In the 25 de Abril neighborhood, in Lagos, the activity "E temos o povo…", held at the end of September, revived the memory of the 25th of April and the SAAL project, promoting a debate on Housing challenges. The initiative, organized by the Commission for the 50th Anniversary of the 25th of April, the Lisbon Municipal Archive, and RTP Antena 2, was supported by the municipality of Lagos as part of its "Lagos, Liberty and Democracy" commemorations.
The event brought the radio documentary "... e temos o povo..." to Lagos, offering a unique collective listening experience on September 26th. It featured illustrator António Jorge Gonçalves, who drew live, projecting images onto walls that merged the memory of the SAAL project with historical sounds recorded by Pedro Laranjeira, Paulo Coelho, and Adelino Gomes. These sounds allowed for a reliving of the events of April 25, 1974, and evoked the right to Housing, a promise enshrined in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.
The topic of Housing brought together José Bartolomeu (president of the Residents' Association of the 25 de Abril neighborhood), Manuel Dias (coordinator of the Local Technical Team of SAAL Algarve), Miguel Reimão Costa (architect and researcher), and Hugo Pereira (Mayor of Lagos). They recalled the origins of the SAAL project, its impact on building housing areas with popular participation, and discussed the current situation of the 25 de Abril neighborhood and present-day housing challenges, in a year marking the 50th anniversary of the Constitution and the first free local elections.
Colonel José Glória Alves shared his testimony about the 25th of April in Lagos, recalling his command of the Auto Driving Instruction Center 5 (CICA 5) and the control of communications at the time.
Architect Miguel Veloso, son of José Veloso, a key figure in the SAAL project, recalled his father's fight to ensure dignified housing for marginalized populations and his encouragement of residents' associations, highlighting the role of women in the initial adoption of the idea.
Arq. Miguel Reimão Costa explained the specificity of SAAL in the Algarve, where communities intervened in the organization of neighborhoods and self-construction was the model for implementation.
Manuel Dias, coordinator of the Local Technical Team of SAAL Algarve, highlighted the SAAL neighborhoods of Meia Praia and the Residents' Association of the 25 de Abril neighborhood as inspiring examples of building the future through housing.
José Bartolomeu, president of the Residents' Association, reiterated the community's demands for the regularization of the neighborhood and the improvement of housing and public space conditions.
The Mayor of Lagos, Hugo Pereira, acknowledged the administrative difficulties and land-use planning constraints for housing legalization, but offered a sign of hope, indicating that the 25 de Abril neighborhood area will be maintained and legalized, rather than renaturalized.
The evening featured sound recordings from the 25th of April and live drawing by António Jorge Gonçalves. Journalist Adelino Gomes, present, shared personal experiences, and Francisco Fanhais sang "Utopia" by Zeca Afonso.
The event concluded with the playback of "Os índios da Meia Praia", a song recounting the history of this fishing community, a milestone in the conquest of the right to housing, remembering the first resident-builders and the Lagos community.
