Valenzuela City Celebrates ‘Simbang Gabi’ with Food and Music

2013-12-19

IN THIS PHOTO:

XMAS DELIGHT
A vendor at Museo Valenzuela grounds hands over a pack of freshly cooked bibingka to a churchgoer after the Misa de Gallo.

Photo by: Michael King Urieta

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IN THIS PHOTO:

RICE MILL
Church goers mill around a kiosk for their fix of bibingka and puto bungbong after Simbang Gabi.

Photo by: Michael King Urieta

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IN THIS PHOTO:

XMAS BAON?
With its proximity to Our Lady of Fatima University, students are able to conveniently get their fix of freshly cooked bibingka and puto bumbong. Bibingkahan sa Museo is open 8:00pm to 4:00am daily until December 23.

Photo by: Michael King Urieta

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IN THIS PHOTO:

SIMBANG GABI AT THE FATIMA SHRINE
Catholics fill the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Brgy. Marulas for the traditional Simabang Gabi.

Photo by: Michael King Urieta

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IN THIS PHOTO:

SMOKE SIGNAL
Steam actually, signals the ubiquitous puto bumbong is good and ready to warm up those tummy.

Photo by: Michael King Urieta

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Caption

The City Cultural Affairs and Tourism Development Office (CATDO), in cooperation with the Museo Valenzuela Foundation, Inc., opened a Christmas fair at Museo Valenzuela dubbed as “Bibingkahan sa Museo,”aimed at strengthening the Simbang Gabi tradition through showcasing traditional Filipino food while variety of Christmas carols conquer the airwaves.

Mayor REX Gatchalian thanked the organizers of the event, citing that this initiative is a “creative approach” that can further strengthen faith and relationships among Valenzuelano Catholics.

Simbang Gabior Misa De Gallo is a long standing tradition of Filipino Catholics which starts every 16th of December and ends on Christmas eve. The dawn and evening masses are part of a rigorous ritual in preparation for the Christmas Day. The famous palatable companions of the faithful who flock to church are bibingka and puto bumbong, which are the main dishes sold at Museo Valenzuela.

Over 2000 people pour out of the church after every Simbang Gabi, providing a steady stream of customers to the holiday sellers.

Museo Valenzuela, located beside the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Barangay Marulas, is a strategic place to house the sellers of these foods. With its façade of a classic bahay-na-bato serving as a backdrop, to trees lighted with capiz lamps, Valenzuelanos may experience a revival of the past.

Bibingkahan sa Museo is open from 8:00pm to 4:00am daily until December 23.