San Juan sets ‘basaan zone’ for Wattah! Wattah! Festival
During a press conference on Wednesday, June 18, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora shows the “basaan zone” for the June 24 Wattah! Wattah! Festival. —Screenshot from Mayor Francis Zamora’s livestream/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City has designated a “basaan zone” (dousing zone) for its Wattah! Wattah! Festival to be celebrated on June 24 to ensure orderliness and peace of the celebration.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora made the announcement on Wednesday as part of the newly crafted ordinance of the city.
Zamora recalled the incident during the 2024 festival where antics of certain individuals, including Lexer Castro or “Boy Dila,” drew flak online for being disrespectful and reckless. Castro was seen dousing a motorcycle rider with a water gun while sticking his tongue out.
READ: Zamora addresses viral ‘Boy Dila’ incident in San Juan’s ‘basaan’
“The City of San Juan recognizes the need to bring an atmosphere of order and peace to uphold higher standards during the cultural celebration and to celebrate the ages old tradition peacefully and harmoniously without resulting in any harm towards San Juan and non-San Juaneños alike,” Zamora said in a press conference.
The ordinance stated that all Wattah Wattah festivities shall be limited from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 24. Zamora then emphasized that no dousing is allowed outside the “basaan zone.”
“The act of wetting others shall only be allowed inside the basaan zone. The basaan zone shall be along Pinaglabanan Road between N. Domingo and P. Guevarra streets and in the Pinaglabanan Shrine,” the ordinance read.
Last year, Zamora committed to regulate the annual tradition to prevent any untoward incident from recurring, including having a designated zone for dousing activities.
READ: Soaked in complaints, San Juan limiting next ‘Basaan’ to one street
The city has also prohibited the following activities inside and outside the “basaan zone”:
- Use of dirty water, water, or ice contained in a plastic bag, plastic, or glass bottles and other similar materials that can be hurled and may cause harm to individuals
- Opening forcibly of any vehicle
- Threatening or harming of any individuals
- Climbing over or shaking of vehicles
- Entering vehicles to throw water
- Wetting others outside the basaan zone
- Unauthorized fire truck shall not be allowed to enter the city without authority of the mayor
- Use of highly-pressurized water sprays except for the fire trucks
A liquor ban will also be implemented from 12:01 a.m. to 2 p.m. of June 24.
Further, Zamora said that violators of the provisions of the city ordinance will be penalized. He noted that any individual caught violating shall be fined P5,000 and face 10 days of imprisonment.
Moreover, minors apprehended will be turned over to the city’s social welfare and development office while their parents or guardians will be fined P5,000. City establishments will also be fined P5,000 if they are found violating the ordinance, including selling of liquor within the prescribed liquor ban period.
Malacañang has declared Tuesday, June 24, 2025 as a special non-working day in the city in celebration of the Wattah! Wattah! Festival. /cb
