Simbang Gabi in Phnom Penh 2

This evening the Filipino Community had a second Simbang Gabi mass at the Philippino Embassy.

This was the second of the three evening services to be held as part of Simbang Gabi. The first two were Catholic masses. The third will be a Christian ecumenical service.
Again the mass goers were treated to Christmas music after the service, this time from the Nine Harmonics (one was missing tonight!). They had an energetic and fun performance.

Simbang Gabi in Phnom Penh

The Philippines has a pre-Christmas tradition called Simbang Gabi in which, every morning on the nine days before Christmas–at 4:30 AM or 5:30 AM–everyone attends mass in their parish church. The Philippines Embassy couldn’t replicate the full custom here but is having masses in the evening on the first three days of Simbang Gabi. Fr. Charlie Dittmeier was asked to preside.

On the first evening, after the mass, the Phnom Penh Choral Ensemble performed a medley of Christmas carols.

Integrity? No….

“I solemnly swear (or affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of _ , now pending, I will do impartial justice to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.”
— oath required of senators by Senate Rules in Impeachment Trials

“There will be no difference between the president’s position and our position as to how to handle this…We’ll be working through this process… in total coordination with the White House counsel’s office and the people representing the president in the well of the Senate… There is no chance the president is going to be removed from office.”
— Sen. Mitch McConnell

~ from Doonesbury.WashingtonPost.com

Getting close…

This is the Christmas tree at the Maryknoll office. The Maryknollers put it up on Wednesday as part of their weekly meeting. It is a little simpler this year than before. It is an artificial tree and we removed one section so it wouldn’t be so tall, but we also cannot find a box of Christmas decorations that we used before.

Cultural Differences

This is a trailer, pulled by a motorcycle, coming from one of the provinces with a load of furniture–a heavy wooden bed in the rear, a heavy, solid chair in the middle, and a heavy wooden sofa in the front.

In the US it would be unusual first of all because of the style of furniture which would not be to the taste of most Americans. Secondly, in the US no one would be selling furniture–whether it was a popular style or not–on the street like this.

Everybody works

For generations Cambodians have been small farmers, eking out enough to eat and a little to sell in order to buy what they can’t grow. And whenever there was an opportunity to sell something on the side to make a little extra income, they jumped at the chance. Nearly 60% of Cambodians now live in cities but the old ways came with them, and the family is always thinking of ways to supplement their income. This woman makes some sort of snack in her kitchen and sells it to passersby outside her front door.