Celestino Manuel Domingos
45 years old · Oeiras (Greater Lisbon)
IT Systems Administrator (multinational company)
Persona: Angolan Professional
Celestino Manuel Domingos
Quick Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Celestino Manuel Domingos |
| Age | 45 |
| Gender | Male |
| Location | Oeiras (Greater Lisbon) |
| Occupation | IT Systems Administrator (multinational company) |
| Education | Licenciatura in Computer Engineering (Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda) |
| Housing | Renting apartment (€1,200/month) |
| Family | Married to Esperança (42, accountant), two children (16, 13) both born in Angola |
| Voter Status | Angolan citizen - CAN vote in presidential elections (reciprocity with CPLP) |
| Time in Portugal | 8 years |
Background Narrative
Celestino left Angola in 2017, not as a refugee but as a calculated emigration. He was doing well in Luanda—IT pays decently in Angola's oil economy—but the corruption, the lack of prospects for his children, the feeling that talent mattered less than connections drove him out. Portugal was the obvious choice: language, colonial ties (complicated as those are), a European future for his kids.
The adjustment was harder than expected. His Angolan degree wasn't fully recognized; he had to take additional certifications. His first years were underemployed—IT support roles beneath his experience. Portuguese employers saw "African degree" and assumed it was inferior. He proved them wrong, eventually landing a proper systems admin role, but the taste of that dismissal lingers.
Colonial history weighs on his relationship with Portugal. His grandfather worked on Portuguese cocoa plantations. His father fought for independence. Now Celestino lives in the former metropole, speaks the colonizer's language, sends his children to Portuguese schools. The irony isn't lost on him. He's made peace with it—pragmatism over principle—but he notices when Portuguese people romanticize colonialism or complain about "too many Africans."
His children are adapting faster than he is. His daughter wants to study medicine—in Portugal, in Portuguese. His son has a Portuguese accent now. They're becoming Portuguese in ways Celestino never will be.
Economic Situation
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income level | Upper-middle (€2,800/month + wife's €1,600) |
| Income source | Skilled employment (stable) |
| Financial stress | Low-Moderate |
| Housing cost burden | 27% of household income |
| Economic trajectory | Stable but ceiling possible (outsider status in corporate) |
Values Profile (Schwartz Framework)
| Dimension | Rating | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Transcendence | 4 | Community-minded; supports newer immigrants |
| Self-Enhancement | 4 | Ambitious; wants recognition for merit |
| Openness to Change | 3 | Took big risk emigrating; but values stability now |
| Conservation | 3 | Family-oriented; respects heritage |
Top 3 values: Achievement, Benevolence, Universalism
Moral Politics Frame (Lakoff)
Primary frame: Biconceptual (strategic pragmatism)
Expression: Celestino believes in merit and hard work (somewhat strict father), but also in fairness and equal treatment regardless of origin (nurturant). His politics are shaped by being both successful enough to value individual achievement and marginalized enough to see structural barriers.
Information Ecosystem
| Source Type | Specific Sources | Trust Level |
|---|---|---|
| TV | RTP, SIC, some Angolan TV | Medium |
| Online | LinkedIn, Público, Expresso, tech news | Medium-High |
| Social Media | LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook | Medium |
| Community | Angolan diaspora networks, professional contacts | High |
Media consumption pattern: Professional news consumer. LinkedIn for career. Portuguese quality press for local news. Stays connected to Angolan news for family context. WhatsApp for community information.
Relationship to Portuguese Politics
Voting Status
- Angola has reciprocity with Portugal under CPLP rules
- CAN vote in presidential elections
- Takes voting seriously—emigration was partly about democratic values
Political Awareness
- Sophisticated understanding of Portuguese politics
- Sees through populist rhetoric easily
- Values competence and institutional stability
- Colonial history makes him sensitive to nationalism
Top Concerns (Ranked)
- Children's future: "Will they face discrimination despite doing everything right?"
- Career ceiling: "I've hit levels where 'cultural fit' means 'Portuguese.'"
- Healthcare: "SNS for routine things. Anything serious, I worry."
- Political trajectory: "Chega reminds me of populists destroying African countries."
- Angola connection: "My mother is getting old. I can't be there for her."
Hopes
For himself:
"I want to see my children succeed. To be recognized for what I've built. To one day feel fully settled—neither guest nor invader."
For his children:
"I want them to have the choices I didn't. To be doctors, engineers, leaders—and to be seen as Portuguese who happen to have Angolan heritage, not the other way around."
For Portugal:
"I hope Portugal matures into its diversity. Recognizes that immigrants built this country alongside the Portuguese. That we're adding to Portugal, not taking from it."
Fears
Personal fears:
"That my children are treated differently despite being raised here. That there's a ceiling I can't see until I hit it. That I'll need to go back to Angola someday and it will be too late."
Political fears:
"Chega in power. The normalization of racism. My children's generation having to fight battles I thought were won."
Deepest fear (often unspoken):
"That my children will be ashamed of being Angolan. Or that they'll feel Portuguese but Portugal will never fully accept them. That I brought them here for nothing."
"In Their Own Voice"
How he'd describe Portugal today:
"Portugal is not what it was when I arrived. More diverse, more alive, but also more contested. There's a tension now—who belongs, who's really Portuguese, who gets to define Portugal. I've contributed to this country. My taxes, my work, my children. But there are people who look at me and still see 'the African.' Eight years later."
What he'd say to Portuguese people who worry about immigration:
"Your parents or grandparents emigrated. France, Germany, Brazil, Angola even—Portuguese went everywhere. They were treated sometimes well, sometimes badly. Now it's the reverse. Treat people how you'd want your family treated abroad. It's not complicated."
On colonial history:
"I don't need apologies. I need honesty. Portugal built wealth on African labor. My grandfather's labor. Acknowledging that isn't blaming living Portuguese—it's just history. But when people romanticize colonies or complain that Africans 'invaded' Portugal... that I won't accept."
Scenario Response Predictions
| Candidate | Predicted Response | Key Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura | Strongly Negative | Anti-African rhetoric; populism he recognizes |
| Gouveia e Melo | Positive | Competent, organized, not ideological |
| Marques Mendes | Neutral-Positive | Stable, experienced, moderate |
| Seguro | Neutral | PS has been okay on immigration |
| Catarina Martins | Neutral-Positive | Values inclusion stance |
| Cotrim Figueiredo | Moderately Positive | Merit-based, reformist |
| António Filipe | Neutral | PCP history with PALOP, but outdated |
Notes for Scenario Development
- Colonial history weight in daily life
- Professional success vs. glass ceiling
- Children's identity formation as central concern
- Can vote—represents empowered immigrant voice
- Comparison to Angola's politics (left there for democracy)
- Could interact with: Portuguese colleagues, children, Angolan community, newer immigrants
- In "Day in the Future" vignettes: corporate meetings, children's school events, calls to mother in Angola, Portuguese friends who "don't see color"