We have spent our first Christmas in the Philippines and we have much for which we are thankful. While we missed the closeness of family and friends, Christmas here was a spectacular event. Filipinos really enjoy celebrating Christmas. The celebration starts early (even in October) and continues well past New Years.

 Advent actually gets shortened by Simbang Gabi (literally, “going to church at night”). Also known as Misa de Gallo or the Aguinaldo Masses, it is a nine day novena preparing for Christmas. Masses are held at 4:00 AM (some even earlier) for nine days leading up to Christmas and the churches are full to overflowing. The Mass itself is said with white vestments, the churches are already decorated for Christmas, the Gloria is sung, and Christmas carols are sung. After Mass there are a variety of traditional foods that are available. The Sisters for whom we say Mass chose to keep their Mass at the usual time (6:30 AM), so we were spared the early morning routine.

 Also during the week before Christmas, people (mostly children) go from house to house singing Christmas carols. The custom is to give them some coins. It is a bit like Halloween. Also, on Christmas Day, the children wander from house to house looking for gifts.

 The seminarians all spend Simbang Gabi in their assigned parishes. They offer Bible services in the barrio chapel for those who cannot get to the parish church for Mass. This is a valuable service as well as a good experience for the seminarians. From it they learn how to lead people in prayer, as well as how to preach a good homily. Before the seminarians left for their apostolates, they had their own Christmas Mass (anticipated a bit) along with a Christmas party. The attached pictures show them at the outdoor Mass and party. One picture shows them kissing the image of the Baby Jesus, an important Filipino tradition.

 On Christmas Eve, Fr. Amadeo joined the parishioners of Alfonso for their Christmas Eve Mass. Fr. Ron celebrated Mass for the Good Shepherd Sisters at Maryridge at 10:00 PM. (Most churches had their “midnight Mass” at 9:00 PM.) After Mass, we all joined the Sisters and their staff and guests for Noche Bueno, a meal of traditional foods.

 On Christmas Day, Ron offered Mass for the Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd; Pierre celebrated at Maryridge; and once again Amadeo was in Alfonso. Ron also offered Mass at Seagulls (a drug and alcohol rehab center), and at Royal Tagaytay Estates. All three of us joined the Contemplative Sisters for supper on Christmas Day.

 We enjoyed our New Years celebrations here too. Of course, we are one of the first countries to experience the beginning of the new year. For New Years Eve, Ron offered Mass at the Contemplatives while Pierre was doing the same at Maryridge, but then we all joined the community at Maryridge for a small party. There is a beautiful view of Lake Taal from there with all the towns that surround it. We watched the fireworks all around the lake. Fireworks are an important part of the New Years celebration here. Everyone had large amounts of big fireworks. It was very noisy just before and after midnight. We had food, of course, and even some Asti (complements of Bishop Chito).

 On New Years Day, once again we offered Masses for the same communities. The Sisters at Maryridge invited us for a wonderful dinner consisting of soup, prawns, fish, chicken, rice, potatoes, vegetables, and wine. It was topped off with apple pie a la mode.

 We thank the Sisters and our many friends for making our first Christmas in the Philippines a wonderful experience.

Ron Bagley