Cecília Chan Kit Ieng and Liu Ziyi, students from the University of Macau (UM) Department of Portuguese, won first prize (advanced level) and second prize (intermediate level) respectively, at a national Portuguese poetry recitation contest held yesterday (14 April).

Co-organised by Macao Polytechnic Institute (IPM) and the Tertiary Education Services Office, the contest aims to promote the Portuguese language and culture and to stimulate participants’ interest in Portuguese poetry.

This year’s contest attracted 32 students, compared to 16 last year. They are from the Communication University of China, Jilin Huaqiao University of Foreign Languages, Xi’an International Studies University, Sichuan International Studies University, Harbin Normal University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Sun Yat-sen University’s Zhuhai Campus, UM, IPM, Macau University of Science and Technology, and the University of Saint Joseph.

Rui Cunha, chairman of Rui Cunha Foundation, served as the chair of the panel of judges. Other members of the panel included Miguel de Senna Fernandes, a local lawyer and the president of the Association of Macanese (ADM); Carlos Morais José, director of Hoje Macau; Ana Paula Cleto Godinho, coordinator of Oriental Foundation (Fundação Oriente) in Macau; Ana Paula, advisor and senior technician of the Language Promotion Centre of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau.