Pinoy Catholics fill churches for Misa de Gallo on Christmas Eve

Many Filipino Catholics trooped to churches on Saturday night, Christmas Eve, for the traditional Misa de Gallo.

Some churches were filled with churchgoers, with faithful Catholics physically attending the Misa de Gallo face to face for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

In Tagkawayan, Quezon, the Parokya ng Mahal na Birhen ng Lourdes was filled with churchgoers, with some parishioners having to stand outside the church since they could not be accommodated inside.

The parishioners expressed thanksgiving and welcomed the opportunity to attend Misa de Gallo physically with their family and friends.

After the Misa de Gallo, parishioners were allowed to kiss the image of the Baby Jesus at the Belen near the altar.

The Belen is displayed near the altar at the Parokya ng Mahal na Birhen ng Lourdes in Tagkawayan, Quezon on Dec. 24, 2022. Peewee Bacuno

Families then headed home for the traditional Noche Buena midnight meal to usher in Christmas Day.

At the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, meanwhile, hundreds attended the outdoor Misa de Gallo held at the UST Plaza Mayor on Saturday night, according to a Twitter post by The Varsitarian.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Sunday extended his Christmas greetings to the nation, saying the holiday represents "pure and simple love."

In a statement, Marcos said the story of Christ's birth has become an "integral part" of Filipino culture and should be celebrated "with the same simplicity, sense, and meaning that we get from it." —Peewee Bacuño/KG, GMA Integrated News