Isabela’s Bambanti Sets Guinness World Record

After proper verification by officials of Guinness themselves, this province’s Bambanti Festival has earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for the largest number of scarecrow-dressed dancers on Friday night, Jan. 25.

A total of 2,495 participants wearing scarecrow dress performed a non-stop dance for more than two hours around the Isabela grandstand here surpassing the 5-minute dance of at least 250 persons set by the Guinness world record. (Photo courtesy of Isabela PIO)

Paulina Sapinska, official adjudicator and representative of Guinness, announced that the Bambanti Festival set the world record for biggest number of dancers wearing scarecrow costumes in a single venue.

Sapinska noted that a total of 2,495 participants wearing scarecrow costumes danced non-stop for more than two hours around the Isabela grandstand here, surpassing the five-minute dance of at least 250 persons earlier awarded by Guinness.

The street dance showdown is part of the festivity aimed at showcasing the various cultural dances where performers were dressed similar to that of scarecrows.

“We have aimed to gather the most number of street dancers and be a Guinness Book of World Record title holder,” SP Member Rolando Tugade, this year’s Bambanti Festival director general said.

The 2,495 street dancers who joined the showdown came from 25 towns and two cities of Isabela.

Meanwhile, Gov. Faustino G. Dy III thanked all Isabelinos who joined in this year’s week-long celebration for their support that made the festival successful and gained a world record.

“Bambanti” is an Ilocano word for scarecrow, an iconic symbol for the province’s farming communities, which they consider as protection despite the common notion that it sows fear.

The Bambanti Festival is an annual celebration of the Provincial Government of Isabela that started in 1997.

The Bambanti Festival is 2018 Aliw Award’s Hall of Famer for Best Festival Practices and Performance by being a three-time winner from 2015 to 2017.(MDCT/MGE/PIA 2-Isabela)