The Scary “Bambanti” (Scarecrow) Festival in Isabela

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BAMBANTI FESTIVAL

Photo from: jjexplorer.com

Bambanti, the local term for a scarecrow best represents the main industry of Isabela. The human-like form dressed in old clothes placed in the middle of the rice or corn fields acts as a decoy for crows feeding on the crops. Because of the Bambanti, farmers can expect a good turnout of crops. Dubbed as the “Rice Granary of the North”, Isabela remains as an agricultural province but now evolving not one great agri-ecotourism destination in the country. Bambanti Festival showcases the bountiful harvest, the ingenuity of the people, and the unexplored beauty, that is Isabela.

Photo from: bestphilippinefestivals.blogspot.com

Colorful scarecrows filled the streets of Ilagan City, Isabela at the province’s Bambanti Festival, the first time the festival was organized as an independent event. The scarecrow or bambanti in Ilocano (the province’s dialect) “symbolizes the resilience and industry of the Isabelenos.”

The festival was also a form of thanksgiving for not being hit by a storm. The provincial government of Isabela also aimed to attract investors to the province, the country’s biggest grower of corn and mongo and second top producer of rice.

Among the attractions at the festival were the 12-feet-tall giant scarecrows, a Festival King and Queen tilt, street dances and the staging of the musical “Mahiwagang Isabela.” Read More: https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/23027-photos-isabela-bambanti-festival

Photo from: aboutphilippines.ph

Bambanti was conceptualized in 1997 and was formally established as a festival only in 2002. The festival has bloomed into a full-blast event involving all the sectors in the province. The Bambanti Festival runs for a week exhibiting the best Isabela has to offer – from the world-class products, the rich culture, the delightful cuisine, to the yet unexplored travel destinations.

Photo from: festivals.philippineculture.ph

Each town will showcase their finest products, traditions, and local attractions to increase visits from local and foreign tourists. Visitors can try the famous Pansit Cabagan, the Mushroom products of Cauayan City, and of course, the Patupat and Binallay of Ilagan. It is the opportune time to display what each locality is known for or soon to be famous for. Today, Isabela goes beyond being the “Rice Granary of the North”. Equipped with a renewed faith in the local government leaders, the province is now pushing for more diverse industries and livelihood for the people. – facebook.com

Photo from: aboutphilippines.ph

Bambanti Festival is also known as Isabela Day. Bambanti is an Ilocano word meaning “scarecrow,” which is aplenty in the vast rice and cornfields of Isabela. – theparadisevalley.tripod.com