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Recognition and inclusion, especially of the long-marginalized LGBTIQ+ community, were emphasized in this year’s celebration of Isabela’s Bambanti Festival, held from 19 to 25 January.
“The theme of Bambanti Festival 2025, ‘Ang Piyesta ng Bagong Pilipinas,’ will be focusing on inclusivity, solidarity, and equitability of Isabeleños in terms of being able to unite themselves towards a better future path ng Isabela, in terms of agriculture, in terms of culture, in terms of arts, heritage, and tourism,” explained Nilo Agustin, the overall creative director of the festival.
He also revealed that in several events of the festival, LGBTIQ+ participation and representation were required. This would be the first time that LGBTIQ+ concern was pushed in the local government-organized, touristic and cultural festival of the province in northeastern Luzon.
But the festival remains to be a tribute to the farmers of the largely agricultural province. Its name is from the Ilocano word for the “scarecrow,” a common object in fields and farms during harvest season, transformed into an icon of the festival, construed as a symbol of the farmers’ diligence and resilience and as protector and guardian not only of crops but also of the province. The image of scarecrow and its meanings serve as the overall theme and motif of the festival.
The Bambanti Festival started in 1997 by then governor Benjamin Dy to celebrate the founding anniversary of Isabela. Conceived by his wife, Cecilia La Madrid Dy, it was also intended to promote Isabela as well as its heritage of agriculture and culture.
Initially, the festival was held in May for several years, but it has been postponed a few times because of the elections, which are held in May. It was not held from 2005 to 2010, when journalist Grace Padaca became governor of Isabela breaking the political dominance of the Dy family. The festival was also not held in 2021 and 2022, because of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions against big gatherings.
In 2011, then governor Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, brother of Benjamin, revived the festival and moved its celebration to January. In 2019, governor Rodolfo “Rodito” T. Albano III sanctioned the celebration of the Bambanti Festival yearly.
Among the festival’s achievements are winning the Best Festival Practices and Performance award at the Aliw Awards in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and achieving the Guinness World Record for the most number of people assembled dressed as scarecrows in 2019.
Now, the Bambanti Festival continues to be held with Bojie G. Dy III, who is currently the province’s vice governor, serving as its director general. It has grown over the years. Last year, it was able to attract more than 250,000 attendees, according to provincial tourism officer Joanne Dy Maranan. While it is now the biggest festival in the Cagayan Valley Region, Dy and Agustin planned it to be the biggest in the Philippines.
Like other modern-day festivals in the country, the Bambanti Festival had a full slate of events including a fair, street dancing, sports tournaments, a beauty pageant, shows and different kinds of contests and gatherings, mostly held in the capital city of Ilagan.
This year’s festival was made special with the attendance of a diplomatic delegation consisting of 38 diplomats, including 21 ambassadors, two chargés d’affaires, and one Deputy Chief of Mission, and their spouses from 24 countries, including Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. They were welcomed by governor Rodolfo “Rodito” T. Albano and his wife, Mylene Garcia Albano, Philippine ambassador to Japan.
Accompanied by Department of Foreign Affairs officials, the diplomats participated in a trade forum; explored tourism, trade and investment possibilities; engaged with the province’s local government and business officials; and joined in the celebration.
They also embarked on a familiarization tour on 24 and 25 January, visiting Isabela’s heritage and tourist sites as well as the Philippine Crocodile Conservation Center in San Mariano, Nagkaisang Magsasaka ng Isabela Agriculture Cooperative rice mill in Cauayan City, Universal Leaf Philippines factory in Reina Mercedes, and Mr. Moo’s Dairy Farm in Ilagan City.
This is the first time that the province hosted such a sizable diplomatic gathering.
Trade and tourism fairs are regular features of modern-day festivals, comprising booths of different barangays or towns. Over time, these booths become more spectacular and attractions themselves.
During the Bambanti Festival, the Bambanti Village was set up at the Isabela Provincial Capitol Compound for the Agri-Ecotourism and Giant Bambanti Installations Exhibit and Sale, showing the different produce and products of the different towns as well as the creativity of local designers and artisans in the designs of the booths and bambanti installations. At night, the 34 agricultural and tourism booths with giant bambanti installations were lit up, delighting visitors who took endless selfies. For the first time, representation of the LGBTIQ+ community was clearly expressed in a giant bambanti installation, particularly that of Alicia’s.
The best booths and giant bambanti installations were recognized on 24 January, during the finale of the Bambanti Festival street-dancing competition. (An article, “Colors and creativity at the Bambanti Village,” was previously published on 4 February and can be read at https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/03/colors-and-creativity-at-the-bambanti-village).
In the Bambanti Festival, competitions were created for the festival kings and queens and another for their costumes, the Bambanti Festival King and Queen Costume Competition, which showcased spectacular designs interpreting local cultures, promoting touristic festivals, and making use of local materials.
The Bambanti Festival King and Queen Costume exhibit, together with the Queen Isabela Creative Attire exhibit, was mounted and was on view at the Northstar Mall in Alibagu, Ilagan City, from 20 to 22 January. The Bambanti 2025 Festival King and Queen Presentation was held at the Queen Isabela Park on 23 January, featuring pairs of entries from 13 municipalities and cities — Roxas, Jones, Cauayan City, Palanan, Echague, Alicia, Ilagan City, Santo Tomas, San Manuel, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Luna, and San Isidro. (An article, “Creative costumes articulate touristic festivals and local cultures,” was previously published on 3 February and can be read at https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/02/creative-costumes-articulate-tourist-festivals-and-local-cultures).
The Philippines is known for its fondness for beauty pageants, which are a staple in many fiestas and now a fixture in modern-day festivals. The Queen Isabela beauty pageant is one of the highlights of the Bambanti Festival.
Having secured a franchise of Miss Universe Philippines, Queen Isabela will be sending this year’s winner as the province’s official candidate to the Miss Universe Philippines contest.
The pageant was held at the newly-opened, 10,000-seat indoor stadium Capital Arena in Ilagan City on 22 January. It was notable for featuring the Ilocano handwoven textile or inabel.
Ilocano textile weaving is practiced in the province, along with other hand-weaving traditions of other ethnic groups such as the Gaddang. According to Isabela officials, Ilocano weaving is confined in only one town, Quezon.
The cloth was used in making the official gowns of the 33 candidates of the pageant. Prominent designer Albert Andrada was tapped to design the gowns.
At the end of the pageant, Filipino-Indian student, Jarina Sandhu, from Cauayan City was crown as Queen Isabela and designated as Isabela’s official Miss Universe Philippines candidate.
The roster of winners included Queen Isabela Tourism 2025 Mhira Angelene Valenciano from Cordon; Queen Isabela Culture and the Arts 2025 Johnlene E. Ariola from Ilagan City; first runner-up Jhudiel Eunesse Taguinod from Echague City; and second runner-up Criselle Anne Gregorio from Ramon.
The Makan ken Mainum Competition is the main culinary event of the Bambanti Festival, where promising young cooks and chefs can showcase their skills in using local ingredients and innovating on traditional dishes.
Now on its 10th year, the contest is spearheaded by chef Mary Ann Arcega-Dy, wife of Bojie Dy, and includes two categories, Makan (food) and Mainum (beverage).
“Makan ken Mainum is a very important component activity of the annual Bambanti Festival celebration. It aims to discover signature dishes and beverages of the Isabeleños na puwede nating ipagmalaki sa ating probinsiya (that we can be proud of) not only in Isabela, but in the entire country,” explained Arcega-Dy. “And this year in Makan ken Mainum competition, we shine a spotlight on something that embodies the soul of Isabela. Sa araw na po ito, gagamitin po natin ang kakao or kakao powder sa ating (Today, we will use cacao or cacao powder in our) Mainum category, and the much awaited and exciting part of the competition as we unveil the mystery box in the Makan cooking category.”
“May this competition remind and inspire us all to continue cultivating the values and traditions that make Isabela truly one of a kind,” she enthused.
Twenty-two teams from different municipalities and cities competed in this year’s contest, held on 23 January at the Bambanti Village. Aside from incorporating ingredients of the mystery box into their entries, another requirement this year was having at least one LGBTIQ+ member as part of their team.
The mystery box was revealed to contain the pinilisa variety of rice from Jones and locally grown squash.
The team from Tumauini emerged victorious in the Makan category. Other teams placing in the same category were the teams from Cordon (second), San Mateo (third), Santiago City (fourth), and Burgos (fifth).
In the Mainum category, the team from Luna bagged the first place, followed by the teams from Alicia (second), Tumauini (third), Cauayan City (fourth), and San Isidro (fifth).
The highlight of the Bambanti Festival was the Street Dance and Festival Dance Showdown Competitions at Isabela Sports Complex on 24 January at Isabela Sports Complex.
Thirteen contingents competed with dancers in colorful costumes. This year, the swing jazz style was incorporated in the dance movements which depicted the bambanti, farming life and local lore.
Two set of winners were declared in the Street Dance portion, Category A (for cities and first-class municipalities) and in Category B (for second- and third-class municipalities). The contingent from Jones took the first place in Category A, followed by the contingents from Ilagan City (second), Echague (third), Alicia (fourth) and Cauayan City (fifth). In Category B, the group from Luna emerged on top, followed by the contingents from Santa Maria (second), Santo Tomas (third), San Manuel (fourth) and San Isidro (fifth).
In the Festival Dance Showdown portion, the Ilagan City contingent clinched the first place in Category A, while the Luna contingent topped in Category B. The Category A roster of winners included Echague (second), Alicia (third), Cauayan City (fourth), and Roxas (fifth), while Category B included Santa Maria (second), San Isidro (third), San Pablo (fourth), and Santo Tomas (fifth).
A special award, Foreign Ambassadors’ Choice in Dance Showdown, was given to the Ilagan City contingent, while the Jones contingent was bestowed the Foreign Ambassadors’ Choice in Street Showdown award.
The event was graced by Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) president Kaye C. Tinga, CCP Board of Trustees vice chairperson Ma. Carissa Coscolluela, and National Commission for Culture and the Arts chairman Victorino M. Manalo.
After the street dance and showdown event, winners of the different competitions were revealed in a grand awarding ceremony led by governor Albano and vice governor Dy. Ilagan City was declared the overall winner with their nine wins, bagging P1 million worth of funding for projects. Other winners were Luna (first runner-up), earning project funding of P750,000; Cauayan City (second runner-up), winning project funding worth P500,000; Alicia (third runner-up), receiving project funding valued at P300,000; and Echague (fourth runner-up), awarded with project funding worth P100,000.
Every night during the festival, shows were held at the Queen Isabela Park — “Acoustic Night,” featuring Over October, ShortNoticed Unplugged, and DJ Dom; “Rap Night,” featuring Kiddotin, Robledo Timido, Dyco and Halfway Velocity; “Battle of the Bands,” featuring Midnight Cravings, Farah, Rivals of Tomorrow, Bandila, 5id, Myx-Ture, Reverie, Kahidlaw, Maria, and Banyuhay; “Acoustic Night 2,” featuring the MYMP and Marya Klara; “Ginuman Night,” featuring Hale, Shao Lin, Nik Makino, and Cosmic Superstition; and the finale, featuring Maki, Pulse Melody and DJ Mayel.
The Bambanti Musical 2025 was held after street dance and showdown event, featuring Pinopela, Lara Maigue, Gian Magdangal, Alyn Magadia-Dela Cruz, Nonoy Peña, Ralph Angelo Babaran, and the Whiplash Dance Company.
The following night, the Bambanti Grand Concert capped the festival, showcasing Ely Buendia, Bea Alonzo, Moonstar88, and Regasco Rappers. The event was graced by former senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino.
Dy expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to making the 2025 Bambanti Festival possible and the hosting of diplomats a success during a convocation at the provincial capitol on 27 January.
“Ang tagumpay na ito ay hindi lamang tagumpay ng ating lalawigan, kundi tagumpay ng bawat Isabeleño na nagpakita ng talento, sipag, at dedikasyon upang maipamalas ang ganda at yaman ng ating kultura sa harap ng mga dignitaryo (This success is not only the success of the province, but the success of every Isabeleño who gave their talent, diligence and dedication to show the beauty and richness of our culture to the dignitaries),” he said.
