Memories of Misa de Gallo
The celebration of Misa de Gallo started just the week that passed.
My Misa de Gallo now is via television; and this mode has been going for the last 3 years. This is the reason I am very happy that ABS-CBN is back through the Kapamilya network with its daily masses. Indeed, the Misa de Gallo is something to look forward to with this network. The network is really what its song says: Liwanag ng Pasko. The lights and the kutitap do much to a weary spirit amidst this pandemic.
As early as the first week of October, I already put up my Belen and my Christmas tree to enliven my spirit. Every now and then, I turn on the Christmas lights on my window just so my mind will be filled up with positive thoughts and will not give way to loneliness and weariness.
I don’t have memories of Misa de Gallo in my younger years. My Lola Danday did not allow us to attend dawn masses since, according to her, there was no one to accompany us to church. Ug mahadlok pud siya nga makakuha mi ug surop tungod lagi kay kuno Christmas time is tugnaw time. And I remember, the sweater was always part of our wardrobe. .
It was in Medina, Misamis Oriental, where I experienced good memories of Misa de Gallo. This was simply because of the choir that provided music during the dawn mass. I was a happy, eager and willing member of this choir in Medina. When it was time to prepare and dress up for the dawn mass, there was no need for my husband to wake me up and bring me to church, since my friends, the Tiros and the Claretes, were always ready for the role. The painit sa sayong kaadlawon after the dawn mass was always in abundance. What was equally abundant was the kindness and service of Fr. Adams who was always there in church, before – during – and after the dawn mass to let us feel the Christmas fill. With him, the church was all aglow and so was our spirit for Christmas.
I also had good memories of the Misa de Gallo in Tacloban. When we were in Tacloban, the Misa de Gallo was held at the Divine Word University Chapel. The churchgoers in the University developed a wholesome brand of friendship nurtured through the years. After the mass, we would look for the delicious bibingka along T. Claudio street at the nearby Sacred Heart area. Our life was simple then, and we were very happy amidst the simplicity.
And we came home to Bohol. Coming back to Baclayon, brought my feet again to the church choir. The members call themselves – ourselves – the Immaculadians with Erik Cañete as the choir master. I was younger then in 1995 as a choir member up to the early 2000. There was also time when, after the Misa de Gallo, we would sell sikwate ug kape for our BAHANDI project. Since my husband, at that time was already a retiree, he gave the choir some of his time by taking the role of the “bringer” of the stuff that we sold. I remember Gardy with his ube jam, Jojie with her bibingka and Tessie with her bread.
Those were the years when BAHANDI also sponsored the daygon contest with the help of Ino Manalo and Bea Zobel. The parish priest then was Msgr. Vicente Nunag III. The winning group was the choir from Canggawa and one of their attractions was their violinist in the person of Bruno Mendez.
Last Sunday, while we had our road trip to Canggawa, we met the son of Bruno. We saw him in the mountain resort we visited. I was sad to see the violin in a very sad state – beyond repair. I understand the situation because I know that the owner is gone.
In those celebrations of the Misa de Gallo where we had our little tienda, it was Jo Caballo who was the manager and I was the cashier and we had fun and funds for BAHANDI.
The last of my celebrations of Misa de Gallo where I was physically present in church was with my neighbor in Taguihon – Lyd Mahinay Bellezas. That was from 2015 to 2017. She had her van made available for her neighbors to attend the Misa de Gallo. Her driver would pick us up and drive us home. Her girl Friday, Arlene, would wake me up first then would bring me to the street where the group would wait for the van. The Bellezas couple – Inting and Lyd – have now passed on and the remaining riders of the van are also slowly getting into the sunset of their years. Our
So, our Misa de Gallo celebrations are now being done via television. This is also much more now that covid-19 is here.
Thank you Lyd and inting for the Misa de Gallo memories. Thank you Maritess Bellezas – Nazareno for keeping alive the memories of your parents.
Lyd and Inting Bellezas
The family of Kenneth and Maritess (Bellezas) Nazareno
Vincent Leo and Dianisa Bellezas