Tomorrow is the start of simbang gabi or misa de gallo. It is a Spanish phrase for midnight mass or literally means as mass of the roaster. I will prepare myself to wake up early in the morning. Traditionally it starts on December 16 to 24, this is a celebration of mass done early in the morning in preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. There are many church near our house but I feel comfortable attending Simbang gabi or misa de gallo at St. Michael Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon. It’s almost 30 minutes from Pagbilao, Quezon from our home going to Church in Tayabas, Quezon. I don’t know why maybe because here is the place where I was born.
Anyway about this Church, Basilica of St. Michael Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon is one of the old and biggest churches in the country. Filipinos normally attend to this tradition and more of them complete the daily routine until they finish the Simbang gabi or misa de gallo until 24th day of December. Most of the Filipino also believes that the wishes will be granted or will come true if they completed attending the misa de gallo.
You can see food stalls near the church that sell different kinds of native foods like bibingka, puto bumbong, sapin-sapin, suman and etc. Simbang gabi also brings me the same feelings of joy, happiness, excitement, and hope.