Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

THE Simbang Gabi at once reflects the Filipino Catholic community’s unique customs and its linkage to the Catholic traditions of other countries.

Today, the Simbang Gabi novena of Advent Masses is a point of convergence for Filipino- Americans in the metro New York- New Jersey area, connecting or reconnecting with their heritage and living out their faith wherever they find themselves. In this year of the Great Recession in the US and elsewhere, global upheavals, and calamities in the Philippines, the customs borne out in these Masses traditionally held from December 16 up to Christmas Eve provide a constancy that the faithful embrace.

At the Philippine Center on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado is now on its 24th year, started in the year of the first People Power revolution. In this year of Cory Aquino’s passing, 2009, the Simbang Gabi at the Philippine Center is particularly poignant.

"What is distinctive is that while these Simbang Gabi masses were initiated by the Consulate, it has now evolved into an event owned and participated in by the Filipino and Fil-Am community," offers Consul General Cecile Rebong. "While there are reasons to be despondent, as seen in the recent storms, there is also great reason to hope, now and in the coming year, with the love of the Lord shown in the birth of Christ."

Our research shows that over 70 churches in 2009 in the New York City/New Jersey area will celebrate the Simbang Gabi, with the earliest date of December 10 at the Center and December 14 at the Church of the Ascension in Elmhurst, Queens (Brooklyn Diocese), while most start either on December 15 or 16.

The first Simbang Gabi of the season, at the Philippine Center, was sponsored as usual by the Coalition of the Philippine Alumni/Alumnae Associations and the Philippine Cultural Society at the UN, presided by Fr. Renato Bautista. In all, 44 entities are sponsors over the nine days at the Center.

Ambassador to the United Nations Hilario Davide Jr., and Mrs. Virginia Davide have made a point of attending the Simbang Gabi cycle at the Philippine Center. Officers and staff of the Philippine Mission to the UN and of the Trade and the Tourism and Phil. Center offices also attend, signaling the wider reach of this community event.

The earliest Mass begins at 5am, at Our Lady of Victories in Jersey City, where 90% of the parishioners are of Filipino ancestry; others begin at 6 am, such as St. Ann’s in the Bronx and St. Aedan’s in Jersey City, while most other Simbang Gabi’s are in the evening.