Following a series of reports of chaos and alleged unruliness of some San Juan City residents during the conduct of its traditional "basaan" (water-dousing) on June 24, Mayor Francis Zamora said the city government will study the creation of a "basaan zone" to prevent such incidents from happening again.
(Photo by Mark Balmores)
"We will do everything we can para hindi na ito mangyare ulit. We are now studying how to create a "basaan zone" possibly dito within the Pinaglabanan area only upang makaroon tayo ng isang lugar na dito lamang ang basaan na talagang pwedeng iwasan na ng ibang tao kung sakaling hindi naman sila dadaan ng San Juan para makipista (We will do everything we can so it would happen again. We are now studying how to create a "basaan zone" which could be possibly placed within the Pinaglabanan area only, for us to have a certain area where the water-dousing activity should only be held. This area could be avoided by those not going to San Juan to join the festivities)," Zamora said in a radio interview on Friday, June 28.
Zamora, as well as the city government through its Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, had earlier expressed their apologies to the public for the alleged unruliness of some of its residents during the conduct of "basaan" that was part of the Wattah! Wattah! Festival 2024 commemorating the feast of the city's patron saint, St. John the Baptist.
Various videos and photos of several San Juaneños dousing water on motorists and bystanders despite being asked not to do so, became viral in social media earning the ire of those doused and netizens as well.
"Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin at pasensya sa mga nangyaring ‘yan noong panahon ng aming kapistahan. Alam niyo po ako ay hindi papayag na ang imahe at reputasyon ng lungsod ng San Juan at ng aming kapistahan ay masira ng dahil sa iilang mamamayang nanggulo (I am expressing my sincerest apologies for the events during the conduct of our fiesta. I will not allow unruly citizens to tarnish the image and reputation of San Juan City and of our festival)," Zamora said in a media conference on June 27.