Interview by Rui Pastorin
The bilingual book “Vitória, Vitória” was launched on Thursday during the 2025 Autumn Book Festival at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion, with the publication taking on an important moment in Macau’s history while doing so in a funny and light-hearted approach.
Written in Portuguese and Chinese, “Vitória, Vitória”, or “Victory, Victory” in English, was launched by the International Institute of Macau (IIM) in partnership with children’s book publisher Mandarina, with founder Catarina Mesquita having authored the book while the illustrations were created by Portuguese cartoonist Rodrigo de Matos.
The book offers a humorous perspective on the pivotal 1622 Battle of Macau by the Portuguese against the Dutch, with Portugal’s military victory on June 24 that year considered by the Portuguese as a blessing from Saint John. It also links the event to Arraial de São João* (St. John’s Festival, aka Feast of Saint John), which annually celebrates the victory.
IIM Secretary-General António Monteiro told the Post after the launch on Thursday that many academic books have been published on the historical event, but for this particular book, they wanted to provide a more relaxed and funny way to tell “true stories and celebrations”, being a way for parents and their children to read about the history and get acquainted with what happened.
“This is a part of Macau history, it’s in the fortress, it’s in the walls, it’s in the Victory Garden and monument. So why do we have these elements?”, Monteiro underlined, pointing out the importance of youngsters asking “why?”. Another question that the book explores is what would Macau look like today had the Dutch won, pondering on the outcome on everything from the culture to the Macanese community. “This is the main question and to let us meditate very seriously on how Macau will be today”.
Monteiro also highlighted that the celebration of the victory is annually commemorated by the Macanese diaspora, but the main message that they hope to convey during the book launch is that the celebration is neither just a Portuguese nor Macanese celebration, but one that is for everyone from Macau because of the heroes who fought the battle 400 years ago and made the ultimate sacrifice, altogether securing victory. People from Macau, especially the younger generation, need to understand that, he underlined.
Macanese Association (ADM) President Miguel de Senna Fernandes echoed these remarks to the Post, reiterating that while it is an important date for the Portuguese and Macanese community, it is not just for them, but “for Macau itself”, while also noting: “One of the things that this book points out is that it’s not arguing about history, but playing with facts”.
The book goes beyond just talking about the victory, an aspect that Senna Fernandes said he liked, further pointing out: “It is very important for the new generation who don’t want to read more about history. At least have something funny to read. And this book gives some input about the importance of the date. It deals not only with the Portuguese community. It deals with Macau as a whole”.
Like Monteiro, Senna Fernandes emphasised that it is important for the younger generation to pick up the book to “have answers to any why” from asking why we have Jardim da Vitória (“Victory Garden”) to why Avenida 24 de Junho (城市日大馬路) is named the way it is, being an important input for the younger generation and gives them some background and history, hoping to bring them to this “collective memory”. With the new generation in Macau, whether they are Chinese, Portuguese or from elsewhere, this would at least tell them more about what happened during that moment in history. “I think this is the significance of what we’ve been celebrating”.
Monteiro concluded that through the book, they hope that readers eight years old and up would garner their interest in this topic and later pursue it themselves to do their own research. He added that the institute hopes that they can publish a second edition in Chinese and English to reach an international audience, hoping to receive good feedback.
*The festival has been included in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macau since 2020. It was formerly a public holiday known as “City Day” in Macau.
Associação dos Macaenses (ADM) President Miguel de Senna Fernandes (from left to right), IIM Secretary General António Monteiro and cartoonist Rodrigo de Matos address the “Vitória Vitória” book launch during the 2025 Autumn Book Festival at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion on Thursday. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
