(FILE) The traditional “Simbang Gabi” at Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City, December 16, 2019. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/PDI
BACOLOD –– The bishop of this city has appealed to Mayor Evelio Leonardia to shorten the city’s curfew hours by an hour to enable the holding of the traditional dawn Masses leading up to Christmas day.
Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, in a letter dated Nov. 12, asked the city government to review its curfew hours to accommodate the traditional observance of the Misa de Gallo, which is a revered and established Filipino custom.
The prelate suggested that the curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. be shortened to 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. “so that the diocese can offer more early morning Masses to reasonably accommodate churchgoers and thereby, prevent the overcrowding of our churches.”
“At least in this set-up, we can have a schedule of two Aguinaldo Masses daily, one, as at 3:30 a.m. and another at 5 a.m.,” Buzon said.
“The diocese believes that in this difficult time, our people need more than ever, the Christmas spirit and the Yuletide cheer,” he added.