In celebration of the 13th Anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China, the Cultural Affairs Bureau is holding the “Parade through Macao, Latin City” on the 20th of December, the Day of Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Our dynamic and energetic official Parade Mascot, “VIVA”, was specially designed for this year’s parade to communicate a message of “Peace, Love and Cultural Integration” to the Macao community. Working in tandem with the international non-profit organisation ORBIS, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will hold a Charity Sale of “VIVA Mascot” souvenirs.
All proceeds from the Charity Sale go to support the efforts of ORBIS in the prevention and treatment of blindness in children. Each purchase of the “VIVA Mascot” paper model for MOP 20 becomes a twenty pataca donation to ORBIS. Donors are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination in assembling, designing and decorating their own unique “VIVA” paper model. With Christmas approaching, donors might also consider sharing the charitable message and warm feelings by giving the paper model to family or friends as a festive holiday gift. For the convenience of donors, there are several ways to participate.
The Charity Sale will take place on Saturday, the 8th of December, 2012, from 2 to 6pm, at the Largo da Companhia de Jesus in front of the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Macao residents and visiting tourists are welcome to join us and pledge their support at this meaningful event.
In addition, from December 7th (today) until the 26th, the VIVA mascot and donation boxes will also be available at designated cultural and arts spots including the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building, the Macao Museum, the Macao Central Library, the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, the Mandarin’s House gift shop, Lou Kau Mansion, the Ruins of St. Paul's Information Counter, MOD Design Store, the Macao Fashion Gallery at St. Lazarus Parish, the Macao Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre and Macau Story House.
Apart from creating and decorating the VIVA mascot for their own display, donors may also choose to offer one or more of the paper models to an underprivileged group or students at any local primary school, providing them a rewarding and meaningful art project to stimulate their creativity and spread the message of “Peace, Love and Cultural Integration”.
The Organiser is now calling on all residents to show their support of ORBIS and this worthy cause by participating in the Charity Sale and ordering their “VIVA Mascots”. Supplies are limited, while stocks last! For details on orders and donations, please contact Mr. Lam of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (Tel: 8399 6685) or Ms. Cheang of ORBIS (Tel: 2830 0787) during office hours, or visit the Parade webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/macaoparade.
