Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo is a nine-day series of Masses attended by Filipino Catholics in anticipation of Christmas. It originated in 1669 during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, as a practical compromise for farmers who began working before sunrise. When the Christmas season would begin, it was customary to hold novenas in the evenings, which was more common in the rest of the Hispanic world, but the priests saw that the people would attend despite the day's fatigue. As such, with the Philippines being an agricultural country known for its rice, coconut and sugarcane plantations, the clergy began to say Masses in the early morning while it was still dark before people went out to work the land.
One of the best places to celebrate traditional Simbang Gabi is at St. Joseph's Parish Church in Las Pinas, two centuries old Baroque church famous for its world-famous Bamboo Organ which was built by Father Diego Cera in 1824 (two hundred years ago now).
This year's Simbang Gabi started at 3AM when the local band (in their LED-lighted costumes) played on the streets of Las Pinas to wake up the people, followed by the 4:30AM Mass where the Bamboo Organ played Christmas music. After Mass, the church-goers had their fills of local Filipino Christmas favorites likes Puto Bumbong, Bibingka, Suman and many.
It was indeed a perfect start for Pinoy Simbang Gabi to prepare for the 9-day Novena Masses leading to Christmas.
