In the village of Bibiclat in the Philippines, hundreds of Catholic worshipers participate in a unique festival to honor St. John the Baptist. This event, known as the Taong Putik or Mud People festival, involves devotees covering themselves with mud and dried banana leaves. The festival takes place each year in the world’s largest Catholic nation. It serves as a way for participants to express gratitude for miracles and to fulfill promises made in prayer.

Melencio Nenuda, a 39-year-old construction worker, shared how the sight of mud-covered parishioners used to frighten him as a child. However, his perspective changed after a serious illness in sixth grade. His mother prayed to St. John the Baptist for his recovery, vowing that Melencio would join the tradition if he got better. “I will continue to go back to this tradition because it gives me a good future,” Melencio said. His wife and son also take part in the event.

Devotees begin preparations before dawn, heading to nearby fields around 4 a.m. They cover themselves in soft mud and wrap dried banana leaves around their bodies. Once ready, they walk barefoot to St. John the Baptist Church, carrying only cellphones and lighted candles. Before Mass, hymns are sung around the candle offerings. Local church leaders trace the practice back to the 1800s when farmers used mud as a sign of humility and banana leaves for anonymity during times of poverty-related discrimination.

Reverend Elmer Villamayor, who led the parish from 2014 to 2021, explained that devotion to St. John the Baptist increased after local men were spared execution during World War II. A sudden rainstorm interrupted the proceedings, an event seen by many as divine intervention.

The festival sees growing numbers each year. While there are no official records, Villamayor estimates attendance at about 3,000. Rickmar Castilio, a participant for two decades, saw his 11-year-old son Nathan join the festival for the first time this year. Castilio’s devotion began after he vowed to honor St. John following the death of his first child, with a promise to continue if a future child survived. “I bring my child so that he will get closer to St. John,” he explained. The event reflects a growing belief among the youth in the miracles associated with St. John.