Dancing in the Streets
May is the fiesta month of the Philippines because most towns and barrios in the country celebrate their fiesta on this month. Almost everywhere is in fiesta mode! Colorful banderitas line the streets, stages are being set up, sports halls are filled with players and chanting crowd and the church is also decorated. It is the usual scenery during this month.
Perya’s are also part of the scene with their usual rides like carousel, ferry’s wheel, caterpillar etc. There are also bingguhan, color game and other little gambling games. That’s a very delighting scene for the kids and teens, with the lights and sounds and of course some flirts especially for the youth. Sidera’s sells almost anything near the church plaza or patio. Native articles as well as toys are on sale, a bargain shopping spree.Fiestas also remind us of… what else… FOOD!!! Kare-kare, beef caldereta, lengua estofada, menudo, pastel, hamonado, morcon, relleno, embutido… burp! Ooppss! Hehehe. These are just a few of my favorites that we normally cook for the fiesta. We also have some sea foods like oysters, crabs, mussels, tilapia, bangus etc. Of course, hindi mawawala ang dessert tulad ng halayang ube, leche flan, buko o fruit salad, buko pandan, matamis na beans at garvanzos, suman, cassava cake, biko, sapin-sapin, tibok-tibok, cuchinta, puto at kung anu-ano pang mga pampa-diabetes.
Haaay!!! Nakaka-miss ang fiesta sa atin. Dalawang fiesta na ang nagdaan sa bayan namin at talaga namang nakakalungkot na wala ako roon kasi masaya ang fiesta sa amin. Iba kasi ang fiesta sa Obando!!!Since we can’t be there to celebrate it, I’ll just tell you the story of our well-known tradition. Para na rin kayong naki-fiesta total I’ve already described what’s the fiesta like along with our handa! Sana nabusog kayo! Bwhehehehehe
I have researched about this a few years ago and the data I’ve gathered is not with me. I know the story by heart but some info might be quite inaccurate. So, please bear with that.Obando is founded more or less about 450 years ago and is named after the governor-general of the Philippines at that time. The town used to be a part of Polo, the city now known to be Valenzuela, and this town is used to be part of Meycauayan, Bulacan.
Before the name Obando was given to the town, it is used to be known as Katangalan. The name came from the word “tangal” a type of mangrove that used to be abundant in that place.The tradition of “Dancing in the Streets” dates back centuries ago, earlier than Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s novel, “Noli me Tangere”, where it is said that Maria Clara thought that she is a product of the miracle of the town.
Actually, the tradition is pagan in origin. It has been practiced by the locals even before Christianity came to the country. A “Katalonan”, priestess, heads the ceremony at the house of the datu for the barren. It was said that they danced while praying to conceive a child in front of a pagan image as the people play ethnic instruments. This ceremony was called “Kasilonawan”.When the Spaniards came, they baptized the locals but the old tradition was still practiced. So, when they built a chapel for Sta. Clara in the place, the people of Katangalan regarded her as a patron for the barren different to the Spanish tradition of her being a patron of good weather. Clara was associated with “claro” or clear skies and the “claro” of the egg (egg white). That’s the reason why people offer eggs to Sta. Clara.
In an attempt to cover the pagan origin, the priests have built another chapel and placed another patron, San Pascual Baylon. “Baylon” has been associated with the Spanish word “bailar” which means dance. They have also made it official that San Pascual is the patron saint of childless women; a complete attempt of cover up.The attempt was almost perfect but the people have made Sta. Clara more famous with the song:
Sta. Clarang pinung-pino,
Pangako ko ay ganito;
Pagdating ko sa Obando
Magsasayaw ako ng Pandango.Or the version that is more popularly known:
Sta. Clarang pinung-pino,
Kami po ay bigyan n’yo
Ng anak ng labing-tatlo.
Kami po ay dinggin n’yo.It is said that the motion of the hips from left to right makes the Holy Spirit get in to the ovaries and make the eggs fertile. So, shake your bon-bons!!!
So there goes the story; a new town with two patrons, two days of fiesta and a cover up. Many couples go to Obando every May to dance and wish for a child. All of them hoping and believing that a miracle will happen. Miracles indeed happen in Obando and one of them is the addition of another patron, Nuestra Señora de Salambao.According to accounts, two fishermen are fishing one early morning in a river between Obando and Malabon. They are already hopeless because it is almost sunrise but their catch is still not enough. They prayed and then put their “salambao”, a net tied into bamboos, into the water one last time. When they are lifting the salambao, they are shocked because they cannot lift it. It’s so heavy. They tried to lift it harder and were amazed to see a great amount of catch together with an image of the Virgin Mary.
They have decided to sell their catch and bring the image to Malabon, but they can’t move their boat. They have tried to go to the other direction and they are so surprised that they were able to move without great effort on paddling. They have realized that the virgin perhaps like to go to Obando. Since then, the “Triumvirate of Miracle” in Obando was formed and that’s the reason why the town celebrates a three day fiesta.May 17 is offered to San Pascual, the patron saint of the spouse seekers; May 18 is for Sta. Clara, patroness of the childless and May 19 is for Nuestra Señora de Salambao, the patroness of fishermen. These are different from the church documents. It has been strict that San Pascual is the patron of the childless and Sta. Clara for the pregnant mothers, but the people doesn’t consider that.
Due to the pagan roots of the tradition, it was rumored that the Archbishop of Manila that ruled before the 70’s has banned the tradition. It is also perhaps because the people are very much devoted to Sta. Clara as the patroness of the childless, contradicting what the church is teaching; or should I say covering up!?But the “Romeria”, pilgrimage, has never stopped. Romeros y romeras dance the streets and prayed that the patrons grant their wishes. So, Msgr. Rome Fernandez, the parish priest of Obando during the 70’s and 80’s has brought the tradition back to life! He gathered the people of the town and grouped them to participate in the annual celebration of the fiesta. The dancers were asked to wear traditional clothing and since then made a “panata”. Some of them are still dancing up to this day; white haired and grown old but still shaking their booty.
Many ask if the wishes of the childless couples have ever been granted. Well, there are accounts that they have been gifted with a child, in one way or another. The officemate of my uncle was offered to adopt a child after he and his wife danced in Obando. A priest that was assigned in Tondo was said to be a gift from the fertility dance, it was also said that he has a big resemblance from the image of San Pascual. A woman I met here in Germany told me that she knew of a couple who was granted a child after dancing there.
I recalled that comedienne, Giselle Sanchez, together with Rayan Agoncillo, went to Obando to make a report for Talk TV. She and Ryan even asked my cousin's permission if they can come in to our house dahil baka magka-gulo ang mga tao kapag nakita silang nasa tabi lang ng kalsada. When the people saw them, dinumog ang gate namin, akala ko nga magigiba! They went upstairs and just waved to the crowds from our terrace. Anyways, Giselle has said that she prayed to concieve a child in which was answered.
There are more accounts to the miracle. Most of them can be heard directly from the people dancing there because it has been a panata to some of them to dance every year as a sign of thanks to the granted wishes.
I make it a point to participate and dance at least once a year in the fiesta. I don’t wear traditional clothing, I just simply join the procession together with my friends to dance and have fun. I guess that’s the great thing about it, you are permitted to join the procession and dance. You don’t just stand and watch like the other fiesta processions. And I swear it is so much fun!!! The musiko or bands doesn’t only play traditional songs, they also play modern ones to lure the younger crowd to join the tradition.Who can’t miss that extravagance!?! Today is the last day of the fiesta and I know the spirit is so much alive there. How I wish I’m able to join the fun.
I swear, when I got home, I’ll surely dance and perhaps if I have the courage, I’ll wear something Filipino and be like the others. Siguro, sasabayan ko na rin ng wish. Hehehe. Alam n’yo na siguro kung kanino muna ako hihiling? Hehehehe.
Currently feeling: festive
Posted by ays at 04:36 PM | 16 minds blown