Tags: Festivals and Fiestas
By Marjorie Gorospe
OBANDO, BULACAN – For couples who cannot conceive, a visit to this town’s annual festival combined with some dance moves wouldn’t hurt.
Every month of May, couples here and abroad flock to Obando for its famous Fertility Festival, a fiesta in honor of its three patron saints - the Virgin of Salambao, San Pascual and Santa Clara. Couples form a long procession and dance right in the streets of the town.
The ritual actually dates back before the Spaniards colonized the country, according to this blog. Ancient Filipinos held a ritual known as the Kasilonawan headed by a katalonan or high priestess, which lasts for nine days and usually involves drinking, singing and dance in honor of the god known as Linga, a force of nature, to show how they value fertility and abundance of wealth.
When the Spaniards came in, they let the natives continue the tradition; however, the saints should be included in the parade. Since then, Obando fertility dance is celebrated in honor of Santa Clara (patron saint of the childless), San Pascual de Baylon, and Nuestra Señora de Salambao.
Because of the Obando Fertility Dance, May is that time of the month when locals expect to see a surprising number of couples, even foreigners. Single men and women and men hoping to find a mate also joined the ritual.
According to Lakbay Pilipinas, the dance must be performed with “gyrating hips in time to the music and with belief”. The street dancing becomes a lively spectacle as locals – single or couples alike – join the parade to give thanks to a bountiful harvest. Blogger Bunnie shares her Obando experience.
Photos taken from obandopilipinas.com
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