Sara Frederica Santa Maria, a cultural enthusiast from the Portuguese Settlement.
MELAKA: A mother of four here is determined to preserve Melaka's Portuguese heritage, featuring the community's Kristang language in a recent Christmas pageant as part of the effort.
Cultural enthusiast Sara Frederica Santa Maria, from the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir here, was instrumental in producing the pageant in the Creole language spoken by the community with mixed Malay and Portuguese ancestry.
"The play in conjunction with Christmas is being staged for the first time in 14 years," the 55-year-old said in an interview on Monday (Dec 16).
Santa Maria was also responsible for a similar production in December 2010.
"I am determined to preserve the local Portuguese language, culture and heritage, together with my husband," she said.
Sta Maria is also collaborating with a local public university to conserve the language and culture of the community.
She has come up with various materials on heritage preservation through this collaboration.
The play was staged on Saturday (Dec 14) during the Christmas lighting-up ceremony at the Settlement.
Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, the Settlement's village development and security committee chairman Gerard Ignatius Danker, and its regedor (headman) Oliver Lopez were in attendance.
