Tuna Macanese (Photo/Courtesy of Tuna Macanese)
Looking to the future
When Macao was handed back to China in 1999, many of Jorge's family members immigrated to the UK or Portugal, but he stayed.
"Just for one reason, I was born in Macao and I love my city," he said.
"All I have done has been for the Macao people, not only the Macanese. I hope I can make a difference in helping the government to disseminate Patua culture," he stressed.
Born and raised in Macao, Jorge speaks Cantonese but cannot read or write Chinese characters. When he composes a new repertoire, he often asks some friends to write the lyrics in Chinese for him.
Jorge noted that the band is facing two main difficulties. The first is that they don't have their own place to practice. The second, and probably most critical, is that they have not found any young members to pass down their music too.
According to Jorge, today's youth are not interested in Patua music and think that it is old-fashioned. Hence, it has become very difficult for the band to nurture the next generation.
"Many Macanese of the new generation don't even know this language exists," Jorge said.
Despite this dire situation, the band members still hope that the Macao government and society will still remember their music and this culture in the future.
