San Juan City probes reported ‘Basaan 2024’ chaos
FILE PHOTO: San Juan City’s “Basaan” or “Wattah Wattah” Festival every June 24th of each year. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City is investigating reports of rowdy behavior by some participants in the “Basaan” or “Wattah Wattah” Festival last Monday, June 24.
The local government said it is currently gathering information regarding such incidents during the festivities, which involved dousing people with water.
It also expressed its apology to individuals inconvenienced by their “Basaan,” which commemorates St. John the Baptist on his natal day.
READ: ‘Celebrate St. John the Baptist’s feast without wasting water’
In a June 26 statement posted on its official Facebook page on Thursday, San Juan City said:
“Umabot sa Pamahalaang Lungsod ng San Juan ang mga ulat ng kaguluhan at seryosong tinutugunan namin ang lahat ng reklamo hinggil sa nangyaring Basaan noong Hunyo 24. Kami ay aktibong nangangalap ng ebidensya ng kaguluhan sa nasabing kaganapan.”
(Reports of disorderly behavior have reached the local government of San Juan, and we are thoughtfully responding to all complaints related to the Basaan on June 24. We are actively gathering evidence of the disorder in the said event.)
The city government encouraged participants or witnesses who possess relevant photos or videos of alleged violations to submit them to the San Juan City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office. The images and videos will be forwarded to the San Juan City Police Station for investigation, it noted.
READ: San Juan cancels traditional ‘basaan’ festival
“Taos-puso kaming humihingi ng paumanhin sa mga naapektuhan ng kaguluhan ng ilang mga dumalo sa pagdiriwang. Tinitiyak namin na gagawin namin ang lahat ng kinakailangang hakbang upang masigurong pananagutin ang lahat ng mga lumabag nang naaayon at upang hindi na ito maulit pa sa mga susunod na pagdiriwang,” it added.
(We sincerely apologize to those who were affected by the disorder and to those who took part in the event. We guarantee that we are taking all steps to hold those who are responsible accountable so that it does not happen again in the succeeding celebrations.)
Several people expressed via social media their frustrations over the inconvenience brought by the annual festival. They said the tradition should be carried out responsibly.
The dousing or splashing of water on people during the Basaan festivities imitates the baptism of St. John as written in the Bible.
