IIM has organized an event on 11 December named "Feel Macau: History and Gastronomy". During the event 4 Chinese books about the stories behind the streets of Macau by Manuel Basílio were presented by professor Agnes Lam of the University of Macau.

A Macanese Homecooking book (Chinese edition), by Catarina Canavarro Ramos, was also launched at the event and presented by the authoress' daughter, Cândida Ramos.

IIM also signed an agreement with APE Smart Commerce Limited to introduce a project to launch IIM books vending machines to be placed in different strategic locations in Macau in the future.

IIM was at MIF PLPEX exhibition in the Venetian Macao promoting Macau history and cultural books and to provide information of Macau as a platform between China and the Portuguese speaking countries.

In 2020, the International Institute of Macau (IIM) published the biography of Dr. Pedro José Lobo, a leading figure in the civic-political scene in Macau, having been president of the Leal Senado de Macau (1959-1964), among other local institutions to which he was linked and awarded two Commendations from the Portuguese Government and the title of honorary citizen of Macau for his contribution to the territory.

Born in East Timor, he was considered an important businessman, politician, philanthropist, civil servant, musician, association leader and cultural stimulator of Macau, and a prominent figure in the Macanese community. His biography is also linked to his role as head of the Central Office of Economic Services, in which he distinguished himself during World War II, in the resolution of the Portas do Cerco incident. He was also the owner and manager of the Macau Water Supply Company, founder of the Macau Air Transport Company (MATCO), and promoter of Macau's cultural, musical and artistic life, having also founded Rádio Vila Verde and the Macau Cultural Circle.

The edition, with the support of the Macau Foundation, now published in English and part of the IIM's “Suma Oriental” collection, is the fifth book by his grandson Marco Lobo, who is currently living in Japan. The author expects, with this book, to transmit a better knowledge of Macau to readers, through this figure who lived through those troubled and important moments of Macau at that time.

The session, with the participation of government entities, civil society and local personalities, took place in the Salão Nobre of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), on November 27, with physical presentations by the respective chairman of the Board of Directors for the Municipal Affairs, José Tavares and the secretary general of the IIM, Rufino Ramos, and also with the presentations made online by Marco Lobo and the president of the IIM, Jorge Rangel, via the Google Meet platform.

The initiative was carried out under the preventive measures of the epidemic situation of COVID-19.

10^th Macau Literary Festival

Publishing at the International Institute of Macau: A legacy for the future generations

2021.12.04

Casa Garden

Video

SUN YAT SEN, the pioneer of the Chinese Revolution, lived, raised a family and worked as a doctor in Macau for more than two years, but historical references to his stay and practice as a clinic are comparatively few. The International Institute of Macau (IIM), supported by research carried out by academics, managed to reconstruct the footprints in Macau of the founder of the Republic of China and organized a short lecture on this historical character, on November 23, at the Instituto de Formação Turística ( IFT).

During the event, a presentation was made analyzing the results of research work already carried out by the late Prof. Fok Kai Cheong, and brief communications by researcher Wong Un Na, from the Millennium Institute of Macau and Derrick Tam from the Macau Heritage Ambassadors Association. A short video was also shown, which had been produced by the IIM, edited by António Pinto Marques, and sponsored by the Cultural Affaris Bureau of Macau (IC), in which the places and topics of interest are indicated. The aim of this initiative was to demonstrate that there are enough historical elements to create a new cultural and tourist itinerary, capable of creating a sense of pride among local residents for an “ignored” side of the Macao History. At the same time, a new cultural product would be launched for visitors to learn about the important support and contribution that the people of Macao have given Dr. Sun and his revolutionary cause, and the intimate relationship between Macao and that important character in the history of China. It could also be encouraged to visit some less explored tourist spots, such as the Mandarin House, the Chong Sai Pharmacy, and the Lou Lim Ieoc Garden. It was stated that the publication of a tour guide or the production of a virtual visit program to those places could be considered, around the topic, using visual systems.

The session was supported by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and was attended by various government departments, including the Macau Government Tourism Office, the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the ICM itself, as well as from academics, IFT and City University of Macau.