Mud People ( Taong Putik) Festival

            

Hundreds of devotees the patron Saint John the Baptist in Barangay Biblicat in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, converts themselves as mud people, hence taong Putik Festival with the incessant rains this year's in this little barrio, is wetter and muddier than usual.

Early morning of the 24th of June, the devotees, already garbed with dry banana leaves venture into the streets of Biblicat. They would go to one house after another for alms such as candles or money to buy candles they would offer to Saint John. Men, women, and children, all smeared with mud, and by tradition, they would wipe the face people who would refuse to give alms with the mud stains particularly on their hands, expressing fun revelry, as the streets of Biblicat transforms into a huge stage for the devotees’ performance.

            

Later, the mud people would converge at the church plaza, lighting up the candles they offer to Saint John as a form of expressing gratitude for the blessings the saint has brought to them, and later even, participate in the outdoor Holy Mass. The procession begins with the tune played by well-attired musicians after the mass. The images of the patron saint, being carried on shoulders of devotees are followed with the mud people. From the Biblicat main streets they would walk until they get back to the church.

           

A story about mythical image of Saint John the Baptist which was brought to Biblicat by early Ilocanos in aiding them and protecting them to drive away poisonous snakes from the village. Biblicat , its name derived from the Ilocano word biclat which means snake

The other tale is about the Japanese soldiers during the World War II, when they were about to sentence death to the retaliating forces of the villagers after 13 fellow Japanese soldiers were killed.  When they were about to be executed, heavy rain fell that the villagers had to be taken to the church for shelter. When the rain stopped, Japanese soldiers change their mind and set the villagers free. For this miracle is attributed to the work of Saint John the Baptist, thus villagers vowed they would commemorate the patron saint on his feast day, and came up wearing costumes patterned after his appearance. This enactment is an imitation of John the Baptist, hiding his identity when baptizing Jesus Christ as he wore animal skin to deceive the people who were after his head.

            

The mud people smear from their faces to feet, together with dried banana leaves and vegetable vines and twigs, completing the whole costume.

The Festival mirrors the culture and history of Nueva Ecija, as said by an official, as they try to personify the appearance of Saint John the Baptist when he baptized Jesus Christ wearing leather girdle and clothing made of camel’s hair, particularly his slippers are soaked in mud.

Tourists, visitors and local, and some government officials are the usual spectators of the festival.  Locals are celebrating the Taong Putik Festival considering their opportunity to gratify God for good harvest, good health, and same goes for the coming years.

Part 2 June 25,2011