ALICIA Salvacion is nearing her 80s, and she admitted that she still feels dissociated as she would have to complete the nine-day masses right at the comfort of her daughter's home. For the first time, she attended the Misa De Gallo through online live streaming.
As a devout Roman Catholic, virtual masses is something she did not expect that would be a thing.
During her lifetime, she reminisced how her devotion, of which she inherited from her parents, had defied all odds, even World War II -- a time when she was still young but still her memories during that time of attending Misa De Gallo was still fresh.
Not even different phenomenons such as calamities and the unstable law and order of the city back in the 70s had stopped her from attending masses, especially in December.
It was only when the pandemic, the first health crisis she encountered in her life, had forced her to skip her ritual devotion.
Because she is part of the vulnerable sector, which the government prohibited from going outside and attending masses, she had no choice but to stay home and fervently whisper her prayers, hoping that this would all be over.
Salvacion understands that the situation calls for it but she still can't help but miss waking up early and prepare her Sunday's best to go to church.
"Lahi gihapon sa paminaw na mapaminawan nimo ang wali sa Ginoo sa personal. Pero tungod bawal man ta mugawas, puyo nalang ta sa balay. Sa TV sa ta maminaw sa misa (It is still a different feeling to be able to hear the word of God at the church. But since we are not allowed to go out, might as well stay home and attend the mass through TV)," Alicia said.
But she is still thankful for the technological advancements because she can be at the mass in spirit instead of being there physically. She said she is still one with God despite being at home. "God is everywhere. Ang Ginoo permanenting anaa kanato (The Lord has always been with us all throughout)," Alicia said.
'New normal' masses
Simbang Gabi, a Filipino term for "night mass", is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by the Filipino Roman Catholics in anticipation of Christmas.
This is similar to the nine-day series of dawn Masses leading to Christmas Eve practiced in Puerto Rico called Misa de Aguinaldo.
The Simbang Gabi Masses in the Philippines are held daily from December 16 to 24. On the last day of the Simbang Gabi, which is Christmas Eve, the service is called Misa de Gallo (Spanish for "Rooster's Mass").
It has an important role in Philippine culture.
The Simbang Gabi originated in the early days of Spanish rule over the Philippines as a practical compromise for farmers, who began work before sunrise to avoid the noonday heat out in the fields.
It began in 1669. Priests began to say Mass in the early mornings instead of the evening novenas more common in the rest of the Hispanic world.
This cherished Christmas custom eventually became a distinct feature of Philippine culture and became a symbol of sharing.
Throughout the years, Filipino Catholic faithful continue to actively take part in this devotional tradition.
However, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck the country in mid-March this year, mass gatherings, including attending church masses, and other worship activities had been tagged as hotspots in Covid-19 transmission.
When the quarantine status in the entire country had somewhat improved, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases allowed religious masses and other activities under a limited capacity.
The task force still allowed the traditional Christmas mass but churches were reminded to strictly follow health and safety protocols.
While masses for the traditional Misa de Gallo will be allowed in Davao City, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) "still encouraged the live streaming of these liturgical celebrations" for those who cannot attend brought about the restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
CBCP President Romulo Valles, who is also the Davao Archbishop, ordered that the Catholic church will be adjusting its annual Christmas masses, in accordance with the IATF.
The usual hour-long mass was shortened. The singing and the mass-goers’ responsorial participation were also shortened in order to lower the risk of transmission.
"In the past months, we have been limited and sometimes even prevented in our participation from the liturgical celebrations of the church due to the Covid-19. Social distancing is necessary to help stem the spread of the virus. Evening curfew hours have also been imposed in almost all places to prevent people from big gatherings," Valles said.
"During this time of the pandemic, the Church has adjusted the forms of important seasonal celebrations of the Sacraments and the liturgy," Valles added.
Despite allowing physical masses, different local governments in the region are not lowering their guard down.
Reflections amid pandemic
Filipinos are always looking forward to this Christmas season: from the parties, large gatherings, exchanging of gifts, and other festive moods.
But that festivity would have to be skipped this year, in a bid to curb the transmission of the Covid-19 virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) had already warned of a possible spike of cases at the start of 2021.
Msgr. Julius C. Rodulfa, the mass presider of the first day of the Misa de Gallo at the San Pedro Cathedral, shared in his homily that this year's celebration of Christmas will not be the usual. Despite this, Rodulfa said that it is important to strengthen one's faith, especially that the whole world is experiencing the turmoil caused by the pandemic.
The pandemic may have halted the traditional celebration during this Holiday season, but he said that now is the time to center the faithful's attention to the real essence of Christmas.
"Dili ang daghang commercialism sa atong palibot. Dili ang mga dekorasyon. Hilabi na sa tanan, dili ang mga gasa. Kon dili, si Hesus man ang main focus sa Christmas (It is not about the commercial activities around the corner, nor the decorations, nor the gifts received. But it is Jesus Christ, who is the main focus of this Christmas) ," Rodulfa said in his homily.
He also said the government's "Stay Home" campaign is also the perfect time to reflect.
"Stay home, and welcome God who comes to us in our hearts, and in our homes," Rodulfa said. Angelika Calano, a former college instructor, had been active in the church since high school. She recalled how she became active in attending Simbang Gabi.
She admitted that this year had really brought discomfort not only to her, but to her fellow churchgoers too. This is brought about the restrictions imposed in churches to ensure that minimum health protocols are strictly observed.
In all the churches she attended for this year's Misa de Gallo, there was still an influx of churchgoers. Despite having no seats to sit on, and being distant from the view of the mass presider, she saw how churchgoers became more fervent in attending the mass despite the limitations and restrictions.
"Mas na-feel nako ang hugot nga pagtuo sa Ginoo, hilabi nga anaa ta ron sa pandemic (You can feel the deeper devotion to the Lord, especially we are in a pandemic)," Angelika shared. She admitted that she wasn't spared from the challenges of the pandemic.
But in spite of this, Angelika still feels blessed, especially that she had finally met the man of her dreams, of which she had long prayed in the previous Simbang Gabi.
Despite the restrictions, Joyce Sabado said this has not made the Simbang Gabi meaningless. Joyce said that this year's Christmas Mass is, in fact, "way more solemn and sincere" as people who physically attended the mass are those true with their intentions.
Unlike in the previous years when she noticed that those who are attending are just taking advantage of the masses to stroll with their friends or with their boyfriends/girlfriends.
"Makita nimo kinsa gyud tong faithful na magsimba sa Ginoo, ug kinsa ra tong mga nagpa'char-char' ra. Nakita nako nga ang mga nanimba ron kay tong mga devoted na manimbahay (You can feel the faithfulness and sincerity of those who are attending the masses, and for those who are just doing it without any sense of purpose. You can really see those who are truly devoted)," Joyce shared in jest.
She also felt comfortable with the limited number of mass goers within the venue, saying she could concentrate more in her prayers.
If there is one thing she is thankful for the pandemic, is that people have been brought closer to God, no matter the circumstances, or the religion they are connected to.
“I hope that our closeness to God won't end together with the pandemic,” she said.