PCP gears young journos on covering the muddy rituals of Novo Ecijanos

Members and volunteers of the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP) along with the participants of the photojournalism outreach program, held on June 23-24, 2024, at the Restituto B. Peria National High School in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija.

Story by Glecelyn Simba

The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP) conducted a two-day photojournalism workshop in time for the celebration of the “Taong Putik Festival” in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, on June 23–24, 2024.

“Taong Putik” literal Mud People Festival, also known to Novo Ecijanos as Pag-sa-San Juan, is an annual cultural-religious celebration held every 24th of June in honor of their patron, St. John the Baptist.

During the first day of the workshop, members of the PCP, led by Chairperson Jimmy Domingo and Vice Chairperson Rolex Dela Pena, discuss the basics of photography, photojournalism, and photo captioning.

The session also included a brief discussion led by PCP member Ramon Jose on safety protocols and risk management for on-the-ground coverage, and a sharing by PCP member Dax Simbol of his previous coverage of the ritual.

On the day of the training, which was the day of the festival, PCP members and volunteers were assigned to each of the participants— most of whom were young student journalists— to guide them throughout the coverage of the Taong Putik rites and rituals.

After the coverage, the outputs of the participants were critiqued by PCP members and a selection for potential publication was made. UP Journalism students Glecelyn Simba and Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo also shared insights on their experiences as campus journalists.

The outreach program of PCP started in February 2023 during a photography exhibit and a seminar-workshop for campus journalists and community storytellers at the Quezon Memorial Circle. PCP partnered with DepEd-Quezon City and the Quezon Memorial Circle management for the event.

“Taong Putik” rites

Catholic devotees of St. John rise before daybreak, dressed in full body-length dried banana leaves, some donned wild plants, and covered their bodies with mud from rice paddies, communal pumps, or carabao bathing areas.

The wearing of dried leaves soaked in mud was said to be patterned after how the Catholic saint was depicted in most biblical tales.

Before going to the barrio's church for holy mass, the "mud people" roam barefooted around the village and go house-to-house to ask for alms in the form of candles and coins that symbolize humility and penance.

Through the eyes of young photojournalists

A first-time attendee, James Dharell Trinidad, 17, who was then in preparation for the National Secondary Press Conference (NSPC) photojournalism competition category, shared that he joined the workshop to “experience real-life journalism."

“It was so different from the kind of journalism I learned from school. I have to wake up early just to make sure that I will arrive on time. I learned that time is a crucial aspect in covering an event, and every second counts,” said Trinidad from Gapan City.

"When the crowd gathered for the holy mass, my movements [were] restricted, and it was very hard to get across to people without being a distraction to their prayer,” he added.

Before 6:00 a.m. holy mass., "mud people," tourists, and other attendees flock to the churchyard to light candles and solemnly pray for their personal intentions.

Meanwhile, Francine Nicole Talampas, 15, who was in her second year capturing the festival with PCP, described the coverage as “amazing and a remarkable experience.”

Talampas also recalled her “best experience” from covering the festival, “I got to go up to the [canopy] of the church to take pictures of all the [devotees].”

Student photojournalists Trinidad and Talampas, along with all the workshop participants, followed and photographed the devotees— from finding muddy areas to soaking their bodies in mud and attending the holy mass.

To where it roots back

The origin of Pag-sa-San Juan has long been unknown, but, according to local legends, it started in 1936 when poor Filipino farmers went to church to honor St. John the Baptist.

The farmers were said to be wearing dried banana leaves and smeared mud on their faces in fear of discrimination against the underprivileged.

Some elder residents, however, claimed that the celebration dates back to a miracle in 1944, when Japanese soldiers occupied the province and attempted to execute all of the men in town.

Townsfolk were believed to be praying fervently until heavy rain fell, causing the soldiers to flee in fear that it was a sign of disapproval from heaven. Then people rejoiced and rolled down in the mud.

Meanwhile, researchers from Central Luzon State University noted that the devotion to St. John intensified when venomous snakes infested the area. The locals prayed to St. John, who sent down a heavy downpour that banished the snakes.

The barangay was named Bibiclat, which means place of snakes.

The festival typically ends with a procession, colorful parades, and various traditional activities, including a carabao race.

Following are the participants and a gallery of their outputs: