Festivities
Among the fiesta participants in the fertility dance are outsiders from other towns in the Philippines; most are asking the patron saints for a son or a daughter, a husband or a wife or good fortune. They dance on the streets as a form of a religious procession primarily in order for the spirit of life to enter into the wombs of women. This is the magic and mystery of Obando, Bulacan.
The feast days are held for three consecutive days with dancing: May 17 for St. Paschal, May 18 for St. Clare and May 19 for the Our Lady of Salambao.
The Philippine national hero, José Rizal, mentioned this fertility dance ritual in his 1887 Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere (Chapter 6: Captain Tiago).
The Feast usually starts in the morning of May 17, with the mass of the current Parish Priest. Afterwards, the procession of the three Saints will follow, followed by the dancing of the devotees and the musical band. This continues for the duration of the festival, with the image of the particular Patron Saint of the day leading the procession.
Read more about this topic: Obando Fertility Rites