by Ma Athena Charlene Altiche

The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP) conducted a two-day Photojournalism and Visual Storytelling Workshop on June 23 to 24 at Restituto B. Peria National High School in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija.

Campus journalists, student paper advisers, and a coach participated in the event, and engaged in a series of lectures and discussions facilitated by PCP members and volunteers.

The workshop, now in its third run in partnership with the Restituto B. Peria National High School, was timed for the Taong Putik Festival which is celebrated every June 24 in Bibiclat. The participants covered the cultural and religious festivities and their output was subjected to feedback and critiquing.

Historians say that the tradition has origins from the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. But during World War 2, Japanese soldiers occupying the town stopped the execution of some villagers after a downpour. Many believe they were saved by a miracle. In gratitude and faith, the survivors rolled in the mud as an expression of their devotion to their patron Saint John the Baptist.

From Classroom to Coverage

On June 23, the first day of the workshop engaged the participants on theoretical and practical knowledge of visual storytelling and equally-important topics on safety and security, gender sensitivity, and the ethics of reporting. The participants had the opportunity to take photos of the parade and procession on the eve of the festival.

On June 24, the day began as early as 3 a.m. for the workshop participants and mentors. As Catholic devotees started their ritual of smearing their bodies with mud on rice fields and donning banana leaves and other vines, cameras clicked. And as the devotees walked barefoot in a solemn procession toward the church while collecting candles and money from residents to be offered to the patron saint, the workshop participants continuously found their angles and perspectives for a thorough visual reportage. Inside the spacious front yard of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. John the Baptist, the workshop participants documented the devotees lighting candles and offering of flowers and the mass dedicated to the Taong Putik that was also attended by the faithful from neighboring towns and cultural tourists.

The workshop’s structure emphasizing theoretical grounding followed by mentored fieldwork reflects a community-centered approach to journalism, ensuring that opportunities are extended to local residents who are interested in visual storytelling, and in turn, can produce and share the stories they have crafted to their communities.

Media coverage of the rituals

Regil Dela Cruz, 54, a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, shared that their devotion was once deeply private and absent from media coverage. “Iyon kasi ang orihinal kung ikaw ay deboto at nagsa-San Juan o nagtataong putik, walang nakakaalam noon. Ikaw lang sa sarili mo dahil ang nag-uugnay ay ikaw at ang Diyos,” he said.

Dela Cruz expressed concern over how the media sometimes misrepresents their tradition. “Sa totoo lang, mayroon talagang lumalabas na balita na hindi siya ganoon ka-konkreto. Hindi siya ganoon katotoo,” he said.

He recalled that even some films depicted the devotees as frightening. “Kaya’t maganda at tama lang na ang mismong magkukuwento ay [sa amin] manggagaling dahil ‘yun ang tama, base sa aming karanasan, base sa aming konsepto,” he added.

Dela Cruz was once a devotee himself. But as more foreigners and cultural tourists, professionals, and journalists visited the festival, he took on the role of welcoming them and sharing the story behind the Taong Putik.

It is important that locals tell their own stories. They must have control on the narrative, exactly what the workshop sets out to help empower. Jimmy Domingo, former PCP chairperson said, “For journalism to succeed, kailangan ang may kontrol sa mga kwento ng pagsa-San Juan at kwento ng mga deboto ay ang mga taga-Bibiclat, mga taga-Aliaga, ang buong komunidad...”

The workshop participants are:

Athena Tahlia Marcelino, campus journalist, Mabuco Elementary School
Carlee Ignacio, campus journalist, Aliaga National High School (Day 1)
Desmund Santiago, campus journalist, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Donald Marcelino, school publication adviser, Mabuco Elementary School
Edward Sta. Maria, campus journalist, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Janine Jose, photojournalism coach, Pantabangan National High School
JC Tanguilig, campus journalist, Central Luzon State University
Jann Conrad Bonifacio, campus journalist, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (Day 1)
John Albert Domingo, campus journalist, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Justin Matthew Rivera, campus journalist, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Jyor Garielle So, campus journalist, De La Salle University - Manila
Jhed Andrei Sunga, campus journalist, Aliaga National High School (Day 1)
Matthew Kenosis Yap, campus journalist, De La Salle University - Manila
Maricel Dela Cruz, school publication adviser, Mabuco Elementary School
Micah Rios, campus journalist, Pantabangan National High School
Michaella Viernes, campus journalist, Restituto B. Peria National High School (Day 1)
Monice Joyce Baltazar, campus journalist, Restituto B. Peria National High School (Day 1)
Richardson Tubo, campus journalist, University of the Philippines - Diliman
Vonn Dela Cruz, campus journalist, Mabuco Elementary School

The PCP mentors are:

Jimmy Domingo
Rolex Dela Peña
Ramon Jose
Kathleen Lei Limayo
Angie De Silva
Franc Lewis Juanatas
Luisito Mercado
Glecelyn Simba
Athena Altiche
Andre Esguerra
Kirsten Lei Ventenilla

The workshop was supported by:

Saturday News Forum
Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. John the Baptist
Akbayan Partylist
Asian People's Movement on Debt and Development
Deniel Ceng
PCP Members

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Athena Tahlia Marcelino

Devotees of Taong Putik Festival solemnly celebrate through prayers in honor of their patron saint John the Baptist, every June 24 in Aliaga, Bibiclat, Nueva Ecija.

Name of photographer: Desmund Santiago

Maingat na hawak ng deboto ang kandilang sisindihan para sa pista ng Taong Putik ngayong June 24, 2025, sa St. John the Baptist Church sa Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. Ang pulang kandila ay tanda ng pasasalamat, habang ang puti ay para sa kahilingan dasal ng magsisindi.

Name of photographer: Donald Marcelino

Devotee walks over the rice field after he covers himself in mud for the celebration of Taong Putik Festival on June 24, 2025 at Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija.

Name of photographer: Edward Sta. Maria

A devotee covered himself in mud and dried banana leaves as part of the ritual called “Pagsa-San Juan” in the fields of Brgy. Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, on June 24, 2025.

Name of photographer: Janine Jose

Naglalakad si Mendy Yuson, 69, sa kalsada patungo sa St. John the Baptist Church, Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, ngayong ika-24 ng Hunyo 2025. Aniya, dalawang dekada na niyang oanata ang pagiging deboto kay San Juan para sa kaligtasan ng kaniyang mga anak ngunit ngayon naman ay para sa kagalingan ng kaniyang retiradong nagsa-San Juan na asawa na na-stroke.

Name of photographer: JC Tanguilig

Buhat-buhat ni Milentio Nuda, 38, ang kaniyang anak na si Marcus ngayong Hunyo 24, sa harap ng St. John the Baptist Shrine kasabay ng kanilang pananampalataya sa naturang santo. Si Milentio ay nagsimulang maging deboto noong namatay ang kaniyang ina kasabay ng paghiling ng kaniyang awasa na magkaanak sila.

Name of photographer: John Albert Domigo

Quezon City resident Pards Cleto, clutches a vlogging camera, documenting his first time experience at the Taong Putik Festival in Bibiclat, town of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija on June 24, 2025.

Name of photographer: Justin Matthew Rivera

In celebration of Taong Putik Festival, a mess held at St. John the Baptist Church at Brgy. Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, today, June 24, 2025. The mass focused on remembering the miraculous event during the Japanese colonization.

Name of photographer: Jyor Garielle So

Devotees cover their bodies with mud and banana leaves during the Taong Putik Festival, celebrated in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija every June 24. This tradition honors Saint John the Baptist, commemorating a miraculous downpour that saved many Filipino prisoners from Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Name of photographer: Matthew Kenosis Yap

A devotee is seen holding the holy rosary during the celebration of the holy eucharist in Diocese Shrine of St. John the Baptist in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija in celebration of the Taong Putik Festival.

Name of photographer: Micah Rios

Mel Jude Bocobo, 20, has been taking part in the Taong Putik Festival since 2022 in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija every June 24. She mentioned that she participated in the tradition in hopes of passing her board exam.

Name of photographer: Richardson Tubo

A devotee of St. John the Baptist smears mud on his face as part of the Taong Putik Festival or Pagsa-San Juan at Brgy. Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, on June 24 2025. The festival originated during the Japanese occupation after a heavy downpour causing soldiers to retreat. Nueva Ecijanos deemed this as “God’s sign” to reject the colonizers, protecting its devotees.

Name of photographer: Vonn Dela Cruz