Simbang Gabi as a tradition

By the time this article gets published, it would be 10 days before Christmas. As Catholic tradition would put it, it is now time for the Simbang Gabi. I am sure that by the mere mention of the term, some readers would be filled with vivid memories of having attended even a single day of mass right before the break of dawn.

According to the Roman Catholic Church, Simbang Gabi is one of the longest and most popular among Filipino traditions in the country. It is actually a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins on December 16 as early as 3:30am and culminates with the Misa de Gallo (literally meaning Rooster’s Mass) on Christmas Eve. In some churches, the panuluyan is even reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace.

The Simbang Gabi tradition could be traced to Mexico, way back in 1587. It is said that the Pope had granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass. Farmers as well as fishermen would wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work, and ask for the grace of good harvest. In most Spanish speaking countries, Simbang Gabi entails a typical midnight mass starting at around 12 midnight.

The custom in the Philippines started during the Spanish colonial period when priests held early dawn masses for the farmers who would want to attend Christmas mass but could not leave their fields. It is an expression of devotion. A commonly-held belief is that if an individual completes the nine consecutive days of Simbang Gabi, the act would merit a wish made by the devotee being granted.

But Simbang Gabi would not be complete without the traditional delicacies that await churchgoers shortly after mass. The most popular is, of course, the puto bungbong, puto (rice cakes) and bibingka. I am not sure whether there are stalls that still sell salabat (ginger tea) or common green tea because most Filipino nowadays prefer coffee hot choco. Also, with convenient stores such as 7-11 and fastfood outlets just around the corner, some would rather choose to dine-in and eat donuts or burgers.

In some urban areas, the Misa de Gallo is celebrated around 8-9 in the evening to accommodate the needs of members of the community who have different work schedules. Here in San Pablo City, many kubol (make-shift chapels) in barangays celebrate Simbang Gabi the same way, or during the night.

The Church declared that majority of those who attend Simbang Gabi come from the youth sector. While many elders retort that it is now being used as a dating place, the former optimistically looks at it as a way to reach out to teen-agers. But it is not only the plaza or the churches which are filled with people during and after mass. Visit Sampaloc Lake this time of year and from the park to around the lake, it is littered with church-goers.

Majority of Filipinos are religious, if not devout. The importance of the church has been debated over-and-over again. Even the separation of the church and state has been elucidated in political affairs. Its clout, however, could not be denied. It is closely related to tradition. While Winston Churchill proclaimed that, “A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, but strengthened nations in the hour of their peril,” Woody Allen said that, “Tradition is the illusion of permanence.”

But there is a compromise I see in these two opinions. Traditions are used to strengthen an institution, a tool or something to look forward to. As a practice, its continuation is its survival. The illusion of permanence has always been there for nothing is constant except change. Indeed, tradition is changing in the way we look at it, the way it is being celebrated, and the way society accepts it as a whole.

The Archdiocese of Manila said that Simbang Gabi is a significant moment not only because it strengthens relationships among family members but also because it is a time where faith is intensified. They even added that it does not matter if one has the stamina to complete the novena or not, what really matters is what is inside the heart. The blessing does not depend on the number of mass attended, but what is important is the disposition of the person who receive the Lord’s blessing. This is a more liberal approach as compared to the old days when the prayle is said to knock on doors of people to compel them to attend and complete the nine-day period.

Simbang Gabi, as any other tradition, is an event where memories are collected and collated. Waking-up early; feeling the very cold morning breeze; the aromatic greetings of kakanin; and meeting with friends or family members.

Christmas is indeed just around the corner.

Credibility

It seems that everything that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo does is bound to be criticized. Except for press releases issued by Malacañang and government owned TV stations, media outfits seem to be at one in disagreeing with the present administration. Her approval rating, according to the Social Weather Station, is at a negative 38 rating. And the current issues do not help in uplifting her popularity.

Today, she is being criticized for her declaration of martial law in Maguindanao. Her handling of the Ampatuan’s is perceived to be with that of using kid’s gloves. Some even blame her administration for allegedly arming warlords and letting private armies reign.

Her intention to run for Congress is much more damned, if not rebuked. Many see it as a play of greed and lust for power. Some takes it as a way to escape liability, a fact which she had shown finesse in avoiding several impeachment cases.

This leads us to say that she would go into the annals of history as one of the most unpopular president of our country.

But she is unique.

She would complete a nine year presidency. She is the only one who succeeded a legitimately constituted president who was ousted at the middle of a six year term. And for a fact, she is the only president who have tasted, if not tried, every available power that the office had to offer. No other president had declared a state of emergency, foiled a coup de etat, and declared martial law all in the same term.

So far, she is the most traveled president. She’s the only the one who had to say “I am sorry” in national television during the heat of the Garcillano issue. Her family is involved in so many charges of graft and corruption that it is hard to make count. From the ZTE-NBN scandal to the luscious dinners at New York, all speaks of how her every move is being watched.

Indeed she had experienced almost everything, except being loved by the people.

And this reminds me of the sagely advise of Pilosopo Tasio in Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel, Noli Me Tangere. He said that sometimes, it is not the idea which is being vehemently opposed to, but the giver of the idea itself. Thus, in pushing for a proposal to celebrate a local fiesta, the liberal characters of Noli suggested to the conservatives the opposite of what they wanted, and it got approved.

According to Eliot Spitzer, “I don’t care about motivation. I care about credibility.” Credibility, taking its literal meaning, is the quality of being believable or trustworthy. It only means that when a person loses credibility, the motivation of what he does is no longer important as his personality is already tainted. It’s like the boy who cried “wolf” and no one believed him.

When GMA is alone in her room or during those times when she could not sleep, does she cry because of the people’s impression upon her? So far, could we say that she have shown strength in the face of her adversaries? Whatever. There is a big difference between having strength and having a stone face.

Power and tragedy

We commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal’s death anniversary every December 30. In Laguna, June 19 is a provincial holiday, pertaining to our national hero’s birth. In the case of Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan, we memorialize his birth – November 30. Bonifacio was killed on May 10, 1897 at Mt. Buntis, Cavite by members of the organization he himself had organized. Some historians say it was legal murder fueled by politics. But no matter how we look at it, unlike our other heroes, we commemorate his birth and not his death because his life was taken away by fellow Filipinos.

This is the tragedy of the Philippine Revolution. And though arguments still persist on the greatness of Bonifacio and his contribution to freedom, or on the inanity of what had transpired; it had left scars on our history. Even before the birth of the First Republic, a power struggle ensued. Emilio Aguinaldo was later betrayed into America’s hand by disloyal troops…

According to the latest report of the AFP, at least 57 people were murdered into what is now dubbed as the Maguindanao massacre. Amongst them were women, journalists, and civilians who just happen to pass by. As of writing, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. had been charged with 25 counts of murder. On the premise of attempting to prevent violence, Buluan town vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu sent his relatives and unarmed supporters accompanied by journalists to file his Certificate of Candidacy for Governor of Maguindanao. At least 100 armed men blocked their convoy. It evolved into one of the most brutal killings in history.

This is the tragedy of Maguindanao, in the Land of Promise where political warlords exists. For years, the government had allowed (if not cuddled), private armies and armed political groups. “It’s a choice between lesser evils,” a UP professor revealed. The choice is between powerful clans and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). But this is a game-play between the elite – those who have guns, goons and gold. The real victims are the citizens of Mindanao. The poorest provinces in the country are found not only on the hinterlands of the islands in the south, but on places where hospitals, schools and electricity is a luxury and not a commodity. It is a place made poor by those who hold power…

And yes, incumbent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed her CoC to run for a congressional seat at the Second District of Pampanga. In spite of her very unpopular reign and amidst all the negative approval ratings, she still has the gall to declare that her decision to run was the “product of both her desire to pursue public service and heed what she called ‘clamor’ by her province mates.” The burden now lies within the citizens of said district. Would they vindicate her reign by voting for her? Whatever. The votes they make would resonate into the annals of history.

And this is the tragedy of political greed, which led me to remember a Chinese proverb that states, “Love is blind, and greed insatiable.” Often, politicians mistake greed for love – or at least they announce to the whole world that their intention to “serve” is for love of country. But what is their real intention? Snow White should have been taught not to accept a shiny apple from a witch…

In the words of political scientists, politics is nothing but a mere preservation of, or of the struggle to gain power. It is an accepted fact that the government is the largest corporation in any state, and it is also its biggest employer. With it comes the inherent right to exercise taxation, police power and eminent domain. And any public seat has privileges not granted to ordinary citizens. Power resides on those who govern. Though sovereignty resides within the people, it is an accepted fact that our country is run more like a business rather than a public service.

The three instances I have mentioned are but mere display of struggle for power. Bonifacio’s fate, the Maguindanao incident, and Arroyo’s filing of her CoC are but manifestations of how political struggles could turn into a tragedy; the first two being brutal, the last one being moral. English historian John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is when you have absolute and direct control of the life of an individual – whether it be literally, economically or politically – that you have power to control another person’s fate.

Some end in tragedy, like the loss of life and of dignity. Some end tragically, like faces made prominent by acts of infamy. Some has an insatiable desire to stay in power. Fact is, those who are eager for power are the ones who do not deserve the same.