Interview: António Fontes – President of the Parish Council of Famalicão

“The book Famalicão da Serra – Terra Comum is a reflection of what Famalicão truly is today and was yesterday”

António Fontes, President of the Parish Council of Famalicão, is a native of the Parish of Gonçalo- Guarda . He studied in Famalicão da Serra and at Quinta da Lageosa-Aldeia do Souto-Covilhã.

In his free time he enjoys volunteering and working in agriculture.

THE GUARD: On the 27th of April, the Parish Council of Famalicão presented the book Famalicão da Serra – Common Land (Famalicão da Serra, JFF Editions, 2025). What are the objectives of this work?

António Fontes: The main objective of this work was to take stock of half a century of democracy in our parish, in all its aspects, and to leave a written and photographic record of what it was and what it is. We also wanted to record the entire process that led to the declaration of the Official Day of the Parish and the just tribute to our ten Mayors, since 1948. The book includes many texts that express what the authors feel about their relationship with our village and how they see it, in the present and in the future. Some are texts of pure affection and others are more essayistic in nature. But all contribute to an excellent fresco on our land, in around 300 pages, in a beautiful edition.

A GUARDA: In the opening note you mention that it is a complete work that seeks to highlight the recent past, the present and the future. How is this idea present in the work?

António Fontes: When you look at the book, you can see that it describes the essential works that have been carried out, especially since the 25th of April, the portraits of the mayors who have governed our Parish since 1948 and the contributions of their mandates, the culture , the heritage, the professions that are at the end of the line, the affection, various testimonies and what is expected to be the future of our Parish, having collected several testimonies. And there is no lack of the diaspora, of those who, having been born here, emigrated, but also of the new foreign residents who chose our land to live here.

A GUARDA: Can we say that this work is the result of the collaboration of many people linked to Famalicão?

António Fontes: There are 25 direct collaborators on this work, and the list includes people from the parish and people and institutions that have different types of relationship with it. However, four people contributed especially to its execution: Professor Vítor Amaral, as Coordinator of the texts; Professor João de Almeida Santos, who had a general role in the book, including in its conception; Dr. Honorato Esteves, in texts and information contained in several chapters of the book; and Dr. Pedro de Almeida Santos, in the layout, design and revision. I would like to express my gratitude to all of them.

A GUARDA: But is it also a book paying homage to the mayors of Famalicão?

António Fontes: Yes, of course, we did not want the tribute to be confined to the Parish Council Headquarters, where the portraits of the ten Parish Council Presidents, from 1948 to the present day, are now on display, with an identification card for each portrait. Ten works, in digital painting, were donated by Professor João de Almeida Santos, their author and a native of Famalicão. Naturally, it was essential that this Gallery of Presidents be enriched with a chapter from the book, reproducing not only the portraits and the respective identification card, but also providing information on the composition of the local government bodies and the works carried out during their respective terms of office. A chapter that would also be an integral part of the tribute.

THE GUARD: With a gallery of illustrious people who left their own mark?

António Fontes: If we talk about the contributors to this book, I think we can use that expression because people who currently or have previously held important positions in our country have contributed to it. And it is also possible to speak of a brand of its own, given the quality of the texts in the book and what Famalicão represented and represents in the lives of its authors. The book is a reflection of what Famalicão truly is today and was yesterday. But I know that there is still a lot left unsaid (it was not possible to include everything and, even so, it is around 300 pages), but we have already decided that we will soon publish another work on Famalicão, by Edições JFF, taking into account above all the economic life of the village – which was important – over time. This is an aspect that could not be reduced to one or two chapters, given the importance of Famalicão's economic life throughout its history: baking, tailoring, carpentry, metalwork, basketry, etc., etc. There was everything in this parish. For example, in the 1950s. And so the economic history of Famalicão could not be confined to one or two chapters. This could also be an incentive for young people to settle here and develop activities that their ancestors developed. Of course, those that are still relevant today. Knowing the past can also serve as an incentive for the future.

Referring to the presidents, I must say that our parish has always been managed by qualified people and by people with effective professional success. Only this explains why Famalicão has experienced a development that is difficult to compare with other parishes.

A GUARDA: And what about paying homage to the parish itself with the establishment of the Official Parish Day?

António Fontes: It was a serious failing for the Parish not to have a special day on which we could concentrate our collective rituals to celebrate the important events that have taken place and are taking place in our community. The reason for our choice of 26 November as the Official Day of the Parish of Famalicão is set out in the Parish Assembly's Resolution and published and reinforced in the book. It has to do with the date of the official creation of the first parishes in Portugal, in 1830, in a model that is similar, for the first time, to today's, but also because, on this date, Famalicão was still a Municipality of the Kingdom, which six years later would be extinguished, becoming part of the Municipality of Valhelhas until 1855, the date when both were integrated into the Municipality of Guarda. All of this is explained and documented in the book.

A GUARDA: On the same day, some personalities and institutions from the parish were also honored. Was it important to make this public recognition?

António Fontes: Of course, these tributes were deserved and gave substance to the public recognition of what the honorees, both individuals and institutions, have done for the parish over time. It was an act of justice due to those who, without asking for anything in return, gave their best to our parish. But, I confess, this recognition could also help to encourage other individuals to help the community, which is in great need, knowing that this help will always be recognized and appreciated by us. Other initiatives will be taken in relation to the sons of Famalicão who distinguished themselves outside their homeland, contributing to honoring our community.