Obando Festival

Group 4:
Robin Esquivel 
Julius Detiquez
 What is
Fertility?

• Is defined as
the quality
or ability of
something to
produce
something.
 Obando, also known as the “town
Town of  Manila Bay
What is the Fertility Festival and Where does it take place? of three patrons” 

Triumvirate

• for the gods to grant their wishes, their

devotees offer different dance rituals
The History of the Obando Festival
Obando Fertility rites came from a pre-Christian or pre-colonization
celebration called Kasilonawan.
women or ancient Babaylans would offer dances to the deities of nature
or “Anitos”
Kasilonawan Babaylans
Diyan Masalanta Lakapati Bathala
The Three Deities Or Anitos
 Spaniards found the Philippines they conquered
its lands and introduced Catholicism to the
country, while the Franciscan missionaries
introduced three saints to replace the Pagan gods.
• CATACHISM • SAINT CHRISTIAN • BATISM
 The three Patron Saints
         ST. Claire               STA. Clara
a nun from Assisi, Italy. patron saint of good weather.

"the clearing of the skies after the rain" eggs at the feet of St. Claire is an
effective prayer for favorable weather
                       The Three Patron Saints
ST. PASCHAL BAYLON SAN PASCUAL DE BAYLON

the image of St. Paschal of Baylon The saint of dancing for fertility and

was put on the church altar. Baylon, plenty. offered prayers by devotees
means "fond of dancing".  who desire to have a child
The Three Patron
Saints
OUR LADY OF SALAMBAO or
 NUESTRA SEÑORA DE
SALAMBAO
• Juan and Julian de la Cruz,
unintentionally caught the figure of
the Immaculate Conception in their
fishnet. When attempting to
transport the figure to Navotas, the
fishnet became too heavy for them to
move. when they attempted to move
the boat closer to the Obando region,
both the fishnet and the boat moved
surprisingly easily.
The Immaculate
Conception, known
as the Our Lady of
Salambao, patron for
the childless, patron
of the fishermen or
the sea, and a
symbol of the source
of life.
The Celebration of Obando Fiesta
• From May 17 to 19, San Pascual Baylon Church hosts its feasts.

masses Long dance parades Devotion in the church

The Celebration of Obando
Fiesta
Festival's major attraction
is the “Obando Fertility
dance”

Form of prayer for

individuals to have good
fortune
Romantic
Partner

Child for
Couples
 May 17 San Pascual de Baylon (for lovers
who desire a male child)

May 18 Sta. Clara (for partners who

prefer a female child)

May 19 Nuestra Señora De Salambao ( the

fishermen’s patroness)
 Nuestra Senora De
San Pascual De Baylon Sta. Clara Salambao
Wife seekers. Husband Seekers. Fortune or child seekers.
Extra Information: 
• The Basics of Fertility Dance 

• Dancers clasp their hands with their thumbs pointed upward toward the heart while
waltzing and praying, “Lord, we believe that You will give us a child.”
• Women dancers’ arms and hands move as if to push their abdomen upward, while
the men hold their arms and hands at their back, both praying, “Lord, please heal
me.”
• Women dancers move their palms clockwise as if massaging their abdomen, and
point to the heavens, while the men dance with their hands at their back, also
pointing to the heavens and praying, “Lord, please give us a child.”
• Couples join hands together to show unity and love for each other so as to represent
wanting a child.
• Couples waltz together with their arms swaying from left to right as a form of
thanksgiving.
• The dances are not focused solely on the movements and
involvement of a believer; rather, the dance is merely a symbol;
yet, your expression of feeling is the most significant, and is
deemed as more fruitful if you dance with genuine intentions.
• References:
• https://www.marypages.com/our-lady-of-salambao-en.html

• https://www.bria.com.ph/articles/obando-festival-and-fertility-rit
es/#:~:text=Celebrated%20on%20May%2017%20to,and%20Nues
tra%20Se%C3%B1ora%20De%20Salambao
.

• https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/feasts-holy-days/obando-f
east-three-saints-philippines

• https://obando.gov.ph/history-of-obando-bulacan/