Towering over fields of wheat and corn, a scarecrow guards against a murder of crows. It’s a strong and vigilant figure despite being made of only straw and old clothes. The scarecrow is a global symbol of fear and deterrence. But for the locals of Isabela, the figure tells a different narrative. The bambanti, as they call it, personifies their perseverance in agriculture and hope against dark times.
“The scarecrow has its arms spread out like Jesus. For us, the scarecrow wards off natural enemies like calamities and pollution. It’s to protect the lamb,” says Vice Governor Tonybet Albano at a press conference before all the festivities commenced.
For a province often devastated by super typhoons, Isabela remains one of the country’s most prolific regions. It is the country’s number one corn producer. It is also second in terms of rice production, producing more than three times of its sufficiency. More recently, Isabela recovered from 4.6 billion pesos in just three months after being hit by super typhoon Lawin last year. The country’s second-largest province doesn’t have a shortage of things to celebrate.
Themed “Isabela para sa Daigdig,” this year’s Bambanti Festival marked the seventh time Isabela celebrated the scarecrow as a symbol of hope. The festival lasted for a week and joyously celebrates Isabela’s successes as a region and as municipalities. The festivities were open to the public but thirty-four of Isabela’s municipalities and cities chose to participate in the festival’s competitions. These participants were granted subsidies as a thank-you for participating.
Each of the province’s participating municipalities created their own giant bambanti using eco-friendly means and their own special style. The bambantis stood beside cottages which housed displays that showcased what each municipality can offer to the world. The giant scarecrows stood their ground in the Ilagan’s Bambanti Village, a themed area set up especially for the week-long festival. The bambanti ranged from the traditionally scary to thematically uplifting.
The municipalities then crafted costumes that were to be paraded by their assigned King and Queen. These costumes symbolized their own local festival. They were presented and judged for creativity. Participants had another opportunity to flaunt their festivals with dance competitions that showed their creativity in choreography as much as their culture.
A festival isn’t a festival without food, too. The Bambanti Festival held an inabraw cooking competition between the participants. Inabraw (also known as dinengdeng) is a vegetable dish considered a delicacy by the Isabeleños. Each participant brought their own unique spin to the recipe. They were judged by First Lady Mary Anne Dy and various other chefs who visited the festival. Other palatable dishes were also up for tasting including the hearty pancit cabagan and the chewy moriecos rice cake.
In keeping with the festival’s theme, Albano invited Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin and current Miss Philippines Earth Loren Artajos to visit Isabela during the festival. Both beauty queens spread their message of saving the Earth from pollution and abuse. “Being Miss Earth isn’t just about the sash and the crown. We also have the responsibility to spread a message to be eco-friendly and against climate change,” says Espin.
The week-long festival concluded with an awarding ceremony where the municipality of Roxas took home the most awards. The ceremony, and ultimately the whole festival, finished with a concert headlined by the Kapamilya divas KZ, Yeng Constantino, Kyla, and Angela Quinto.
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