SAN JUAN CITY, June 24 — Residents of the city drenched themselves in the ‘Wattah Wattah Festival’ on Saturday which marked the feast day of St. John the Baptist.
The annual feast commemorates the saint’s way of baptizing people which is reenacted by residents soaking and splashing themselves as well as motorists traversing the city.
Former San Juan City Mayor and now Senator JV Ejercito legitimately renamed the festival “Wattah Wattah” which is derived from the phrase “Water, Water”.
Streets were filled with people dousing themselves with water from tubs, pails, containers, water guns and fire hoses.
Traditional festivities such as religious processions, street dance competition, street dance party and numerous game contests were also held.
The festival is enjoyed by all generations from kids to kids at heart also and has become a tourist attraction because of its unique way of celebrating the City’s feast day.
Authorities, however, said the use of dirty, hot and extremely cold water is strictly prohibited. (Monica Guevarra & Jessalyn Sastrillo (OJT)/PNA)
