Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5) — San Juan City will postpone its traditional ‘basaan’ or water dousing activities during the “Wattah Wattah” festival due to the looming El Niño, Mayor Francis Zamora announced.
“Wala ho tayong magiging basaan na nakasanayan noong mga nakaraang taon. Ang gagawin natin ay ang “Basbasang sa Makabagong San Juan” tulad noong ginawa natin noong kasagsagan ng COVID,” Zamora told reporters on Friday.
[Translation: We will not push through with the traditional dousing activities. What we will do is the Blessing of San Juan, which was what we did during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.]
“I will issue an executive order today in line with the discussions earlier,” he added.
During the “Basbasang sa Makabagong San Juan,” the image of St. John the Baptist will be paraded around San Juan City while priests sprinkle holy water on the locals.
The “Wattah Wattah” festival is celebrated every June 24, which also marks the feast of St. John the Baptist.
