Amid pandemic, minors not allowed to attend Simbang Gabi in Metro Manila

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Minors in Metro Manila are prohibited from physically attending the traditional Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia, the 17 mayors of the capital region unanimously voted to ban those aged 17 and below from going outside their homes for non-essential purposes, including going to malls as recommended by experts.

“Yes, definitely bawal din po sa Simbang Gabi [ang minors]. Pero ang good news naman po eh inadjust na natin ang curfew. [Nasa] 12 to 3 a.m. nalang [ang curfew hours] para bigyang daan iyong Simbang Gabi ng 3 a.m.,” Garcia said during Thursday’s Laging Handa Public Briefing.

(Yes, definitely minors are not allowed to go to the dawn mass. But the good news here is that curfew hours had been adjusted. It is now 12 midnight to 3 a.m. so we can give way to the dawn mass at 3 a.m.)

“So 3 a.m. po pwede na mag-start ang Simbang Gabi pero bawal pa rin po ang minors,” he added.

(So at 3 a.m. the dawn mass can start but still, minors are not allowed.)

Due to the threat of the coronavirus, this year’s Simbang Gabi or pre-dawn masses, which signals the start of the Filipino Christmas season, will enforce health protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks.

JPV