The First Day of Simbang Gabi (Mass at Dawn)
By ARIES1973
@ARIES1973 (11426)
Legaspi, Philippines
December 15, 2012 6:49pm CST
Today is a special day for me. This is our 17 years of married life and it also the first day of the Misa de Gallo otherwise known as mass at dawn or simbang gabi in our language. So my husband and I wake up very early in the morning to attend the first day of the nine-day novena masses in preparation for the Christmas Day.
I estimated that there were around 3,000 to 3,500 people who attended the first day mass. Mostly came from the neighboring villages. One reason why there were many people who were able to attend the mass was because of the good weather.
There is a belief that if we completed the nine-day masses, our wish will come true. Most of us still believe on this. However, my reason for attending this mass is not because I have a wish but to give thanks to all the blessings that I received. I have been successful with my offline career and my online career is improving as the days passed. I have so many things to be thankful of actually. The space might not be enough.
Merry Christmas everyone! 
3 people like this
2 responses
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
18 Dec 12
It has been sometime that I haven't been able to attend to Simbang Gabi. I think it is because it is really hard for me to wake up early in the morning. The last time I did that was quite a long time already. I was still young and could afford waking up early in the morning since classes were usually done by that time and I could afford to sleep again after the mass with no worries whatsoever. But times have change already that I need to work so it would be hard for me to really attend to it religiously and finish the 9 day masses straight.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
18 Dec 12
Hi friend!
I was not able to finish this series of mass too. Even now, I was just able to attend the first day. I have to travel to my workplace also which needs two hours traveling time.
Thank you for sharing!
@xtedaxcvg (3189)
• Philippines
16 Dec 12
It's good to hear that your offline and online career are both blossoming. I can't say that we have a similar fate as my career is actually going downhill, both offline and online. I got turned down from 3 companies that have already assured me of a job position, and my blog, which I worked hard to set up, got deleted just because of some technical malfunction on the site's part. Talk about double whammy. Well, that's life I guess.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
16 Dec 12
Sad to know this thing.
Anyway, you can restart right here. You are a member for several years already. Maybe you concentrate here and some writing sites. Personally, I am evaluating my activities in order for me to know which sites I am going to retain. I have a very limited time so I want to be sure. I also have a website but I don't know if I will be successful in earning some amount from it.
As I was evaluating my sites this morning, I came to a plan of concentrating more on myLot, expertscolumn, clixsense and ayuwage. Well, if I still have some free time, that is the time that I will devote some time on my other sites. But starting 2013, these are the sites that I will give my focus.
Thank you for sharing!
