Intricately designed and jazzed-up giant scarecrows once again lorded it over the Bambanti Village, like royal guards in the Isabela Provincial Capitol, where thousands of spectators trooped to take part in this year’s BAMBANTI FESTIVAL, the premier festival of the province of Isabela. The lowly bambanti is feted because it best represents the most remarkable attributes of the Isabeleños, propelling the province to its present status as the country’s number one grains producer and fast emerging agriculture capital of the Philippines.
Governor Faustino G. Dy III, under whose watch, the province is undergoing a cultural renaissance of sorts, shares that the bambanti serves as the ultimate symbol of the diligence, industry, vigilance and resilience of the people of Isabela. “Kahit ano pang unos o pagsubok ang dumating sa ating buhay, nananatili tayong matatag, nakatayo at di natitinag katulad ng bambanti.”
Even the Republic of Korea acknowledges Isabela’s tremendous agricultural prowess and its provincial government’s remarkable climate change adaptation initiatives.
A high level delegation from the Korean Embassy led by Ambassador Lee Hyuk joined Sen. Grace Poe, Gov. Faustino Dy III, Vice Gov. Antonio Albano, Cong. Rodito Albano, DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and other local officials in gracing the groundbreaking ceremony for the “Adapting to Climate Change Impact through the Construction of Water Impounding Facilities in the Philippines” or Pasa Small River Irrigation Project (PSRIP) on July 4, 2013 in Barangay Pasa, Ilagan City.
In an unprecedented move, Governor and PDRRMC Chairman Faustino Dy III recently initiated and hosted the first ever REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT held on August 8, 2013 at the Isabela Provincial Capitol. Convened by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office with Provincial Director Elpidio Durwin as Convenor and head of the Secretariat, the Summit was aimed at strengthening inter-LGU partnership and inter-agency cooperation in addressing present climate change impact.
Majestic Isabela, the queen province of the Philippines charmed her way to the hearts of the participants to the 10th China-ASEAN Exposition held in Nanning, China, September 3 – 6, 2013. The province was the featured City of Charm in what is known as the second largest trade event in China.
CAEXPO, the second largest trade event in China, next to the Canton Fair, aims to promote China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) through sharing of opportunities for cooperation and development between and among China and the ASEAN countries.
The 10th CAEXPO celebrates the 10th anniversary of the signing of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. Significantly, the Philippines is the County of Honor of the 2013 CAEXPO.
As Country of Honor, several events were tailored to promote Philippine trade, investments and tourism. The 270 square kilometer area housed the Country of Honor pavilion, together with the City of Charm pavilion where the potentials of the province of Isabela in terms of trade, investments and tourism were showcased. Performers from Isabela staged cultural presentations at the City of Charm pavilion.
