CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - - After two years, Isabelinos will again witness the Bambanti Festival as the provincial government is now preparing the activities to be undertaken next year.

The Bambanti Festival is usually conducted every last week of January where various activities are laid out by the Executive Committee chaired by Gov. Rodolfo Albano III and designated Vice Governor Faustino G. Dy III as Director General pursuant to Executive Order No. 38, signed on Nov. 15, 2022.

The festival's theme is “Isabela, Pagharap sa Bagong Hamon ng Kinabukasan.”

Provincial Information Officer Atty. Elizabeth Binag said the 2023 Bambanti Festival will highlight LGU-contested events on Bambanti Booth, Bambanti Scarecrow, Street Dance, Dance Showdown, Festival King and Queen and Makan ken Mainum. 

Binag said there will also be a Search for Queen Isabela 2023 which will be staged at the last night of festival week. 

She said sports activities and medical mission will also be conducted throughout the week-long celebration. 

She said that Vice Governor Faustino G. Dy III and Director-General of the 2023 Bambanti Festival called a  meeting on November 22, 2022 and discussed preparations. 

He appointed Nilo Agustin as over-all artistic consultant while Provincial Administrator Atty. Noel Manuel Lopez as Oversight Committee Chairperson.

Binag said Vice Gov. Dy also appointed sectoral representative on Indigenous Peoples, Margarette Chin as assistant director fthe festival while sectoral representative for Women Lourdes Panganiban was appointed as assistant director for the Search for Queen Isabela 2023. 

The last Bambanti Festival was celebrated in the Province of Isabela in January 2020. (MGE / PIA Isabela)