Wattah Wattah Festival
wattah wattah festival also known basaan festival lit dousing water feast john baptist patron saint san juan metro manila many community across philippine held every june filipino commemorate birth john baptist cleansed prepared people coming jesus baptizing water along birthday blessed virgin mary john baptist birthday one celebrated saint remembered day death another significant date matthew quote saint john saying indeed baptize water unto repentance cometh mightier whose shoe worthy bear shall baptize holy spirit fire child adult alike line street generously douse passersby unsuspecting commuter visitor water traditional basaan wetting water buhusan dousing water – supposedly remind baptism also enjoy engaging water war wet game using dipper pail hose even water pistol older people may fill ancient coconut shell perfumed water sprinkle passersby rural area people take swim beach nearby river local spring believing little exposure water today even sprinkle splash bring god blessing popular custom practiced recall saint john life mission filipino different part country celebrate feast various way four popular celebration witnessed balayan batangas calumpit bulacan aliaga nueva ecija cavite city san juan metro manila festival earned ire several citizen living around city san juan report celebrant recklessly dousing worker student even public vehicle passenger passing area noted one incident involved hurling muriatic acid unsuspecting bystander suspect since apprehended local police face charge physical injury city government since apologized pledged investigate chaos ensued