Fire trucks shower spectators in San Juan City’s Wattah Wattah Festival

Basaan sa Wattah Wattah Festival sa San Juan City, nagsimula na @dzbb pic.twitter.com/BL6QCxrxSg

— Mark Makalalad (@MMakalalad) June 23, 2022

Fire trucks splashed water on the spectators of Wattah Wattah Festival in San Juan City on Friday.

In a video tweeted by Super Radyo dzBB’s Mark Makalalad, the spectators were jumping and dancing around the street as personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) pointed the fire hose at them.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the usual activities for the Wattah Wattah Festival were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After three long years, ito na po ay magaganap muli ang aming selebrasyon ng aming kapistahan na nakasanayan ng bawat isa (the traditional celebration of our festival will happen again),” he said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

Zamora said the activities for the festival, which celebrates Saint John the Baptist, are allowed despite the pandemic because the city is currently under Alert Level 1.

The wearing of face masks is still required except for performers, he added.

Zamora reminded that a liquor ban has been imposed in the city from 12 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

Dousing dirty water, throwing “water bombs” or plastic bags and bottles containing water,  and opening the doors of vehicles are also prohibited.

Motorists are advised to take other routes as the area of Pinaglabanan Shrine has been closed to traffic.

According to Zamora, they are expecting thousands of people to participate in the festival considering that thousands attended the festival’s concert and firework show on Thursday night. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News