The onset of the novena masses heralds the Christmas season. There is a lot of excitement in the air. The upbeat melody of Christmas carols also lends to this feeling of anticipation. Homes are bedecked with decorations and lights of various sizes and colors.
It has been said that Christmas is the busiest season of the year. Everyone is lost in a flurry of preparations: shopping to do, gifts to prepare, friends to visit, parties to attend to. Department stores and supermarkets are full with shoppers. Who said Filipinos have no money to spend? Don’t dare to come to Divisoria these days. You will surely get lost (hopefully not get trampled) in the sea of people looking for the best bargains.
When I see throng of people going here and there, lost in thought (perhaps thinking what to buy for whom, and how to stretch the budget to the limit), without seeing anything, the words of Blessed Alberione come to mind: “where will this humanity of people go? Will it be saved or will it be lost forever?”
The hustle and bustle of preparation akin to the celebration of Christmas may distract us to the very reason of the festivities. It is essential to bear in mind that Christ is the very reason why there is Christmas. It is him we celebrate. He should be at the center of it all. We decorate our homes because we want to welcome him in a happy atmosphere. We give gifts to show our love just as Jesus has given himself as a gift to us. Spiritually we prepare ourselves to welcome him in our hearts.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Simbang Gabi
The nine-day dawn masses before Christmas or the simbang gabi as we Filipinos call it has began. This is a religious tradition that is typically Filipino that goes back centuries of observance.
The pre-dawn masses are usually celebrated at 4:30 although in some parishes the time varies. Some have it as early as 4 am to accommodate a second mass after it. Many parishes have also introduced an anticipated simbang gabi in the evening to accommodate those who cannot attend the dawn mass for one reason or another.
Back in my younger years, I remember simbang gabi was something to look forward to, for various reasons. Of course, there was the religious side of it, of preparing ourselves spiritually to celebrate Christmas meaningfully. But then, we were also very much taken by other interests as well. In groups, we enjoyed the trek to the Church braving the chilly breeze of the early morning air. Since it was a good 30-minute walk from our barrio to the town, it took us a while to reach the Church. By the time we got there all seats would have been taken. We would be standing the entire mass of one hour and a half.
In those days, simbang gabi would not have been complete without the puto bumbong and puto bibingka. These two plus a steaming cup of salabat tea or coffee were part and parcel of our celebration of the simbang gabi then.
It has been many years since I left home. I do not know now if they still have these puto bumbong and bibingka stalls outside the Church.
But one thing I am sure is that the Church would still be full with mass goers – a testament to the religiosity of the Filipinos.
The pre-dawn masses are usually celebrated at 4:30 although in some parishes the time varies. Some have it as early as 4 am to accommodate a second mass after it. Many parishes have also introduced an anticipated simbang gabi in the evening to accommodate those who cannot attend the dawn mass for one reason or another.
Back in my younger years, I remember simbang gabi was something to look forward to, for various reasons. Of course, there was the religious side of it, of preparing ourselves spiritually to celebrate Christmas meaningfully. But then, we were also very much taken by other interests as well. In groups, we enjoyed the trek to the Church braving the chilly breeze of the early morning air. Since it was a good 30-minute walk from our barrio to the town, it took us a while to reach the Church. By the time we got there all seats would have been taken. We would be standing the entire mass of one hour and a half.
In those days, simbang gabi would not have been complete without the puto bumbong and puto bibingka. These two plus a steaming cup of salabat tea or coffee were part and parcel of our celebration of the simbang gabi then.
It has been many years since I left home. I do not know now if they still have these puto bumbong and bibingka stalls outside the Church.
But one thing I am sure is that the Church would still be full with mass goers – a testament to the religiosity of the Filipinos.
Bishop goes on hunger strike to demand passage of CARP
Manila Auxiliary bishop and NASSA chairman Broderick Pabillo went on hunger strike today outside Batasang Pambansa to pressure Congress to act on CARP extension with reforms, otherwise known as CARPER bill HB 4077.
Pabillo is joined by Fr. Archie Casey, SX and nine of Calatagan farmers and 20 others from Task Force Mapalad, Banasi and UNORKA.
Representatives from various women and men religious congregations came to show their solidarity and support of the bishop and the farmers’ cause.
Meanwhile, Congress has started to debate on the bill today with the final voting scheduled on Wednesday before it adjourns for the Christmas break.
It has been earlier reported that several lawmakers against CARPER said that they would only support its passage if the provision on compulsory land acquisition is removed.
AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, principal author of CARPER said that the landlords in Congress were determined to render the program ineffectual.
“They’ve benefited from the flaws of the program, but now they want to render the program inutile by abolishing its compulsory acquisition provision, heart of this social justice measure,” said Hontiveros.
Farmers from various groups have also voiced out their concerns on the inaction of Congress accusing the House leadership of giving in to the demands of the landlords in the House.
Earlier, some senior members of the hierarchy led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales has called on the legislators to put ahead the interest of the farmers by passing the proposed law on CARP’s extension with reforms
“Agrarian reform concerns all of us because if it is left unfinished, we would be participants and witness to the poverty of millions of our brothers and sisters and to the perpetuation of injustice,” they said in a letter sent to the House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
Pabillo is joined by Fr. Archie Casey, SX and nine of Calatagan farmers and 20 others from Task Force Mapalad, Banasi and UNORKA.
Representatives from various women and men religious congregations came to show their solidarity and support of the bishop and the farmers’ cause.
Meanwhile, Congress has started to debate on the bill today with the final voting scheduled on Wednesday before it adjourns for the Christmas break.
It has been earlier reported that several lawmakers against CARPER said that they would only support its passage if the provision on compulsory land acquisition is removed.
AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, principal author of CARPER said that the landlords in Congress were determined to render the program ineffectual.
“They’ve benefited from the flaws of the program, but now they want to render the program inutile by abolishing its compulsory acquisition provision, heart of this social justice measure,” said Hontiveros.
Farmers from various groups have also voiced out their concerns on the inaction of Congress accusing the House leadership of giving in to the demands of the landlords in the House.
Earlier, some senior members of the hierarchy led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales has called on the legislators to put ahead the interest of the farmers by passing the proposed law on CARP’s extension with reforms
“Agrarian reform concerns all of us because if it is left unfinished, we would be participants and witness to the poverty of millions of our brothers and sisters and to the perpetuation of injustice,” they said in a letter sent to the House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
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