IN PHOTOS: 2020 Bambanti Festival during street-dance parade competition

GRACEFUL MOVES. Isabelino students from different municipalities dance gracefully as they compete for Bambanti street-dance parade competition at the Isabela Sports Complex during Bambanti Festival. All photos by George Buid.

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela—With colorful scarecrow-inspired costumes and vivacious performances, the Bambanti Festival 2020 lit up the stadium of Isabela Sports Complex as the 2700 dancers from 27 municipalities and towns performed their lively dance routines in Isabela's most-awaited event on Thursday, January 30.

In 1997, Bambanti, an Ilocano term meaning scarecrow, was established by the late Governor Benjamin Dy, in honor of bountiful harvest and in commemoration of all local farmers who, rain or shine, have constantly engaged in earnest agricultural work in the sprawling green fields of the province.

Bambanti Festival is celebrated annually to exhibit the rich culture and tradition, scrumptious cuisine, intricate artistry and craftmanship, talented people, and economic agro-industrial ability of Isabela province. This year's theme is "Patuloy ang Tagumpay ng Pusong Isabela" (Keep on Victory of Isabela Spirit).

The opening of street-dance parade competition was graced by the Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. She was introduced by Governor Rodito T. Albano III and Vice Governor Faustino G. Dy III.

One of the highlights of week-long Bambanti Festival was the street-dance parade competition, where dancers from 27 municipalities and towns composed of 100 students each team followed through with full-length street-dance parade performances and held a festival dance showdown.

Interestingly, the competition this year was divided into two categories for the first time, based on municipal and city classifications. There were 11 local government units with 1st and 2nd class, joining in category A, while 16 local government units with 3rd, 4th and 5th class, partaking in category B.

Street-dance Parade Competition and Festival Dance Showdown Category A

Standing out among 11 contingents in category A for street-dance parade competition, the municipality of Alicia took home the bacon with their vibrant performance showing synchronized dance and spelling out the word A-L-I-C-I-A using human body. Following after Alicia was the municipality of San Pablo. The municipalities of San Mateo, City of Ilagan, and Ramon came 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively.

Meanwhile, the festival dance showdown was dominated by municipality of Echague. Other winners were Alicia in 2nd place, Roxas in 3rd place, City of Ilagan in 4th,  and City of Cauayan in 5th place.

Street-dance Parade Competition and  Festival Dance Showdown Category B

As music kicked in filling the air with festive beats, the 16 hopefuls from category B danced their hearts away to winning the top prize. Leading the game and claiming the victory were goals of municipality of Luna. They bagged the 1st place, followed by Quirino as 2nd, Gamu as 3rd, Naguillan as 4th, and San Guillermo taking the 5th spot.

The municipality of Luna didn't lose their eyes on the prize and was laser-focused as they placed 1st in festival dance showdown. Other winning teams were Quirino, San Manuel, Cabatuan, and Aurora as 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively.

This trip was a travel assignment from The Jerny—Travel and Inspirations, organized by Ysmael Moyer Valenzuela &  Associates, Inc., in partnership with Isabela Provincial Tourism.