In the midst of the pandemic, the Filipino community in the UAE will be celebrating the age-old Simbang Gabi except that there will be no crowds lined up, no smell of the smoke of incense at the church halls, neither whiffs of puto bumbongs in the streets, as this year, it will be a virtual event. Churches have announced virtual schedules for the annual Simbang Gabi celebrations in the country that will be streamed live on their respective social media pages on Facebook.
Virtual masses
Emolyn Bucsit, the Filipino community coordinator for St. Mary’s Church (SMC) in Dubai shared with The Filipino Times that since churches aren’t fully open for the public yet, they have decided to stream the holy mass every evening starting from December 15 at 7:45 pm at the SMC – Filipino Facebook page.
“Nakakalungkot kasi nga lahat ng tao, they were looking forward to this, and here we are now celebrating it differently because of COVID-19. Pero we are grateful na pinayagan tayong magkaroon ng Simbang Gabi sa gitna ng COVID-19 sa pamamagitan ng panibagong technology na ito. Pinatunayan nito na hindi hadlang ang virus para makapagpatuloy ang tradisyon nating mga Pilipino na makapagdaos ng Simbang Gabi,” said Bucsit.
At present, St. Mary’s Church in Dubai remains closed for the public, with only a maximum of 20 people within the premises including the parish priest, readers, and the technical livestream team that makes the mass available for thousands of viewers through Facebook.
Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, the St. Joseph’s Cathedral has announced that the annual Simbang Gabi celebrations will also be held online starting from December 15 onwards at 7:00 pm that will be livestreamed through the Katolikong Pinoy sa Abu Dhabi Facebook page.
Rommel Pangilinan, social media director of Katolikong Pinoy sa Abu Dhabi stressed the importance of adherence to the UAE’s government’s rules so that the faithful remains safe from the virus.
“We have to adhere sa guidelines ng gobyerno para sa safety ng mga mamamayan ng UAE; kaya magiging virtual ang aming simbang gabi this year,” he said in an interview with Radyo Veritas.
Continuing the tradition
Michael Repe, a resident from Abu Dhabi for over 15 years and incumbent president of the Senyor Mangbubuklod Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Balangay – UAE chapter, hopes that this shift from in-person to virtual mass celebrations should not hinder fellow Filipinos from practicing their faith, and hopes that this new innovative means of celebrating the mass would make it closer and more accessible to more Filipinos.
“Huwag po natin hayaang ang COVID ang makakapaghinto ng ating nasimulang napakagandang tradisyon dito sa UAE. Mapa personal or live streaming man ang maging istilo ng simbang gabi ngayong 2020, sana po tayong mga Katolikong Pinoy sa UAE ay patuloy na manalig sa Panginoon. Ang kapanganakan ni Hesus ay simbolo ng bagong buhay, bagong simula na punung puno ng Pag asa para sa ating lahat… ang covid o anumang unos sa ating buhay ay di kayang higitan ang kadakilaan ng Panginoon kailan man. Kaya tayo ay magdiwang at magalak sa Kanyang pagdating. Nawa’y ang diwa ng Pasko ang ating maging sandigan ng pag-asa at Pagbangon sa darating na taong 2021,” said Repe.
Bucsit recalls that in the past years, the annual celebrations of the Simbang Gabi paved the way for Filipinos to continue the tradition of attending nine straight evening masses to fulfil their wishes, which for some, meant new-found friendships and relationships when they attended the mass in person.
“Noong mga nakaraang taon, dahil nga hindi mo lagi kilala ang katabi mo, may mga parishoners kami na nalaman naming nabuo ang friendship at relationships dahil nagkita at nagkakilala sila noong Simbang Gabi. Yung iba sa kanila, nakapag-asawa na at nakabuo ng pamilya kaya nakakatuwa,” shared Bucsit.
Bucsit is hopeful that once St. Mary’s Parish gets the nod from the Community Development Authority in Dubai, they would soon be open in time for the annual Christmas mass and celebrations.
“Our parish is trying their best to approach CDA to comply with the requirements. We are hoping na kahit papaano even during Christmas magkakaroon naman (na live mass) basta makacomply sa requirements nila,” said Bucsit.
Pangilinan, for his part, shares that these online masses are a way for the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi to come together and celebrate the annual tradition of the Simbang Gabi safely.
“Siguro this is God’s plan na maging safe ang Simbang Gabi; pwede nating kompletuhin ang simbang gabi sa online,” said Pangilinan.
