Story & photos by Euden Valdez
The Philippines has proven time and again that it is a resilient country, one that is able to rise from different adversities and recover from natural calamities.
This trait as a nation, the province of Isabela has recently showcased in a local level. After suffering a P4.7-billion loss in agriculture due to Supertyphoon Lawin in October 2016, it has now gotten back up on its feet to show—not just the world but the “universe”—the best it has to offer.
From January 23 to 28, the country’s second-largest province has successfully staged the 2017 Bambanti Festival with the theme “Isabela para sa Daigdig” (Isabela for the Universe). The event has gathered its municipalities and cities to participate at various contests and exhibitions held at the provincial capitol compound in Ilagan City.
Timely and fitting
Indeed, the 2017 Bambanti Festival is a timely celebration of Isabela’s inspiring recovery from the devastation of Lawin. At a press briefing among the national media invited to cover the festival, Vice
Gov. Antonio Albano expressed, “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 is hit by a Category 5 typhoon that reached up to 350 kilometers per hour.”
As proof, some badly hit towns, like Cabagan and Tumauini, were already able to compete at the festival and even bag awards. Cabagan dancers placed third in the hip hop dance showdown, while Tumauini topped in the inabraw (local dish) culinary contest.
According to the vice governor, who also served as festival director general, this is the very essence of the festival’s icon, the bambanti, which is actually a scarecrow.
“In the beginning, the concept of the bambanti was that it was here to protect us,” Albano said. “Now, we also want to show you that the bambanti is strong and resilient. That [just like the bambanti], we [Isabeleños] will be able to always rise above whatever tragedies we face.”
A grand staging
In return, the local government led by Gov. Faustino Dy III left no stones unturned in staging the grandest Bambanti Festival for the resilient Isabeleños. First, each participating town was granted a P100,000 incentive for them to compete in the five major events.
Giving their all-out effort in the high-octane street dance performance, Quirino’s contingent emerged victorious, while Alicia’s topped the festival dance showdown. Good-looking and talented Isabeleños faced each for the festival king and queen titles, won in the end by the pair from Roxas.
Another much-awaited festivity organized yearly is the Bambanti Village, where all of the 34 municipalities of Isabela are tasked to build their own agri-ecotourism booths.
“Each town, through ecological type of materials, has built beautiful cottages, where you will be able to buy the types of products that they sell inside,” Albano noted.
In the booth of San Agustin, the Nuang (Carabao) capital, carved mini carabaos were sold as souvenirs alongside fresh carabao milk. Look outside and a real carabao stands outside. Cabagan was proud to serve its iconic Pancit Cabagan, while Cabatuan its delectable rice cakes. Outside each booth, a giant bambanti looms over, bringing protection and bidding good luck for its people. This year creativity went to the next level. Standing side to side were Voltes V and Optimus Prime scarecrows. Also spotted were larger-than-life Miss Universe-inspired bambantis—talk about timely.
The winning booth was that of San Agustin, while the Roxas Bambanti was adjudged as the best. Still from the local government, a high-production musical was staged on the evening of January 28, followed by a grand fireworks display. Finally, a concert featuring ABS-CBN divas Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto, KZ Tandingan and Kyla culminated the 2017 Bambanti Festival on a high note.
Investment and ecotourism
On a larger scale, the Bambanti Festival has also been credited for attracting new investors to the province, which is a leading producer of rice and corn in the Philippines. A booming eco-power industry is just one of the tangible benefits Isabeleños have welcomed.
Albano cited the Green Futures Innovations Inc. the Mindanao Grains Processing Inc., and the SN Aboitiz Power Group as three of the largest investors in producing sustainable energy from natural resources and even agricultural by products.
Also in focus at the festival is Isabela’s eco-tourism effort, which is poised to open unspoiled destinations with the upcoming completion of a highway that connects Ilagan City to three coastal municipalities bounded by the Sierra Madre mountain range.
Once the road is accessible, tourists will now able to visit Divilacan’s Honeymoon Island, which is currently being put up with a tropical-themed resort by a private company. In the middle of this heart-shaped island is a blue lagoon. At Maconacon, the Lobster Capital of Isabela, savor only the freshest seafood. Last at Palanan, reconnect with nature because here lies one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Asia.
“Palanan Wilderness, Northeast Luzon encompasses 200,000 hectares of prime virgin forest, revealing 10 percent of the country’s protected woodlands,” as stated in Unesco in which the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park is on the tentative list of World Heritage Sites.
More important, Albano promised that all the developments, which are part of Isabela Coastal Development Authority, will ensure the preservation of the natural environment and protection of the ancestral domains.
Image credits: Euden Valdez