San Juan City on Tuesday declared this year’s Wattah Wattah Festival a success, with no serious injuries or untoward incidents reported throughout the celebration, which drew an estimated 10,000 participants.
According to the Incident Command Center, 18 minor incidents were logged during the festivities — including two cases of shortness of breath, eight cases of heat exhaustion, eight minor injuries, three public disturbances, five ordinance violations, three lost-and-found cases, and one missing person case, which is now under resolution.
Authorities confirmed that all incidents were promptly addressed, and there were no major threats to public safety.
Held under tighter security and stricter guidelines following last year’s controversial celebration, the 2025 Wattah Wattah Festival was carried out under City Ordinance No. 14, S. 2025, which outlined safety and crowd control protocols for the event.
Mayor Francis Zamora, who personally oversaw the preparations, commended both the public and city departments for their discipline and coordination throughout the celebration.
“I’m proud of how our citizens, guests, and city departments came together to ensure a festive yet disciplined celebration,” said Zamora. He also thanked San Juaneños for adhering to city rules, noting that as of 2 p.m., no complaints were received about passersby being doused with water—a major concern in previous celebrations.
While some street performers experienced mild hyperventilation due to extreme heat, medical teams were immediately dispatched and were able to resolve all cases on site.
The Wattah Wattah Festival is held annually in honor of St. John the Baptist, known for its vibrant water dousing traditions, parades, and street dancing. The city government said a comprehensive post-event assessment will be conducted to further refine safety measures in future editions.