THE haciendas in Negros expanded. It was perceived that the hacenderos maintained their closeness to the Catholic Church to gain more favors from Mother Spain until their sweet separation on November 5, 1898 (Cinco de Noviembre Revolution).
The Catholic hacenderos and hacendados were subjected to Bajo a la campana (Living under the bell). The sound of the church bells was all there for the hacenderos and the obreros to comply- meetings, death, fiesta, especially Christmas. The Misa de Gallo was a prominent Christmas event because it starts from December 16 until December 24 (nine mornings).
The landlords made it a point that the obreros should first attend Misa de Gallo before working in the fields. Workers woke up as early as 3 o'clock in the morning to prepare for the mass. They would just wrap their breakfast in banana leaves to be eaten after the mass- usually chicken adobo and dried fish with ripe tomatoes. They would always maintain a kerosene or oil lamp by the window to tell other farmers that they are awake; and the lamp provides light also to farmers who are travelling to the church.
Workers would be there at the plaza in front of the Church before the mass. While waiting for the sacristan mayor to open the door of the church, the workers would sing Christmas songs or do daigon in the houses of the hacenderos around the plaza. This was a common practice in Silay and other big pueblos (towns). The daigon would dramatize Joseph and Mary looking for an inn. If allowed by the hacendero to perform in front of the house, the workers would add more songs and dances for the baby in the manger.
The workers participating in the daigon were given money by the hacendero and the members of his family. All workers will be in the church for the four o'clock mass. The mass would last for one hour and the sermon of the priest would always be about forgiveness, repentance, reconciliation, and donation for the church to demonstrate our love for the child Jesus.
After the mass, workers will have their breakfast at the plaza. The spirit of sharing is there because they would want others to partake in their humble breakfast. Christmas is all about this... sharing what you have to others, as Christ shared Himself for the love of mankind. Then, the workers proceeded to the haciendas to work.
We want Christmas in Negros to be like this. There is peace and harmony between the workers and the capitalists. Those who have money, please share your blessings to the poor and to your laborers. Do not just show what you have for others to see. That is extravagance. We want a change of heart for all. Share and God will add more. Enjoy a blessed Christmas.