Navotas, their boat suddenly grew heavy and immobile. When they eventually decided to bring the image to Obando, their boat quickly lightened and became easy to paddle. This was taken a sign that the Virgin wanted to be enshrined in Obando Church. She is still venerated there as the local patroness of fishing and of good harvests. Ban and post-War revival During the Second World War, the church and a large portion of Obando were ravaged by fire; included amongst the damaged property were the images of the three patron saints. A few years after the war's end, both the Archbishop of Manila and the vicar of Obando Church forbade the fertility dance due to its pagan origins. During the prohibition, normal religious processions were still held on the triduum, but without the lively street dancing. In 1972, parish priest Rev. Fr. Rome R. Fernández and the Komisyon ng Kalinangan (Commission on Culture) of Obando helped in having the ban lifted and in reviving the ancient dance ritual, which is still practised to this day. In popular culture The rites were featured in the pilot episode of the Filipino teleserye Ina Kapatid Anak, which used fertility issues as a plot device. In his 1887 novel Noli Me Tángere, the Philippine national hero, José Rizal, has a character in Chapter 6 ("Captain Tiago"), attribute her long-sought pregnancy to the rites. The pregnancy results in the birth of one of the novel's principal characters, María Clara. See also Obando Church Colegio de San Pascual Baylon Folk Catholicism Religion in the Philippines Sexuality in the Philippines References Footnotes Bibliography Reyes, R. delos, E. de Guzman and J. Lozano. Obando: Alamat ng Isang Sayaw (Obando: The Legend of a Dance), Languages: Tagalog, English and Spanish, Angelfire.com, 24 February 2005, retrieved on: 9 June 2007. Hernandez, Jose W. Obando Fertility Rites, Fiesta, Seasite.Niu.edu, 1990, retrieved on: 9 June 2007 Obando Fertility Rites, "Fertility Dance", 17-19 May/Obando, Bulacan, LakbayPilipinas.com, 2002, retrieved on: 9 June 2007 British Airways Event Details: Obando Fertility Rites, BritishAirWays.com, retrieved on 9 June 2007 Philippine Daily Inquirer. Obando, Bulacan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inq7.net, 2005 Liong, Ricardo. Obando Church - For Those Who Hope, The Beaten Path, Tsinoy.com, retrieved on: 9 June 2007 Obando's Sta. Clara Fertility Festival Begins, Travel and Leisure, Philippine Headline News Online, NewsFlash.org, 1998, retrieved on: 9 June 2007 World Fair Philippine Festivals, The Internet 1996 World Exposition, No.