our Christmas wish for all of us….God’s peace. Merry Christmas

Video source: youtube

Celebrating the real Meaning of CHRISTmas

“For the first coming of Our Lord in the flesh [in which He has been begotten], in Bethlehem, took place [25 December, the fourth day] in the reign of Augustus [the forty-second year, and] in the year 5500 [from Adam]. And He suffered in His thirty-third year [25 March, the parasceve, in the eighteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar, during the consulate of Rufus and Rubellio].”

- Chalki manuscript of Hippolytus, as early as c. 205. Catholic Encyclopedia

Have a Blessed Christmas everyone.

Video source: youtube.com

Simbang Gabi is a tradition that was introduced by the Spanish friars to allow the farmers to hear mass before going to the fields early in the morning. It is also known by its popular Spanish name as the Misa de Gallo, or “Mass of the rooster”. Simbang Gabi means dawn mass. It is a Filipino tradition that dates back to 1587. It was untroduced by the Spanish Missionaries to encourage the faith of the Filipino people. It is a series of nine early morning Masses (novena), starting as early as 4:00a.m.

The tradition begins on December 16th and ends at midnight of December 24th (the Midnight Mass) with Noche Buena. During the Simbang Gabi days, most churches open their doors before the break of dawn to welcome church goers.

To wake people up, church bells start ringing as early as 3 o’clock in the morning. Bright Christmas lights ans colorful parols (lanterns) decorate houses and the church. People put on their special clothes and jewelry to got to church. They wear their special sweaters because of the cool December breeze.

photo source:flicker.com

After the mass, food stalls outside the church await the church goers for the purchase of the traditional delicacies usually different kakanin (rice cakes), hot pandesal (yeast roll) and empanada (dough breadstuffed withmeat). These traditional foods are usually served with salabat (ginger tea) or coffee. Christmas carols are heard everywhere. You can see joy on the peoples faces.

Simbang Gabi is a spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Some look at it as a way of requesting blessings from the Lord. some believe that if they pray and complete the Novena, their personal wishes/request will be granted.

Filipinos start before dawn to celebrate the real Advent with the coming of the Light of Christ. There is Holy week before Easter, there is Simbang Gabi before Christmas in the Philippines.

source: St Lambert Parish Bulletin

A yearly tradition of the Municipality of Pototan, Iloilo, Iwag features dazzling lights and decorations with nightly cultural shows, food festival and agri-industrial fair. This year’s event opens 16th December until the mid- January.

photo source: valcaulin.com

The Inquirer.net headline is screaming: Filipino wizards rule int’l math competition 

The Iloilo’s hosting of the Philippine International Mathematics Competition (PIMC) was not only a great  suceess but also resulted for another victory for the country as our young Filipino math wizards topped the 20-nation 2009 Philippine International Mathematics Competitions (PIMC).

With a 100-medal haul, the Philippines landed as champion and second runner up on overall ranking for Philippines Team D and Team B, respectively.

For complete result on all categories visit the PIMC blogsite, pimc.wordpress.com.

The top three teams:

and the rest of the top 10:

sources: newsinfo.inquirer.net and pimc.wordpress.com