^{Residents cheer as fire trucks douse water around the City of San Juan during the Wattah-Wattah Festival 2024, celebrating the Feast of St. John the Baptist on Monday, June 24, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News}

MANILA — Residents and participants occupied major roads in San Juan City on Monday morning as they celebrate this year's Wattah! Wattah! Festival.

The said festival is an annual celebration of the feast of the city's patron saint, St. John the Baptist.

• Tradisyon na basaan, ibinalik sa Wattah Wattah festival sa San Juan

This year is considered special for residents and regular participants as the local government officially brought back the traditional "basaan" or water dousing rites as part of the celebration.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora cancelled the said rites last year due to the El Niño phenomenon.

This year, PAGASA already announced the end of the El Nño and the start of La Niña, which prompted the local government to include the traditional water dousing activity but with some modification.

"Bagama't may konting adjustments po kami, unang-una, tatlong fire trucks lamang ang papayagang sumama sa mismong basaan parade," said Zamora.

This year's celebration kick started with a Zumba session followed by a 6 a.m. mass dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

The blessing of the Santong Tao floats and fire trucks commenced at 7 in the morning, signaling the start of the Basaan Parade.

The parade featured the Santong Tao floats, representing various stages of St. John the Baptist’s life, followed by the float carrying the image of the saint and priests from the parish. The priests blessed the participants and everyone who lined up along the route.

 Residents also joined in the festivities by dousing water on motorists and passersby.

"Napakahalaga po [na naibalik ang basaan] dahil sa nangyaring COVID-19 naatala po ang basaan... Happy fiesta, San Juan," said Nette Chua, who is a participant of the event for almost 20 years.

But some commuters were surprised after some residents hosed them while on their way to work.

"Hindi ko po alam na fiesta, nabasa ako. Diretso po dito [sa work]," said Ashley Garcia, a resident of Caloocan who works in San Juan.

Zamora earlier advised motorists and commuters who don't want to get wet from the traditional water dousing to use an alternate route.

The traditional "basaan" will end before 1 p.m.

The city also organized a street dance competition that featured culture heritage and performances from various barangays.

Some celebrities, like Kim Chiu, were also invited as guests in the event.

To end the celebration, the Archdiocese of Manila will elevate the 130-year-old St. John the Baptist into an archdiocesan shrine at 5 in the afternoon.

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