Frank Cimatu, PDI - North Luzon Bureau For comments, suggestions and inquiries, please call (074) 442-2150/8240 or email at nclcluster.pia@gmail.com

Simbang Gabi has become the Holy anachronism, because in Filipino it means “Evening Mass” but in most cases, they are usually held at dawn. We often asked ourselves why but apparently, Simbang Gabi harked back to the time when most of the Filipinos were farmers and midnight is the best time because by four or five in the evening, the parishioners were already in the fields.

Simbang Gabi is a nine-day series, starting from December 16 till Christmas Eve. The last Simbang Gabi on December 24 is called the Misa de Gallo or the Mass of the Rooster.

Some of us usually complete the nine-day masses, usually with Christmas wishes tied to this sacrifice. Some of these nine-day devotees usually pray for something special. It could be a “Yes' from someone they are courting. It could be a special gift from Santa. Who knows? Maybe some are praying for world peace. Some, however, go only during the Misa de Gallo.

But whatever the reason, the Simbang Gabi is what makes us Filipino. Only a few Catholic nations observe a similar ritual like us. And true enough, it is the Filipinos in the United States, Europe, Asia or wherever who insist on their poor priests to hold the Simbang Gabi in their respective countries. True enough, it is the Filipinos who help their overseas churches in decorating their altars with Filipino touches like the Belen and the parols.

Some Churches here in the Philippines even make it a point to video their “Simbang Gabi” so that the Filipinos abroad can watch the mass in real time, whether they are at work or in bed.

And of course, the most Filipino among the Simbang Gabi is when you step out of the churches and all these food await you on the steps. There are the tupig or native puto in Northern Luzon; latik, yema or puto bumbong in the Tagalog areas and uraro and otap in the Visayas. Of course, because it is still cold, there are also native coffee or salabat for the Simbang gabi breakfast. Some of the churches go for the heavy eaters, offering arroz caldo, pinapaitan or sinanglao to the parishioners.

Even in the cities, this offerings are already part of the ritual. Even fast food franchises near the churches open early to accommodate these parishioners. In Hongkong, some of the enterprising Filipino domestic help were already selling puto bumbong and arroz caldo for their kababayans after their Simbang Gabi.

Wherever we are, the Simbang gabi has become an opportunity of sharing and sacrifice, which is what Christmas is really about.

Frank Cimatu, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Simbang Gabi

"Pantongtongan Tayo" radio program of PIA Pangasinan aired overDZMQ-Radyo ng Bayan Dagupan with Primitivo Veraña of SSS

"Pantongtongan Tayo" radio program of PIA Pangasinan aired overDZMQ-Radyo ng Bayan Dagupan with Primitivo Veraña of SSS

Regional Inter-Collegiate Population Debate awarding at theCrown Hotel, Tuguegarao City

Regional Inter-Collegiate Population Debate awarding at theCrown Hotel, Tuguegarao City

Environment and civic groups condemn the planned constructionof a sanitary landfill in Obando, Bulacan

(courtesy of Bro. Martin Francsico)

Environment and civic groups condemn the planned constructionof a sanitary landfill in Obando, Bulacan

(courtesy of Bro. Martin Francsico)

Bridging the Gaps in Integrity Initiatives Forum Workshop at theBaguio Country Club with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales as guest

Bridging the Gaps in Integrity Initiatives Forum Workshop at theBaguio Country Club with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales as guest

,PDI

Statisticsby: BAS/DA

National Statistical Coordination Board

Ilocos Norte Crime Statistics

Every Thursday

PIA Hour, DZWT, Bonifacio St. Baguio City

3

Dec 12 Enhancing Social Contract Thru Transparency & Accountability Forum with

Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales Baguio Country Club

Dec 16 111th Itogon Foundation Anniversary

Dec 16 CARE-CESG General Assembly and Year-end Assessment

NEAP Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio Cit

Dec 15 4th Quarter Meeting RLECC & Christmas Party, Log Cabin, PRO-COR, Camp Dangwa

Transparency International – Philippines Forum on graft and corruption,

Baguio Country ClubDec12

Kapihan sa Baguio on DSWD updates

Dec14

Planning-Workshop on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

as a Convergence Strategy for the Attainment of the Cordillera Region's MDG Targets,

Hotel Supreme, Baguio CityDec14-15

4th Quarter RLECC Meeting and Christmas Party, Log Cabin, Camp

Dangwa, La Trinidad Pag-ibig 31st Anniversary Celebration, Palm

Grove Hot spring, Asin, Tuba, BenguetKapihan sa Benguet on Tuba

Founding Anniversary, Tuba, Benguet

Dec 15

Dec 16 Investors and Media Night, Itogon Municipal Gymnasium, Itogon,

BenguetCARE-CESG General Assembly & Year-end Assessment, NEAP

Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City

CARE Fun Run, Lake Drive, Burnham Park, Baguio CityForeign Groups

Christmas Festival, SM Atrium, Baguio City911 On Call 5th year

Anniversary, PIA grounds

Dec 18

Dec. 12 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco

heritage Channel (IHC) 16Dec.12/ 8:00 amIlocos Norte Infocen's “Morning

Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 12 8:00 am Laoag City Staff MeetingDec. 12/ 2:00 pmVigan City Council Session

Dec. 12 Sangguniang Panlungsod (Pangasinan) Regular SessionDec. 12/2:00 pmRDC

Sectoral Committee on Environment Meeting

Dec. 12 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag

Dec.13 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over

Iloco heritage Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.12 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 13 8:00 am Bagnet Festival in Narvacan, Ilocos Su

rDec.13 Pangasinan Infocen's hh “Pantongtongan Tayo” Radio Program over DZMQ

Dec. 13 2:00 pm Sangguniang Panlungsod (Vigan City) Regular Session

Dec. 13 2:00 pm Ilocos Sur's Board Member Regular Session

Dec 13 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec.13 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag in Santol, La Union

Dec. 14 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage

Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.14 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 14 8:00 am La Union Infocen's HDMF Fund Coordinator Meeting

Dec. 14 11:30 am AREX Program/Induction of Officers at Hotel Ariana, Bauang, La Union

Dec. 14 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 15 7:30am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage

Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.15 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 15 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 15 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Ilocos Sur

Dec. 15 Pangasinan Infocen's KBP ForumDec. 16/ 7:30 amIlocos Sur Infocen's “Issue

lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.16 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 16 Pangasinan Infocen's Media in Action Forum

Dec. 16 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag in Pangasinan

Dec. 17 8:00 am San Fernando City Diocese Spearhead Annual Celebration of the OFW Family day

Dec. 17 12:30 pm Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Arimbangaw” Radio Program over DZTP

Dec. 18 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Nia't Makunam Kaillian Radio Program over DWRS

December 12, 1PM Regional Multi-sectoral Forest Protection Committee 4th Quarter Meeting,

DENR, Tug. City

December 12, 1PM Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB) Regional Inter-Collegiate Population

Debate, Crown Hotel, Tug. City

December 13, 9AM DTI – One Town One Product (OTOP) meeting, DTI Cagayan

December 14, 8AM Orientation/Consultative Meeting on the renewed campaign in preventing

fireworks-related injuries, DOH Conference Hall, Carig, Tuguegarao City.

December 14, 8:30AM RGIN-TWG workshop, NEDA, Tug. City

December 14 31st Pag-Ibig Fund anniversary, turn-over of the 28 computer units to selected

public elem. school

December 15-17 DepEd Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) Elementary and Secondary,

Gattaran, Cagayan. RD Licas as evaluator on News Writing, Editorial Writing,

Feature Writing, and Copy and Headline Writing.

December 16 Christmas Party with Nueva Vizcaya Press Club

December 16, 9AM Forum on Free Trade Agreements dubbed as “Doing Business in Free Trade

Areas I-Market Approach”, Brickstone Mall, Tuguegarao City.

December 20 Regional OTOP Fiesta Trade Fair, Theme: “Proud Ako Sa OTOP Ko…Kaagapay Ko

Ito” Brickstone Mall, Tug. City

December 20, 8:30 am Regional Nutrition Committee 4th quarter meeting, Kainang Pilipino Tug. City

December 21, 9am Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council 2 4th quarter meeting, Ivory

Hotel, Tug. City

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