Amazing Grace!

January - February 2026

Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Tokyo

What happens when you have no plans for the holidays? You stay home and let life go on as usual, right? But Christmas is such a joyful season that you cannot help but let its glittery surprises, traditions, and even subtle changes sweep you off your feet.

Simbang Gabi (Dawn Masses) is a beloved Filipino Christmas tradition, deeply rooted in our faith and culture. It is a nine-day novena that culminates on Christmas Eve, preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Growing up, children had different reasons for tagging along with their parents or lolas to attend Simbang Gabi. I asked friends what motivated them, and the answers were all too relatable: seeing a crush who served as an altar server, meeting barkadas after Mass to hang out, or enjoying warm, mouthwatering delicacies like bibingka, puto bumbong, and other treats that made for a hearty breakfast. Somewhere along the way, it seems we all momentarily forgot the deeper “why” of attending Simbang Gabi.

Simbang Gabi in Tokyo is a relatively new experience, having started only a few years ago. The most popular celebrations, where churches are filled to the brim with Filipinos, are held at Akabane and Meguro Churches. I had never attended one before, partly due to distance and partly because the Masses are usually held at night to accommodate Filipinos coming from work for nine consecutive days.

As luck would have it, in 2025, St. Ignatius Church offered daily dawn Masses at 6:45 a.m., attended by a small and intimate group. Lo and behold, for the first time in years, I was able to relive that part of myself who used to tag along with my Lola Sayong to early morning Masses in my hometown of Iloilo—this time here and now, in sophisticated, concrete, wintery metropolitan Tokyo. There was no bibingka, but there was a beautiful twist. After each Mass, the small group gathered to relive childhood memories by sharing champorado, pasta, Indian dishes—mostly prepared by Fr. Jody—and other food brought by everyone. It became a warm and generous “breaking of the bread,” filled with fellowship and the true spirit of Christmas. I mark it as one of the most meaningful Christmases I have ever experienced in Japan.

Christmas and Family. What do you do when you have no plans for Christmas Day, and family suddenly shows up right at your doorstep? You throw an instant Christmas party by the campsite along the beautiful Tamagawa River. Rummage through the refrigerator for whatever can be cooked over charcoal, pack the tent and tools, hook everything onto a ten-speed bicycle, let the kids enjoy a short joyride along the Tamagawa Line, and hike to the spot. It became an instant camping experience they will never forget. Of course, hindi kumpleto ’yan without going to church to join our community in prayer and celebration. Those three days were filled with joyful activities and a truly memorable family Christmas.

A New Year followed—quiet, hopeful, and filled with renewed love and connectedness. These Christmas and New Year celebrations reminded me of what we hold most dear: family, friendship, faith, shared beliefs, and the hard work that binds us together.