Chamber Newsletter December 2009 Vol. VI No.12
It is a tradition in Catholic Philippines that Masses are celebrated at dawn for nine consecutive mornings, in preparation for Christmas. This came about during the Spanish occupation, when farmers clamored for the Eucharistic celebration at dawn to afford them time to attend Mass before going to the fields to work. The Masses came to be known as Misa de Gallo, Spanish for Cock’s Crow Mass, when the roosters crow at dawn. In later years, the Novena Masses were also held in the evenings, called Simbang Gabi, for those who could not attend the dawn Masses, but who were also devotees of the Christ Child.
The Lourdes Catholic Community celebrated Simbang Gabi for the first time from December 15 to 23, 2009 at 8 p.m. with Chaplain Rev. Fr. Ronniel Babano as first celebrant. With the congregation numbering about a hundred, it was a good enough start. He likewise officiated at the second evening Mass but subsequent evenings had Fr. Chito Butardo, Fr. John Christian Young or Fr. Jigs Dosdos as celebrant.
Starting with the second night, two or more families sponsored the celebration. First day sponsors were Helen O. Tiu and the Tiu Family, with Virgie Po as co-sponsor. While Virgie was by her lonesome, the Tiu’s were literally a wee ‘barangay’. They came in their colorful Hawaiian costumes, and it was a pretty sight to behold during the Offertory rite when they brought their gifts to the altar. Just before the Final Blessing, Virgie invited the congregation to stay and partake of the sponsors’ hot misua and boiled eggs. Then they could drink cold or hot water from the special water dispenser donated by Ms Bernadette ‘Nika’ O. Tiu, another generous donor.
The third night had Ms Rebecca Cagalingan and the Eriberto Gaspar family as Sponsors. They served suman and puto with Milo milk powder as drinks. Again everybody went home satisfied. For the fourth night, the Sponsors were the Jose Marticion family and Moyan Ty family. They served hot ‘binignit’ or ‘ginataan’ in Ilocano dialect. Everybody enjoyed the merienda even as the children kept on requesting for a second helping.
The sponsors for the fifth night were Rosita Dayan and Estrellita Tan and family. They served two trays of special cake with icing and two trays of cheese puto. There was a big crowd of neighborhood children who seemed to have attended Mass just for the merienda. Came distribution time, and they were first to approach the table. As there was no proper instruction to line up, there was no order and most of them got more than two of each kind. It seemed that even Fr. Jigs did not get to taste the preparation.
The sixth night, a Sunday, was sponsored by John and Ester Uy and family, and Cesar and Medeline Palma.and family. Their children who were studying in Cebu and Manila had all arrived, and it was a great sight seeing all of them in procession to offer their gifts. They had prepared 180 packs of empanada, hotdog buns, mamon and fruit juice for merienda, which included the Manobo student carolers of Fr. Ruby Tagaro but who failed to attend because they had gone back to Bunawan without proper notice. With our workers manning their posts, all got a share with plenty to spare.
The seventh night had the Rudy Tiu family all in red as main sponsor, with the Roberto Lim family in green as co-sponsor. Birthday celebrant Ann-ann brought two big pots of bihon guisado, plenty of sandwiches, empanada in individual paper bags, cold fruit juice and soft drinks, while the Lim family brought cheese puto and hot choco drink. Distribution was orderly because a queue was formed. Everybody had his fill with a few going back for second helping.
The sponsors for the eighth day were the Young family, Gumagay family, and Johnny Ang family, with Dr. Leody Yu-Go, Beth Ramos, Tita Keh, Ely Astillero and Toto and Tita Templado as co-sponsors. They were all in Chinese red. They served piping hot ‘maki mi’, a Chinese noodle dish with pork cubes, mushrooms and other ingredients. As usual the neighborhood children were the first in line.
For the ninth and last day of the Novena Mass, the main sponsors were the Wing On family which included the Francis Lim family and Dennis Yee family, plus the Lody Pineda family which included the Nonoy Pineda family, with Ian Lao as co-sponsor. They served hot puspas or rice gruel with chicken cubes, especially cooked by Madame Fredeswinda Yee, the Yee matriarch. Each one was given a styro glass full which was a delicious evening fare.
The celebrant from the sixth to the ninth days was Fr. John, enjoying his Christmas school vacation. He is known for keeping on time schedules. Everyone tried his best to keep up with his time but many failed. He was always in church ahead of others. However, he is best known for his well prepared homilies; how he gives new insight on the Gospel and how he correlates it to the other Scriptural Readings. Many are inspired by his sermons.
For the culminating day, Archbishop Carmelo D.F. Morelos, assisted by Fr. John, celebrated the Holy Eucharist. For that Mass of the Angels, there were no designated sponsors. Everyone was welcome to participate, the more the merrier. Helen and Nimfa Tiu, Felipe, Felisa and Hannah Gumagay, and Jeanne Christine Young led all the others who offered gifts. They were followed by Luzviminda Lim, Rosita Ngo-Ty, Isabelita Ngo-Keh and Elvira Lim who served as Offertory collectors.
The Mass started at 8:30 p.m. but the chapel was full 20 minutes earlier. There were many, especially the gentlemen who gave way to the ladies, to stand at the back. Even the crude wooden bench served a purpose. It was providential that the weather was cool as it had rained earlier, so the wall fans provided adequate ventilation for the congregation. Sis. Bea Ty whispered to us that it was time to buy monobloc chairs for use during times like this. Right after the recessional, the lights dimmed and the children’s choir with many adults participating, broke into the current hit: “Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” which the congregation applauded.
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