Isabela consist of 34 municipalities and 3 cities in a province. It is the second largest province in the country. The vast area consist of agricultural plains, forested areas of the Sierra Madres and coastal towns. As on of the top corn producers in the country, Isabela found the bambanti, an Ilocano term for scarecrow, as a significant icon, symbolizing Isabela fermer’s diligence and resoluteness to earn his keep, feed his family and produce for the community. Hence the Bambanti Festival was born in January 2013. It aims to unite the municipalities, showcase their creativity, unique products and increase tourism.
Bambanti Festival 2017
Though the Bambanti Festival has been around for more than six years, it is not as commercially known like the popular festivals happening during the month, like the Sinulog, Dinagyang or Ati-atihan. Silent but not without noise, the past couple of years, the festival has earned a couple of awards from the ALIW Awards foundation for Best Festival Practices and Performances. This year’s theme is “Isabela para sa Daigdig (Isabela for the world)” in which the festival aims to make its quality in par with world standards and known globally.
Booths, Giant Scarecrows
This is the first time for me to experience the Bambanti Festival. The event grounds is located in Ilagan, the provincial capitol. At the plaza is the Bambanti Village where there are 15 Municipalities with their agri-tourism booths and products. 14 of them also have their gigantic Bambanti. Fromt he booth to the scarecrow it is juste admiring how they creatively showcased the unique character of their municipalities by utilizing native materials and products from their area. From the meticulous details of San Agustin using beans and hay stacks to the shell-covered walls of Danipigue and the corn-covered booth of Tamauini.
Epic Performances
Then there’s the performances. The stage was set at the Ilagan Sports Complex and I have to note on how much work is put into the production. The stage, lighting, cameras, drones and sound system used were for full-blown production. It is clear Isabela invested much to make the shows as spectacular as possible.
Unlike other festivals where I had to run around trying to catch up with the contingents for the street dance, Bambanti Festival Street Dance only had to make the groups do a round at their vast oval. Which I think was a good idea. And during the grand Dance Showdown, to make sure there was no lull in between performances, they added a timer to make the transition faster between groups. Bambanti Festival makes use us of all available media at the stage, from the lighting, music and LED screens to add to their traditional marching bands.
As expected, the scarecrow theme kept coming up as each municipality performs their local festival adhering to the theme. Some were really grand, others simple and even familiar. But it really kept me entertained and sometimes in awe. Notable performances for me are from Cauayan, Luna, Danipigue and Cabatuan.
Isabela Tourism Update
As a member of the media, we had an opportunity to ask some questions to Vice Governor Toni Pet along with reigning Miss Earth International and Philippines. It was great to hear the infrastructure developments happening in Isabela and I was particularly interested on how well the municipalities of Maconacon and Divilacan are doing since my last visit. Sadly despite the influx of green energy companies coming into Isabela, power is still a hard commodity in both municipalities mentioned. The good news is that the development of the old logging trails has started last year and they are targetting to finish the road by the end of 2017.
Bambanti Event Winners
While the Bambanti Festival 2017 already looks grand by itself, there is still room for improvement. The awarding could have utilized the LED screens to flash photos or video clips as they announce the winners. That way people wouldn’t have to ask which costume or performance won.
Best Hiphop Bboy
- 5th – Jones (5k)
- 4th – Alicia (10k)
- 3rd – Cabagan (15k)
- 2nd – Cauayan (20k)
- 1st – Santiago City (25k)
Kusinero ng Isabela Inabraw expert
- 4th – Cauayan
- 3rd – Cabatuan
- 2nd – San Mateo
- 1st – Tumaini
Best Festival King and Queen Costume
- 5th – Roxas
- 4th – Cauayan
- 3rd – San Mateo
- 2nd – Ramon
- 1st – Luna
Festival King
- 5th – San Manuel
- 4th – Echague
- 3rd – Luna
- 2nd – Cauayan
- 1st – Roxas
Festival Queen
- 5th – Echague
- 4th – San Manuel
- 3rd – Luna
- 2nd – Cauayan
- 1st – Roxas
Giant Bambanti
- 5th – San Mariano
- 4th – Delpin Albano
- 3rd – San Agustin
- 2nd – Quirino
- 1st – Roxas (40K)
Agri-tourism Booth
- 5th Jones
- 4th Palanan
- 3rd Dinapigue
- 2nd Quirino
- 1st San Agustin
Best in Street Dance
- 5th – Cauayan
- 4th – Cabatuan
- 3rd – Echague
- 2nd – Alicia
- 1st – Quirino (75k)
Dance Showdown
- 5th – Echague
- 4th – Cauayan
- 3rd – Luna
- 2nd – Mallig
- 1st – Alicia
Overall Bambanti Grand Winner
- 5th – Luna
- 4th – Alicia
- 3rd – Cauayan
- 2nd – Quirino
- 1st – Roxas
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