GEARING up this 2018 is the annual Bambanti Festival, back with this year’s theme: “Isabela Kong Mahal” (Isabela, My Beloved Land), depicting Isabeleños’ ardent love for the land of their birth through various creative concepts and images.


Spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Isabela, the week-long festival will be celebrated from January 22 – 27, 2018, heralding the province’s rich cultural heritage, the resiliency of her people, as well as its indigenous world-class products, lifestyle, and cuisine as pride of place.


Through the theme “Isabela Kong Mahal”, Isabeleños will showcase their strong commitment to their beloved land and outstanding virtue of hard work, proudly sharing to visitors how their family-inherited traits contributed to the fast growing socio-cultural and economic development of the province.


 “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 Isabela government has prepared yet again another impressive array of festival fare that locals and visitors can look forward to, including the usual and much anticipated lineup of Giant Bambanti Showcase, Bambanti Street Dance and Showdown Competition, Musical Street performances, Search for Bambanti Festival King and Queen, and Isabela’s Master Kusinero Cooking Contest.

The Bambanti Festival is a three-time winner of Aliw Awards, bringing home the title of Best Festival Practices and Performance for 2015 – 2017