Daven Tamayo

Taong Putik festival: Devotees pray for personal wishes, world peace

Devotees covered in mud, vines, and dried leaves walk barefoot through the streets of Barangay Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, on June 24, 2025, as part of the annual Taong Putik Festival in honor of Saint John the Baptist.Participants offer prayers and go house to house seeking alms—often in the form of food or candles—as an expression of panata (devotion) or thanksgiving.The tradition, deeply rooted in faith and rural culture, reflects both penance and gratitude among farmers and locals.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Maria Virginia Sy

Taong Putik devotees join festival to pray for personal wishes and world peace


Maria Tan

ABS-CBN News

<p>Muddied and covered in dried banana leaves, devotees walked through Barangay Bibiclat toward the Diocesan Shrine of St. John the Baptist in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija—an expression of faith in honor of their patron saint.</p><p>Hours before sunrise, residents headed to the fields to gather dried leaves and vines, coating their bodies in mud before going around the community to ask for candles and donations. These are later offered at the church as a tribute to St. John The Baptist. For locals, covering their entire bodies in mud symbolizes humility, penance, and gratitude for the blessings they’ve received throughout the year.</p><p>Based on oral history, Japanese soldiers once rounded up all the men in the village for execution, but a sudden downpour during the height of summer made them reconsider, interpreting the heavy rainfall as an omen. Locals regard this incident as a manifestation of their deep devotion to Saint John the Baptist.</p><p>Marilyn Trajano, 59, has joined the tradition for 15 years. It&#x27;s a devotion observed within her family and passed on to her children and nephews.</p><p>“Mamamanata po kaming pamilya hanggang kaya namin dahil lahat ng hinihiling ko, ipinagkakaloob Niya,” Marilyn said.  “Taon-taon po kaming namamanatang mag-anak para sa aming kaligtasan. Sa aming natatanggap na biyaya, pinasasalamatan namin ’yon sa Kanya” she added</p><div><em>(“My family and I vow to continue this devotion to St. John the Baptist for as long as we can. Everything I’ve asked for has been granted.Year after year, our family prays for our safety, and we thank Him for all the blessings we receive.”)</em></div><div><br/></div><div><em></em>[[PHOTO ALBUM]]<em><br id="isPasted"/></em></div><p>For Cris Del Rosario, 45, a devotee for 19 years, joining the Taong Putik Festival brings inner peace and fulfillment. He says that despite feeling unwell, taking part in the ritual lightens his burdens.</p><p>“Napakagaan ng pakiramdam, kahit may nararamdaman ka, magaan maglakad kapag namamanata dahil ’yung mga hiling ko ay unti-unting natutupad at unti-unti namang dumarating ’yung katuparan ng mga ’yon,” he said.</p><p>This year, he is praying for world peace, especially in light of ongoing tensions in the Middle East. “Ang pinapanata ko ngayong taon ay maayos ’yung sigalot sa ibang bansa tulad ng Israel at Iran. ’Yun ang hinihiling ko kasi kapag hindi tumigil ’yon, buong mundo apektado. Katulad niyan, tayo apektado sa pagtaas ng gasolina,” he said.</p><div><em>(“It feels lighter, even when I’m not feeling well. Walking becomes easier as I fulfill my vow because my prayers are gradually being answered, and their fulfillment is slowly unfolding. This year, I’m praying for the resolution of conflicts between countries like Israel and Iran. That’s my wish, because if it doesn’t stop, the entire world will be affected. Just like now—we’re already feeling the impact through rising fuel prices.”)</em></div>

<p>Muddied and covered in dried banana leaves, devotees walked through Barangay Bibiclat toward the Diocesan Shrine of St. John the Baptist in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija—an expression of faith in honor of their patron saint on June 24, 2025. </p>

Muddied and covered in dried banana leaves, devotees walked through Barangay Bibiclat toward the Diocesan Shrine of St. John the Baptist in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija—an expression of faith in honor of their patron saint on June 24, 2025.