the viewing deck: Morning Trip to Taong Putik (Mud Men) Festival 2016

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Morning Trip to Taong Putik (Mud Men) Festival 2016

24-June-2016 Friday in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, Luzon, Philippines

"Pagsa-San Juan", known also as the Pista ng Taong Putik (Mud Men Festival), is a tradition conducted every 24th of June at Barangay Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. This festival is celebrated in honor of San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist). Devotees apply mud and cover their body with dried banana leaves as tribute on their origin, act of penance and a symbol of humility.

There is another popular tale which tells that Japanese soldiers were about to execute all the suspected guerrillas in the town of Bibiclat because they have killed 13 Japanese soldiers. The relatives of the suspects went to the church to pray. While praying, it rained hard and the Japanese stopped the squad to set the guerrillas free. The villagers danced in joy and played in the mud for being so thankful. Residents attributed this miracle to Saint John the Baptist and vowed to pay a feast day by wearing costumes patterned after his attire but by using native materials.

TAONG PUTIK FESTIVAL 2016 MORNING VISIT DAY-TRIP ITINERARY;
24-June-2016 Friday
0030H ETD Home; transportation to Cubao 32
0130H ETA Five Star Bus Terminal 185
0345H ETA Cabanatuan; breakfast 82; tricycle to Brgy. Bibiclat, Aliaga 100; St. John The Baptist Church
0530H Mass
0700H Procession
0800H walk to highway (2.5km); bus to Cabanatuan Terminal 27; breakfast at McDo 99
1030H ETD Cabanatuan 185
1400H ETA Cubao; transportation to Home 25
Budget Total: PhP 735