BAMBANTI FESTIVAL 2019 GEARS UP WITH ‘VICTORY OF ISABELA SPIRIT’
KicKing off 2019 is the much-awaited Bambanti Festival of isabela province with its theme “Victory of isabela Spirit” (Tagumpay ng Pusong isabela) highlighting all the victories the province has achieved through creative concepts and images.
Spearheaded by the Provincial government of isabela, the weeklong festival will be celebrated from January 21 to 26, featuring its community life, history and heritage, as well as its various indigenous world-class products, lifestyle merchandise items and cuisine as pride of place. The province has seen and realized a tremendous growth in its economic, social, political and cultural development, and celebrates this feat through the said festival.
Hyping up the festive celebration are entertaining programs and competitions such as the giant Bambanti Showcase, Bambanti Streetdance and Showdown competition, Search for Bambanti Festival King and Queen, Bambanti Village and isabela’s Master Kusinero cooking competition.
Bambanti is an ilocano word for scarecrow, which the province considers as protection despite the common notion that it rouses fear. created with colorful straws and grasses wrapped in farmer’s clothing, bambanti has always been the icon and mascot of the festival. The Bambanti Festival is 2018 Aliw Award’s Hall of Famer for Best Festival Practices and Performance by being a three-time winner from 2015 to 2017.