Portuguese American / Canadian American Online Survey

I strongly suggest that the readers review this survey. It dispels many myths traditionally accepted. Although it maybe somewhat compromised by the  those filling the survey, it gives an interesting cross section, and probably the most up to date review of both the Portuguese American and Canadian American Diáspora.
Well worth reading!

José M. L. Alves
Vista, CA

www.christiancollegefaculty.com/anderson/DulceScottSurveyResultsOne.pdf

ONLINE SURVEY SHOWS THAT THE DESCENDENTS OF PORTUGUESE IMMIGRANTS, WHO TOOK THE SURVEY, HAVE ACHIEVED A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEGRATION INTO AMERICAN AND CANADIAN SOCIETIES, WHILE REMAINING COMMITTED TO THEIR ETHNIC IDENTITY AND CULTURE, THE LUSO COMMUNTITIES, AND PORTUGAL

Dulce Maria Scott, Ph.D.

Anderson University

May 23, 2010

Radio Amália - Rádio Online

Amália Rádio Online Listen to the best Portuguese music online directly from Lisbon. Just click on highlighted Radio Online.
Enjoy!
Para o melhor em música portuguesa na net directamente de Lisboa, clique em Radio Online. Disfrute!

Dr. Alcino Silva - Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator

During the Centennial Festa do Espírito Santo in San Diego, Dr. Antonio Braga, Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Portugal, awarded Dr. Alcino Silva, Professor of the Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles the tittle of Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator.
Dr. Silva was recognized for his outstanding work on molecular and cellular cognition. Dr. Silva's lab is focused on deriving explanations of cognitive processes that integrate molecular, cellular and behavioural mechanisms and to find treatments for cognitive disorders. His team recently showed that is possible to reverse conditions associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and tuberous sclerosis, two of the most common genetic disorders that cause learning disabilities and is located at UCLA.
He was born in Portugal, went to Angola, Africa at three years of age and returned to Portugal at the age of 12. After completing his studies, and due to the difficult after the 1974 revolution, he came to the United States to continue his studies and establish himself as a world renown scientist and researcher.
Congratulations to Dr. Silva on his career achievements and for the award bestowed upon him by Portugal.

José M. L. Alves
Vista, CA

Centennial Festa do Espírito Santo - San Diego, California

Today, San Diego's Portuguese Community celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Festa do Divino Espírito Santo.

A religious tradition brought by the early immigrants from the Azores, it is now San Diego's oldest ethnic religious festival.

The centennial parade was comprised of more than nine hundred children, several floats, visiting queens and bands, past Festa presidents and queens. It included varied dignitaries, including San Diego's Mayor and local Councilmen, as well as the Mayor of the town of São Roque, Pico, Azores, the Secretary for Portuguese Communities from Lisbon and the Consuls of Portugal from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

It is estimated that around 8,000 persons viewed the parade. A high mass was held culminating with the crowning of the Festa Queen and King.

When the parade re- formed and returned to the United Portuguese S.E.S. Hall, “Sopas” were served to members of the community, the dignitaries and Queen and King, the Festa, President and Family.

During the day, “Sopas” were served to some 5,000 persons both, inside the main hall and in a tent purposely erected for the event.

During the main serving, Michael Feliciano, in whose memory the “Festa” was held, was remembered.

During the day the bazaar, “Arraial” was open, where all enjoyed games, the foods of Portugal, as well as watching folkloric groups from various Portuguese Communities in California and listening to music of Portuguese marching bands from other communities.

Evelyn da Rosa Feliciano, her Family and the hundred of volunteers that help put on the event are to be congratulated for a job well done with a lot of love and class.

José M. L. Alves

One Hundred Years of Tradition

Festa do Espírito Santo – San Diego

Sunday, May 16th was the beginning of activities for the 100th celebrations of the Festa do Espírito Santo in Point Loma, San Diego.
Evelyn Feliciano, President of the Centennial Festa, had the brilliant idea of starting the activities at the the Tunaman's Memorial on Shelter Island. It was a simple ceremony, “honoring those that built an industry, and remembering those that departed this harbor in the sun and did not return”.Antony Mascarenhas.
Some six hundred people attended. Especially wonderful,was seeing the number of families with their children, a sign that the “Festa” is alive and well as well as the members of the community that have made the “Festa” such a special happening.
The event was started with the playing of the national anthems of Portugal and the United States, followed by the Alva Pomba, by the Filármonica União Portuguesa of San Diego.
Evelyn spoke of the significance of the event, followed by the Rosary, with Father Mel Collier. Participants included the Festa Queen and her Court.
To finalize the event, a pyrotechnic show exploded over the San Diego Bay with coordinated music. This was a great throw back, when fireworks were a part of “Festa” activities.
Congratulations to the Feliciano Family on a great start to what will be to be a memorable 100th anniversary of the "Festa do Espírito Santo".

Click on photos to enlarge

Reunião de Antigos Alunos dos Liceus, Colégios e Escolas Industriais dos Açores

Desloquei-me propositadamente a San José, no passado sábado dia 8 de Maio para assistir ao encontro de antigos alunos dos liceus, colégios e escolas industriais dos Açores. Foi um serão bastante agradável, onde fui encontrar várias pessoas com quem já não contactava à muitos anos.

Apesar de não lá encontrar colegas dos meus anos no Liceu de Ponta Delgada, tive ocasião de reactar amizades com alguns alunos mais antigos e mais recentes do Liceu.
Na sua totalidade, assistiram ao serão cerca de 200 pessoas, representando os três distritos. Durante o jantar, seguido por música e baile, houviram-se e trocaram-se histórias por toda a sala.Foi uma noite de “é pá, tu tás óptimo”, de “ lembras-te de...?”, e de “o que é feito de...?”
Muitos abraços, muito relembrar, enfim, uma serão bem passado.

J. M. Lomelino Alves
Vista, Califórnia

Clique na foto para ampliar