Philippines: Hundreds of Catholics celebrate annual ‘Mud People’ festival in the Philippines.

.NUEVA ECIJA, PHILIPPINES - JUNE 24, 2026: Hundreds of Roman Catholic devotees performed traditional rituals Wednesday, June 24, as the town celebrated its annual Taong Putik, or Mud People, Festival. Before sunrise, participants covered their bodies with mud and donned capes made from dried banana leaves. Throughout the day, the devotees took part in various religious ceremonies and events to honor Saint John the Baptist. Passed down through generations since the Japanese occupation of the country during World War II, the unique festival sees devotees cover themselves in mud, wear banana leaves, light candles and attend mass.