Wattah Wattah Festival or Basaan Festival (literally: dousing of water) is the feast of St. John the Baptist, patron saint of San Juan, Metro Manila, and of many other communities throughout the Philippines, held every 24 June.[1]
| Wattah Wattah Festival | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also called | Basaan Festival |
| Observed by | San Juan, Metro Manila |
| Significance | Feast of St. John the Baptist |
| Observances | Dousing of water to people |
| Date | 24 June |
| Next time | 24 June 2025 |
| Frequency | Annual |
Custom
editFilipinos commemorate the birth of Saint John, who cleansed and prepared the people for the coming of Jesus Christ by baptizing them with water. Along with the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, John the Baptist’s birthday is the only one celebrated; most other saints are remembered on the day of their death or some other important date.[2]
Matthew 3:11 quotes Saint John as saying:
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire."
Children and grown-ups alike line up the streets and generously douse passersby or unsuspecting commuters and visitors with water, with the traditional basaan (wetting of water) or buhusan (dousing of water)- supposedly to remind them of their baptism.[2] They also enjoy engaging in water wars and other wet games using dippers, pails, hoses and even water pistols. Older persons my fill their ancient coconut shells with perfumed water to sprinkle on passersby. In rural areas, people take a swim at the beach, in a nearby river, or at a local spring, believing that a little exposure to water today, even just a sprinkle or splash, will bring God's blessings. This popular custom is practiced as they recall San Juan's life and mission.
Filipinos from different parts of the country celebrate this feast in various ways. Four of the most popular celebrations can be witnessed in Balayan, Batangas, Calumpit, Bulacan, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, Cavite City, Cavite and in San Juan, Metro Manila.
Criticism
editThe festival has earned the ire of several citizens living around the city of San Juan. Reports of celebrants dousing water recklessly on workers, students, and even public vehicles with passengers passing-by the area have been reported.[3] One such incident was the hurling of muriatic acid on an unsuspecting bystander; the suspect has since been apprehended by local police and faces physical injury charges.[4] The city's government has since apologized and has pledged to probe the chaos that ensued.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ Locus, Sundy (June 24, 2024). "San Juan City declares St. John the Baptist as patron saint". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "Pista ng San Juan". www.seasite.niu.edu. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Netizens dismayado: Basaan sa San Juan sumosobra na?". Abante Tonite (in Tagalog). June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ Manabat, Johnson (June 27, 2024). "Rider who sprayed suspected acid during water festival faces raps". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ Parungao, Adrian (June 27, 2024). "San Juan City probes reported 'Basaan 2024' chaos". Inquirer.net.
- ^ "San Juan vows legal assistance for those affected by 'Basaan 2024'". The Philippine Star. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.