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‘Simbang Gabi’ starts on peaceful, festive note


Despite the problems they face, Filipinos went to churches before dawn Thursday to start the traditional “Simbang Gabi" (dawn masses) as they began the nine-day countdown to Christmas. While most Filipinos attended Massed at 4 and 5 a.m., some attended anticipated Eucharistic celebrations in churches in some parts of Metro Manila Wednesday night. Police who kept watch over churches in a bid to thwart snatchers and muggers who may exploit the situation said the Masses were peaceful Thursday.

Catholics troop to Manila's Binondo Church for an anticipated Simbang Gabi Wednesday night. GMANews.TV
In Manila, radio dzBB reported devotees of the Black Nazarene joined Catholics who trooped to the Quiapo Church for the first of the nine traditional predawn Masses. Fireworks were lighted in front of some churches, including the Binondo Church in Manila’s Chinatown district. In Pasig City, dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported city police and Metro Manila police kept watch over the Immaculate Conception Cathedral before dawn Thursday. Local traffic aides also were on standby to direct motorists looking for parking space near churches. On the other hand, Catholic bishops lamented some churchgoers, especially the young, were seen going to church wearing “inappropriate" attire. “Some churches are specific in their dress code but in most cases it just takes common sense. We should respect the holy nature of the Mass by dressing properly," Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. said in an interview aired on dwIZ. Also in Manila, uniformed and plainclothes policemen kept watch over churches to protect churchgoers from criminals, dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. Manila Police District head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla also said they had reinforcements from the military’s Metro Manila Command to guard the churches. Rongavilla personally led the rounds of some churches in Quiapo, Malate, Sta. Cruz and Tondo. He said the masses appeared peaceful Thursday morning. In Quezon City, dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported city police director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele warned his men against sleeping on the job. Mantele said he received reports that some of his men had been sleeping inside their patrol cars. — LBG, GMANews.TV
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