With bells stolen, Bulacan priests try other wake-up calls

MALOLOS City, Philippines  – After losing their bells to thieves, churches and chapels in Bulacan are now considering using marching bands, sound systems and kwitis (local firecrackers) in calling parishioners to attend the traditional misa de gallo, which begins on Thursday.

Using kwitis to wake up parishioners for the dawn Mass is not new to Bulakeños, as the Spanish priests started it in Sta. Maria in the late 1800s.

Originally, a Spanish friar taught a local craftsman to mix black powder to produce kwitis, ultimately leading to the establishment of the commercial fireworks industry in the province.

Old parishioners also affirmed that marching bands playing lively tunes to wake them up and remind them of the dawn Mass.

The issue of whether to go back to these traditional practices came up after antique church bells were stolen from at least 12 churches and chapels in the Malolos Diocese in the last two months.

Fr. Rolando de Leon advised priests managing at least 600 churches and chapels in the province, including Valenzuela City, which used to be a part of Bulacan, to be vigilant.

Bulacan police, however, claimed that only seven bells have been stolen from churches and chapels in San Jose del Monte, Obando, Plaridel and Guiguinto.

Three were stolen in Guiguinto and two from Plaridel.

“The diocese is now considering options in announcing to local parishioners the start of the misa de gallo,” De Leon said.

He said using other means such as kwitis and sound systems to call people to the misa de gallo may “lose some churchliness of the tradition,” but it will suffice for now until the churches acquire new bells.

Fr. Efren Basco said the Malolos Diocese has sent letters to all priests managing churches in the province to be watchful of the bells due to increasing thefts.

Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado echoed the same sentiment in his Christmas message.

Alvarado also reminded Bulakenyos to give life to the message of Christmas by helping in the rehabilitation of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system, which has been included in the list of 30 dirtiest places in the world in 2007.

“If we love God, then we should love our fellowmen and we will protect the environment because its destruction could cause sickness to everyone,” he said.