Who can still remember the days when “Basaan” was a fun experience, not a hassle?
For millennials and Gen Z’s who may not understand what I’m talking about, “Basaan” is a tradition held every June 24 by Filipinos in honor of the feast of Saint John the Baptist. This tradition is most famously held in San Juan City, but in the past, it’s usually held in places where the patron saint is John the Baptist, or near a waterway.
“Basaan” is a tradition where people pour water all over themselves or their neighbors and friends, as a reminder of their own baptism. In the Filipino context of fiestas, as well as the hot and humid weather, “basaan” has slowly lost its religious significance and has become a way to unleash the frustration of the past months and simply have fun.
And this, old-timers say, is where the trouble began.
With the religious significance of “basaan” having faded away, some hooligans and killjoys now take advantage of the situation by indiscriminately splashing water on anything and anyone. In the past, the tradition has been questioned due to roughnecks allegedly using water from drainages and sewage canals to pour on passersby.
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Last June 24, at least two incidents of revelers allegedly going too far in the “basaan” ritual have made the rounds in Laguna province.
In Calauan, there was an incident making the rounds on social media of irate jeepney passengers confronting revelers after some of them allegedly tried to enter the vehicle to pour water on commuters.
And in Calamba City, there was this netizen who poured out (pun intended) his frustrations on social media after some important documents he was carrying were allegedly damaged due to “basaan” enthusiasts splashing water inside the jeepney he was riding in.
“Tingnan niyo ang perwisyong ginawa niyo. Kawawa si Nanay na papasok sa trabaho, tapos basa pa ang [medical] test result ko!” was how that netizen put it.
“Sana piliin niyo ang babasain niyo. Pati mga jeep idinadamay niyo. May mga papasok sa trabaho, matutuwa ba silang basa?”
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This behavior of revelers indiscriminately splashing water anywhere and anyone – no matter how it would inconvenience others – reflects, to me, the sheer selfishness that has taken root among ordinary Filipinos.
Parang yung mga walang pakundangan sa pagpapatugtog ng videoke tuwing gabi, o yung paggamit ng bangketa bilang parking space na halos hindi na madaanan ng mga tao ang bangketa – ang mga ugaling gaya nito ang naglalarawan na wala na talagang konsiderasyon sa ibang tao ang karamihan sa atin.
At ang mas nakakapagpabagabag sa akin? Iyang attitude na iyan na “wala akong pakialam kung may maagrabyado akong iba, basta masaya AKO,” ay dinala na rin natin sa pulitika. Sa pagpili sa mga lider natin. Sa ating pag-iisip sa gobyerno at lipunan.
Ginawa na nating way of life ang bastusan – at gulat pa rin tayo na binabastos na rin tayo nang hayagan ng mga dorobo at kawatan sa pamahalaan?
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