Government of Timor-Leste

The Day of the Proclamation of Independence, November 28th, will be the high point of the celebrations of the 500 years of affirmation of the Timorese identity.

The highlight goes to Oe-cusse Ambeno, where will be reenacted a recreation of the historic first meeting of Portuguese missionaries with the people of Timor-Leste and their leaders. Over these 500 years, the Catholic Church has provided a great spiritual, human and material support to the people, with emphasis on the role played during the Indonesian occupation, when it contributed to the international legitimacy and credibility of the Resistance.

Activities are being scheduled across the country, centered on Organizing Committee of the celebrations, which is coordinated by the Ministry of State Administration. These events are still in preparation and will be included on the agenda of the portal throughout the period of celebrations.


Commemorative activities of the 500 Years of the Interaction of Two Civilisations: Timor-Leste and Portugal and Affirmation of the Timorese Identity

From October 1st to November 27th
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno
- Visit of the Statue of Our Lady of the Rosary from Oe-cusse Ambeno to all missionary stations of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-cusse Ambeno
- Sacrament of Confirmation

From October 29th to November 29th
Place: Fundação Oriente (Orient Foundation)
Date: October 29th
Portuguese Language Cinema Festival

Júlio Resende and the YKEDA duo Piano concerts
Place: Hotel Timor

Puppet Theater
Place: Dili and Oe-cusse Ambeno

Date: November 29th
Place: Archive and Museum of Timorese Resistance (AMRT)
"Timor no Passado" (“Timor in the Past”) book launch

Place: Palaban Portuguese School, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Reading session of traditional tales and legends

From November 1st to 28th
Screening of documentaries and reports in TVTL, concerning the celebration of 500 Years of the Interaction of Two Civilisations: Timor-Leste and Portugal

From November 5th to 15th
Border games (basketball, volleyball, football)
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno (Oebau field)

From November 24th to 28th
Motocross, off-road and horse racing competitions
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno

From November 10th to 15th
Baptism
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno (future parishes of Baoknana, Oe-Silo and Passabe)

From November 16th to 24th
Confirmation and Wedding ceremonies
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno (future parishes of Baoknana, Oe-Silo)

Baptism and Confirmation ceremonies
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno
Chapels of Sakato, Mahata, Oesono, Cruz, Sta. Rosa, Oecau and Oemolo missionary station

Matrimonial celebrations
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno (central parish)

Baptism and Confirmation ceremonies
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno (central parish)
Chapels of Sikluli, Oetulo, Padimau, Numbei, Masin, Samoro, Palaban, Postu Sica, Oelcaem missionary station, Quinat, Oelulan, and Padiae, in Oe-cusse (central parish)

Traditional Dances
Place: the fair stage, Oe-cusse Ambeno

From November 16th to 28th
Place: Campo Palaban, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 18h00-24h00
Crafts Fair

November 19th
Debate between representatives of the Catholic Church of Timor-Leste and Portugal on "The importance of the Catholic Church in the Timorese identity"
Place: Dili

From November 24th to 28th
Place: Archive and Museum of Timorese Resistance (Dili) and Reference School of Campo Palaban (Oe-cusse Ambeno)
Exhibition "500 years of Portugal-Timor"

Place: Reference School of Campo Palaban (Oe-cusse Ambeno)
Book Fair

Day November 20th
Place: Dili Conventions Centre
Time: 9h00-12h00
Seminar on the evolution of the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste
Speakers: Luis Filipe Tomaz and Frederick Duran

Place: Dili Conventions Centre
Time: 14h00-17h00
Seminar on the encounter of two civilisations: Timor-Leste and Portugal
National and international speakers

Day November 24th
Place: Numbei (Parish Hall), Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 9h00-11h00
Presentation of the study on the Historical Nature

Bicycle ride between Dili and Oe-cusse Ambeno, with participation of Indonesian cyclists from Mota-Ain border

Day November 25th
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno
Sporty walk
Writing contest
Cycling competition

Day November 26th
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 9h00-11h00
Exchanges between the communities of the Flores Island, Moluccas and Oe-cusse Ambeno

Cycling competition
Time: 8h00

Time: 15h00-17h00
Place: Lifau Monument, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Mass for the commemoration of 500 years of Interaction of Two Civilisations


Day November 27th
Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 8h00-12h00
Inauguration of the Lifau Monument

Place: Oe-cusse Ambeno (Campo Palaban)
Time: 19h00-22h00
Official Dinner, hosted by the President of the Republic, Taur Matan Ruak

Place: Díli
Time: 15h00-17h30
Artistic Caravan (from Government Palace to Tasi Tolu)

Day November 28th
Place: Campo Palaban, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 10h00-11h00
-The Raising the Flag ceremony,
-Nutrition competition awarding ceremony
Place: Campo Palaban, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 11h00-12h00
Community sports (Greasy pole and Tug of war)

Place: Reference School of the Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 12h00-13h00
"Cocktail" for guest and population

Place: Campo Palaban, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 14h00-17h30
Community sports (Swimming and boat race)

Place: Campo Palaban, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 16h30-17h30
The Lowering of the Flag ceremony

Place: Campo Palaban, Oe-cusse Ambeno
Time: 19h00-24h00
Cultural Night

Place: Taci Tolu, Díli
Time: 8h00-18h00

8h15: Arrival of guests
8h45: Arrival of Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
9h00: Raising of the National Flag
9h20: Reading of the Text of the Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, on November 28th, 1975
9h30: Ceremony inspector's speech
10h00: Parade
10h30-16h00: Cultural and Sporting activities
17.00: Lowering of the National Flag
18:00: Closing ceremony
- Cultural night
- Dinner
- Fireworks