December 16, 2015 - Simbang Gabi Fellowship - Mistah Foundation

December 16, 2015 – Simbang Gabi Fellowship

Date: 22 Apr, 2016  No Comments

The way Filipinos celebrate the holidays is a celebration of its own. Its not just a week-long affair or a month-long occassion. In fact, it’s almost a 4 month build up once that calendar is turned to September 1st. Countdowns will begin. Carolers starts to roam the nights. Lanterns, colorful lights and garlands are everywhere. Christmas Trees are reassembled. Presents are artistically wrapped. Baratillos and ‘holiday sales’ are hyped up.

Then that familiar delicious smell of smoked bibingka and puto bumbong. And most prominently, the mass every dawn starting on the 16th of December. Simbang Gabi.

Even if the hardest working devotees are tired, exhausted all day from work, we always find a way to spend that window to attend to this tradition driven by faith and commitment to our beliefs and relationships with our God. Instead of getting that well deserved rest and sought after sleep on the wee hours before bracing for another sunrise, we remained devoted.

Simbang Gabi. Misa de Gallo. Simbay Labi.

Different terms. Different places. Different races. But shares the same purpose; to relieve the most significant nights in the history of mankind which led up to the birth of our Lord and Saviour — The Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Together with our good friends from PNP Aguilar, we did completed our personal covenant of a complete attendance of last year’s Simbang Gabi. Not only that, though. We shared with them and a couple of hundred catholics another Pinoy tradition as we listen to the sermon with ‘hot pandesal’ and a cup of coffee perfectly fit on the cold breeze of each dawn.

Spiritual bread and everyone’s favorite bread for all seasons altogether. Coupled with the aroma of the classic coffee after a holy encounter of words from our Maker.

This is the Pinoy Simbang Gabi we have known of. Devoted. This is what we are known for. Simple.

Like how that powerful child was brought into this world over 2000 of years ago. In a manger. Humbling. Against all odds. Destiny. Inspiration. Mission. Faith. Love. Salvation.