Young Filipino Americans are putting a fresh spin on Simbang Gabi, a nine-day celebration dating back to the late 1660s, while preserving its core values.
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Simbang Gabi dates back to the late 1600s, when the Philippines were under Spanish colonial rule. In New York City, which boasts one the largest Filipino populations in the U.S., a growing generation of Filipino Americans is breathing new life into the centuries-old Advent celebration. Augelyn Francisco, owner of the Lower East Side Filipino cafe Kabisera, says it’s important for both the old and the new to coexist.
Even after the Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1898, and again from the U.S. in 1946, the church’s footprint only expanded. Today, the Catholic Church has materialized as a symbol of Filipino nationalism. Nearly 80% of the population is Catholic. “It’s not only a Filipino tradition, but I think it’s more of a cohesion of the spiritual beliefs that we have as Catholics — not only in the Philippines, but all over the world,” stated Torres.Finding a deeper meaning in Simbang Gabi, despite its colonial origins, is a sentiment shared by many Filipino Americans. Other Filipino Americans who spoke to Gothamist at both events expressed how Simbang Gabi is a window into shared Filipino values, like family and heartwarming connections.
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