Planning a trip? Those who love to travel know the essence of all travel is about you and your enjoyment. Travelers know that the destination is a major part of planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into unfamiliar places, people and culture are paramount.

Expand your horizons and set your sight to the Philippines, an off the beaten path travel site! An undiscovered paradise made of thousands of islands and white sand beaches all around! A tiny dot in the map of the world, and yet a haven for travelers, backpackers, retirees and even passersby.

It offers awesome tourist attractions, magnificent beaches, hot spring resorts, colorful festivals, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable, English-speaking people! You will be glad you came, and we’re sure, you WILL come back for more FUN in the Philippines!

OBANDO FERTILITY RITES FESTIVAL

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If you are after a husband or a wife, a son or a daughter or just looking for some plain old good fortune then get yourself down to Obando, Bulacan in the Philippines for some feasting, drinking, singing and dancing with the saints who can grant your wishes.

Photo from: lakbaypilipinas.com

The Obando Fertility Rites is a Filipino dance ritual held every year in May. Men, women and children dance through the streets wearing traditional costume, singing and playing bamboo instruments, alongside the images of their patron saints (San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara, and Nuestra Señora de Salambao) in the hope that their prayers and wishes will be granted.

Photo from: espiya.net

The Obando Fertility Rites is a Filipino dance ritual. Every year during the month of May, to the tune of musical instruments made out of bamboo materials, the men, women and children of Obando, Bulacan, Philippines wear traditional dance costumes to dance on the streets followed by the images of their patron saints San Pascual Baylon (St. Paschal), Santa Clara (St. Clare) and Nuestra Señora de Salambao (Our Lady of Salambao), while singing the song Santa Clara Pinung-Pino.

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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.

Photo from: espiya.net

From the 17th to the 19th during the month of May, people of Obando, Bulacan celebrate the longest feast in the Philippines, The Obando Fertility Festival or more popularly known as Sayaw sa Obando.

Photo from: ivanlakwatsero.com

Formerly known as the Kasilonawan Festival, the feast in Obando is known to make miracles for those who wants to have a child or farmers that would like to have a good harvest.

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People dance on the streets and ends inside the church with more dancing. I assure you, you’ll get goose bumps when you are inside the church dancing with the crowd.

Photo from: obandopilipinas.wordpress.com

The procession starts early in the morning around 7am so be there early specially on the second day of the feast, the 18th which is the feast of saint claire where most devotees dance for a child.

Sources: somewhereintheworldtoday.com, wikipedia.org & brownmantips.com