Macanese Entrepreneur

A Macanese Entrepreneur

by Daniel R Gomes

Originally published in the UMA News Bulletin Spring 2009

“Hovering” the mouse pointer over a Portuguese or Macaísta word will often show its English translation.

Praia Grande

During the 17^th Century, Macau was the “Venice” of European trade with China, Japan and South East Asia. Here is a picture of Praia Grande, with the stately homes of the traders of that era.

After the Opium War of 1842, Hong Kong was ceded to the British and trade between the European and Chinese soon moved from Macau to Hong Kong. Mercantile activities in Macao dwindled and the only jobs available to the Macanese in Macao were in government, gambling or infrastructure services. The Macanese soon followed the British to Hong Kong as clerks and intermediaries since they were conversant in all three languages, Portuguese, English and Chinese.

My great grandfather was born in Macau in 1832 and traces his ancestors back to Miguel de Macedo (1690 Macau). He married and had nine children: , (my grandfather), , , , , , and . My cousin wrote that,

“I never got to meet our great grandfather but as a child I was fortunate to know our great grandmother Prudencia, fondly called Avó Chencha. She was bedridden for quite a long time, lovingly cared for by her daughters, our grand-aunts, and residing during the later years at Travessa do Roquete #7, near the Post Office in front of the Leal Senado where she died at 100 years of age (mais ou menos), having previously lived for many, many years at Travessa de Misericórdia, next to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia. The Travessa do Roquete house will always be remembered by the older ones as we used to cross over from Hong Kong with our family members to attend the more popular religious feasts, especially the Sabado da Cruz evening procession and the Sunday afternoon Procissão do Senhor dos Passos, with a different Veronica every year, stopping to sing at each of the seven stations and unfolding the scroll imprinted with the Holy Face of Jesus. These processions never failed to provide one of the most treasured reunions of the Capigalos¹.

Being 20 years younger then Pureza, I do not have her memory of those early years but I can remember the processions during and immediately after the war, especially the feast we use to have at Fat Sui Lau after the processions. At the last Encontro, I was fortunate to have my whole family in Macau and I took them over to – I don’t think anything has changed at that restaurant. Brought back great memories.

My cousin Pureza also remembers Tio Coque’s children: , and . She said, “Amalia (Soti) died young, Maria Margarida was a Public School teacher and brilliant concert pianist (Fellow of Trinity College of London – Music) and even worked for a time in opera and stage in Hollywood. Eventually she returned to Macau and I was fortunate to have her as my piano and music teacher.”

Pureza also said, “Luiz Gonzaga (Inho) was a Public School Teacher, violinist, researcher and author of several books on the History and Culture of Macau. He was fluent in Portuguese, English, French and Chinese.” In the last Encontro (2007), in celebration of the centennial of his birth, Jorge Rangel published a book about his contributions to Macanese culture and history. Jorge Forjaz (Vol II p41) calls him one of the most distinguished Macanese of the 20^th Century.

In Hong Kong my grandfather João Jerónimo worked for the Hong Kong and Whampoa docks as an accountant and lived in the employee quarters in the Hunghom area of Hongkong. He later joined Kowloon Docks and moved to the Kowloon Mata Moro in Granville Road. My grandfather was active in the Macanese community in Hong Kong and was one of the founding fathers of the Sociedade Beneficente Portuguesa de Hongkong. The Honorary President was and the President of the General Assembly was Agostino G. Romano, Consul General of Portugal. Mr writes in his memoirs that Club Recreio had its genesis in my grandfather’s living room. He would offer his home to a group of friends to play cards every weekend and they became the founding members of Club Recreio.

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