festivities being listed as a state and national level tourist calendar event.
He noted funding for the festivities from the authorities had stopped in 2003 with the organisers having to rely on sponsorships and donations.
Gomes later accepted a RM40,000.00 mock cheque from Calvin Siow, the area sales manager of Guinness Anchor Marketing Sdn. Bhd, the main sponsor.
-News courtesy of The Star-
The week-long traditional annual festivities of Festas San Juang and San Pedro is set to get underway at Malacca’s Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir tomorrow.
Besides the usual festivities, organisers of the event are looking at putting up a large TV screen to allow local football fans to catch the FIFA World Cup matches, in particular if Portugal makes it to the later stages of the competition.
Regedor (village headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said preparations were underway at the village which has 1,200 residents to welcome more than 50,000 visitors who are expected to flood the village during the festivities.
“Besides the usual traditional ceremonies and cultural performances by local dance troupes, we are planning to get sponsors to help set up large TV screens to allow visitors to catch the World Cup matches live,” he said at a press conference recently.
The annual celebrations were held at the village to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 23 and the Feast of St. Peter, the patron saint for fishermen, on June 29.
Besides the boat decoration contest, he said cultural performances, kebaya competitions, live performances by local bands and popular Portuguese-Eurasian singers from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Singapore would liven up the festivities.
Apart from the customary Eucharistic Celebration conducted at the village’s community hall tomorrow at 5.30pm to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist, there will also be the bonfire lighting ceremony with blessed candles adorning homes of residents.
Another Eucharistic Celebration will be conducted at the hall on June 29 (5.30pm) to mark the Feast of St. Peter, followed by the traditional blessing of the decorated fishing boats.
The festivities will be officially declared open by the Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at 9pm on June 26 at the village’s Portuguese Square.
Gomes lamented on the lack of funding from the state and authorities concerned with tourism and heritage, despite the festivities being listed as a state and national level tourist calendar event.
He noted funding for the festivities from the authorities had stopped in 2003 with the organisers having to rely on sponsorships and donations.
Gomes later accepted a RM40,000.00 mock cheque from Calvin Siow, the area sales manager of Guinness Anchor Marketing Sdn. Bhd, the main sponsor.
-News courtesy of The Star-
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