PagsaSan-Juan: The Taong Putik Festival 2025
The Pagsasan-Juan, or Taong Putik Festival, is a unique tradition celebrated every June 24 in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, to honor St. John the Baptist. Devotees cover themselves in mud, wrap their bodies in dried banana leaves or vines, and go house to house asking for alms or candles as an act of humility, penance, and thanksgiving.
The tradition began during the Japanese occupation, when locals believed St. John’s intercession saved men from execution after a sudden downpour stopped the soldiers. In gratitude, they rolled in mud and prayed, a gesture that became an annual celebration of faith.
The costume of banana leaves recalls St. John’s simple way of life and symbolizes humility and devotion. More than a spectacle, the festival expresses Aliaga’s deep faith and unity.
