Hundreds of Catholic devotees in the Philippine village of Bibiclat wrapped themselves in dried banana leaves and covered their bodies with mud on Wednesday, participating in the Taong Putik, or Mud People, festival honoring St. John the Baptist. The annual observance in Asia's largest Catholic nation draws working-class faithful who thank their local patron saint for miracles and fulfill vows made in prayer.
A Tradition Rooted in Class Struggle
Local church leaders say the practice began in the 1800s, when farmers smeared themselves with mud as an expression of humility and covered themselves with leaves to conceal their identities due to discrimination against the poor during that time. What began as a response to social marginalization has evolved into a powerful expression of faith that continues to resonate with working-class Filipinos today.
Devotees prepare for the observance before dawn, heading into nearby fields around 4 a.m. to search for soft mud and smear it over their bodies before wrapping themselves in dried banana leaves. Once ready, they walk barefoot to St. John the Baptist Church carrying only cellphones and lighted candles. As they wait for Mass to begin, hymns are sung near a small fire formed by the candle offerings.
Growing Devotion Among Working Families
Melencio Nenuda, a 39-year-old construction worker, said the mud-covered parishioners frightened him as a child and he used to hide when they passed by. He said that changed when he fell seriously ill in the sixth grade and his mother prayed to St. John the Baptist, vowing that he would join the tradition if he recovered. "I will continue to go back to this tradition because it gives me a good future," Nenuda said, adding that his wife and son also participate.
While no official attendance records are kept, the Rev. Elmer Villamayor, who led the parish between 2014 and 2021, estimates that up to 3,000 people take part in the festival. Rickmar Castilio, 43, has participated for the last two decades, and this year his 11-year-old son Nathan joined him for the first time. "There are a lot more devotees now," Castilio said. "Maybe they have experienced miracles or they have seen good things and that is why there is an increasing number of people who believe in St. John."
Historical Resilience and Divine Intervention
According to Villamayor, devotion to St. John the Baptist grew after a group of local men escaped execution during the Japanese occupation in World War II. Villamayor said residents say the men were spared after a sudden rainstorm interrupted the proceedings, an event many interpreted as divine intervention.
Castilio said his family has its own blessing to be thankful for. After his first child died, he vowed to continue honoring St. John the Baptist through the annual ritual if a future child survived. He has returned every year since his prayers were answered. "(I bring my child so) that he will get closer to St. John," Castilio said. "The youth now are starting that path."
Why This Matters:
The Taong Putik festival represents more than religious devotion—it embodies the resilience of working-class communities who have historically faced discrimination and marginalization. The tradition's origins in the 1800s, when poor farmers concealed their identities to avoid social stigma, speaks to enduring class divisions that continue to shape Filipino society. That construction workers, farmers, and their families still find meaning and hope in this centuries-old practice highlights how faith communities provide social support and collective identity for those whose economic struggles often go unaddressed by formal institutions. The growing participation, particularly among young people like Nathan Castilio, suggests that these traditions offer something essential that economic development alone has not provided to working families in rural communities.