Metro Manila residents would still attend Christmas tradition “Simbang Gabi” as local government units shorten the curfew hours in the capital region from 12 am to 3 am starting December 1.
“Opo, ‘yun po ay papayagan na po ‘yun, pero ang mangyayari lang po dyan, mas dadami po ang simba sa madaling araw para maiwasan po natin ang gathering sa pagdikit-dikit at magkaroon po ng physical distancing,” Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(Yes, we will allow that. But we will increase the number of Holy Masses so that people will practice physical distancing inside churches.)
“Ang pinag-uusapan pa po is starting December 1, dahil dito sa Simbang Gabi, baka ang gawin pong curfew ng Metro Manila ay i-adjust na rin po ‘yan ng 12:00 to 3:00 na lang po ng umaga para sa pagsisimba ng atin pong mga church-goer,” he added.
(We are also discussing the possible easing of curfew hours in Metro Manila into 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. for people to be able to go to church.)
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Simbang Gabi in Metro Manila will be allowed
Olivarez said that the MMC also recommended the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to ease the curfew hours in Metro Manila current 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. into 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. before further easing it in December.
However, Olivarez, the curfew from 8 pm to 5 am, will remain in Navotas City.
Simbang Gabi is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Filipino Catholics and Aglipayans. It is held daily from December 16–24 and occurs at different times ranging from as early as 03:00 to 05:00 am. A well-known folk belief among the Filipinos is that if a devotee completed all nine days of the Simbáng Gabi, a request made as part of the novena might be granted.
Meanwhile, Mayor Isko Moreno asked Monday the Catholics to avoid holding religious processions in Manila City amid the threats of COVID-19.
A devotee himself, the mayor said he is “saddened” that the Filipino tradition would be postponed due to the pandemic. However, “we need understanding.”