The nine days of Christmas: Filipino immigrants retell story of Jesus's birth
Multi-day novena mass called Simbang Gabi
By Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun December 21, 2010
"The Christmas mass drama begins with two Filipinos wearing Mary and Joseph costumes walking up to people in the pews and symbolically asking them for a room at the inn". Mary was Monica Liezel Peria which is the one and only me and Joseph's part was my brother, John Ferdinand Peria. I must say it was such a great experience to be there and act in front of all the people in the church knowing that I and my brother are representing the birth of our Jesus Christ. It is an "old Filipino ritual" which is often re-enacted in our church at St. Jude's parish in Vancouver. Basically I was pregnant, and me and joseph just arrived in Bethlehem, we were three times rejected by "inhosptibale townspeople/parishioners." "Simbang Gabi" is what we usually call it, it's an evening mass where Filipino from different places gather and celebrate Jesus’ birth. It is a small festival for most Filipino immigrants to Canada but it's also for everybody. It's the Filipino’s way of expressing there strong religious beliefs and love to our Almighty God. As the plot of the story begins with Mary and Joseph, the mass started after our small play. This is a very unique way of celebrating Christmas with most of the "ethnic Filipinos who live in B.C. We Filipinos also call it "the nine-day novena mass". Some Filipina women were "wearing white and black lace head scarves and handful Caucasians also dotted the pews." There was also the Filipino band of the church where they played some solemn song and some Christmas related music. "[Filipinos] became Catholic because we were under very strong Spanish rule for 400 years". After the mass we all gather for a fiesta in a small hall where we party, do the "noche buena" this is when we eat, dance, sing and of course most of us have a prepared a little special presentation for everybody to enjoy and just have fun.
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