Nine (9) mornings

This is not about the 2002 Star Cinema movie entitled Nine Mornings starred by Piolo Pascual and Donita Rose. This is not about the Nine Mornings of a Vincentian festivity either. Rather, nine-mornings is the slang expression for simbang gabi or misa de gallo.

In my childhood years, I learn from my parents the concept of misa de gallo. They would awake us at dawn to attend the misa de gallo. That was the tradition until about 10 years ago that the term simbang gabi became familiar because some local Catholic church here in the Archdiocese of Davao practice a series of Novena-Mass that take place in the evenings and another series of novena-mass in the early dawn. Nevertheless, the liturgy of the simbang gabi is the same with the liturgy of the misa de gallo. Only the time element was changed.

But I call it 9 mornings because I join novena of Masses in the early morning hours of four everyday for 9 mornings. Redundant it may seem. But it is true 4AM for 9 mornings. Those who are into the late evening novena-mass will never call it as 9 mornings. That belongs to simbang gabi. Maybe in the long run they can call that tradition as 9 evenings. But 9 evenings does not sound religious. It does sound queer and suspicious for evils lurk in the dark and devious characters hide in the shadows of the night. Forgive my figurative language.

Anyway, back to my 9 mornings. It will never be a 9 mornings unless I will complete the 9 mornings. Way back in college, I sometimes would miss a misa de gallo due to heavy rains or due to unwellness of the body. I started this tradition of completing the 9 mornings in 1995. It was in that year that I joined the commentators and lectors ministry (courtesy of Msgr. Nardz’ invitation). He was the first diocesan clergy assigned as the parish priest in Sta. Ana parish.

From then on, I make it a point never to miss a misa de gallo. At that time too we were already living in St. Anthony Village in Lanang. It was quite far a travel unlike when we still reside in Bangoy Street. It was only a walking distance from Bangoy Street to Sta. Ana church. Living far was quite taxing too because I have to wake up at 2 in the morning to prepare myself for the 4AM Mass or else I would be late. All these I did because I was always inspired to join with the Catholic Church in commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Very recently, about 10 years ago, I develop that sense of pride every time I see groups of people attending misa de gallo — men or women; young or old; families or friends. Whether the weather is good or bad these groups of people do not slacken in their desire to attend the misa de gallo. I could only wish and pray to God that whatever their petition will be granted.

I, myself, never had any petition until 10 years ago. That is why I started naming it 9 mornings 10 years ago because ALL of my petitions were granted.

So, this year, this coming December 16 (Saturday), I start to sweet-talk God using my own endearment to HIM: “Lord, I will be seeing you again for the next 9 mornings. Rain or heavy rains; slight tiredness or very tired; with or without a petition; with or without a taxi it will be a date for the next 9 mornings.