My cousin and his wife got married in January of this year, as newlyweds they are hoping to be blessed by their first born so we decided to go to Obando and participate in the annual fertility dance. Upon arrival we learned that the three day fiesta is not all about fertility, Obando celebrates a fiesta for each of their three patron saints.
- The first day is dedicated to San Pascual Baylon and basically for those individuals seeking to find the person destined for them (if you want to be romantic about it) or for those who want to get married soon...
- The second day is for Sta. Clara for couples who want to blessed with a child.
- The third day is for Our Lady of Salambao, for individuals who want help financially, for success etc...
...and Today is Day 1...
We arrived in Obando in the nick of time. The procession was just coming out of the church grounds. We missed the first mass because we got a little lost along they way, typical of Bulacan the roads get narrower as you get inside the old town centers. Being near the sea, Obando has always been flooded so I immediately noticed road works being done everywhere, elevating the streets a few feet high-- in preparation for the rainy season. This may be one flood prone area but I also noticed the houses are more than two storeys high, I later on learned from my Tita that a lot from Obando became rich because of fishing...
The Patron Saints of Obando
1. San Pascual Baylon
2. Sta. Clara
3. Birhen ng Salambao
The Merry Procession
Final Blessing
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