Everything Macao

CEBU, Philippines - Upon our arrival in Macao, we were pleasantly surprised at what this once-upon-a-time little Portuguese colony had to offer.

Macao, located on the other side of the Pearl River's mouth, is the oldest European settlement in the East. It is a fascinating blend, steeped in history and old world elegance.

History

In the early 1500s, Portuguese galleons visited Macao and in 1575, as a reward for clearing out a few pirates, China ceded the tiny enclave to the Portuguese.

For centuries, it was the principal meeting point for trade with China. When the Opium War errupted between the Chinese and the British, the Portuguese stood diplomatically to one side and Macao soon found itself the poor relation of the more dynamic Hong Kong.

All that has changed today. Not only is it the Las Vegas of the East, Macao is fast becoming a top destination for tourists the world over. An added benefit for us Filipinos is that we will certainly feel at home because a large number of hotel and restaurant employees are Filipinos.

Museums

The Wine Museum, opened on December 15, 1995, is a space of cultural and recreational characteristics where visitors can walk through the history of wine and vineyards and appreciate a complete exhibition of vintage and new wines. In a space of 1,400 square meters, the museum presents an allotment of more than 1,115 wine brands, with more than 756 commercial wines and 359 collection wines, the oldest being an 1815 Madeira Wine. The Museum has also a collection of about one hundred utensils connected with the viniculture and the wine production as well as a set of Portuguese tiles, allusive to wine and vineyard which are either exact reproductions of the XVIII century tiles or combination of themes, made from original models which decorate the public markets and railway stations of the most important wine growing regions.

The Grand Prix Museum was created by the Macao Government Tourist Office on November 18, 1993 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Macao Grand Prix. The purpose of the museum is to contribute to the awareness of the local population as well as tourists of the long history of the grand prix and also pay tribute to individuals who have made extensive contributions to the success of the sports event, which takes place every November.

One such person was Arsenio Dodjie Laurel, a scion of a prominent political family in the Philippines. His father was Jose P. Laurel, the President of the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. He was among the first champion racers in the early years of organized auto racing in our country. He was the first two-time winner in the Macao Grand Prix in 1962 -1963, but sadly died during the Macao Grand Prix on November 19, 1967 at the age of 35. Eyewitness accounts revealed that Laurel, after his Lotus 41 skidded out of control, tried to avoid hitting some spectators by driving the car into the sea wall. The crash caused his car to burst into flames, leaving him trapped inside. He was the first casualty of the Macao Grand Prix.

Churches

Saint Dominic's Church was founded in 1587 by three Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico. This connects to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Rosary and it was here that the first Portuguese newspaper was published on Chinese soil.

The Ruins of St. Paul's, refers to the façade of the ruins of a 16th century complex in Macao including the St. Paul's College and the Cathedral of St. Paul also known as Mater Dei. The façade sits on a hill with 66 stone steps leading up to it.   Today, it is one of Macao's most famous landmarks and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cuisine

The incredible variety of distinctive cuisine available in Macao makes this city a paradise for food lovers. Through the years it has developed a unique cuisine that combines elements of Portuguese and Chinese known as Macanese. It is seasoned with various spices including turmeric, coconut milk and cinnamon. Some of the signature dishes are Macanese chili shrimps and clams in white wine sauce. Not to be missed is the bacalao (codfish), one of the highlights of Portuguese cuisine, which can be prepared in more than a thousand delicious ways.

Entertainment

The House of Dancing Water at the City of Dreams, created and directed by Franco Dragone, is a breathtaking water-based show that draws its creative inspiration from the roots of Chinese culture, particularly the "seven emotions" derived from classical Confucian beliefs and is destined to be the most extravagant live production ever staged in Asia.

Landmarks

The Senado Square is paved with a wave-patterned stone mosaic created especially by experts from Portugal. The square, which has been a civic hub for ages, is now pedestrianized and contains an elegant fountain, trees, benches, a few cafes and shopping stores. At one end is the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and opposite is the Holy House of Mercy, dating from the 16th century and is the oldest Western charity institution in China.

The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel has been endlessly written about. Let me just say it is definitely a must visit for every tourist in Macao. The hotel is a 40 story, $2.4 billion anchor for the 7 hotels on the Cotai Strip. It is modeled after its sister casino resort in Las Vegas and is the largest single structure hotel building in Asia, the sixth largest building in the world by area and the largest casino in the world. The Venetian also boasts of the largest number of Filipino gondoleers in the world.

Today Macao is a special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and like Hong Kong, benefits from the principle of "one country, two systems." The once tiny Portuguese colony is growing in size with more buildings on reclaimed land and in the number and diversity of its attractions, the greatest of which are its unique society with communities from the east and west complimenting each other.