Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Memoir: Meeting José da Conceição and his clandestine adventures – Interview

19 August 2020

By Richard Simas When he strides forward, you immediately notice his imposing figure:  tall with broad, powerful shoulders, sturdy hands, and a gravity in his inquiring gaze that draws you and the world ever closer for serious consideration.  A brown Fedora, Indiana Jones style, sits level on the head of this adventurous man who jumped […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Community, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, Travel, World

Travel: Health insurance offered to visitors – Portugal

18 August 2020

Travelers visiting Portugal are now able to subscribe to the “Portugal Travel Insurance” a travel insurance policy adapted to meet the health needs relating to the COVID’19 pandemic. The insurance, which covers the entire Portuguese territory, provides for medical, surgical, pharmaceutical and hospital expenses associated with COVID’19, including expenses relating for cancellation, interruption or extension […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal, Travel, World

Education: Opportunities for Portuguese emigrant college students – Portugal

18 August 2020

Each year, the Portuguese system of higher education allocates 7% of its openings to Portuguese emigrant college students living abroad. There are about 3,500 openings in the Portuguese universities nationwide, including the Azores and Madeira, exclusively reserved for Portuguese college students in the diaspora. Applicants must hold the Portuguese nationality, have resided for at least […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Education, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Travel Alert: Council of Ministers approve new rules of COVID’19 control – Portugal

30 July 2020

Portugal Council of Ministers lifted today the ‘State of Calamity’ downgrading it to the ‘State of Contingency’ across the 19 Greater Lisbon parishes, including Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The Minister of the Presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva, justified the new ruling as a “positive evolution observed in the last month,” resulting from a reduction of about 30% […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Portugal, São Miguel, Terceira, Travel, World

Travel: TAP resumes Boston to Ponta Delgada flights – Azores

23 July 2020

TAP Air Portugal has launched three times a week flights between Boston and Ponta Delgada. The inaugural flight departed on Tuesday from Ponta Delgada-João Paulo II International Airport bound for Boston. “It’s a rare privilege to be able to introduce a new route during such a hard time for the airline industry, and global travel […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, Travel

COVID’19: Portugal granted $52.5 billion in pandemic relief – European Union

21 July 2020

Prime Minister António Costa returned home today, from the European Union (EU) summit, with the promise of €45.1 billion ($52.5 billion) over the next seven years – which Portugal need not to pay back. The deal was closed, early on Tuesday, after EU leaders reached an agreement following more than 90 hours of talks. Pleased […]

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Posted in Awards, Azores, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal