(16 Dec 2002)
1. Wide top shot of huge crowd attending Christmas dawn mass
2. Top shot of crowd
3. Close-up of ringing bell
4. Priest walking towards altar
5. Wide shot of crowd
6. Wide shot of priest at altar
7. Mid shot of priest at altar
8. Wide shot of crowd attending Christmas dawn mass
9. Various of crowd singing
10. Nuns attending Christmas dawn mass
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sister Elvira Ibardolaza
"Like any novena, we complete the nine days, and this is the nine day masses in preparation for the birth of our Lord."
12. Dawn shot of horizon
13. Wide top shot of crowd as dawn breaks
14. People praying
15. Wide shot of food stalls
16. Various of vendors selling rice cakes
17. Marching band
STORYLINE:
The countdown to Christmas has begun in the Philippines, as the Catholic faithful begin the series of daily dawn masses in the run-up to Christmas eve.
Churches around the country were packed early Monday morning, for the first of the nine 4:00 AM dawn masses.
Despite the very early hour, thousands turned up in this suburban church in Las Pinas, decorated with Christmas ornaments and lanterns.
Church bells rang to signal the start of the mass, and to make sure everyone was awake, ready to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist.
It is said that the tradition of the dawn mass began many generations ago, by farmers who wanted to hear the mass before they started their day's work in the field.
The practice has lived on, and today is seen to be one of the Catholic's traditional way of preparing for the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ.
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