PHILIPPINES: Childless couples join a fertility dance on the feast of St. Paschal, to ask for a baby

Record ID: 733442

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Childless couples join a fertility dance on the feast of St. Paschal, to ask for a baby
  • Date: 25th May 2008
  • Summary: TOP VIEW OF BAND IN PROCESSION TOP VIEW OF PROCESSION IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACCFZFXHXFS9XY2B27Z82AJPCO
  • Story Text: Couples desperate for a baby are pinning their hopes on St. Paschal Baylon, the patron saint of the Filipino town of Obando, 16 kilometres north of capital Manila.
    Hundreds of devotees packed into Obando Church on Saturday (May 17) to join St. Paschal's feast, swaying to the beat of a fertility dance believed to be miraculous.
    While some couples wished for a baby, others brought their young children in thanksgiving.
    As St. Paschal's image is brought out to procession, couples followed the lead of elderly women wearing traditional dresses, and danced to the ritual's tune belted out by bamboo instruments.
    The Obando parish is more than 250 years old, founded by Franciscan fathers who introduced Catholic practices to an animist community. Fertility rituals increasingly took on a Catholic tinge, with St. Paschal as a central figure, along with St. Claire and Our Lady of Salambao.

    "San Pascual Baylon is associated with the Spanish word 'bailar,' which means to dance. And it is said that in the spiritual life of San Pascual Baylon, he expresses his devotion, the glory and adoration to God, by dancing," said parish priest Danilo delos Reyes.
    Tim and Len Paler have been trying for a baby for the past 11 years.
    Failed by medicine, they danced to St. Paschal as their last hope.

    "We tried science, we tried medical procedures, but we're not prohibited to practice these beliefs so we'll try this too," Tim Paler said.

    "We have a feeling there's a 100 percent chance. I hope St.
    Paschal grants our wish," added Len.
    Childless couples who have heard stories of the saint's miraculous powers travelled to Obando with their dancing shoes.
    Many women who attribute their pregnancy to St. Paschal made a pact to return every year.
    Mercy and Ronilo Formentera saw the feast on television once and got convinced. They hope St. Paschal is more effective than the obstetrician.

    "I hope he gives us a child, even just one," Mercy said.
    Most couples said they believe their baby will come at a God-given time, but devotion might help.
    Four months after the Rivera couple danced for St. Paschal, Michelle got pregnant. Since then, they would join the feast each year with their son John Ariel.

    "Medicine is there, it's even costly actually. This one, you don't spend a dime, you don't ingest anything. You just dance, and you pray. There's no effort to it, and you receive your blessing," said father Ariel Rivera.
    Christians comprise more than 90 percent of the Philippine population of 88.57 million.
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