Tips On How You Can Enjoy the Obando Fertility Rites

The Obando Fertility Rites are upon us, and this three-day spectacle promises to draw crowds from all over the country. A rare combination of pagan beliefs and Christian values, the festival represents what the Philippines has become: a country that’s both rich in Christian values yet still keeps ties to their storied past.

If you want to enjoy your experience at this year’s Obando Fertility Rites, keep these things in mind:

 

(Photo collage courtesy of bak-paker.blogspot.com)

 

• Three saints, three reasons to dance. Most people only see the festival as a way for the childless to have children; however, people from Obando, along with others who have been to the festival several times, will know that each saint represents a particular reason for dancing: St. Claire for the childless, St. Pascual Baylon for religious virtue, and the Nuestra Señora de Salambao for a bountiful harvest.

• You don’t need to wait for the festival to dance. You can always dance every Sunday, after the 9-o’clock mass at the San Pascual Obando Parish Church.

• The “main event”, i.e. the fertility dance, takes place after 8 a.m. A mass is always celebrated before the dancing begins, so you have ample time to prepare and eat breakfast.

• No hotels in Obando itself. If you’re looking to spend time in Bulacan for the festival, make side trips to neighboring towns such as Malolos, where you can find an abundance of hotels.

• Explore other parts of Bulacan before and after the festival. It’s a three-day affair, but don’t let the festival stop you from exploring the province of Bulacan. There’s the Biak na Bato National Park in San Miguel and the Barasoain Church in Malolos, just to name a few.

 

Source: Sayaw sa Obando Facebook page, Philippine Insider