Community: Sister Cities sends young woman to Azores to represent Gilroy
Gavilan grad celebrates Portuguese heritage
Isabella Vieira in her custom dress made specially for the parade. Photo courtesy Isabella Vieira
By Kaylee Arca
An island royalty for a day, Isabella Vieira was chosen by the nonprofit Gilroy Sister Cities to represent the local Portuguese community at the Sanjoaninas Festival in Angra do Heroísmo.
Photo courtesy Isabella Vieira
The 2022 Christopher High School grad flew in June to the scenic Azores, the archipelago belonging to Portugal. The annual festival takes place in late June when locals and tourists gather to celebrate the arrival of summer and pay homage to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the island.
Every spring, Gilroy Sister Cities sends one young woman aged 18-24 to represent the South Valley community in the festival. Applicants must be students and Gilroy residents. The selected representative receives round-trip airfare, lodging, and meal vouchers.
After graduating from Gavilan College this spring, Vieira will attend California State University, Monterey Bay in the fall. She is an English major, with the hope of becoming a high school teacher.
The 20-year-old learned about the opportunity when her mom, Marleen, shared a Facebook post publicizing the application. She applied but told her mom her fear of not being selected. Then she got a phone call.
“I think I screamed a little bit and might have scared the people on the phone,” she recalled. “Then I immediately got another call to book my ticket. And I was like, oh my God, it’s happening so fast!”
After receiving the exciting news, Vieira couldn’t wait to tell her friends and family.
“I rushed downstairs,” she said. “I’m like, Dad! I got it! I got it!”
Not long after, Vieira boarded multiple planes to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to get to the archipelago.
Growing up, Vieira and her family stayed involved in cultural activities held at the IFDES (Irmandade Da Festa Do Divino Espirito Santo) Portuguese Hall in Gilroy. To show her pride in her heritage while visiting other halls, she wore a traditional Azorean cape.
“I have grown up in the community, I love it,” she said. “It was my entire childhood. You know how kids do sports? This was my sport. This was every weekend going to a different town in my little cape. I loved it.”
This was not Vieira’s first trip to the Azores. She previously visited relatives who live on the islands. Her mother and father’s families came from the islands of St. George and Trasada. Almost 10 years ago, Vieira visited the Azores with her family when her older sister was selected for a queen role in the Sanjoaninas festivities.
Vieira joined a group called “damas” made up of 10 young women selected from around the world to participate in the festival. She was one of nine royal court representatives, the tenth member played the queen.
On the first night of the festival, Vieira wore a custom-made dress while smiling and waving at the crowds as she sat atop a colorful float. The float carrying the princess slowly meandered down the main street. Two hours later, Vieira disembarked and was presented to the mayor, dignitaries, and people gathered in front of Angra’s City Hall.
“When I was 11, I was sitting at the church steps watching the floats,” she said. “Now I’m 20 and I’m on the float. I couldn’t believe I was actually there!”
Vieira loved her custom-made dress. After the parade, it was displayed in a museum for the remainder of her trip. The garment now hangs in her bedroom closet.
“We sent them our measurements,” she said. “The day that I landed, two people were there to pick me up and take me straight to the seamstress.”
The remainder of Vieira’s trip was spent visiting family, dining on the local cuisine, and attending the remaining Sanjoaninas activities. Her favorite events included the bullfights that consisted of matadors in colorful clothing entertaining the crowds as they showed off their bravery while engaging with the massive animals. She loved the excitement of the festival.
During her trip, Vieira’s main challenge was the humidity.
“Humidity in my hair!” she exclaimed. “I mean, as soon as I stepped out, it would go poof!”
Vieira loved the trip to the land of her heritage and is thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“I’m so immensely grateful. I loved it,” she said.
Kaylee Arca is a Morgan Hill-based freelance reporter.