REVISIT OUR MEMORIES
Becky, Lam Iok Wa/ Linda, Chan Lai Man/ Liz, Lao Ka Wai/ Ray, Chan Chi Hin
Photos provided by: Macao Federation of Trade Unions/ Saga/ Nora Lai
Blocks of skyscrapers, time-honored cakes and pastries, shuttle buses moving within the city and neon lights at night are all the signs showing how prosperous Macao has become. Under the rapid development of Macao economy, it has taken away some spaces from us – the spaces which contains lots of the locals’ memories.
The Macao Federation of Trade Unions Workers Stadium (AGOM), also known as the “Workers Stadium”, was originally located where the Grand Lisboa is today but moved to the new site near the Border Gate in 2003.
At first, it was only a place for soccer, table tennis and basketball. Due to its spacious area and conspicuous location, many associations started to hold events there like Caritas Bazaar and Walk for a Million. The Workers Stadium is not only a field for sport, but also a treasure box full of the older generation’s memories.
Irreplaceable Memories
“Workers Stadium was an important place for us to spend our leisure time,” said Lei Su Long, canteen manager of the stadium. Lei and his colleagues used to talk about their life with a cup of milk tea while watching people playing soccer on the field.
“I watched my first concert at Workers Stadium,” said Wendy Chan with a smile on her face. Although she is 50 years old now, she can still clearly remember how crazy she was in the concert when she was 20.
She said in the past there were not many places in Macao for large-scale activities, besides the Workers Stadium. She recalled the stage was made of bamboo and decorated with some canvas like the traditional Chinese Opera style while the audience seats were only folding chairs.
“Maybe the Workers Stadium was not well-equipped but it was the most memorable place in my life,” Chan said.
The canteen manager said the locals did not go to the stadium just for the activities but also the cuisines. The delicacies in the canteen were prepared by the famous chefs from various restaurants. Lei added that “baked pork chop with rice, oxtail soup and stewed beef” were the most well-known dishes in the canteen.
“Not only was the food mouthwatering,” Lei said. “But the warm and friendly atmosphere of our canteen was also the reason why people liked to come.”
Many people, such as workers, casino dealers and students, loved to go there as its food price was comparatively cheap, comparing to other restaurants in the central area of Macao.
The Workers Stadium is not the only reconstruction carried out by the Macao government. The Tap Seac Court, in a similar scenario, was demolished in 2005 to coordinate with the city planning.
A huge cobblestone-paved square, where a row of neo-classical and earth-yellowish buildings can be found, is one of the tourist spots nowadays. But indeed Tap Seac Square was once a gathering place for many sport lovers.
Tap Seac Square, one of the Macao largest regeneration plans in the city center, was originally a stadium called Tap Seac Court used as the rest area and venue for different sports. It was composed of two basketball courts and one artificial turf soccer pitch, located between two avenues.
Favorite Soccer Field
Saga, 30, working in a casino, joined a soccer club which had practices at Tap Seac Court in the past.
Saga recalled he started to play soccer at Tap Seac in 1992. He went there once a week until it was demolished. “My teammates and I frequently kicked the balls out to the street and hit the cars. It is a memorable experience for me,” said he, who seldom meets the team members now because of the inconvenience brought by different soccer field sites.
Tap Seac Court was open from 7am to 11pm every day. The convenience of the location attracted many soccer players and the near-by students to play soccer at different time intervals.
“Unlike other soccer fields, Tap Seac Court was always occupied. I didn’t need to worry that there were no teams to join,” said the old man Hoi. “Many of us played until we were asked to leave.”
Hoi, 63, who has played soccer for more than 40 years, plays soccer almost every day. Hoi said soccer has brought him not only the health, but also the friendships built in the soccer field among the players of different nationalities.
“I still remember I played soccer at 7:30 am under the cold weather of 7 degrees,” said Patrick Van, 23, a frequent soccer player at the Tap Seac Court when he was a secondary student.
Van was very passionate in soccer as he played almost every day. Playing soccer at the Tap Seac Court was part of his secondary school memory. Van said, “I rushed to play soccer with my classmates right after school as my school was very close to the Tap Seac Court.”
Both Saga and Van miss playing soccer in Tap Seac. Although there are enough stadiums for the soccer players now, they still prefer the old Tap Seac Court.
While the relocation and demolishment of the stadium and the court were noticeable and highly discussed, the changes of the cycling area in Taipa may have slipped out of many people’s attention.
Tranquil Life
Taipa, a spacious village-like area filled with cottages in the past, is now occupied with skyscrapers, souvenir shops and restaurants. The nearby seashore is replaced by resort hotels and casinos.
Nora Lai, 23, enjoyed cycling with her parents near the Pak Tai Temple (北帝廟) at Taipa on holidays during her childhood. “Riding with the view of cottages and seashore made me feel closer to the nature,” said Lai.
Cycling in Taipa as a gathering activity with her family is a precious memory to her. She enjoyed cycling because it gave her a chance to relax. When she felt tired, she could take a break under the trees. “It is happy to ride with a group of people,” recalled Lai. “In the past, the gentle breeze in autumn could always give me a sense of freedom.”
More Vehicles, More Dangerous
“The peaceful environment before was much pleasant to me,” said Leong Sin Ying, owner of a bike rental store called Iao Kei. She has been running the store for more than 30 years and also experienced the changes in the area.
Iao Kei was originally a wooden cottage near the seashore in 1976, opposite to restaurant Tai Lei Loi Kei. 10 years later, Iao Kei moved to a bigger store which was near Pak Tai Temple. It includes an 1800 ft cellar which can accommodate more than 300 bikes but Leong misses the freedom in the old days. She thinks that it is dangerous to cycle in Taipa nowadays. “After the settle-down of the casinos, there are more vehicles here,” she added.
“I could ride to everywhere I wanted,” said Kou, who used to cycle at Taipa when he was small. He sometimes brings back his kids to cycle near the temple now but they cannot enjoy the freedom of cycling as much as he did in the past.
“I won’t stop my business as I love to see the happy faces of the children when they come here to rent bikes,” said Leong, who moved her store for the second time in this October.
Revisit Memories
“Sometimes when I walk past the temple and look around, I’ll think I can’t believe it is the same space I used to ride when I was young,” said Lai. Perhaps it is true those old spaces can only be revitalized again in our memories, like what Lai does.