Another of my THINGS TO DO IN ASINGAN is to attend at least one Misa de Gallo. Our house is just west of the RC church and going there is no problem. It is the getting up from the bed and dressing up: thats the problem.If you are in a different house, looking for the clothes to wear takes longer than usual. Our clothes were basically still in the suitcases. Then taking a shower at 4:00 am without any hot water can be a bitch. Well they say the first can of water doused on your naked torso is the hardest, then the subsequent ones would be a breeze. Easier said than done.
So I finally got down from the house. I had to bring a flashlight to see my way to the church. It is not pitch black dark in there, but I do not want to step on any dogshit on my way to Mass. Bad happening, just in case it happens.
I usually enter the church through the side door on the west wing of the church. Or annex. Whatever. As I enter the door, I feel like I am being stared at. If looks could kill I could have dropped dead right there. But I was able to find a seat beside a white haired lady who smiled at me. I smiled back of course. "Kumusta kayo?" I greeted. She never answered back. Either she does not want to talk to strangers or her left ear was hard of hearing. I looked around for anyone I know. Maybe Pare Alex Romero. No luck. Maybe he was still asleep. Juanita Orpiano, a remnant of the old St. Cecilia's choir was there but she was right up the front on the podium close to the altar. She just gave me a surprised smile, a wave of the hand and thats it. In a few minutes, loud music from some high powered speakers blared and the mass started.
The church sounded like a concert hall. The canned music accompanied a mixed choir seated at the east wing of the church where the grotto of the Virgin Mary was. The singing was pretty good. I expected some Advent songs, but they were doing a few Xmas carols already. And Christmas was still a few days away. And hearing the Mass prayers in Ilocano sounded quite different for me. Well, thats expected and thats part of the holiday package. The lit candles, the body heat from people, and some other factors raised the temperature inside the church. Midway through the Mass, I started to sweat already. During the Peace Be With You part of the Mass, people just nodded to each other. What? In our church here in Weston we shake hands with the worshippers near to you; some hug, everybody smile at each other. Well, can't complain, when in Asingan do what Asinganians do.
But the church has really improved since the last time I saw it. More so if you remember the set up of the old one. There was a choir loft atop the main entrance door. I loved hearing the Mass on the choir loft. You can come wearing your sleeping clothes and nobody would see it. Of course, you can not go down to receive Communion and you have to be the very last person to leave the church.There was also a door in the choir loft going to the church bell tower. If you dare, you can go up to the highest level. The view of Asingan from there is exquisite especially on a cool afternoon during the 2 month long vacation. Sometimes my friends and I would go up there with cookies and drinks. Then spend the rest of the day laughing and swapping jokes.
After the Mass, I have to go out thru the main door..You know why?..All the tupig and bibingka vendors are there near the main gate. We call that vendor strip before the PATIO. It springs to life every Sunday morning and especially so during the SEMANA SANTA. On Holy Wednesday, the whole street becomes something like a Flea market ( sans the fleas) with assorted goodies lining the temporary thatches made of bamboo and nipa. One could hear the scraping of ice for the halo-halo addicts. Never mind if some vendors do not wash their glasses and spoons very well. The halo-halo would still taste special.
So I came home right after my first Misa de Gallo in Asingan in the year of our Lord 2003. I bought all the bibinka and tupig available at the patio. There is always a big thermos of hot water in the dining table on the 2nd floor of our house.There was also a bottle of Instant Coffee, sugar and a small bottle of Napoleon Brandy. I love to mix a little brandy with my coffee just to give it a different taste. It may not taste like Starbucks or Tim Hortons. But then these classy coffee houses do not have the bibinka and tupig which we had that morning!---#
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