ILAGAN CITY, Isabela: Giant scarecrows and historical figures again took center stage in the Bambanti Festival held here in the last week of January this year even as about 80,000 tourists and villagers toured the provincial capitol grounds to watch various activities and enjoy the weeklong events. The bambanti, scarecrow in English, has been a symbol of Isabela folk’s resilience and industry as these are placed as standing “protectors” in the fields to drive away birds and pests bugging the crops, according to Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano 3rd. Albano and other local officials led the opening of the Bambanti agri-ecotourism trade fair at the capitol on January 27. “The bambanti symbolizes the scarecrow’s character of resilience and industry to stand amid past disasters and to show thanksgiving for bountiful harvests,” Vice Gov. Faustino Dy 3rd, the festival’s director-general, said. This year’s theme was “Pagpatuloy ang Tagumpay ng Pusong Isabela (Keep Up the Victory of Isabela Spirit).” Isabela has been ranked first nationwide in corn production and second to Nueva Ecija in rice production. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat was the special guest during the festival. The Bambanti Festival last year was awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest gathering of people dressed and dancing as scarecrows. It has been named Hall of Famer for Best Festival Practices and Performance in the 2018 Aliw Award after winning for three consecutive years, from 2015 to 2017.
