Scarecrows on Parade at the Bambanti Festival
Bambanti comes from an Ilocano word for scarecrow—the mythical figure depicted by a human-shaped mannequin often seen standing in the middle of agricultural farms, meant to scare sparrows and crows from casting destruction on crops. Unfortunately, when super typhoon Lawin hit Isabela in October 2016, no amount of scarecrows could save the province’s agricultural produce as the violent force of nature battered houses, highways, and destroyed every rice, corn, and agricultural crop land in its path—leaving in its wake a trail of destruction only surpassed by typhoon Yolanda in recent memory.
I learned about this stark reality from Vice Governor Antonio Albano as he welcomed members of the media while witnessing the festive vibe of Bambanti Village near Isabela’s provincial capitol in Ilagan City. I was instantly amazed at the sheer resilience and uplifting spirit of the people of Isabela, which was on full display that day.
“Barely three months after [Lawin], we are so proud to showcase Isabela as a province that has already rebounded. If you actually go to those places, you will not see that it was hit by a Category 5 typhoon that reached winds of up to 350 kilometers per hour,” Albano shared.
A series of festive events highlighting the province’s rich culture, local products, cuisine, artistic flair, and street dancing skills dominated the week-long festival, which was dubbed this year as “Isabela para sa Daigdig” (Isabela for the Universe).
Giant Bambanti (Scarecrow) Display
Fourteen of Isabela’s 34 municipalities and 3 cities actively participated in the Giant Bambanti display contest. Towering scarecrows ingeniously designed and heavy with rich colors soared stunningly over the Bambanti Village.
Marveling at each of the giant bambantis completely erased any prevailing image in my mind of frightening scarecrows and replaced it with an impressive set of vibrant figures teeming with creativity—portraying various pop-culture themes such as Miss Universe and Voltes V. The municipality of Roxas was ultimately awarded for creating the best giant Bambanti.
Street Parade and Dance Showdown
No Philippine festival is complete without a grand street parade and dance showdown. Even though one might have seen similar spectacles at Sinulog, Dinagyang, or Ati-Atihan, the contingents who performed this year brought out something entirely fresh.
Even as a veteran spectator of numerous festivals, I was immediately wowed by the infectious energy of each contingent as they danced to the beat of this year’s theme song—which blended perfectly with the vigor of the performers.
Concluding from what I witnessed, I now fully understand why the Bambanti Festival has won the prestigious Aliw Awards for Best Festival Practices and Performances twice already. They simply know how to astound and deliver an unforgettable show. Quirino took home the top prize in the Street Dance category, while Alicia won the Dance Showdown.
Agri-Ecotourism Booth Showcase
These artisanal stalls were situated in the same area where the giant bambantis were displayed, featuring each municipality’s best local products such as fruit wines, kakanin (rice cakes), organic produce, souvenir items, and native handicrafts.
Making the rounds of each booth gave me an enriching opportunity to learn more about the history, culture, and commercial achievements of the various towns of Isabela. San Agustin came away with the award for Best Agri-Ecotourism Booth.
Festival King and Queen
Each town contingent proudly paraded their official Festival King and Queen to the boisterous cheers of the crowd. Parading in flamboyant, stylish costumes, every pair rocked the stage with their captivating presence. The young bachelor and pretty lady from the municipality of Roxas took home first place.
Inabraw Cook-off
Another culinary highlight of the festival was the Inabraw cook-off. Masterful cooks from participating municipalities laid out their kitchen skills to come up with their own distinct versions of this traditional Ilocano dish.
Inabraw is a hearty stew that integrates leafy vegetables, squash, and grilled fish. One can compare it to pinakbet because of the mixture of local vegetables, but the similarity ends there. Usually served alongside organically grown red rice, Inabraw provides a savory, appetizing feast. The town of Tumauini—home to one of my favorite Spanish colonial brick churches—bagged the first prize.
Musical Concert & Fireworks Display
Following the Hip-hop B-boy dance contest won by the acrobatic crew from Santiago City, popular artists opened the grand finale show of the Bambanti Festival.
The musical concert reached fever pitch once a talented quartet of powerhouse singers took center stage. The whole Ilagan Sports Complex shook each time they belted out high notes.
After treating the massive crowd—which easily numbered in the tens of thousands—the singers retired from the stage just as a spectacular fireworks display began shooting bright trails of light into the night sky. Amidst the fiery illuminations lining the sky, the 2017 Bambanti Festival closed in grand fashion, bookmarking the struggles of the past year and ushering in renewed hope for a province surging back to economic strength.
