The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations restated in the State of Santa Catarina, the importance of strengthening cooperation at various levels in order to "preserve, promote and disseminate the Azorean identity legacy in Southern Brazil."

Rodrigo Oliveira spoke at the end of a meeting the Mayor of São José, Adeliana Dal Pont. The government official stressed the work that is being developed to "keep local culture alive, such as the case of pottery works, which symbolise the traditional craft art of São José several centuries after the arrival of Azorean settlers." With over 210 thousand inhabitants, São José is the municipality where there a strong presence of Azorean heritage This legacy is "evidenced in various cultural manifestations and is still remembered today through the impressive Monument to the Azores in the city's historic main square."

"It is a source of pride for the Azorean people to know that this city, founded by a group of 182 Azoreans in 1750, still keeps alive the traditions and heritage of Azorean origin," the Regional Under Secretary said, adding that "it is impossible to remain indifferent to the ties that will endure in time and space. "

The meeting was also attended by the Regional Director for Communities, Paulo Teves, and the Superintendent of the São José Municipal Foundation for Culture and Tourism, Carlos Eduardo Martins. On the occasion, Rodrigo Oliveira stressed that "the strong emotional and cultural ties that bind the municipality of São José to the Region contribute to the assertion of the Azores in today's world," conveying the Regional Government's intention to reinforce institutional cooperation with São José.

On the first day of his trip to Brazil, Rodrigo Oliveira also visited the Matriz Church of São José. It houses the insignia of the Holy Spirit that were offered by the Government of the Azores to this community located in the metropolitan area of Florianópolis in April 2013.

"The cult of the Holy Spirit is indubitably one of the main identity pillars of the Azorean people, regardless of geographical and temporal distance, and represents this community and solidarity spirit that has always guided the Azorean way of being in the world," said Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official visited the community of Santo António de Lisboa where Azorean settlers arrived in 1748. It was elevated to city status by King John V under the designation of Nossa Senhora das Necessidades da Praia Comprida.

Rodrigo Oliveira had the opportunity to speak with people of Azorean descent, who still maintain several Azorean traditions, such as bobbin lace and pottery. He also became acquainted with the initiatives aimed at the careful restoration of historic buildings and the preservation of techniques brought by Azorean settlers, as is the case of flour mills.

At the end of the day, the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency participated in the solemn session to celebrate the 289th anniversary of Florianópolis. The ceremony was attended by the Brazilian Minister of Labour and Employment, Manoel Dias, and Federal Senator Dário Berger as well as by local, state and national authorities and hundreds of guests.
 
At the beginning of the ceremony, before the awarding of distinctions to several local personalities, the members of the House of the Azores, dressed in traditional regional costumes,  entered the chamber holding Azorean and Portuguese flags at the sound of the Portuguese National Anthem. The event also included the exhibition of a video depicting several aspects of the Azorean heritage.

"This solemn ceremony demonstrated and honoured, at the highest level, the friendship and close relation between the Azores and Florianópolis. We were naturally pleased with numerous references to the Azores and the Azorean people as well as to the legacy that our common ancestors left here," said the Regional Under Secretary.

Today, Rodrigo Oliveira will participate in the opening session of the symposium "Azorean Studies Centre: 30 years of History. Preserving Azorean Cultural Heritage in Santa Catarina." He has scheduled meetings with the Secretary of State for Culture and Tourism, Felipe Melo, the Mayor of Florianópolis, César Souza Júnior, and the Board of the House of the Azores of Santa Catarina Island.