Backpacking Philippines: Basaan: San Juan Fiesta's Water Splashing Tradition

Basaan: San Juan Fiesta's Water Splashing Tradition

Ever aware of the Manila Day's non-working holiday's historical error, Tutubi passed by City of San Juan en route to Makati but was met by closed roads particularly N. Domingo where he passed by everyday in order to avoid EDSA. It was only when he saw people on Araneta Avenue after SM Centerpoint that made him remember that it's the dreaded "free water" and "free car wash" in San Juan celebrating the feast of San John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista) that gave birth to the water splashing tradition.

On knowing he can't turn left on N. Domingo to get to F. Blumentritt going to Kalentong and Shaw Boulevard, Tutubi didn't try to turn right to N. Domingo to get to F. Manalo and instead made a U-turn to get back to Aurora Boulvard which was also slow moving. What Tutubi for the first time with his own eyes were "rabid" celebrators of the tradition that doesn't distinguish people who actually don't want to be delayed with their official business.

It's a good thing that Tutubi always has a camera ready with him, this time his trusty old Canon Ixus 30 that he was able to take a few pictures (thru the car dash dashboard) of San Juan residents splashing water on hapless and sometimes unsupecting passers-by to the wet world of San Juan.

The west-bound lane of Aurora Boulevard where fiesta people wait for their victims on-board open jeepneys and buses to splash water. (it's quite dark due to the coming typhoon Feria) plus the shadow of LRT 2)

an unsuspecting motorist stopped by San Juan residents "armed" with pails and laddles, who waited for their prey near Lambingan Bridge. Tutubi saw the rudeness of some people in front of his car. A news reported was there to document the event.

Someday, Tutubi can document the event more using his waterproof Olympus camera and when June 24 will fall on a weekend :P

Traffic Advisory every June 24 (the feast day of San Juan bautista):
Avoid the streets of San Juan unless you want to join in the festivities. There he saw people who would be going somewhere got wet. Truck drivers with windows lowered got wet at every corner, some people even tried to board buses (or G-Liner and RRCG) from Cainta going to Quiapo but were ready for them. Tutubi's officemate who lives in San Juan didn't report to work for he can't come to the office in dry clothes.

Lastly, every the last Sunday of January, the streets of Paete, Laguna also celebrates a similar water-splashing festival in honor of the Sto. Nino but people there distinguish revelers from onlookers and passers-by, unlike the people of San Juan.

Related Post:
Manila's Foundation Day

Labels: Fiestas, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, San Juan

posted by GingGoy @ 9:21 PM,

13 Comments:

At Jun 28, 2009, 9:34:00 PM, dodong flores 도동 플로오리스 said...: Nabasa din ako sa umagang iyon. I didn't blog about it :D
At Jun 28, 2009, 9:41:00 PM, GingGoy said...: dodong, frustrating, di ba? what if you really need to get to a place and pass by san juan? the san juan people were like the mob that day
At Jun 28, 2009, 10:58:00 PM, Unknown said...: i used to enjoy this festival when i was a kid. now, it's plain nuisance. imagine somebody on her/his way to a job interview getting caught in the middle of "basaan". the local gov't should designate an area where people can get wet, throw water at each other, and not allow people to splash water at jeepneys and motorists.
At Jun 29, 2009, 1:46:00 AM, escape said...: i didnt know about the ones in paete. that should be covered sadly im scheduled for the ati atihan next year.
At Jun 29, 2009, 4:20:00 AM, carlotta1924 said...: i'm from san juan, and when i was a kid i loved this festival and was always outside during the basaan. however when i went to college and then started work, i made sure i have a car or i go out after lunch to avoid the basaan :D and yup, one can't be too sure now where most of the people get the water to splash on the hapless people.

i meant to blog about the san juan fiesta for the longest time, but am too lazy. hehe. thanks for sharing your experience :)
At Jun 29, 2009, 12:58:00 PM, aceychan said...: this looks like fun! perfect for water gun fights.
At Jul 3, 2009, 10:59:00 PM, GingGoy said...: luna, san juan government should really make it more reasonable instead of splashing water on strangers :(

the dong, it' called Salibanda in Paete. there's always another year for you to cover it and you might find me there hehe

carlottam so the basaan is only from 7am to 12nn? now i know

acey, hehe you're really such a fun-loving person :P
At Jul 14, 2009, 3:08:00 PM, David said...: I was also passing by aurora blvd when the kids started to open my door. Good thing it was locked and good thing my lock was working well. This is a great fiesta though and I would want to attend this sometime in the future.
At Jun 23, 2010, 5:27:00 PM, Anonymous said...: ah... its during working hrs!!! and tomoro is the day!!! sayang... otherwise, can get wet awhile...
At Feb 16, 2012, 2:36:00 PM, Anonymous said...: wag ka kayang mag post ng kung ano ano na nakakasira sa tao dahil ang mag sanjuan ay hindi ganyan. at yang araw na yan bago namin basain ang isang tao nagpapaalam muna kami kung pwede siyang basain at sa uulitin na gawin mo yan subukan mo muna kasing maging tao at maki fiesta ng hindi ka masyado maging bitter pasalamat ka ngaun q lang nabasa yan. at tama nga sila hindi lahat ng nakikita sa larawan ay totoo at hindi lahat ng paninira ay totoo. i really sure na ala kang kasayahan sa buhay mo kc masyado kang bitter.
At Feb 16, 2012, 7:28:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, you're the only person yet to deny this but it's not old news how people splash water even on people who didn't want to. i have officemates who don't come to the office on this day since they can't get out of their homes and remain dry for just a few minutes. perhaps next time I'll take a video, so you'll say do not believe everything in a video? :(
At Jun 5, 2012, 4:17:00 PM, Anonymous said...: waw, malapit na June 24. ganun pa rin kaya doon?
At Jun 23, 2012, 6:23:00 AM, Anonymous said...: FUCK YOU CITIZENS OF SAN JUAN!! PAG AKO NABASA PA ULIT MANSASABOY AKO NG MY ACIDO!!

Basaan: San Juan Fiesta's Water Splashing Tradition

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