The Manila Cathedral's Misa de Gallo

The sights at the Misa de Gallo in Manila Cathedral are quite a world away from the sights of Misa de Gallo at Quiapo Church. The Quiapo Church, with its ambiance of congestion and noise, is ever crowded with people from all walks of life, coming and going--pedestrians, vendors, devotees, and passers-bys.

The Manila Cathedral, on the other hand, exudes a more regal ambience- uncrowded, air-conditioned, and majestically lighted. At night, the Manila Cathedral's lights are ever more beautiful, a testament to it's standing as the country's premier cathedral. For me, the cathedral's hushed environment is admirable, but deep inside, I longed for the more populated Quiapo ambience.

After the Mass, I went around to look for some bibingka and puto bumbong, but I couldn't find any kiosks near the cathedral's vicinity. As it happened, the only bibingka kiosk inside the Intramuros premises was located in the Ilustrado restaurant some blocks away. I wonder why no one had thought of putting up bibingka kiosks near the cathedral. It has always been customary for church-goers to have a breakfast of bibingka, puto bumbong, or suman after the Misa de Gallo. In comparison, Quiapo has numerous such kiosks, competing to sell their best bibingkas and salabats (ginger tea) to the church-goers.

I also took some pictures of the cathedral for my ever-increasing collection of church photographs. I forgot my tripod, and so all the pictures were either shot hand-held at very high isos, or I just anchored my arms on a tree or some solid structure. Afterwards, I drove to downtown Quiapo to have a breakfast of bibingka and salabat.

Meantime here are some of the images of the Manila Cathedral I fancied to photograph. What a grand cathedral it is. I hope you will enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed photographing them.

Merry Christmas!