The string of Simbang Gabi is about to be wrapped up, with the devoted faithful looking forward to how the universe will conspire to make their Christmas wishes turn into reality. The annual tradition is laced with the belief that if one goes to all the mass services for nine straight days, a wish could be made and it would be granted in the coming year.
It is a time when people are reminded of so many things. The importance of family, friends, kindness, generosity, love, and faith headline the sermons. Days are started before the wake of dawn. And it is the cold morning air that helps welcome the holiday season. Outside the churches, the delightful duo of puto bumbong and bibingka awaits the churchgoers—and so does the warmth of freshly baked pandesal and goodness of aromatic coffee on breakfast tables at home.
Simbang Gabi is a celebration of many things. And, if we were being completely honest, others take advantage of this time to make the most of the so-called “Simbang-tabi with crushie.” It ushers in the season with such heartwarming memories—the Christmas tunes blasted from roaming barangay vehicles, the small talk with neighbors, and the family meals that come right after the mass.
There are memories that we look back to with a smile painted on our faces, and there are those that give us a barrel of laughs. We asked our readers what their most epic and unforgettable Simbang Gabi moments are:
Eyes on the lights
At dawn, before the sun rises, you are treated to cold air going to the church. There’s also that excitement when you see the vendors of puto bumbong and bibingka along the way. The streets are still usually foggy and dark at that time of day, and our church at Nova Bayan is filled with bright Christmas lights. So imagine in the darkness, all you can see clearly is the church garbed in festive brilliance—it’s such an uplifting and heartwarming sight!—Denise Castilla
Wrong timing
I really wanted to finish the tradition so I could wish to pass all my law school exams and subjects. I was with my girlfriend just before the last Simbang Gabi mass, so I decided to attend the one in their village chapel before I headed home. She couldn’t join me, but said the mass should be around 7 PM. I was seated alone for a long time when someone finally tapped my shoulder to tell me the chapel is already closing. It turns out the mass started hours earlier. I wasn’t able to complete Simbang Gabi that year, but I ended up with an excuse to guilt trip my girlfriend. —Noli Ermitanio
Doggo distance
It’s really the stillness of the morning that I remember the most. Enjoying the cold air and looking up to see the countless bright stars that haven’t left the sky… while, of course, trying to avoid coming across all the stray dogs that bark at and follow any one who passes by (which I didn’t do a week ago!!).—Paolo Mari Cruz
Wishing for the worst
Simbang Gabi was a practice that was introduced to us by my mom. My siblings and I would usually just go to Misa de Aguinaldo, which happens on Christmas eve. When we got older though, that’s when we started taking Simbang Gabi seriously. We would really try to complete attending all the masses.
The first time I tried to do this was about four years ago. Everything was just crazy and I felt hopeless. I wanted to wish for the death of those who I was in conflict with. I knew it was a horrific thing to do, and to even have it as a Simbang Gabi Christmas wish was ironic. I wasn’t able to complete the tradition that year and I really took it as a sign.
The next year, I headed to Simbang Gabi with a different attitude. So many great things happened after that I’m continuously thankful for. All I can say is, don’t do it for the wish part. Don’t do it because you desperately need something. It might sound like a beauty pageant answer, but do it because you want to grow your faith as an individual and as a person of the world.—Nix Policarpio
Tokyo tale
The only time I ever experienced Simbang Gabi was in Japan! This church in Meguro, Tokyo, was one of the few that catered to the needs of the Catholics there. With the friends that I got to meet from an exchange program, we decided to meet up there. One of them was my Japanese crush, and it was her first time in a church and she even got to witness that kind of experience. The whole place was jampacked with Pinoys! The best part was the meal afterwards (they had lechon paksiw!) and while Japan is known for their discipline, it’s a different story when free food is involved!—Jem Espina
Full house
Once, when my family and I attended Misa de Gallo in my younger years, the church was so crowded that some of the parishioners sat on the stairs leading to the altar, us included. We were just near the fan and we were even briefly mentioned by the priest during his sermon because us kids seemed to be quite mischievous. It was a wonderful time that I’ll always treasure when I used to live in Imus. The parish was always packed, we shared joyous mass celebrations, and with my mom and brother, I came home to a modest feast and gifts.—RJ Mendoza
Photos by Viktor Hanacek/picjumbo
