Christmas

These women are part of the Mother Butler guild.
They are ushers.  After Mass they count the money given
during offertory.  Notice their uniform.

Mary and Joseph looking for a place.

The three kings

Altar servers escorting the Holy Family.  Notice the altar servers' dress shirts.
I enlarged this picture so one can see the servers' dress shirts.
During weekday or Sunday Masses,
they wear the usual servers' outfits:  long white albs.  

In preparation for his visit to the Philippines,
the church in the Philippines decided to give parishes
life-size cutout of Pope Francis.

"Christmas" started with Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo on Dec. 16. Mass was at 4 am.  The first two days I stood the entire hour or so.  The last nine days I went to the choir loft and was able to find a chair.  Mass was over about between 5:15 and 5:30.  Priests from the area switched churches.  Once we waited 20 minutes because the priest was late.

After Mass different households served a simple breakfast. I was able to partake once because I didn't know the other hosts and didn't feel comfortable going.  Of course there's no such thing here in Pililla.  Often people go to others' homes even if they don't know them.  All nine days I returned to sleep as soon as I arrived home.

Christmas Eve Church services started at 8 pm with different choirs singing.  At 9 we had "Panunuluyan", the equivalent of Los Posadas, when Mary and Joseph searched for a place, in the end shown the stable, shepherds came.  Members of the Youth Ministry put this on.  

Mass began at 10 and it was over at 11:30.  Liturgy was beautiful.  All who served (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers) wore Pilipino national dress (barong for males).

"Noche Buena":  ham, fried chicken, chili con carne, spaghetti, hamonado.  There were all sorts of desserts and fruits as well.  Ate Diday's house was full!  Three generations of Maranans, including in-laws talked, laughed, sang, danced, and played games.  The youngest was 7 months;  the oldest was 69 years old.  

I went to sleep at 1:30 am, but the party was still going strong.