Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azoreans mark 50 years of Autonomy with solemn ceremony Canada | Brampton to inaugurate replica of Portas da Cidade 100 years ago | Devastating earthquake shook Faial Island Sports | Fernando Pimenta world canoeing champion Community | 20th Anniversary of Portas da Cidade Celebration
 

1976-2026 | Azoreans mark 50 years of Autonomy with solemn ceremony – Horta, Faial

The Autonomous Region of the Azores marked a historic milestone with a Solemn Session on Friday, September 4, at the inaugural session of the Regional Assembly in Horta, Faial, honoring the 50th anniversary of the establishment of self-government. The Regional Assembly’s first solemn session took place exactly 50 years ago in Horta and was presided […]

Canada | Brampton to inaugurate replica of Portas da Cidade – Toronto, Ontario

One of the most recognizable symbols of the Azores, Portas da Cidade (City Gates) of Ponta Delgada, will soon have a new home in Brampton, in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area. The inauguration of a full-scale replica of the historic monument is scheduled for September 12, 2026, at Azores Park, 100 Malta Avenue.  The monument will […]

100 years ago | Devastating earthquake shook Faial Island – Azores

One hundred years ago today, on the morning of August 31, 1926, the island of Faial was violently shaken by one of the most destructive earthquakes in the modern history of the Azores.  A century later, the Museu da Horta is commemorating the disaster with historical photographs, educational activities and an earthquake-preparedness exercise involving about […]

Sports | Fernando Pimenta world canoeing champion – Poznan, Poland

Portuguese canoeing star Fernando Pimenta was crowned world champion in the K1 1000 meters, winning a dramatic final at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznan, Poland, on August 29, 2026.  The achievement adds another historic chapter to the career of the athlete from Ponte de Lima, widely regarded as Portugal’s greatest canoeist. Pimenta currently […]

Community | 20th Anniversary of Portas da Cidade Celebration – Fall River, MA

Mayor Paul Coogan, in conjunction with the Portas da Cidade Advisory Committee and the Prince Henry Society, will host a special ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Portas da Cidade (City Gates), one of Fall River’s most recognizable symbols of its Azorean heritage.  The celebration will take place Monday, August 31, at 10:30 am […]

Terceira: US Congress to reconsider strategic relevance of Lajes Airfield – Azores

14 December 2014

The US House of Representatives has requested a “specific revaluation” on the strategic relevance for the United States of the of Lajes Airfield on Terceira, Azores, under the current $585 billion Defense Authorization Bill (approved December 4) for the fiscal year 2015. Accordingly, the US Administration is prevented from reducing military personnel at Lajes Airfield […]

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

Book: ‘Chasing the Dream’ – By JC de Melo – Editor’s Note

13 December 2014

Ben and Silvio are best friends from a remote island in the Azores with big dreams of coming to America. They each marry an American woman in order to emigrate. Margaret and Charlotte, niece and aunt, offer the young men a home, and they establish a loving extended family. Ben and Silvio’s lives in California, […]

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

Travel: Azores leading top 100 world sustainable green destinations – Award

12 December 2014

The Global Sustainable Tourism Review (GSTR), by QualityCoast, has listed the Azores as one of the most sustainable green destinations in the world and the leading 2014 European green tourism destination. The Azores ranked highest with a final score of 8,9 over a total of 10 points the highest global sustainability score by GSTR. The top of […]

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

Manoel de Oliveira: Recipient of France’s Légion D’Honneur – Portugal

11 December 2014

Portuguese film director, Manoel de Oliveira, was awarded on Tuesday, December 10, the Légion d’Honneur (Grand Officier de la Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur) one of the highest honors bestowed  by the Government of France. The ceremony, presided by France’s ambassador to Portugal, Jean-Francois Blarel, took place at the Museu da Fundação Serralves, in […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Awards, Featured, Film, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Book: ‘The True Story of Peter Francisco’ – By Sherry & Bobby Norfolk – Editor’s Note

10 December 2014

Was he Portuguese? Peter Francisco was believed to have had almost superhuman strength. According to legend, George Washington said, “Without him we would have lost two crucial battles, perhaps the war, and with it our freedom.” Francisco, kidnapped and abandoned by pirates at the age of five, was raised outside Richmond, and after hearing Patrick […]

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Posted in Azores, Books, Community, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal

Travel Alert: TAP Air Portugal to stage general strike over the holiday season – Portugal

10 December 2014

The 12 labor unions representing the workers at TAP Air Portugal are deliberating to stage a four-day general strike over the festive period, between Christmas and New Year. If not averted, the strike will be held on December 27, 28, 29 and 30. Poor working conditions, and the government plans to privatizing TAP Air Portugal, […]

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Posted in Community, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal, Travel, World