Fertility Dance Rite of Obando, Bulacan

Popularly known in the Philippines as Sayaw sa Obando (Dance in Obando).

 
It is part of  a three-day festival in May that honors the three patrons of the town of Obando in Bulacan, located just 15 miles from Manila.
  •  May 17 is for San Pascual de Baylon (St. Paschal) , the patron saint of devout worshipers who are looking to marry and have baby boys
  • May 18 is for Santa Clara (Saint Claire), the patron saint of  the childless who want to have baby girls
  • May 19 is for Nuestra Senora de Salambao (Our Lady of Salambao), protector of people who work in fishing, the main source of livelihood in Obando
The roots of this festival go back to the the Kasilonawan, an ancient fertility dance said to promote pregnancy. When the Spanish missionaries came, they introduced saints to replace the locals' objects of veneration. That is why this celebration is also known in Tagalog as Pista ng Kasilonawan (Kasilonawan Festival).
 
Couples who are childless go to Obando to perform this rite as do individuals who are looking for life partners. The dance itself is a pandanggo ("fandango") and is performed as they walk the streets. Thiese are the songs they sing.
 
 Awit Kay Santa Clara
 (Song for Saint Claire)
 
Sta.  Clarang pinung-pino, ang hiling ko po ay tupdin niyo, pagdating ko po sa Obando, magsasayaw ako. (Saint Claire very fine, please grant my request; when I get to Obando, I shall dance.)
 
 Song for  the Virgin of Salambao

Mahal na Birhen ng Salambao, kami ay 'yong tulungan, sala namin ay pawiin ni Hesus na ginigiliw,  bayan naming hirang sa 'yo nagdarasal, may awitan may tugtugan mayron pang sayawan. Ina naming mapagmahal kami ay kaawaan, pag-ibig mo ay igawad sa abang taong katulad ko. Ika'y dinarayo ng  kahat ng dako. Pinupuri! Pintakasi! Birhen ng Salambao!
 
 
The Filipino national hero José Rizal mentioned the Sayaw sa Obando in Chapter Six of his 1887 Spanish novel Noli Me Tangere.  Doña Pia Alba (Maria Clara's mother ) was said to have danced in Obando in order to have a child. 
 
Brace yourself if you're expecting pure tradition when you visit Obando for this fesival. These days the participants wear T-shirts and the bands play American pop songs!