Philippine Villagers Show Devotion to St. John the Baptist with Mud Smearing Tradition

In the early hours of the morning in Bibiclat, a village in the northern Philippines, villagers gather in the rice fields to show their devotion to St. John the Baptist. Using only the light from their cellphones to guide them through the darkness, devout Catholics make their way into the fields. They search for areas where carabaos bathe, as the mud there is softer and easier to smear on their bodies. This ritual is a way for the villagers to demonstrate their faith and reverence for St. John the Baptist.