[A familiar scene during the Yuletide season in the Philippines is the early morning MASS which starts at 4:00 AM (from December 16-24) in most of the churches in the metropolis as well as in the provinces. What has brought good news and good tidings to our country is that for the FIRST TIME, the SIMBANG-GABI was held at the Vatican. The first SIMBANG-GABI mass at the Vatican was held at the St. Peter’s Basilica where 2,000 Pinoys braved the icy gusts of the wind on a cold wintry morning. At the UP Chapel, where me and my family members have annually heard SIMBANG-GABI masses since many years ago, I got so inspired. This inspired-feeling came about as I have not felt the usual diminution of the church-goers this December, as the novena sort of ebbs to its lowest number of attendees by the 5th day and the 6th day of the nine-day novena (we are actually now on our 6th day). Thereafter, it would surge to its original large number until the end of the novena, on the 9th day, the 24th of December. What appears best is that the newly-wed church-goers have gone to the extent of bringing/carrying their ruddy-faced infants/babies to the SIMBANG-GABI mass. Perhaps, the Filipino faithful including those based in Italy are now most fervently praying for peace, posterity in our native-land; and of course, good health and longevity for our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.]
Sa aming pag-SISIMBANG GABI ngayong 2016, nitong Disyembre —
Magandang pangitain ang mistulang nadiskubre;
Dati-rati’y umiimpis, dumadalong parishioners,
Pero ngayo’y walang mintis, patuloy na parehas bilang ng church-goers.
Dumarami marahil ang siyang nagdarasal at nag-wi-WISH,
Para Pangulong DIGONG natin ay tunay na maging SUCCESS;
Sa darating na LIMANG taon upang tayo’y magka-PROGRESS,
At mawala na rin pati mga kustombreng pang-ELITISTS.
Dala pati nila’t bitbit mga anak nilang paslit,
Meron pa ngang iba, dala’y sanggol na cute at sweet;
Gusto marahil nga nila, ang Diyos Ama ay mapilit,
Na ulanin ng biyaya bansa nating halos ay gula-gulanit.
Isa pa ngang GOOD NEWS na aking naringgan,
Nag-karoon daw, SIMBANG GABI sa Vatican;
2,000 Pinoy na dumalo sa St. Peter’s Square…that’s just the first round*,
First time daw yan, aba ito’y something that we can brag around!
Kaya nga ay makikitang INTERNATIONAL na ang syang movement,
Aba syempre sa SIMBANG-GABI, gusto nati’y PEACE at GOOD GOVERNMENT!
Kaya lahat tayo’y magdasal at palagiang umusal,
Kalusugan ng ating DIGONG huwag po sanang malusaw.
Sa aking ngang pagwawari at tunay na paglilimi,
Mukhang ang DIYOS tumutulong para
maging OKEY si DIGONG;
Yong FREE TUITION sa SUCs**, hindi naman naplano yan,
Pero ngayong 2017, scholars nati’y SURE na masisiyahan.
Mga TAIPAN at OLIGARCHs natutong mag-DONATE na nga,
ALLIANCE-GLOBAL*** ay 1 BILYON ang syang itinaya;
Pati ang SMC****nag-PLEDGE ng 1 BILYON, okey na rin,
Ito’y pang-dagdag sa REHAB CENTER na na-DONATE ni Huang Rulin…
Ang SWS survey naglabas ng ulat ukol sa DRUG FIGHT,
80 per cent pa rin ang syang APPROVAL rating na full of MIGHT;
Pero kahit na ganun, puso ni DIGONG ay naantig,
REHAB CENTERS na ang FOCUS upang
sa KILLINGS ay di na mapasandig.
Eto na nga ang panahon, Panginoong Diyos tumutulong,
Nakita nyo mga bagyo nitong taon sating nasyon;
Para bagang lumilihis at kung tumama’y paimpis,
Pati lindol na saan-saan dumadako, sa Pinas naman ang lakas ay tunay na manipis.
==========================================================================