Nuestra Señora de Salambao of Obando, Bulacan - Advocate of Expectant and Childless Mothers

-
Nuestra Señora de Salambao
In the fishing town of Obando in Bulacan, a certain fiesta is very well known throughout the country for its famous Fertility Dance Rites Festivals that lasted for three days in honor of Obando's three patrons, Saint Paschal Bailon, St. Claire of Assisi, both Franciscan Saints and the famed Nuestra Señora de Salambao.

The Virgin of Salambao (A Tagalog word for a big fishing net) is known in the country as advocate for those who wanted a child and expectant mothers for such petitions were granted, especially if one will dance to its famous tune to get pregnant. The Virgin also known to for helping the people of Obando for a good catch and harvest for the entire year.

The Lady in the net

The image of Nuestra Señora de Salambao is an image of the Immaculate Conception that is stylized inside a salambao (a fishing net) to remind the devotees of her origin.

There were two image of the Virgin of Salambao venerated in Obando, the altar image with a morena complexion while the processional image, the Festejada has a fair complexion. Both images wear a set of vestments that are given by devotees that are made in different fabrics and embroidery styles as a form of thanksgiving. The Virgin also wears a set of Doce Estrellas and a Corona Imperial, which are diagnostic to almost every Marian images in the country.

The Origin

On June 19, 1763, two fishermen named Juan and Julian de la Cruz were busy fishing along the shore of  Hacienda Tambobong, now known as the city of Malabon, when they unexpectedly caught an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in their salambao.

The fishermen decided to bring it to the nearest church in Tambobong. As they began to row towards Tambobong, the salambao grew heavy as if the image wanted to be venerated in a different location that she desired. The fishermen then switched directions and began heading towards Obando, Bulacan. To their astonishment, the salambao became lighter and they managed to reach the shore of Obando safely.

Once they arrived in Obando the image first stayed in the residence of Diego dela Cruz, the helper of the two fishermen, and he reported the miraculous catch to the parish priest, Padre Jose Martinez dela Hinojosa. Upon learning the miraculous beginnings of the image, he brought the image of the Virgin to the Parish of San Pascual Baylon, a Spanish Franciscan Mystic and the Virgin was placed in the middle of the altar for public veneration.

Numerous miracles happened immediately with the enthronement of the Virgin and she wrought miracles to the town and to her pilgrims outside Obando. The images of the three patrons, which are presently venerated are replicas, since the original ones got burned with the Church and convent during the Japanese Liberation of 1945. The replicas were commissioned and the church was rebuilt in 1947. It was later declared a shrine for the province of Bulacan by the Bishop Jose Oliveros. The Lady of Salambao received an Episcopal Coronation on December 12, 2004.

Obando Fertility Rites
The Obando Fertility Rites

Obando has become a locus of panata for childless couples. The ritual dance may be traced back to the pre-Hispanic beliefs of our ancestors. The ancient ritual involved drinking, singing and dance, and was normally held at the home of a datu or barangay chieftain. Fertility rites were believed to help barren women in conceiving.

When Spanish Franciscan missionaries arrived in the Philippines, they propagated Christianity by building churches and introducing Catholic saints. St. Claire, St. Pascual and Our Lady of Salambao and the dance ritual was later incorporated.

Sts. Pascual Bailon and Clare of Assisi
The Obando Fertility Rites are mentioned explicitly in Dr. Jose Rizal's novel "Noli Me Tangere", where Doña Pia Alba had to dance the pandanggo in Obando in order to bear a child, Maria Clara.

The Obando religious rites are conducted on three consecutive days in May each year. May 17 is the feast day of San Pascual Baylon; May 18 is the feast of Santa Clara and May 19 for the feast of the Birhen ng Salambao. Devotees dance along the streets together with colorfully costumed women to pray for safe pregnancies, children and a bountiful harvest.

Many people attend the festival hoping to appeal for the saints' intercession. Couples who wish for children appeal to Sta. Clara (St. Clare of Assisi). Fishermen and farmers pray to Our Lady of Salambao for a bountiful catch or harvest. Others pray to San Pascual de Baylon, a model of religious virtue. Some pray to find suitable husbands or wives. Devotees sing the hymn honoring Sta. Clara as they stamp their feet, wave their hands and sway their hips towards the Obando Church during the three-day celebration.

The devotion

The devotion to the Virgin of Salambao continues to be strong for centuries as thousands of devotees and tourists also come from around the country and from overseas to watch and participate in the rites. Miracles were also reported after their participation to the devotional dance. The Virgin of Salambao proves that the Blessed Virgin is always listening to the supplications of her devotees and present them to God to grant these graces which further emphasize her role as the Mediatrix of All Grace.

Reference:

Barcelona, Mary Anne.(2004),Ynang Maria: A Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the  Philippines.  Edited by Consuelo B. Estepa, Ph.D. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, Inc,
Pagsisiyam sa Mahal na Birhen ng Salambao, Parish of San Pascual Bailon, Diocesan Shrine of  Nuestra Señora de Salambao, Obando, Bulacan.
Obando Fertility Rites: Dance Your Way to Fertility, Retrieved from  http://infertilityphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/05/obando-fertility-rites-dance-your-way.html May 15, 2017.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Nuestra Señora de Barangay - The Mother and Protectress of the Barangay

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de Barangay Of all Marian images venerated in the country, there is a simple yet beautiful image of Our Lady that is very unique in our consciousness, the very Filipina image of the Virgin of the Barangay. The image of the "Virgen sang Barangay" gained much attention since its first public appearance in the 1950's as the Patroness of the Barangay sang Birhen Organization and began touring the nation for some years and numerous replicas of this image, whether it is a painting or a three-dimensional statue, this particular Venerada clearly shows how the Blessed Virgin became became our own Mother of the Filipino Nation and became a unifying force for centuries and still enjoys much love and veneration as time passed by.  The image The icon of the Virgin of the Baranggay depicts the Virgin presenting her Son to the barangay. The Virgin wears the traditional balintawak and wearing a red and yellow tapis on her waist while the Child is covered with
Read more

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila - The Queen and Protectress of the Philippines

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario –  La Naval de Manila Within the busy streets of Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, a towering shrine is seen along its road. Inside that massive shrine of Santo Domingo Church, it houses the silent witness to the turbulent yet triumphant history of the Philippines – the beautiful and grand image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila. The Virgin of the Rosary of La Naval is not only a silent witness, she is the anchor of hope of the Filipinos through the centuries of its turbulent and challenging history, better yet, the Great Protectress of the islands, the La Gran Senora de Filipinas. The Image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila (colloquially known as the Santo Rosario or Our Lady of La Naval de Manila), is one of the most miraculous and the most important in the country. As with the Battle of Lepanto of 1571, Filipinos credit her intercession for successfully repulsing Dutch invasion during the Battles of L
Read more

Sisters in Blood, Sisters in Christ - The Talangpaz Sisters

-
Image
Servants of God Dionisia and Cecilia Rosa Talangpaz During the Spanish period,, there were few women who pioneered for a change in the early years of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, then controlled by the Spanish Clergy from the likes of Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, foundress of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, Servant of God Francisca del Espiritu Santo, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena and the two sisters who founded the Second Congregation for Filipino women, the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of Manila - the Talangpaz sisters of Calumpit, Bulacan. The Talangpaz sisters heeded the call to serve the Lord and later founded a Congregation for Filipinas who wanted to live a contemplative life within the cloisters of a convent which was then denied by the Spanish colonial clergy at that time until the foundation of these Congregations. Despite the Controversies and hardships they faced, the sisters, backed up with their unwavering faith
Read more

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles: The Regal Patroness of Angeles, Pampanga

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles inside the Holy Rosary Parish's famed sunburst altar Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles In the previous blogpost, we discovered the history of the image and the surrounding devotion to Santo Angel Custodio , the titular Patron of Angeles City, Pampanga where the progressive city was named after, aside from its founder Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda. On this blogpost, we are going to present the history of the devotion to Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles - the Queen and Patroness of Angeles City, Pampanga. The image The venerable image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles is a de vestir image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary somehow patterned to that of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Manila where the image is also vested in regal robes with bombas (conical enhancements), wears a set of metal accessories and jewels
Read more

Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila - La Fuerza y Alegria de Manila

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila (Courtesy of Mr. Christopher Palabay) In the busy streets of Modern Quiapo - Santa Cruz areas, commercial establishments from ever present shopping malls down to the bangketas that sells almost everything from clothing, food, jewelry, that covered the area is always a common scene. With that modern yet looming atmosphere of that district, it is easy to forget that the same district was once one of the most aristocratic and arrogant arrabal (Spanish for district) during the glorious days of Old Manila. The district that several novou riche families and aristocrats used to stay in that neighborhood and where commerce thrives in.  The link between the Glory days of Old Manila and its present atmosphere is located in a dominant Parish Church of Sta. Cruz, the centuries old miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The beautiful sliver gilded image of the "La Pilarica" is the silent witness to the colorful history of the district. As
Read more