WISH UPON THE MASSES:

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE BELIEF OF REALIZING

WISHES UPON COMPLETION OF THE NINE DAWN MASSES
(SIMBANG GABI)
 • This study entitled "Wish Upon The Masses: A
Phenomenological Study on the Belief of Realizing
Wishes Upon Completion of the Nine Dawn Masses
(Simbang Gabi)" aims to gather experiences from
Filipino Catholics who are attendees of Misa de
Gallo in relevance to the belief of realizing wishes
upon completion of the traditional nine dawn
masses.
• This study also seeks to answer the following
specific objectives:

STATEMENT • Determine the profiles of the respondents.

OF THE • Determine the respondents' reasons for attending

PROBLEM the Misa de Gallo.

• Determine the respondents' opinions on the belief.
• Gather respondents ‘experiences regarding the
belief.
• Wishes granted after completion of the Misa
de Gallo
• Wishes not granted even if they completed the
Misa de Gallo
• Wishes granted even if they did not complete
the Misa de Gallo
 • Research Design
• This qualitative study entitled "WISH UPON THE
MASSES: A Phenomenological Study on the
Belief of Realizing Wishes upon Completion of
the Nine Dawn Masses (Simbang Gabi)" used
phenomenological research design.
• The type of approach applied investigates the
respondents' perceptions on a certain
experienced event or phenomenon. In this
METHODOLOGY research, the studied phenomenon was the
belief of realizing wishes upon completion of
the nine dawn masses which always comes
along with every celebration of the Simbang
Gabi.
• The chosen respondents were all Filipino
Catholic attendees of Simbang Gabi since they
were the people who were always immersed
with the said belief and may have possessed
many experiences related to it.
• Research Respondents
• This study used convenience sampling technique in selecting
respondents.
• According to Explorable (2009), convenience sampling is a non-
probability sampling technique where subjects are selected because
of their convenient accessibility and proximity to the researcher.
• In the study, the respondents were selected from the students of
Southwestern University-PHINMA (SWU) and from the people of the
vicinity in Urgello, Cebu City since they were the most accessible
individuals who can be part of the study.
• The respondents were also selected according to their residency,
religion, nationality, participation to Simbang Gabi and awareness of
the belief.
• Research Environment
• The study was conducted at two areas: at the Southwestern University-PHINMA SHS
Building (SWU) campus, located at Southwestern University, Villa Aznar, Urgello St.,
Province of Cebu, and at the residencies of Sambag 2, Urgello Street, Cebu City.

• Research Instrument:
• In this study, the instrument used is one-on-one interview towards the chosen
respondents who were all Filipino Catholic attendees (Studens of SWU and residents
of Sambag 2, Urgello Street, Cebu City.) of Simbang Gabi since they were the people
who were always immersed with the said belief and may have possessed many
experiences related to it. The draft questionare were drawn out based on the
researcher's scrunity, previous studies, published and unpublished thesis relevant to
the study. In preparation fort the instrument, the essential in designing good data
collection instrument were considered. In addition, the research instrument was
approved by the research adviser before it laid on the study.
• Research Procedure:

• The first step before going to the testing paper is to make a request letter. Upon approval, the researchers retrieve the
request letter. The individuals from SWU and the residents of Sambag 2, Urgello Street, Cebu City was selected. In
conducting the face-to-face interview the researchers will use the alloted time to avoid destruction to the respondentts.

• Data Gathering Method:

• The method of data gathering began by making the appropriate questionnaire based on the topic. Then, it was rechecked
and edited to make sure that the questions were arranged accordingly and that they were aligned with the problems that
the researchers wished to be answered and solved.

• To be specific, the study used interview questionnaires that were answered by the selected SWU students and residents of
Urgello, Cebu in which few undergone one-on-one interviews because they needed some assistance.

• The procedures on how the study was conducted and how the data were collected were as follows: (1) Permissions were
sought from the principal's office and to the subject teacher so that the researchers could proceed to their target places;
(2) Parents’ consents were also made to be signed by the parents to let them know beforehand that their students will be
conducting an interview outside the school in fulfillment to the subject Practical Research ; (3) The researchers then
proceeded to the targeted locales of the study which were inside and outside the school.

• In the process of conducting the study, the researchers first let the respondents read the respondent's consent and let
them signed it. Next, the questionnaires were personally handed to the respondents to guide and secure correct
instructions and also for them to give the correct responses in return. After conducting the interview, gathering the data
and comparing the different answers were made. Lastly, the summary table was constructed which includes all the findings
in the research.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation
• This study used thematic coding in the data analysis. This method is a form of qualitative analysis which involves
recording or identifying passages of the text or images that are linked by a common theme or idea allowing you to
index the text into categories and therefore establish a "framework of thematic ideas about it" (Gibbs, 2007).
• The themes used by the researchers were based on the choices and answers given by the respondents. The key
informants were the respondents who answered the questionnaire.
• Ethical Issues
• The conduct of this research strictly followed the research ethics for the betterment of the study and to the
researchers as well.
• Respect for Intellectual Property
• Several references were used upon conducting the research. To respect one's intellectual property, the researchers
cite the references used as well as to avoid plagiarism.
• Respect for the Respondents
• The respondents were fully briefed on the purpose and conduct of the study. It was made very clear to them that
their participation in this study was voluntarily and they can withdraw their responses in the research without
penalty.
• Confidentiality
• The participants were asked to give their consent by signing the Respondent's Consent. The data gathered will
remain confidential and will only be used for the purpose of academic research only and not against the
respondents.
• Objectivity
• Aimed to avoid to bias in any aspects of the research including designs, data analysis, interpretations and peer
review.
• Openness
• Accepts different views and opinions from the members. Open to new ideas and criticisms, especially to the
research adviser for the betterment of the study.
•
 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND
INTERPRETATION OF DATA
•Disccusion:
• The table above shows the respondents in their
corresponding sexes and it appears that there is a greater
number of female respondents than the male ones who
usually attend the Simbang Gabi and are aware of the belief.
Out of twenty-six (26) respondents, there are 17 female
respondents and 9 male respondents who answered the
questionnaires.
•The data above agree with a literature review written by Tony
Walter (1990) which says women are more likely churchgoers
than men in which according to a theory is because of guilt.
In general, women experience more guilt feelings than men
do (Argyle & Beit-Hallahmi 1975 Gray 1971, Suziedelis &
Potvin 1981). If one of the main purposes of Christianity is to
assuage guilt, then we would expect women to be more
responsive because they are more aware of a need for
forgiveness. And indeed, in several studies (Cox 1967,
Simmons & Walter 1988), females are more likely than males
to stress―or even mention―God’s forgiveness.
•
Discusion:
Shown in the tabulated data above are
the ages of the respondents, and it
appeared that out of the 26 respondents,
18 of them were under the age bracket
of 12-17 years old while 8 of them were
under 18-60 years old.
Based on our study, the biggest gap is
between the oldest and youngest age
groups. This was supported by Analysis
and Dalia Sussman (2002) who said that
sixty percent of people age 65 and older
report attending religious services at
least once a week; among 18 to 30-year-
olds, just 28 percent go that often.
Previous ABCNEWS polls, similarly, have
found that religious belief and practice
increase with age.
• Discusion:
• This table shows the number of years that had passed since
the first time the respondents attended Simbang Gabi.
• On the data, the respondents are distributed among
different themes. Among all, the greatest number of Discusion:
respondents which is seven (7) said that they were Displayed above is the respondents’
attending Simbang Gabi since they were kids. This was frequencies of participation to the
followed by those who said that they started attending nine dawn masses, which has the
Simbang Gabi 6 years ago which had a total number of four following themes;
(2) and also those who started 4 years ago with the same Always Complete
total of four(4) There are only three (3)
respondents who said they had
• Base on Gingko100 (2016), at “age seven,” does one
always completed the annual nine
become obligated to attend Mass on Sundays and holy dawn masses.
days, the canonical age of reason, but is that correct? In Never Complete
our family the rule is that, if only one parent is going to While there are eight (8)
Mass for some reason, a child must go to Mass with them respondents who said they had
(unless there is a good reason for them not to go) once they never completed the annual nine
start formation for First Communion, which in our diocese is dawn masses.
the beginning of first grade (it’s a two-year formation with Sometimes Complete
the First Communion in the spring of second grade). I’m And the rest of the respondents
sure that’s why my son thought missing Mass becomes a which totaled to 15 said they only
mortal sin for “first grade and up.” complete the nine dawn masses
sometimes.
• Discusion:

• Shown above are the themes representing

the respondents' reasons why they attend
the Simbang Gabi. Basically, these affect
their participation on the nine dawn
masses because their reasons are the
factors that push them to attend the
masses.

• Among all reasons, majority of the

respondents, which totaled to 14,
answered “to praise God” as their reason
in attending Simbang Gabi. This was
followed by 12 respondents who said that
their reason is for their “wishes to come
true”.
• These results were supported by Chesca
Rosal (2016) who mentioned “whispering
wishes” and “celebrating the life of Jesus”
as reasons why Filipino millennial love to
attend Simbang Gabi.
• In addition to this, Miaco (2015) also stated
that making a wish is one of the things
Pinoys do during Simbang Gabi since
theybelieve that their wishes will be
granted when they successfully attend all
nine.
Discusion:
Displayed above are the respondents’ opinions on the
belief of realizing wishes upon completion of nine
dawn masses. It shows that most of the respondents
agree on the belief. Out of the 26 respondents, 20 of
them agreed while only six (6) disagreed. Mostly, the
respondents who did not agree were never
experienced that their wishes do come true and the
others were never made a wish.
In an article of Leslie Ann Aquino (2016), she
highlighted a message from Manila Auxiliary Bishop
Broderick Pabillo who reminded the faithful that the
purpose of the novena is to commemorate the birth of
Jesus Christ and spiritually prepare Catholics for
celebration of Christmas Day. The nine days of praying
is part of the preparation for the big feast of
Christmas. For the formation of the faith and thanking
God for His generosity.
• Discusion:
• Table 3.7 displays the respondents’
experiences in which their wishes
were granted after completing the
nine dawn masses.
• Among the 26 respondents, 17
of them said that they have wishes
that were granted after completing
the Simbang Gabi in which all of
them were categorized as 'personal’
while 8 said they don’t have. There
were seven (7) respondents who
stated that they don’t have
experiences related to granting
wishes even if they completed the
Simbang Gabi.
• Here are the following respondents:
R26, R23, R22, R12, R11, R9, and
R5.
Discusion:
The table shows the respondents’
wishes that were not granted
after the completion of Simbang
Gabi.
There were 20 respondents who
said they don’t have experience
related to granting wishes even if
they did not completed the
Simbang Gabi.
Here are the following
respondents: R25, R23, R22, R20,
R19, R18, R15, R10, R8, R4, and
R3,
 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Conclusion

• Based on the results, the researchers came up with a number of significant conclusions on this study entitled, “WISH
UPON THE MASSES: A Phenomenological Study on the Belief of Realizing Wishes upon Completion of the Nine Dawn
Masses (Simbang Gabi)”.

• There were more female Filipino Catholics who attend Simbang Gabi and are aware of the belief than male ones.

• Most of the Filipino Catholics have attended Simbang Gabi since they were kids. Also, majority of them complete the
nine dawn masses sometimes.

• The most common reasons of Filipino Catholics in their participation to Simbang Gabi were to praise God, and for wishes
to come true.

• Based on the collected opinions, most of the Filipino Catholics agree with the belief of realizing wishes upon completion
of the nine dawn masses.

• On the other hand, majority of them have experiences of wishes being granted after completion the Simbang Gabi and
the most common wish among was the asking for good health.

• Meanwhile, most of the Filipino Catholics don't have experiences of wishes not granted even after completion of the nine
dawn masses.

• And lastly, most of them don’t have experiences of wishes being realized even without the completion of the Simbang
Gabi .
• Recommendation

• This study entitled "WISH UPON THE MASSES: A Phenomenological Study on the Belief of
Realizing Wishes upon Completion of the Nine Dawn Masses (Simbang Gabi)" presents the
researchers' recommendations based on the results of the data gathering conducted and on the
overall outcome of the study which can help to further improve this research.
• Future studies should be conducted with a longer time frame. A longer time frame allows
more respondents to be involved and more meticulous data analysis thus, promising a more
valid and more evident results.
• The future researchers must also gather respondents that are more capable and more likely to
be representatives of the whole population for this research.
• The number of respondents must also be proportional to the total population of the place where
the study is conducted.
• Regarding on the gathering of experiences, the future researchers also need to give a specific
time frame in which the wishes of the respondents are to be determined as to whether it is
granted or not in order for the results to be more specific.
• Lastly, variety of methods in data collection including one-on-one interviews with the
respondents is needed to be utilized in order for a more detailed and in depth research.