The first day of the traditional “Simbang Gabi” nationwide was generally orderly and peaceful, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said Wednesday.
“Everything went well on Day 1, we expect it to be better on Day 2, and perhaps even perfectly best in the rest of the nine days until Christmas and through the New Year,” Sinas said.
Sinas monitored the situation in Catholic cathedrals, basilica, and churches, where local dioceses and parishes held the first of the nine-day traditional Simbang Gabi and Misa de Gallo ushering Christmas Day.
“As reported by all PROs, no significant incident was monitored in relation to Simbang-Gabi,” the PNP Commander Center report read.
Sinas said church officials and local government authorities effectively enforced local ordinances and church policies on physical distancing and observance of the 30 percent maximum capacity inside churches.
Earlier, Sinas met with church officials of the Quiapo Basilica and Baclaran Church to expand areas of cooperation and coordination for security and public safety operations for church activities during the Holiday Season.
Police social-distancing patrollers were on hand to remind church-goers of the minimum public health standards on the use of face masks and face shields, and to observe the physical distancing when in public places.
Sinas said PNP unit commanders were instructed to maintain vigilance and readiness to respond to situations throughout the Holiday Season.
Health protocols followed
Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Proderick Pabillo said that though many Catholic faithful attended the first day of Simbang Gabi, the safety health protocols against Covid-19 have been followed particularly inside the churches.
“There were many people. We are still learning how to control the people, but in general, the people are following instructions. We can control the people in the church premises but we do not have the authority to control people in the streets. But there are many places where the coordination with civil authorities is well done,” Pabillo said.
For his part, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said he is glad people came out and celebrated the start of the annual religious event amid the pandemic.
“Well in general it was very good people expressed their love for some important tradition that helps us prepare for Christmas,” he said.
Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona also applauded the people for their interests in celebrating one of the Filipino traditions during the Holiday Season.
“Delightful to see the usual living faith of the Bicolanos. It is not the number in attendance that matters but the interest and joy of celebrating the rich Marian tradition of Simbang Gabi,” he said in a Facebook post.
The Caceres archbishop observed that people followed the health protocols set by the church and the government.
“Imitate the Blessed Mother in her prayerful expectation, deep reflection/meditation and joyful proclamation. Many attended with social distancing in and outside the Cathedral. Very edifying. No Covid can separate us from the love of God,” he said. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan with reports from Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
