Bambanti Festival

Bambanti Festival is a popular festival in the presence, and undoubtedly an amazing tourist attraction if the ‘bambanti’ are anything to go by.

At the core of this festival is the creation of the bambanti which have, effectively, earned the festival both its name and its popularity. These are giant scarecrows that both amaze and scare in equal measure. At the festival, booths are set up in a village-like setting, allowing visitors to enjoy the festival’s activities.

Bambanti Festival and Agri-Ecotourism Exhibit

The festival, aptly referred to as the ‘mother of all festivals’, attracts locals and foreigners from all over the country with more than 34 cities participating in the festival. There is more to the Bambanti festival than just the scarecrows. At the core of the festival is the showcasing of a wide array of farm produce.

The festival lasts for a week, so this offers visitors ample time to get acquainted with the local culture as well as immerse themselves into some of the Philippines’ most amazing cultural traditions. As a bonus, you also get to share with the locals in their agricultural abundance. Rice is the staple crop in this region, so the festival can be regarded as a tribute to bambanti who watch over the fields.

One of the highlights of the Bambanti festival includes the Agri-Ecotourism Exhibit where participants get to learn more about how agriculture and tourism are been blended to attract visitors. Other highlights include street parades and dances, beauty pageants, and a host of fun activities for the little ones. Take the opportunity to enjoy the Philippines’ diversity when you attend this festival.

Bambanti Festival History

The festival started and got institutionalized around the early months of 1997. It was made to celebrate and represent over 34 municipalities in the City of Isabela that have been one of the few with rich agricultural history. It is also to remember that the Philippines, up to this date, belongs to the few countries that could greatly provide agricultural needs, both in the international and domestic trade industries.

This festival is also renowned for the marvelous and colorful display of scarecrows all across the entire festival. Even mascots use the scarecrow costume. However, it’s not just for fun or something that is used because it can be seen in crop fields. It actually has a deeper meaning into it where it symbolizes or signifies different farmer’s traits such as endurance, resoluteness, and diligent spirit.

The scarecrow is usually built with materials from what crops they have produced in their municipality or region. An example would be a rice crop-built scarecrow competing against another built from sugar cane crops and other materials. Not only you’d see how hardworking the farmers are, but you’d also see how creative and artistic they are when it comes to designing their scarecrow model.

The festival consists of many activities and the scarecrow competition is just one and possibly the main event of the festival. Other activities include beauty pageants, costume pageants, dance competitions, cooking competitions, and sometimes even sports, between all municipalities or regions.