APALIT -- Town and church officials here are calling on locals to refrain from splashing water on visitors and passers-by on June 29, the feast day of the town’s patron Saint Peter better known as Apung Iru.
Officials, in posters and streamers posted in the town, said that this is aimed at maintaining a peaceful fiesta celebration and to avoid untoward incidents from visitors and passers-by being splashed with water needlessly.
While splashing of water has become an integral part of the Apung Iru festival every year, authorities are calling on locals to spare visitors who are practically unaware of such tradition. Also, this is also not to offend passers-by and commuters who merely pass by the town.
The Apung Iru Fluvial Festival is an annual celebration held in Apalit every June 28 to 30. Some locals generously douse passers-by or unsuspecting commuters and visitors with water, with the traditional “basaan.”
Authorities, however, said that locals should also be mindful of people who merely pass by the town on their way to work or home, adding that the festivities should be enjoyed without untoward incidents.
The tradition dates back to 1844 and is locally known as “libad” where the holy image of Apung Iru is taken from the St. Peter’s Shrine in Capalangan using colorful and fully decorated boats.
Then for three days Apung Iru will be in Barangay San Juan where thousands are expected to visit the image.
On June 30, the more than 1,000 swimmers who are members of the Knights of St. Peter will bring back the image of Apung Iru to its home in Capalangan.
