DINALUPIHAN, Bataan – Hundreds of people joined a long parade here Friday to celebrate – for the first time after two years of cancellation by the pandemic – the feast of their patron Saint John the Baptist.
Festivities began after the morning Holy Mass at the Saint John the Baptist parish church.
Participants, many waving branches of trees and some banana trunks, danced on the streets as they asked for more water as soon as they felt the water sprinkled from hoses of firetrucks by members of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Aside from water from the hoses of firetrucks, some residents sprinkled water to passersby with the use of small water hoses and “tabo”.
Groups of youngsters in colorful costumes and band majorettes participated in street dancing in the festivity they locally call “kuraldal”.
two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Photo by Ernie Esconde
Outgoing Mayor Maria Angela Garcia who joined the water festival said the day marked the birth of San Juan Bautista that was not celebrated by the town for two years because of Covid–19.
“After two years ng pandemya, ngayon na nasa Alert Level 1 na, ito ay isang pasasalamat sa ating Panginoon sa lahat ng biyaya na ibinigay sa ating buhay.
Gaganapin ngayon ang kinasasabikan ng maraming-marami naming kababayan, kaibigan at mga turista ang kuraldal o tubig festival,” the mayor said.
Garcia who has completed her three-year term as mayor was elected congresswoman of the newly-created third district of Bataan composed of the towns of Dinalupihan, Bagac, Morong, and Mariveles.
Incoming Mayor Tong Santos also joined the parade.
“Iikot ang aming Apo San Juan sa 14 na barangay road sa aming munisipyo at iikot din ang aming mga firetrucks para sa tradisyon ng pagbabasa o pagbibigay ng biyaya sa pamamagitan ng tubig. Viva San Juan! Viva Dinalupihan!” Garcia said.
