San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Tuesday, June 18, said the city government will limit the use of water in its much-awaited "basaan" (water-dousing) tradition that is part of the city's celebration of Wattah Wattah Festival on June 24.

"Basaan" tradition in San Juan City's Wattah Wattah Festival

According to Zamora, "basaan" is an important religious and tourism attraction in the city as it symbolizes the baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist.

"The Wattah Wattah San Juan Festival is a cherished tradition in San Juan City, celebrated every June 24 to honor the Feast of St. John the Baptist. This year, we are particularly proud as the St. John the Baptist Parish Church will be elevated to the status of an Archdiocesan Shrine, and St. John the Baptist will be formally proclaimed as the city’s Patron," Zamora noted.

In a media conference held at the City Hall, he outlined the guidelines and water conservation regulations to be followed during the celebration of the festival.

"In response to the current water situation in the Philippines, as outlined in Executive Order No. FMZ-173, the city will implement several measures to ensure that the traditional “Basaan” is conducted responsibly. These measures come in the wake of recent weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) indicating a shift from El Niño to ENSO-neutral conditions, with a possible transition to La Niña by the third quarter of 2024," Zamora said.

“PAGASA has already announced the beginning of the rainy season. However, water levels at our dams have not yet recovered to normal levels, so we believe that we should continue our efforts for water conservation while allowing religious and cultural practices, albeit with water conservation in mind,” he added.

One of the guidelines the mayor announced is the limitation on fire trucks at the festival parade. Only three fire trucks will be permitted to participate in the "basaan" parade from the usual 50 fire trucks in  previous years.

The trucks must also be official San Juan City fire trucks or volunteer fire trucks registered with the 2024 Wattah Wattah Festival Organizing Committee.

"To conserve water during our festival, we have decided to limit the number of fire trucks participating in the Basaan parade. This is an essential step in our ongoing efforts to address water scarcity. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines strictly. Our goal is to balance tradition with our responsibility to conserve water, ensuring a sustainable future for our community," Zamora explained.

The city government has also predetermined the "basaan" parade route which maximizes the residents' participation during the event. The traditional "basaan" will only be allowed from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., ensuring that water usage is minimized.

The local chief also cautioned the public about the use of dirty water during the celebration.

"Bawal po ang magbasa gamit ang maduming tubig so meron din tayong ordinansa dyan. Sa mga mamamayan nating gustong makipagbasaan sa kani kanilang mga barangay, kinakailangan ay tubig na malinis ang gagamitin. Bawal din po ang water bombs o yung mga supot na may lamang tubig na hinahagis, lalong lalo na ang pagbuhos ng maduming tubig (The dousing of dirty water during basaan is strictly prohibited and the city has already passed an ordinance on this. Clean water must also be used by residents who wish to participate in the basaan in their respective barangays. The use of water bombs or plastics containing water is also prohibited by the city government)," Zamora stressed.

A dedicated enforcement team composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Traffic and Parking Management Office (TPMO), Public Order and Safety Office, Task Force Disiplina, and all barangay officials will be responsible for strictly implementing these guidelines during the festival.

A Santong Tao parade featuring floats with people depicting the baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist will also be conducted during the festivity.

"The Wattah Wattah San Juan Festival is extra special this year with the inclusion of the Santong Tao Floats and the image of St. John the Baptist in the parade. Priests from the church will also be joining the parade to bless our people with holy water along the parade route in what the city calls Basbasan sa Makabagong San Juan," the local chief said.