We use cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience. By continued use, you agree to our privacy policy and accept our use of such cookies. For further information, click FIND OUT MORE.

I AGREEFIND OUT MORE

X

News

• • Home

  • News

  • Entertainment

  • Lifestyle

  • Sparkle GMA Artist Center

  • Radio

  • Music

  • Pictures

  • GMA Pinoy TV

  • Kapuso Foundation

  • Regional TV

  • Corporate

  • GMA Play

  • GTV

  • GMA Affordabox

  • GMA Now

• • Cover Stories

  • Sections

  • On TV

• • News * Ulat Filipino * Opinion * Nation * World * Regions * Metro * Special Reports

  • Money * Economy * Personal Finance * Companies * Motoring

  • Sports * Volleyball * Basketball * Boxing * Football * Other sports

  • Pinoy Abroad * Dispatch * Pinoy Achievers * Immigration Guide

  • Weather

  • SciTech * Science and Research * Technology, Gadgets and Gaming

  • Showbiz * Pep * Chika Minute * Showbiz Abroad

  • Lifestyle * Family and Relationships * Travel * Food * Art and Culture * Health and Wellness * Shopping and Fashion * Hobbies and Activities

  • Serbisyo Publiko * Walang Pasok * Transportation * Missing Persons

  • Community Bulletin Board

  • GMA Brandtalk

  • GMA Public Affairs

  • Tracking

  • Archives

  • 24 Oras

  • State of the Nation

  • Saksi

  • Unang Balita

  • Balitanghali

  • QRT

  • News TV Live

• Photo

• Radio

• Video

ADVERTISEMENT

• 172
• 3
• 0
• 0
• 0 Share

Filtered by: Topstories

News

Strict rules fail to dampen 2026 Wattah! Wattah! Festival in San Juan

By GMA News

Published June 24, 2026 7:32pm

+ Add GMA on Google

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Screenshot from 24 Oras

To ensure a peaceful 2026 celebration, San Juan City implemented strict rules for its annual Wattah! Wattah! Festival on Wednesday,

ADVERTISEMENT

In Oscar Oida’s report on 24 Oras, the city established a “basaan zone” (dousing zone) along the stretch of Pinaglabanan Road from the corners of P. Guevarra and N. Domingo Streets where people were allowed to douse each other with water. Residents caught violating would be subjected to a fine.

“Ito po ay isang responsible na pagbabasa sa isa’t isa so responsible na basaan po ang ating ipapatupad sapagkat all areas outside the basaan zone ay bawal pong mambasa,” said San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora.

(This is a responsible observance for everyone so all dousing water outside the basaan zone is not allowed.)

Other Stories

San Juan reminds residents to observe designated 'basaan zone'

No ghost projects in San Juan, all flood control projects accounted for—Zamora

Battle of Pinaglabanan remembered in San Juan City

Also prohibited were the use of dirty water, water bombs and high pressure hoses. Participants were also not allowed to open the windows of passing vehicles.

Zamora said violators would be meted a P5,000 fine and could be imprisoned for up to 10 days.

San Juan celebrates the Wattah! Wattah! Festival to honor the Feast of St. John the Baptist, the city's patron saint. Celebrated every June 24, the highlight of the festival is the water dousing, which symbolizes purification, renewal, and the biblical act of Jesus Christ's baptism in the River Jordan, the city government said.

To ensure that the rules were observed 500 police officers were deployed around the city.

Despite the stricter measures, many San Juan residents participated in the tradition– from a water gun-toting grandmother, a couple who brought their pets and persons with disabilities.

The San Juan City police said this year's festival was generally peaceful. —RF, GMA News

Tags: Wattah Wattah Festival 2026, San Juan City, Francis Zamora

×

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Sign Up Your email is safe with us

More Videos

Most Popular

### Didicas Volcano Island, lumitaw sa gitna ng dagat matapos ang pagyanig sa Babuyan Islands ### Tacloban shooting: Police concerned over teen suspects' chat on avoiding accountability ### Tacloban shooting fatalities remembered as families seek justice ### Authorities probing possible Tacloban school shooting, 1999 Columbine incident link

LOADING CONTENT

LOAD MORE ARTICLES

RETRY LOADING

advertisement

×

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Sign Up Your email is safe with us

At a Glance

News

• Complaint filed vs 15-year-old involved in Tacloban shooting —PRO 8
• Escudero: President called for special session to end Senate leadership dispute
• Sara Duterte's impeachment trial set for July 6, 2026, despite tight schedule

VIEW MORE ▶

Brand Talk

Money

• No more SMS, email OTPs for high-risk financial transactions starting June 25
• GSIS sets P69.1M for earthquake-related claims
• Meralco seeks bids for 600-MW power supply deal

VIEW MORE ▶

Sports

• ### FIFA World Cup: Milestone Messi sends Argentina to knockout stage

• ### Alex Eala's World Ranking in 2026: Updated week-by-week ranking

• ### Alex Eala falls to Elise Mertens in first round of Bad Homburg Open

• ### FIFA World Cup: Milestone Messi sends Argentina to knockout stage

• ### Alex Eala's World Ranking in 2026: Updated week-by-week ranking

• ### Alex Eala falls to Elise Mertens in first round of Bad Homburg Open

• ### FIFA World Cup: Milestone Messi sends Argentina to knockout stage

‹›

Pinoy Abroad

• Same-sex parenting: Fil-Am commissioner Glenn Magpantay on fatherhood without labels
• 2 pass SPLE for master electricians; no passers for electrical engineers exam
• Filipinos among 5,300 people trapped in Myanmar scam centers —rights group

VIEW MORE ▶

SciTech

• UN chief calls on AI firms to come clean on environmental costs
• DOST, AI firm ink partnership for AI training
• UK considers forcing social media firms to prioritize trusted news

VIEW MORE ▶

Showbiz

• F4, Ashin donate P2.5M to GMA Kapuso Foundation for Mindanao earthquake victims
• Rapper Pio Balbuena appears as guest star on 'The Master Cutter'
• 'House of the Dragon' Season 3: Tom Glynn-Carney says prosthetics help him play Aegon Targaryen's desperation

VIEW MORE ▶

Lifestyle

• ### Lea Salonga is a memory-eating Manananggal in 'Forgotten Island' trailer

• ### Kris Aquino, son Bimby visit late PNoy's resting place on 5th death anniversary

• ### 'Unhinged': What we know about the upcoming Netflix interactive game

• ### Lea Salonga is a memory-eating Manananggal in 'Forgotten Island' trailer

• ### Kris Aquino, son Bimby visit late PNoy's resting place on 5th death anniversary

• ### 'Unhinged': What we know about the upcoming Netflix interactive game

• ### Lea Salonga is a memory-eating Manananggal in 'Forgotten Island' trailer

‹›

Weather

• Rains expected as PAGASA monitors two cyclones inside and outside PAR
• EXPLAINER: What is a downburst?
• EXPLAINER: Why hailstorms occur in the Philippines

VIEW MORE ▶

◀

All Rights Reserved 2026

© GMA Network Inc.

All Rights Reserved 2026 © GMA Network Inc.

About GMA News Online

• About Us
• Contact Us
• Advertise with Us
• Careers
• Privacy Notice
• URL Policy
• AI Policy
• User Policy

On TV

• GMA-7 Shows
• GMA News TV Shows
• TV Schedule

News

• News
• Money
• Sports
• Pinoy Abroad
• Weather
• SciTech
• Showbiz
• Lifestyle
• Serbisyo Publiko
• Community Bulletin Board
• Tracking
• Cover Stories
• Eleksyon 2025

News

• News
• Money
• Sports
• Pinoy Abroad
• Weather
• SciTech
• Showbiz
• Lifestyle
• Serbisyo Publiko
• Community Bulletin Board
• Tracking
• Cover Stories
• Eleksyon 2025

Multimedia

• Videos
• Photos
• Radio -- DZBB

Stay Connected

• RSS Feed
• Mobile
• Social Media Center

Tools

• Search
• Stories

GMANetwork.com

• Entertainment
• Artist Center
• Community
• International
• Radio
• Pictures
• Music
• Kapuso Foundation
• Corporate
• Regional TV

GMANetwork.com

• Entertainment
• Artist Center
• Community
• International
• Radio
• Pictures
• Music
• Kapuso Foundation
• Corporate
• Regional TV

Next Story Rubio starts Middle East trip as Gulf allies skeptical about Iran deal seek answers

ShareThis Copy and Paste