MISTAH sa Misa: Serving breakfast for Mapita Simbang Gabi Devotees - Mistah Foundation
MISTAH sa Misa: Serving breakfast for Mapita Simbang Gabi Devotees
Date: 06 May, 2020 No CommentsMISTAH sa Misa: Serving breakfast for Mapita Simbang Gabi Devotees.
Mapita, Aguilar, Pangasinan –Simbang Gabi also known by its popular Spanish name, Misa de Gallo, or “Mass of the Rooster.”was a tradition by Filipinos worldwide. It was said to beintroduced by the Spanish friars to allow the farmers to hear mass before going to the fields early in the morning. The masses can start as early as 4 in the morning.
In the olden days, the church bells start ringing as early as three o’ clock, waking people up so they can get ready for the four o’clock dawn mass. The Roman Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass.
From that day on. it has been a custom for the Filipino families to attend the 9-day mass every December staring on the 15th of the month until Christmas Eve, the 24th.
This year on these same days, volunteers from the Local Government Officials & Philippine National Police (PNP) ofAguilar, Pangasinan; Navy Reservists from Bonuan, Pangasinan;and Com. Richard Tamayo Gubatan Sr. PN (Res) of the MISTAH foundation USA assembled a project through providing breakfast for the Simbang Gabi Devotees.
Hired cooks by Com. Gubatan himself, put together a 9-day breakfast meal for thedevotees. Traditional Filipino dishes were prepared, with the likes of Puto with Dinuguan, Arozcaldo with Bibingka, Pancit with Pandesal, Miswa, Rice cakes, Sopas and many more. It was a joy to see in the early mornwhen mass goers were still full of energy, giving their first smiles to the volunteers because of the free meals.
Every mass the volunteers,Com. Gubatan, and the Navy’swas joined by the Mayor, Vice Mayor and the Councilors of Aguilar giving thanks not only to our God Almighty but also to the good hearted people whogives out their precious time and sacrifices some of their finances for these kinds of charity.
According to old wives’ tale, anyone who, by any means,finish the routine for 9 days,could make one wish, and their desire would unfailingly come into existence. This has been one of the top reasons why teens ranging in age set’s their hearts on attending the early mass diligently hoping they could make use of that one wish. But, with the talk that Com. Gubatan had to some churchgoers, it was the free breakfast thatmade the people more enthusiastic because they had something to look forward to after the mass.