![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHS2VWZJUZEWVZ7UJ6I357ZEOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7339f4ef0d3e2507f0d8191834b71ddb4161fd4f6bbcd2b3872dd9fadbeebe1&width=400&height=225)
Filipinos have fun at Simbang Gabi - but it also offers an important opportunity for reflection and religious observance.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MRLRFMQOJCBHLKY7O3RLO45WG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bddb17c5672f2379b10bf3c1486d8766e3c24703f53eb2bf1e359eb1d5df22bf&width=400&height=225)
The Filipino choir sang traditional Christmas songs on the last day of mass held at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif. All photos by Khushnum Bhandari for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B3TI67F6X6QOTTSOTVZCHZPPXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9c12db6fb89884b55efffe0504f2e8d86ceffeb96e373068da229f68d35b531&width=400&height=225)
Filipino Catholics are able to introduce children to their national tradition - even when they are being brought up thousands of kilometres from their homeland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OLM5WPTAEWT2CDWDXUMRERU5GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f3c8b6c75fac28ecbd8babc28b6e2b1cf184e49d9c36c62a3159bc3b0cb5d08&width=400&height=225)
Catholics took holy communion at the Simbang Gabi event at St Joseph's Cathedral.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LQAFMOGLKPJXL5N3S2BIHWKSNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=38c9af152c55fc2873d9a25fcbaaa7079ebce43f80658231e6fca28dc8c94c90&width=400&height=225)
Devotees listened intently during mass at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LUIHLLRBOBKQJQWI6KUKO4PCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=697cc520a4b7216e0d73f7c5bdc442248d395b3ff339484d6f6aebd27a67d1e1&width=400&height=225)
Devotees listened intently during mass at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V4Q4RUYRKFYYZYJOBJ7ZMJKSEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=22d6231ec7e9453776236e7510a83d231dd986307ab86a33b51348d8b5720468&width=400&height=225)
Father Tory De Los Santos started Simbang Gabi at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif a decade ago.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GRUYWHRSBQANEXMNL6AYFDB34.jpg?smart=true&auth=38160b993a92a5f9ae0cadff86e3d1b227f9696dcc6f629354f9a105781e4c67&width=400&height=225)
Adrian Amposta, one of the event organisers, said the event helped Filipinos maintain their traditions and prevented loneliness.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PGHGZ7VMSGWGFKC44BHHAOJEPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=12f9edb5729f289e266376db629725eaf5b514fbacf6855761432aa7ff737629&width=400&height=225)
Paul Hinder, Catholic Bishop of Southern Arabia, led the service.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLWIEKRT32AILJRN3UDBJUW7DQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec1f132defccfdf86450e0d58193bdeaaf8e81c20d7eb3c131f281bacc0f706d&width=400&height=225)
There were thousands of attendees - some of whom could not make it into the church grounds.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABU7TF56NKV5UEP6PQQVPVAPUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd41860eec238f684d72c111a5bdda11e11c52931347822e644693fe284fff8e&width=400&height=225)
Attendees said they went to as many of the nine masses as possible, with regular attendance seen as an important display of faith.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DMSYNOAF3RZOIGLL56HZKG67U.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f025c2e475b3c3a1e11ca255caecb541fc4a21527f5be38834069ed8c26fa0a&width=400&height=225)
Children received goody bags, sponsored by local businesses, at the end of proceedings.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHS2VWZJUZEWVZ7UJ6I357ZEOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7339f4ef0d3e2507f0d8191834b71ddb4161fd4f6bbcd2b3872dd9fadbeebe1&width=400&height=225)
Filipinos have fun at Simbang Gabi - but it also offers an important opportunity for reflection and religious observance.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MRLRFMQOJCBHLKY7O3RLO45WG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bddb17c5672f2379b10bf3c1486d8766e3c24703f53eb2bf1e359eb1d5df22bf&width=400&height=225)
The Filipino choir sang traditional Christmas songs on the last day of mass held at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif. All photos by Khushnum Bhandari for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B3TI67F6X6QOTTSOTVZCHZPPXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9c12db6fb89884b55efffe0504f2e8d86ceffeb96e373068da229f68d35b531&width=400&height=225)
Filipino Catholics are able to introduce children to their national tradition - even when they are being brought up thousands of kilometres from their homeland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OLM5WPTAEWT2CDWDXUMRERU5GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f3c8b6c75fac28ecbd8babc28b6e2b1cf184e49d9c36c62a3159bc3b0cb5d08&width=400&height=225)
Catholics took holy communion at the Simbang Gabi event at St Joseph's Cathedral.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LQAFMOGLKPJXL5N3S2BIHWKSNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=38c9af152c55fc2873d9a25fcbaaa7079ebce43f80658231e6fca28dc8c94c90&width=400&height=225)
Devotees listened intently during mass at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LUIHLLRBOBKQJQWI6KUKO4PCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=697cc520a4b7216e0d73f7c5bdc442248d395b3ff339484d6f6aebd27a67d1e1&width=400&height=225)
Devotees listened intently during mass at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V4Q4RUYRKFYYZYJOBJ7ZMJKSEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=22d6231ec7e9453776236e7510a83d231dd986307ab86a33b51348d8b5720468&width=400&height=225)
Father Tory De Los Santos started Simbang Gabi at St Joseph's Cathedral in Mushrif a decade ago.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GRUYWHRSBQANEXMNL6AYFDB34.jpg?smart=true&auth=38160b993a92a5f9ae0cadff86e3d1b227f9696dcc6f629354f9a105781e4c67&width=400&height=225)
Adrian Amposta, one of the event organisers, said the event helped Filipinos maintain their traditions and prevented loneliness.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PGHGZ7VMSGWGFKC44BHHAOJEPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=12f9edb5729f289e266376db629725eaf5b514fbacf6855761432aa7ff737629&width=400&height=225)
Paul Hinder, Catholic Bishop of Southern Arabia, led the service.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLWIEKRT32AILJRN3UDBJUW7DQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec1f132defccfdf86450e0d58193bdeaaf8e81c20d7eb3c131f281bacc0f706d&width=400&height=225)
There were thousands of attendees - some of whom could not make it into the church grounds.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABU7TF56NKV5UEP6PQQVPVAPUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd41860eec238f684d72c111a5bdda11e11c52931347822e644693fe284fff8e&width=400&height=225)
Attendees said they went to as many of the nine masses as possible, with regular attendance seen as an important display of faith.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DMSYNOAF3RZOIGLL56HZKG67U.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f025c2e475b3c3a1e11ca255caecb541fc4a21527f5be38834069ed8c26fa0a&width=400&height=225)
Children received goody bags, sponsored by local businesses, at the end of proceedings.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHS2VWZJUZEWVZ7UJ6I357ZEOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7339f4ef0d3e2507f0d8191834b71ddb4161fd4f6bbcd2b3872dd9fadbeebe1&width=400&height=225)
Filipinos have fun at Simbang Gabi - but it also offers an important opportunity for reflection and religious observance.
Thousands of Filipinos celebrate Christmas tradition in Abu Dhabi
Faithful flock to final day of 'Simbang Gabi', a nine-day series of Masses in run up to Christmas
Daniel Sanderson
24 December, 2019
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic