102. BAMBANTI FESTIVAL: GRAND WINNER, BEST TOURISM EVENT- FESTIVAL,AS THANKSGIVING FOR A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

BAMBANTI FESTIVAL: GRAND WINNER, BEST TOURISM EVENT-

FESTIVAL,AS THANKSGIVING FOR A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

04 October 2019

A couple of hours ago, the Province of Isabela received one of the most coveted awards in the tourism industry – the Pearl Award. Isabela 4^th District Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Abegail V. Sable, SP Chair Committee on Tourism, received the ATOP-DOT award in behalf of Governor Rodolfo “Rodito” T. Albano III and Vice Governor Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III. The delegates from the City of Ilagan, Cauayan City and Santo Tomas town who are all regular participants of the annual Bambanti Festival joined us to receive the unique Paoay Church-inspired trophy. ATOP National President Minda V. Regis and DOT Region II Director Virgilio M. Maguigad together with the other ATOP Officers and DOT Regional Directors were also present during the ceremonies witnessed by over 800 delegates and guests coming from all regions of the Philippines.

Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) is an organization of tourism officers from all over the country established in the year 2000 which aims to strengthen its capabilities in tourism development, strive towards the highest standard of information and services for tourists, promote the welfare of its members and other partners, and foster unity in the industry. The association recognizes exemplary practices, programs, and innovations employed by Local Government Units in tourism governance.

Now on its 15^th year, the Pearl Award: ATOP-DOT Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines Awards, honors local governments and tourism officers who have contributed significantly towards achieving sustainable tourism development in their respective communities. The categories include: Best Tourism Event (Festivals, Adventure/Sports), Best Tourism Month/Week Celebration, Best Tourism-Oriented LGU, Most Outstanding Tourism Officers Club/Association, Most Outstanding Tourism Officer and Best Practices on Community-Based Responsible Tourism. Together with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Local Chief Executives were encouraged to actively participate in the country’s tourism development initiatives.

This year, a new set of categories were added and were opened to all levels – provincial, city, and municipal. These are the following: Best Tourism Research, Best Tourism Promotion (Video), Best Tourism Promotion (Collaterals), Best Event Hosting (Local/International), Best Program for Culture and the Arts, Best Tourism Program Integrated Routes and Best Tourism Event – Festivals new sub-categories: As nature worship/or myths and legends; As thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest; As a commemorative to historical events; As a religious practice to honor community saints; and As a showcase of productivity and trade.

Carefully crafted and prepared by the Isabela Tourism Office, Governor Rodito Albano endorsed the bid book, the official entry of the province for the Best Tourism Event - as thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest category. After a week, the provincial government received a notice that the province was shortlisted and should defend the entry. In the final screening at the 408 year-old University of Santo Tomas in Manila, 22 local government units had entries for the festival category. They were the Province of Bulacan; City of Calamba, Laguna;  Municipality of Bauko, Mountain Province; City of Malabon; Municipality of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley (2 entries); Municipality of Liliw, Laguna; Municipality of Pakil, Laguna; Municipality of Carmona, Cavite; City of Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Municipality of Pulilan, Bulacan; Province of Isabela; Province of Pangasinan (2 entries); City of Binan, Laguna; City of Malolos, Bulacan; City of San Carlos, Negros Occidental; Province of Camarines Norte; Municipality of Anilao, Iloilo; Municipality of Leganes, Iloilo; City of Bacoor, Cavite; Santiago City; Municipality of La Trinidad, Benguet; and Municipality of Lumban, Laguna.

The coverage of the Isabela entry was the year 2018 during the tenure of Governor Bojie Dy and Vice Governor Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano, now Representative of the 1^st District of Isabela, under the directorship of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Rolando G. Tugade, now city councilor of Ilagan, and the stewardship of Sir Leonilo “Nilo” C. Agustin and his team. At past two in the afternoon, after waiting for six hours, I was given the chance to defend our entry. My four-man team was given only five minutes to convince the three-man panel of judges that Bambanti is the best festival in the land. A Q & A ensued with Sir Nilo Agustin backing me up and poured more vital justifications that indeed Bambanti Festival is numero uno.

After a week, our Governor was informed to receive an award; however, the national secretariat did not reveal (as always) the ranks of the entries. The final five for “thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest” were: Begnas di Bauko of the Municipality of Bauko, Mountain Province; Kneeling Carabao Festival of the Municipality of Pulilan, Bulacan; Pista’y Dayat of the Province of Pangasinan; Bambanti Festival of the Province of Isabela and Simballay Festival of the Municipality of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

At long last, the time has come for the final verdict. The Province of Ilocos Norte hosted the 20^th ATOP National Convention. Different venues were utilized, Fort Ilocandia located at the outskirt of the capital-city of Laoag was used as the registration site and hotel for national officers, guests and delegates; the traditional parade of regions transpired in the city proper; and the Laoag plaza, where the historic Tobacco Monopoly Monument was erected, in front of the provincial capitol building, was used for the opening ceremonies on the first night. The following day, the delegates were free to choose immersion tours around Ilocos Norte and nearby Ilocos Sur particularly Vigan City. In the evening, the dinner was held at the Laoag Sand Dunes with the theme and cultural presentation “Himala sa Buhangin”. This morning, the plenary session was held with lecturers from the various tourism sectors delivering their piece. In the afternoon, the annual business meeting was held followed by the election of national officers. And at past six in the evening, the much awaited Pearl Awards was in full swing right in front of the famous World Heritage Site, the San Agustin Church in the old pueblo of Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Two hours before the day’s end, the master of ceremonies called the Municipality of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley (Simballay Festival) and Municipality of Bauko, Mountain Province (Begnas di Bauko) to receive the Special Citations. This was followed by the Municipality of Pulilan, Bulacan (Kneeling Carabao Festival) as 2^nd Runner-up and the Province of Cagayan (Pista’y Dayat) as 1^st Runner-up. The Isabela delegation was overjoyed upon hearing the winner for the 1^st Runner-up for automatically we have brought home the bacon. Everyone was jubilant and tears flowed among the Isabela Tourism Office staff and officials. I escorted Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Abigail Sable to the stage and we posed with all smiles. I whispered to the good lady legislator that this is “the first national award of the administration of Governor Rodito”.