The nine-day novena known traditionally as Misa de Gallos or dawn masses and Simbang Gabi among the Tagalogs started at dawn today in all parishes all over the country. At the St. Joseph Cathedral, the seat of the diocese of Tagbilaran, the dawn masses started at 4:30 dawn. The nine-day masses will culminate with the midnight mass on December 24. The St. Joseph parish released yesterday the schedule of Misa de Gallo with the corresponding choir, mass in- charges and mass sponsors.

The following is the schedule of the dawn masses: December 16 (Sunday)-Youth Choir c/o Enriqueta Butalid Parish Youth Ministry, Offertory Sponsors – Shoppers Mart; December 17 (Monday) Adult c/o Mrs, Enriqueta Butalid-St. Niño Chapel, Offertory Sponsors- Causeway Fish port; December 18 (Tuesday) – God Gift Choir c/o Chito Remolador-Del Rosario Chape, Offertory Sponsors- Senior Citizens of Pob. 1 & DML; December 19 (Wednesday) – Family & Life Apostolate Choir c/o Mr. Avelino Lustre- Sagrada Familya Chapel, Offertory Sponsors- Cathedral FLA & CFC; December 20 (Thursday) – CFC Choir c/o Bro Yoyon Ramasola-Fatima Chapel, Offertory Sponsors – BQ & Julies Bakeshop; December 21 (Friday) Divine Mercy Choir-Sto. Niño Chapel, Sitio Ubos, c/o , Offertory Sponsors DML, OSSSM, Legion of Mary; December 22 (Saturday) – UNISON Choir c/o Oclarit – Del Rosario Chapel, Offertory Sponsors- CWL, K of C, Bankers Group; December 23 (Sunday) –Latin Choir & Franciscan Tertiary c/o Mrs. E. Butalid – Sagrada Familya Chapel, Offertory Sponsors – BCBP North & South; December 24 (Monday) – MIST Sisters Choir c/o Betty Balatero – Fatima Chapel, Offertory Sponsors- Dunkin Donuts & Alturas Corp.; December 24 (Midnight) – Children’s Choir c/o Mrs. Enriqueta Butalid – PPc-PFC, Offertory Sponsors PPC, PFC, Provincial & City Govt. Officials.

SIMBANG GABI

Simbang Gabi (Filipino, "Night Mass"; Spanish: Misa de Gallo, "Rooster's Mass") is a novena of dawn Masses from 16 December to Christmas Eve. The Simbang Gabi is practised mainly by Catholic and Aglipayans, with some Evangelical Christian and independent Protestant churches having adopted the practise of having pre-Christmas dawn services. Attending the Masses is meant to show devotion to God and heightened anticipation for Christ's birth, and folk belief holds that God grants the special wish of a devotee that hears all nine Masses. Morning observance of Simbang Gabi begins as early as 03:00AM, while in some parishes, anticipated Masses begin the previous evening at 20:00 AM. After hearing Mass, Catholic families buy traditional Filipino holiday fare for breakfast outside the church and eat it either within the church precincts or at home. Vendors offer many native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg-based cake, cooked using coal burners above and under); putò bumbóng (a purple, sticky rice delicacy steamed in bamboo tubes, buttered then sprinkled with brown sugar and shredded dried coconut meat). Drinks include coffee, salabát (a ginger tisane) and tsokoláte (thick, Spanish-style hot chocolate). Some Aglipayan churches invite the congregation to partake of the "paínit" (literally, "heater"), a post-Mass snack of mostly rice pastries served with coffee or cocoa after the Mass.