Obando Fertility Rites

The Obando Fertility Rites and Dance monument in front of the town hall
of Obando, Bulacan.
The Obando Fertility Rites[1] are a dance ritual and Catholic festival
celebrated every May in Obando, Bulacan, Philippines. Locals and pilgrims,
sometimes dressed in traditional costume, dance and sing in the town's
streets to honour and beseech Obando's three patron saints: San
Pascual (Paschal Baylon), Santa Clara (Clare of Assisi) and Nuestra
Señora de Salambáo (Our Lady of Salambao).

Festivities[edit]
The Rites are observed in a triduum: 17 May for St. Paschal Baylon, 18
May for St. Clare, and 19 May for Our Lady of Salambáo. Each of the three
days usually begins with a morning Mass said by the parish priest.
A procession, held immediately thereafter, consists of the three saints'
images followed by bands playing instruments made of bamboo or brass,
and devotees who dance the fandango while singing the hymn, Santa
Clara Pinung-Pino (Saint Clare, Most Refined). The image of each saint
leads the procession on his or her designated feast day.
The Rites, especially the fertility dance, are popular with pilgrims from all
over the Philippines, most of whom supplicate the triad of saints for a child,
a spouse, or general good fortune. Throughout the three days, devotees
joyously dance in the streets as a form of prayer, asking for the spirit of life
to enter into the wombs of women.
The Philippine national hero, José Rizal, mentioned the Rites in Chapter 6
("Captain Tiago") of his 1887 Spanish novel, Noli Me Tángere.
Obando Fertility Rites Festival 2017
Obando, Bulacan, Philippines| May 17 - May 19, 2017Fertility DanceFrom May 17 to
19 each year, San Pascual Baylon Church in Obando, Bulacan holds a three-day feast that draws people
from throughout the country. These tourists participate in masses, long dancing processions through
the streets, and frenzied devotion inside the church. Also, many couples participate because of stories

of people who were finally blessed with children after dancing in the feast. History of
Obando Fertility RitesThe fertility dance is seems like a Christianized version of a pre-
Christian fertility celebration called  Kasilonawan.  It is where local babaylans danced as an offering to

the deities of nature. A god named Linga was the center of the Kasilonawan ritual. Three

Patron SaintsSaint Paschal (celebrated on May 17)
During the 18th century, the Franciscan missionaries built the town church and introduced Saint
Paschal Baylon. His surname, Baylon, means “one who likes dancing”. Ultimately, it derives
from the Spanish baile,  meaning “to dance”. He is the patron saint of fertility, wealth, and
abundance.
One anecdote tells how a childless couple from the neighboring town of Hagonoy met a youth
selling crabs. The young man told the couple to visit Obando and participate in the Rites to help
them with their condition. Upon entering the Obando Church, the couple was amazed by the
sight of Saint Paschal’s image.  The face of the Saint looked exactly like the young man.
Saint Claire of Assisi (celebrated on May 18)
Santa Clara de Asis was a 13th- century Italian nun. She was the oldest saint and patroness
of Catanghalan (the town’s former name). St. Clare became the patroness of good weather
because her Spanish name, Clara, also referred to clearer skies after a storm. This started the
Filipino custom of offering chicken eggs to St. Clare. Moreover, this custom ensures good
weather. The devotees even hold the eggs while dancing Pandango.
Our Lady of Salambáo (celebrated on May 19)
On 19 June 1763, the image of Our Lady of Salambáo, was the last saint whose cults was
introduced to Obando. Legend tells of three fishermen named Juan, Julián, and Diego dela Cruz
caught the Virgin Mary’s image in their salambáw (a fishing net).
From Malabon, they decided to bring the image to the neighboring town of Navotas, their boat
suddenly grew heavy and immobile. When they eventually decided to bring the image to
Obando, their boat quickly lightened and became easy to paddle. Furthermore, they took it as a
sign that the Virgin wanted to be enshrined in Obando Church. Till now, she is still venerated as
the local patroness of fishing and good harvests.Consequently, the procession usually includes
grateful parents, curious tourists, and local fishermen. The swelling population of Philippines
could just be a direct result of Obando Fertility Rites. So whenever you are in the Philippines in
the month of May, make a point of attending this festival.