#PhilippineFestival Born and raised in the town of Aliaga, province of Nueva Ecija, I witnessed the flock of hundreds of tourists and devotees of St. John the Baptist which is the patron saint of my neighbouring village-"Bibiclat". Men, women and children gathered for the feast of St. John the Baptist, covered with mud and adorned with grass and dried banana leaves. They woke up at 4am and went to the nearest rice paddies to smear mud on their bodies and wear the grass or dried leaves. They are called the “Taong Putik” (mud people) of Bibiclat The tradition came from a story told around the Japanese period. It was said that a group of Japanese soldiers were ambushed by guerrilla rebels. In retaliation, the Japanese officers ordered all the men of the community arrested and brought to the chapel grounds. The Filipino men were about to be shot at noon when heavy rain poured, hampering the execution. The Japanese officers ordered the execution stopped and set the men free. The people then danced in jubilation and played in the mud. They attributed the miracle to St. John the Baptist. Source: Rappler #Philippines #SomeePh #Philippinetradition #Philippineculture #ProjectPHDbyJED