Kape Sina Una in Laoag brings back Simbang Gabi ritual with coffee and traditional treats Photo by Jasper Dawang for Daily Tribune.
BUSINESS

Kape Sina Una revives Filipino Christmas tradition in Laoag

Jasper Dawang

As cool December nights settle over Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, a familiar holiday ritual is finding new life along the bypass road in Barangay Tangid. Kape Sina Una has revived the cherished kapehan tradition of Simbang Gabi goers, offering more than a warm cup of coffee—it brings back Filipino Christmas nostalgia.

Carrying the message “Paskong Pinoy dito sa Kapehan,” the café blends coffee, culture, and community, inviting passersby and early churchgoers to pause, gather, and reconnect with traditions passed down through generations.

Adding to the experience is Japoks Puto Bungbung. Owner Ronald Aquino shares that their puto bumbung is still made the traditional way—steamed and cooked in bamboo—filling the air with aromas that recall Christmases of the past. Here, coffee meets tradition, and Christmas feels warmly and unmistakably Filipino.