simbang gabi....
(Photo: Boni Avenue, on the way to Mandaluyong City Rotunda, at 4:30 AM.) one of the enduring christmas traditions among Filipino Catholics is the observance of the Midnight Mass or "Simbang Gabi". originally, this was held at midnight but due to the demands of modern times, most midnight masses are held early in the morning.... usually starting at 4:00 am or 5:00 am. since the midnight masses comprise a "novena", these masses are held for 9 consecutive days....ending on December 25....Christmas Day. as a novena, it is said that the special wish or request of anyone who finishes attending the 9 consecutive masses without fail will be granted.
this morning, the eagerly awaited simbang gabi started in all Catholic churches throughout the country. in my younger years, i used to attend and complete the simbang gabi. nowadays, i find it difficult, much less attend, the simbang gabi.
i may not be attending the simbang gabi....but i was there this morning at the start of this year's simbang gabi at the Church of Divine Mercy near the City Hall at the Mandaluyong City Rotunda. Why? because for the past week i've been going to the Rotunda at 4:30 a.m. to join the group of joggers, walkers, exercise buffs, etc. there..... yesh!!! together with my after six diet and my quitting smoking.... i've been exercising regularly..... and very early!!! hehehehehe.
after all, as i've said....i cannot afford not to be healthy and to gain any more weight!!!
Labels: Chinese Dim Sum, Mi Vida loca
posted by Joseph Forest a.k.a. Joselito L. at
10:00 AM
6 Comments:
Buti ka pa Lynn. As my photography teacher says, you're missing half of your life (and income) if you refuse to go out early. The best photographs (eg like your 4:30 am one) are taken during the magical light of dawn.
So healthy na, maganda pa ang letratong makukuha mo.
way to go bro! I really am proud of you~ keep up the awesome work~ i'm really amazed that you are even out walking on top of your diet~
you're right ken....it's even safer doing it 'coz there are less vehicles and people on the streets at this time.
mabelle, maybe i won't keep this up for long 'coz even at this time of the morning there are already a lot of vehicles on the streets and smoke pollution level here in Manila is quite high.
actually, my cardiologist's suggestion is doing it inside an air conditioned mall!!! but malls open at 10:00 A.M. pa....and so, maybe once we get our business going, i can do my exercise in malls instead.
btw ken, i use only my cell phone's cam to take the pics....it's not safe to bring out an expensive camera on the streets here at this time of the morning!!!... and i usually take pics while i'm inside the car!!! hehehehehe.
while walking or jogging, though, i leave everything inside the car!!! sometimes, i don't even wear a wristwatch....para iwas hold-up.
here, a lot of people do their exercising (walking or jogging) inside the mall. it's perfectly alright to do that there i, guess. as long as you have money to buy, so the security guard have no reason to say you're just loitering.
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