The approach of December in the barrio during those yesteryears would be ushered in by the cold winds and the long nights. During that time, most of the rice crops would have been harvested and threshed, as the extensive fields would be seen filled with the remnants of rice stalks, mounds of hay, and fast growing weeds. The cold monsoon winds would be felt in the late afternoon to the early morning making the barrio residents look for old sweaters to warm themselves. Some would put bonfires early in the morning, as they would drink warm ginger brew or hot coffee. The children knew that Christmas would be in the month of December, as classes would have stopped by the second week of this memorable month.
Many of the children would not reckon dates as to the arrival of Christmas but by events. One sure sign that Christmas would be coming in nine days would be the start of “Misa de Gallo”, or the early morning masses at the parish church. At about four in the morning on the sixteenth of December, church bells would ring as a means of announcing that mass would start soon. One after another, lights would be seen in many homes indicating that the residents had awakened and were preparing to leave for the church.
On the dusty barrio road that cold morning, there would be a carnival of attires to ward off the cold winds of December. One would be wearing on oversized woollen sweater sent by a relative abroad, another wearing a poncho-like military blanket covering his body, or a battle jacket left by a veteran of World War I. An old man would have a towel wrapped around his head covering his ears, while women would have thick panuelos on their shoulders and a bandana on their heads. In spite of the cold weather, most of the children were barefooted.
The church would be well-decorated, brightly lighted with candles and gas lamps and full of people. Inside the church would be warm due to the presence of many people. So many would be just standing and among those seated, many would be dozing. A shake or elbowing would awaken a companion who was about to fall asleep in his cozy pew.
The “Misa de Gallo” would be long and soon, at last, the mass would be over. Outside the church would be quickly erected stalls selling native cakes like “bibingka” and “puto-bumbong” plus others with free tea to customers. “Bibingka” would be made from rice flour with sugar and eggs then cook in a native stove with fire on top and below the earthen cylindrical or circular container. Children would love this native cake with grated fresh coconut. The “puto-bumbong” is made of sticky variety of rice with grated coconut and sugar added plus a purple food coloring. A double boiler with sticking bamboo tubing atop the boiler would be the cooking devices. The mixtures would be placed in these removable tubes, which would be heated by the steam into four- inch long cylindrical tubes. When the “puto-bumbong” is ready, the tubes would whistle. These would be eaten with sugar and fresh grated coconut served with hot tea flavoured by pandan leaves.
In the homes of the barrio children, the elders especially the parents would prepare native cakes and pastries. Most of the children would not have money to buy those for sale near the church.
For eight successive days the “Misa de Gallo” masses would be early in the morning. On the ninth day mass, it would be a midnight to coincide with the birth of Jesus Christ on the twenty-fifth of December. This last mass would be the climax of the “Misa de Gallo” and those who didn’t miss a single mass for nine consecutive days would be proud of his or her record of devotion. On Christmas day, there would be other masses said in the church for those who didn’t make the midnight mass.
New Year and then the Feast of the Three Kings would follow Christmas. By January, it would still be cool and soothing but by February, the warm days would have come for not far beyond would be the summer months. The soft cold winds of December would become an echo of the cold nights and mornings.
In the glorious yesteryears, the thoughts and reflections of “misa de gallo” would remain vividly clear and nostalgic and would forever be part of the quiet joy we had, the simplicity, sincerity and colourfulness of life. The warm companionship for the early morning mass, the walk through the dusty barrio road, the long masses, and the native cakes prepared in the homes would always be welcome thought.
That boy of the barrio may be a father today and he may not reside in that slow moving barrio, but the “misa de gallo” will continue to be observed in the same old parish church with the same solemnity and dignity as in the years past. Tradition and ritual of the church will remain forever as man may come and go in the small and sleepy barrio.