The award ceremony for the “Remembering the War Years, Jointly Building the Bay Area’s Future - 2025 Macau Outstanding Youth Essay Competition in Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the War of Resistance” was grandly held on the morning of January 24 at the Shenzhou Audiovisual Hall on the second floor of the Love the Country, Love Macao Educational Base for the Youth. The competition was organized by the Macau Nam Hoi Overseas Students Confederation and Nam Hoi Youth Confederation, co-organized by the Nam Hoi Countrymen Association of Macau, and supported by multiple entities including the General Association of Macau Foshan Associations, the Association of Previous Macau Members of the Foshan Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (at all levels), and the Chinese Educators Association of Macau. Feng Haoxuan, a student from the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), won the Silver Award in the University Category with his work Seeing the Magnolia Again. Mr. Oscar Leng, a mentor from the Student Affairs Office, was invited to attend the award ceremony and took a commemorative photo with the winning student.
This essay competition was closely aligned with the historical context of commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance and its deep integration with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Under the theme “Remembering the War Years, Jointly Building the Bay Area’s Future”, it aimed to guide students and youth across Macau to foster a profound sense of national sentiment and strengthen their national consciousness, expressing their reflections on history and visions for the future through writing. The competition was divided into three categories: University, Senior Secondary, and Junior Secondary. Since its launch in September 2025, it has garnered an enthusiastic response from various sectors, receiving over 300 submissions from 22 schools. The organizing committee invited senior professors, cultural consultants, and influential figures from Macau’s education sector to form a professional judging panel. After rigorous review, 54 works were ultimately selected as award-winning entries.
After receiving the award, Feng Haoxuan stated that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s call to “remember history, cherish the memory of martyrs, treasure peace, and create the future” provides fundamental guidance for young generation to examine the past and position themselves in the present. The encouragement from Macau Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai further reinforced the young generation’s understanding that they must draw strength from the spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japan and firmly uphold their patriotic and Macau-loving beliefs. The best way to commemorate the War of Resistance is to create new history. Today’s younger generation, fortunate to face the historic opportunity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area development, should consciously transform this “pure love” into concrete actions of shouldering responsibility. We must not only let the fragrance of magnolias linger in the memories of history, but also use our struggles as a pen to integrate our personal ideals into the overall development of the country. In the practice of upholding the principle of “one country” and making good use of the advantages of “two systems”, we should help the lotus of Macau bloom on the magnificent journey of national rejuvenation and truly shoulder the important task of “building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation”.
